Reviews (page 9 of 12)
Kinda missed the mark for me, it felt like alot of songs just didnt quiet hit the high i was hoping for. Epic, but not epic enough, for my taste. But can see why people like it.
I was surprised to learn that many of the songs on this album still have relevance.
I really enjoyed this, but Sledgehammer is an annoying song
Aardige muziek met af en toe wel leuke melodie.
I like Peter Gabriel, but I’ve not a huge fan. You can hear Genesis throughout this album. “Sledgehammer” and “Don’t Give Up” are classics. The rest of the album is alright, but nothing to go back for.
Good album - very 80's sounding
6/10. Several tunes I really like.
Surprise Kate Bush!
A couple good ones but overall a boring album.
This is a more "artsy" approach to pop, which I appreciate. Red Rain, Sledgehammer, and Big Time are great, extremely engaging songs. The vocals are fun, and the production is fantastic, with a wide, immersive soundstage that sounds big and busy yet clean at the same time... But the rest of the songs are just fine and dragged my experience down quite a bit. They're way too quite and way to "ambient" with barely any accents, which I'm not a fan of. And when Don't Give Up manages to stay exciting despite the somber tone, the rest... not so much. This album would've been much better if all the songs sounded more like the first two, in my opinion. 7/10
It's fine. Not really my style but I think it's a good presentation of it's genre.
Decente pero un poco Jack of All trades, ningun tema espectacular pero es un nice listen
This was quite nice but it did get a little boring. Kate Bush appearing was a nice little surprise and I enjoyed her contribution, overall a nice album
forgettable boring
I'm giving it a 3 for the hits.
Yeah pretty decent but nothing I wouldn't expect from that era
A couple of classic radio singles here, Sledgehammer and Don’t Give Up, both are 4-star songs. I was unfamiliar with the rest of the numbers but they were all satisfactory. A strong 3.
This was pleasant
Not really my thing, Peter Gabriel to me sounds like one long song. A few classics but the synths and snare sounds are stuck in time.
Bueno
Sledgehammer bass line is amazing but most songs didn’t catch me
I liked this better than the earlier album by him.
80s pop that's just not for me
3 Stars (8/15)
eu acho o trabalho do peter gabriel bem consistente apesar de tudo pprt
I recognized some of the songs. I like how experimental some of the songs were. It made me feel like the other pop songs I was familiar with had more depth than I gave them credit for before.
Really enjoyed the opening track, it almost felt like watching a movie in my head. I didn't expect so many of the songs to sound like Micheal Jackson songs.
I enjoyed this slightly more than I’d anticipated. Very mid 80’s, synthtastic sound which isn’t really my thing, but there are some great tracks on this album, especially the hit singles. There are also enough meh songs to pull it down. Sledgehammer is rammed full of innuendo (see what I did there?), don’t give up is a beautiful gospel infused ballad which I’ve overlooked for far too many years. Glad I revisited this for the first time since my teenage years, but not likely to revisit ever again.
There are some excellent tracks on here but "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" got so overplayed on both MuchMusic and terrestrial radio that it's a hard listen.
Some pretty good stuff
nothing on here beats that one peter gabriel song from ET
Wasn't in the mood for the 80s yesterday. Turned off after one song. Was going to leave it at that and give it an exaggerated 1*. However, listened to it in full today and enjoyed it. Easy-listening, probably won't return unless I am in a very specific situation (that I don't best want to see myself in). Mercy Street was great.
3/5
6/10
3 out of 5. I enjoyed this one more than Paul Simon's Graceland.
Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: yes Favourite Song: lots of great ones, but I’ll go with Red Rain A name I’ve heard a million times but could never tell you what songs he sang or even the genre. First song opening vibes are totally 80s… Well there’s the radio hit-Sledgehammer. I figured I would come across a “reason” he’s on the list. And it’s not a bad song. Getting Genesis vibes by “Don’t Give Up”. Super cheesy song, but for some reason I actually like it. And another “hit” with “Big Time”. I can see how he was an 80s “icon”. Second listen around and I love the first song, “Red Rain”. Goes to show how things sometimes need a chance. This is a great album.
Some memorable songs from the 80s that I liked more than I did in the 80s ….
Pretty great!
Peter Gabriel goes full on Phil Collins here (this is much better than anything involving Phil Collins). Favorite track: Red Rain 3.5/5
good oldies album but personally does nothing for me. just another album from the 80s
Interesting sounds but not enough to captivate me.
A couple good, funky songs, but mostly slow, forgettable ballads. Very well-produced.
Для меня слишком вылизанный звук.
I really wanted to love this. It's so musically varied, there are a lot of ostensibly interesting things going on here. Yet, I find it just... okay. Yes, the production is excellent. But lord, is it dated. This might actually be one of the most 80s albums I've ever heard. After listening to the car album, I was looking forward to see where he would go. I get going pop, but this is really overshooting it. It's pleasant, even beautiful in quite a few spots. There are some interesting instruments throughout. Neat dabbling into international genres. It's just a shame that it feels right at home on the shelf with 80s shlock. Or with 90s Disney soundtracks. It's someone's jam, but it's not mine. Fav tracks: Sledgehammer, That Voice Again
It was a thing. Not for me but I can see the appeal.
Listen, I get it. Lyrics are important to some songwriters. But there are plenty of artists that put effort into other aspects of the world and don’t rely (mostly) on the poetry aspect. This Gabriel guy is probably saying something important, but as a listener who tends to disregard lyrics even if they’re spectacularly good, I didn’t notice it. And it’s obvious that less effort was put into the sound. The instruments actually sound okay as a sort of slow, 80s-produced mini-soundscape. But with a few exceptions, the entire album carries on with that sound – and without any interesting chord progressions or riffs to back it up. One clear exception to this is the song Sledgehammer, which kicks some serious rock butt and is easily the strongest on the album. Love the bass riff, the guitar tone, the horns, the energy – and I think Gabriel’s vocals work better in this raw rock texture. And judging by Spotify numbers, it seems like most fans of Peter Gabriel agree with me. I’m surprised he didn’t commit more to this rock style, given how it was clearly more popular and interesting than the swamp of poorly produced synth pop Gabriel’s contemporaries were releasing. The two tracks I mostly had a problem with were Mercy Street and This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds). The former is just too dull to really get into, focusing sonically on this high-pitched percussion that doesn’t really change for six minutes straight. The latter is as odd as the title suggests and lacks the hook(s) to justify it. But the first half of the album is pretty darn solid, with Red Rain, Sledgehammer, and That Voice Again forming the album’s highlights. In Your Eyes is also a good note to end on, even if its percussion is so 80s-esque that the song could probably do better without drums at all. 3/5 Key tracks: Red Rain, Sledgehammer, That Voice Again
Meh
sledgehammer maybe the best song ever
Decent album. Unfortunately, the colorful highpoints are offset by the lows.
I enjoyed the sensuality of "Sledgehammer" and was surprised to hear Kate Bush on love ballad "Don't give up"
Pretty good. Couple of standout tracks. Probably wouldn't return to this project on the whole however.
3.5ish
Very 80's. Much sledgehammer! ...wow Reminds me of that old tv show with David Rasche. Don't Give Up is good. 3/5
SoSo Canción destacada: Big Time 3/5
Some great songs on this album but sounds a bit dated due to the extensive use of the Fairlight CMI
Man, this album gets a lot of love. But the 80s synthesized production turns me off to each track immediately. When the album ended, Spotify moved me over to a nice Peter Gabriel song from 1977 (“Solsbury Hill”). THAT song, and THAT sound, grabbed me. The contrast made clear to me that So, despite Gabriel’s excellent vocals, just feels inauthentic and plastic with the synthesized, mechanistic backdrop. 3/5 rounding up and well aware that I may be missing something here!
A solid listen and I'm glad it's on this list. Two all time songs in Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes on this one with some other filler that's not bad. 6.25/10 (3.125/5)
Not enjoying this as much as Melt. Still sounds like Peter Gabriel but the more sinister edges have been cleaned up, and with it I think a bit of the uniqueness. This kind of just went over me as I was listening, it's not bad, but it just didn't provoke much of a reaction. I used to be really into prog rock and have really gotten into 80s pop in recent years so this should definitely appeal to me but I dunno, there's just something not clicking Sledgehammer is a classic, I can't argue that. Others like Red Rain just feel a bit pompous. I just don't really get what's so great about them The album does pick up a bit towards the end. I liked the last few tracks a bit more. Wish the rest of the album were more like those. I felt they stood out a bit more Probably more of a 3.5 but I'm still disappointed Highlights: Sledgehammer, This Is The Picture, Big Time
Unknown artist for me. I like his style and nice vocal. Love the track Sledgehammer.
It was solid. Very Genesis.
Great voice and good songs throughout the album. A really solid pop album with a lot of slower songs which I really enjoyed.
I didn’t much care for Sledgehammer or Big Time when everyone was raving about them, and they haven’t much grown on me enough to push the album up to a 4 despite Don’t Give Up.
Quite good.
So so
3 - Don't Give Up (w/ Kate Bush) 5 - Mercy Street 6 - Big Time
Better than I thought it would be going into it
Fand das Album insgesamt gut, aber n paar Songs waren nicht so meins. Sledgehammer war geil und das Duett mit Kate Bush, der Rest so la la. 3 Sterne
Some great songs - always good to hear Kate bush
Enjoyed it but not an everyday listen
Poppy, easy listening. First two songs are very good.
Irgendwie muss ich bei dieser Art von Musik immer an meine Kindheit denken. Einiges war mir aber zu kitschig
Bin hin und hergerissen. Fand’s nicht schlecht aber auch nicht überragend.
Has the big songs and not alot else.
Obviously a beautifully produced album, a classic. However, the sound of the 80s that this represents has not aged particularly well. I enjoyed it, with several stand-out tracks, but not particularly to my taste.
Oh man, I love Phil Collins! Textbook 80s sound. Heavy bass, synth to replace horns. Big and swelly sound but such themes of self-doubt and disillusion with The Times
So 80s
1️⃣Sledgehammer
All good but each song being 4-6 minutes long? Why?
Not really much to say. In my opinion, if someone were to ask me the definition of a mid album, this may be one of the first to come to mind. Didn't hate it, as it has my favorite David Bowie song, but most, I just couldn't get into. If I could I'd give it a 2.5. Favorite Songs: Sledgehammer, Big Time Least Favorite: We Do What We're Told
The combination of prog rock and 80s production is rarely a good idea (see late period Genesis) so it surprised me how much I enjoyed this. In some places it's a bit earnest, bit it was intriguing throughout. The 1-2 punch of Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up was marvellous, but the rest of the album didn't quite hold up. 'We do what we're told' felt like an offcut from The Wall, and little else stuck. So, so close to being a 4. If there was one more good track it would be, but let's go with middling for now.
A fine pop album. Doesn’t do much for me
This was overplayed a ton in the day so I kinda tuned it out but have come back to it often over the years. Even with it's overdone 80's style production I enjoy it
Much like Van Halen the trajectory of Peter Gabriel and the band Genesis is always a curious one. Many feel that Genesis was an amazing Prog rock band while Peter Gabriel was there and that Phil Collins destroyed it. But listening to Peter Gabriel‘s album So… It shows that both bands were going to be more pop rock as time moved forward. Songs like Big Time, which were in John Cusack’s movie One Crazy Summer and In Your Eyes which was in John Cusack’s Say Anything make this a marker of a time. This album is probably his best album that he has done, but it definitely ain’t prog rock. Debate closed; cheers to Phil Collins, and hats off to you, Mr. Gabriel.
Some big hits on there but not every song was a winner. Still a solid 80s album.
yeah groovy
‘ "Guarantee you anyone born after 1982 is not putting this in their 1001 albums to listen to list"’ says one of the highest rated comments here. I’m born before 1982 and I’m still not putting it on my list. Nor am I going to pan it. It doesn't appeal to me but to give him his due, musicality and talent etc, I’m giving him a 3
Open up your fruit cage earbleach please But catchy in places
It's fine but it just sounds just like any other album from this time its nothing special shouldn't be on this list
It's good. Solid 3/5.
A couple good songs I knew before Nothing crazy but Pretty good Would prob listen again
2-3 good songs nothing remarkable, I like the 80s vibes
A huge pop movement for Gabriel....in your eyes is such an amazing jam. love that one. Others are ok. 3/5
man, i wish i heard what everyone else did! this felt a bit corny to me. some very cool features, though. maybe i need to give it another try.
In some ways I understand the vision of this album, but in other ways I feel like it’s a bit of a resignation of creativity from an incredibly unique artist of the time period. It’s a pretty standard ‘80s album at the end of the day, a complete 180 from Peter Gabriel’s four self titled releases that preceded this
Good, nice relaxing fun album. Not mind-blowing imo
Pretty iconic album. Not my favorite. But I also don’t hate it.
Love his sound. This album is THE 80s! Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are classics!
Fing gut an, wurde mit der Zeit aber etwas langweilig. Insgesamt angenehm anzuhören.
why was every song on this album three hours long
Was a nice album. Held up over time. The real gem was auto-play bringing me to Frankie goes to Hollywood afterwards
I mean I feel like the singles are still my favorite tracks here, as I didn’t quite love the rest of them; however, absolutely love that clean synthy big-budget sound mixed with Peter’s more idiosyncratic pop sensibilities. In other words, awesome sounding album just maybe not my favorite song-structure-wise.
I never ever wanted to hear Sledgehammer for as long as I live. I did at one time enjoy this album, it's been severely overplayed to point of absolute annoyance which I fully admit I did along with MTV and radio. It's a 3.5 for me, objectively it's probably a solid 4 though.
Has most of the Peter songs I know. The singles hold up but I don't think i'd listen to the whole album again. The video for Sledgehammer is still quite good.
This was my favorite Gabriel album so far, but that might just because it had the most familiar songs on it. That said, even being my favorite, it's still just fine.
Surprisingly good as albums go.
When old men say that music was better in the 80s this is what I imagine.
Pervasive pop songs Redefining star singer To legend status
Sledgehammer was played to death on MTV but I hadn’t listened to the rest of the album until now. It’s good and obviously Peter Gabriel is a great musician and artist but it just didn’t grab me
Incredibly 80s, not for me, but good enough
Sledgehammer es buena. Creo que la toqué cuando estaba estudiando. El videoclip me daba miedo cuando chico. Pero Don't Give Up me cargaba cuando la escuchaba en la radio, no tenía idea que era con Kate Baush. No sabía que era de Peter Gabriel ni de este disco. Es un disco ochentero de los que pasa la prueba del tiempo a mi gusto. Muy buena producción, excelentes ideas de arreglos. No me suena "kitsch" para nada. Muy buen gusto musical para todo. Los arreglos del bajo son geniales. Pero tampoco es un estilo de música que me atraiga salvo para sacar ideas de arreglos para sintetizadores. Solo me veo escuchando de nuevo Sledgehammer y el resto probablemente lo borraré cuando se llene de espacio mi Ipod. Me costó llegar hasta la última canción pero es solo por preferencia personal. En realidad este disco es excelente para los que les gusta la música de los 80s. Yo, personalmente, todavía estoy buscando el "factor goosebumps" qué este disco no me dió.
Pretty nostalgic
I appreciate Peter Gabriel, but this is just too much synth and 80s drum beats for my liking.
Pretty good album. Nothing spectacular, but sonically sound. Every song suffers a bit from being like 2 mins too long. Favourite songs: Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes, Red Rain, Big Time, Mercy Street Least favourite songs: We Do What We're Told 3/5
Nostalgia
feels 80s long songs, I like that they get to breathe shakuhachi and Wolof best tunes: red rain, sledgehammer, big time, we do what we're told
Classic 80’s vibes
Nostalgic but I'm not as impressed nowadays as I was when it came out.
Непоганий арт-поп альбом, хтось вважає його кращим у Пітера - я ні, мій фаворит це нью вейвовий однойменний альбо 1980-го року. Слухати було приємно та інколи навіть цікаво. Але, як на мене, весь шарм перебиває продакшн від якого прямо "тхне" типовим для арт-попу звучанням 80-тих. До речі, пісня Don't Give Up виконана у дуеті із іншою дівою арт-попу Kate Bush
Have to assume it's his best solo album. Some good hits but not something I would necessarily come back to.
was pretty good. sledgehammer was my personal favourite song. However some tracks sounded like generic 80s pop music and they didn't really have anything to offer to the album. 7/10
Hm kind of boring But oddly calming Kitschig for sure
Easy listening Pop. Good for background. Not quite my tempo, a bit basic.
Brought back high school in a big way.
Last song is the banger that keeps this whole album soaring
fucking AMAZING
The question for today is not what came first the chicken or the egg? But who came first Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins? I am sure there are some super fans out there that will argue that Phil Collins hits a better high C or that Peter Gabriel has a better tamber, but seriously they sound exactly the same! For me who came first really impacts how influential this album is, because one of them just copied off the other! So during research I found out that that Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins both were the lead singers of Genesis with Peter coming first. Phil was the drummer and took over reluctantly (him and Peter are friends). Knowing that, I understand that this was influential. This was a different sound and unique (to Genesis, Peter and Phil). Its fun, it has emotion and its catchy. In Your Eyes is a great song. I really enjoyed Red Rain I like Sledgehammer, but not so much that I won't change it if something is better on another station. Then it becomes difficult though because he sounds so similar to Phil that its hard not to compare. Genesis and Phil just do it slightly better, better deeper lyrics, more catchy tunes and something I am less likely to turn the radio on. Phil took what Peter did and just made it better. So I will go with a 3 because it really is a good base for future music and sound but really others took this sound and did it better.
The hits: Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes are all great songs but I didn't like the other songs that much. Cool that Kate Bush made a guest appearance.
100% 80s Pretty good first half, second half falls away a bit. I recognised more of this than I thought I would. Feel like my dad would love it.
fun
Omg Dave Matthews sounds like Peter Gabriel. Auto 3
3.5 a pretty good album that got a touch too 80s for me at times. Favorite songs: sledgehammer and in your eyes
3.5 I will definitely listen to it again.
At the risk of offending Eduardo, I just can’t get into Gabriel, beyond the cool stop motion, food-based video for ‘Sledgehammer’ when I was 16 and video was king.
A solid album that I never have the urge to revisit (sorry Vaz). When it’s on I enjoy it and then I go years without listening to it.
This is more a 7 than a 6. I would like to rate this album higher, because I like Peter Gabriel's voice and how good the production is throughout the whole album (even the drums with that distinct sound of the 80's). But I felt like a lot of the songs are a product of its time. Not that they aren't good, but they didn't felt that interesting.
Vamos llegando a mediados de mes y toca Peter Gabriel. Primera vez que escucho un disco de su etapa solista: ubico alguna que otra canción suelta y nada más. Pop ochentoso, refinado, muy relax. Hasta el lunes.
The bangers bang hard. I wish I could read about why this one made it.
Nothing more than serviceable 80's radio
Meh
Rating: 6/10 The slower songs bring this down substantially, the highlights are quite good though.
Pretty good 80's music. 3/5
The same as Phil Collins
Quintessential dad rock
He has such a good vocal range, but I like his later stuff more because of his matured voice. Here he seems too whiny. Overall good listen, some songs were more experimental than the others.
Wow Peter Gabriel two days in a row? This has got to be the most Peter Gabriel that I’ve listened to in a short period of time. Definitely enjoyed it. Still feel as though, upon further listens, I could end up really developing a love for his music. As of now, another solid 3.
Groovy shit yo bout to go to a roller derby arcade yo. Best track - sledgehammer
Isn’t John Cusack standing in the rain in Say Anything the first thing that pops in your head?
Like Phil Collins
it's good. post-punky and fun
Interesting production choices make for some intriguing songs. Highlights: "Red Rain" (dramatic opener), "Don't Give Up", "In Your Eyes" ("world" music done right), "Mercy Street" (similar vibe to "Red Rain"), "Big Time" (Talking Heads vibe with the skittering guitar and prominent bass) Notable: "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" (mostly instrumental and chanting song that is appropriately creepy given the subject matter. Has a Pink Floyd The Wall feeling to it)
I’m not too familiar with Peter Gabriel’s work. I did assume this album had the majority of what I knew, and I was right. But mostly this is meh for me. I do question how the hell sledgehammer came out it ‘86, I was born in ‘87 and that music video remains prominent in my childhood memory.
I know Peter. Stoked to find out what kind of tracks is on this album. I know Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes. These songs are classic and he is a great artist.
This was a pretty decent album and the source of several singles that I didn't realize came from the same album.
Kind of very 80s. In Your Eyes is classic though...
Musically nice enough, propulsive. The lyrics aren't much to write home about, except "We Do What We're Told" (the Milgram one) and "This Is the Picture" (which has a somewhat Laurie Anderson vibe in the beginning... oh hey, apparently it was her!).
Нормально. Слушать можно
Fun album. I can never quite tell where I stand on Peter Gabriel. Some of the songs I absolutely love and others feel lost and wandering. This is album is definitely a unique experience and belongs on the list for that reason alone even if it's not mindblowing. 3/5
It was good but I wouldn't put it into my personal library
Prog Rock/Blues record that has some great highlights. A mainly slow rock album with some catchy tracks. Standouts: Sledgehammer, Red Rain, Dont Give Up.
Sledgehammer overskygger resten. Fint nok lyt.
Some catchy songs
Picasso, I like it. Favorite song from this album is sledge hammer. Positive vibes
6.5/10 Kinda goofy beginning Better later on
Eh, songs were familiar, maybe too familiar. Not a big fan. I understand why people like the music, not for me.
Sledgehammer is a great song and to hell with anyone who says otherwise. This is the blown-out bombastic shit that I associate with my (unlived) image of the 80s. Pure energy around a horn line, what's not to love? We Do What We're Told is a strong one from the back half. A completely stripped away, brooding electronic track with ominous chorus referring to psychological experiments of compliance in the face of moral uncertainty. This is the Picture is a fantastic follow-up. The production is fantastic with all of the hidden effects (bells, plunking, etc.) around the flute line. In Your Eyes is a familiar one to close the album. Not among my favorite, but I understand the appeal. Listened to this straight through twice. I feel like this is somewhere in the high 3 territory for me. At its best it is interesting and varied. At its worst, it sounds like the 80s and Phil Collins. Sledgehammer is great, as is the run from Big Time > This is The Picture. But I doubt I'll be back for another listen any time soon.
3.5 stars for me. Almost a 4. Peter kind of reminds me of Phil Collins voice. Not a bad album to listen to. with a couple jams like in your eyes thrown in.
Listening to In Your Eyes wants me to make this a 4 so badly. Great song. Otherwise I'm pretty whelmed on the whole album. Definitely a unique voice and I really like how punchy the drums are.
Prototypical 80s pop sound. Some songs were good and some were not so good. Sledgehammer always slaps though. This is somewhere in the low 3 range
Weirds me out how much him and Phil Collins sounds alike and they were in a band together. Man some of these songs have that terrible 80s ballad sound. We Do What We're Told is solid turned it around for me a bit. In Your Eyes has that 80's sound but damn if it's not a jam.
strange
I like his voice and several of the songs were familiar. Some songs were kind of strange, but overall I liked this album.
Dont give up är en banger, resten helt ok
2 and a half stars, it was fine but a little too 80s for me. I can see how it was wild to hear at the time.
A very good listen , high level production and quality . A couple of standard out tracks specially don’t give up is special. A strong 3
Zeker bangers, wel te poppig voor mij
A handful of great songs, including a brilliant guet with Kate Bush, and a bunch of less engaging filler. I liked it a lot more than I expected to, given it is "old rock star in the 80s", but it falls some way short of his best work.
Nice voice.
This seemed a bit incoherent. There are some good tracks but I don't think this is his best work.
Obviously Sledgehammer is one of the very best pop songs every written, and In Your Eyes is a tune, but I couldn’t help but feel that the rest of the album largely fails to reach these exceptional highs
Not bad, might listen again
So, so.
I enjoyed the gentler, slower tracks, but the more uptempo ones didn't hit for me Across the board, it seems like this album has the reputation it does because it can function as an effective gateway drug for pop-listening people to seek out weirder music in a tame, approachable environment
Didnt have a clue what to expect but can't go wrong with 80s synth and suprise Kate Bush. Almost a 4.
I think I was going for something better but some of it was alright. Some of it wasn’t great though. Half and half. A 3 then I guess.
Luv sledgehammer and in your eyes me
This had all the elements of a great album, but I found it far too pretentious for my liking. Big time, however, is a solid 5/5 and I can’t stop listening to it.
This is clearly solid and well crafted, but I'm not blown away - possibly because I've heard every track tons of times without knowing.
This album was made with great attention to detail. I like his voice. The album has very inconspicuous weird rhythms at times and some occasional uncommon chord progressions paired with a super tight 80s production. However, I can't relate to this music at all. To me, this sounds like the kind of music someone without any emotional urge would make for the sake of making music, applying all their music school tricks to conceal it. And the songs are soooo long. It's too well made and not annoying enough for 2 stars, so 3 it is. But barely. Favorite song: Big Time, but I don't like it very much.
Me gusto, suena muy ochentero no es mi musica favorita, algunas canciones suena del estilo de Depeche Mode, es inevitable no bailar con la cancion "Big Time" Digo ya se que es alrevez, pero suena como el sonido tipico de P.Gabriel, muchas canciones son ideales para el soundtrack del Rey Leon 7.3/10
Sledgehammer Didn’t finish the whole album cause it’s kinda massive.
Just okay. In Your Eyes was not as good as I remembered.
This was a nice album but I didn’t like every song. They were fine but my favorite song of this album is „Sledgehammer“. This song SLAPS!!😩
A couple of good songs on it but I never lived in the 80s so this does nothing for me
I expected a bit better given the reviews and the genre, but I just didn't feel a connection for whatever reason. 3/5
After leaving Genesis, Peter Gabriel put out four quirky, experimental albums titled Peter Gabriel 1-4. His record company asked for a more marketable name for his fifth album, so he called it ‘So’. I wasn’t keen on this album at the time - a combination of the mawkish ‘Don’t Give Up’ and the MTV earworm of ‘Sledgehammer’ put me off. Revisiting it reveals some gems though, especially ‘This is the Picture’ with Laurie Anderson and opener ‘Red Rain’. Sotastic!
Not my kind of pop, but 3 stars just for Sledgehammer and that emulated shakuhachi
So so. 6/10
I can hear my mom singing Red Rain. Lots of nostalgia here. Probably 3.5 rounded down to 3.
“Sledgehammer” and “in your eyes” are classics. I thought the rest was a little dated and thought him growling “EXCELLENT BIRDS” was silly.
I can’t fully explain why, but it kind of feels like this album is talking down to me.
soft vibes
my art pop could be anything…….including peter gabriel apparently….. this was actually pretty groovy and i liked it more than i expected but still. why does all 80s music have to sound Like That. i find it so repulsive. even the best of it sounds like there’s a gross sticky residue smothering everything underneath it.
Honestly have never been a fan of Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins etc. was hoping I would enjoy this after not listening to the whole album for ages. Three stars as there are many hits. Just not my thing though.
There are definitely some iconic 80s pop tracks on this album that do most of the heavy lifting, but there are numerous lengthy tracks that are more like drawn-out chants to me than songs. Maybe as an artist in Gabriel feels more of the need to experiment more with the synth jams, but from a listener perspective, the poppier hits are what draw me in more. Overall, not a terrible album because of the handful of catchy tunes, but the record as a whole didn't compel me to delve into more than just the hits. Notable Tracks: - Red Rain - Sledgehammer - Big Time - In Your Eyes 5/10
"Don't Give Up" is a masterpiece, I feel the rest of the album was a musical theatre piece. None of it would have gone amiss in the west end I'm sure! Just a bit big and bland for my tastes.
not that great and short album
The fusion side of the album was fantastic. However, what brought the album from a 4 to a 3 for me was this: I listened to it five times. Initially, I would have rated it a 5, but with each listen, it seemed to lose some of its appeal. Despite that, the great thing about the album is that there isn't a single bad or mediocre track. Every song is either good or great. My favorites were 'Red Rain' and 'In Your Eyes,' with the latter standing out especially because of the collaboration with Youssou N'Dour.
Sledgehammer slaps for eternity.
Listening to it without knowing the artist, I cannot bet a good guess on Peter Gabriel. Thinking of Peter Gabriel songs that I know, this is not the type of album I was expecting. This is a clear mismatch, but it was an enjoyable mismatch.
#64 - Pleasant but nothing stuck with me here.
sledgehammer!
Such a perplexing mix of quality bangers and absolute mediocrity
Hitty
I was hoping for something way better than this is. I dare not even say it. Has some excellent song and it ends with one of my favorites from Gabriel but the rest of the album just doesn't quite work out a lot of the time. Felt underwhelmed with a lot of this.
Once I get beyond Sledgehammer, this is a really good album.
Inconsistent in my mind, alternating between excellent pop songs and snoooooooze.
fágað eighties popp. kannski fíla ég þetta í annarri umferð? 3,5
Artiste connu, quand il chantait au sein de Genesis. Je connais quelques morceaux en solo tirés de cet album : Red Rain + Sledgehammer - Dont Give Up + Et découvert We Do What We're Told ++ Mais pour le reste rien de bien intéressant. J'aime toujours sa voix et façon de chanter ... Mais musicalement je le préférais avec Genesis. => 3/5
this was so... okay.... sledgehammer and big time were good! everything else was alright i guess
Kinda blurred through it, seemed pretty chill nothing annoyed me so all in all alright👍 6.5/10
it is fine i guess sledgehammer is phenomenal but everything else is like ok 2.5/5
Hard not to like this album that starts out on an extremely solid footing and tapers off a titch from there.
I enjoyed “So” the most of the three Peter Gabriel albums on the list, but that’s probably reliant on the nostalgia brought on by the big hits.
This album swings from great to strange to decent soft pop. Sledgehammer, where the bass and guitar parts quietly dominate almost unnoticed in the background, is awesome. I liked it better the second time around.
I think this album was a bit too deep for me today - maybe another listen in the right mood would have hooked me a little deeper. Sledgehammer and Big Time were pretty great tracks, just as I remembered them from 80's radio. In Your Eyes was a legit track for sure, I think the rest of this record is pretty uninteresting to me. it's produced well and sounds good enough.
An 80s rock/pop album with generic 80s sound. Didn't like the vocals in this. Didn't liked the too jangly sound. Sledgehammer is an absolute banger though. Big time is okay too. We do what we're told is pretty. Rest is just meh. Also, terrible album cover.
agætt
Lyden er virkelig lækker, sangene er catchy selvom de godt kan komme til at lyde lidt ens! Flinkt af Peter Gabriel at lave en plade som ikke hedder Peter Gabriel
Fint featuring med Kate Bush, det lød meget godt!
Cheesy as hell but I dig it. Tony Levin seriously brings it on bass.
This is not a bad album: well executed, a few hit songs (In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer), but it's just not to my taste. I think his music, for me, isn't all that memorable. He is good at creating atmosphere though.
Solid album, kinda jumps around from fast song to slow song which threw me off. Red rain sounds like it’s straight from the Tarzan sound track.
\HITS\ sledgehammer - timeless banger alert!!!!!!!! i'm a longtime sledgehammer stan. would throw ass to this in your eyes - another timeless banger. maybe the only thing in history to make me want to be cringe and stand on top of a mountain in the blazing sun and appreciate the breeze and be grateful about life big time - classic 80s formula, happy to be introduced to this track, it's underrated probably, inxs vibesssss that voice again - SO FUN & makes me feel something, chorus carries heavy. scratches my brain with the same buildup and peaking as the promise - when in rome \aight\ excellent birds - excellent beat, quirky i rate it red rain - an anthem tbh, rocky raspiness is gud \misses\ don't give up - beautiful piano, epic bass, but alas a miss. might fuck around and just give up. could work at a grade 3 school assembly anti-bullying slideshow? i mean that in the best way possible we do what we're told - confusing. maybe there's a historical reason why this is here and i'm just uncultured. ambient indie game 53% completion cave exploration music. i'm not big on random spooky interludes. L mercy street - whimsy, simon & garfunkelly, kinda too soft lil bit new wave, lil folky, lil progressive rocky. maybe if i knew more about composition and musical shit it would hit harder bc to a peasant it does sound like it would be considered a technical masterpiece. but for me the overall vibes were just dec, for sure some JAMS on here though. 3/5
Some of the instrumentation is cool, but didn't capture my attention overall
The highs are high but the lows are So low
I like Peter Gabriel in pop mode. This album has two classic songs: “Sledgehammer” and “In Your Eyes.” Both are great. “In Your Eyes” is particularly beautiful. I love lyrics that find find new ways to say, “let’s bang” and this one from “Sledgehammer” is pretty great: “Show me 'round your fruit cage 'Cause I will be your honey bee Open up your fruit cage Where the fruit is as sweet as can be” The slow songs are a little meandering for me and there’s still a fair amount of pretension here which is the thing that always keeps me from enjoying Peter Gabriel more. But the two big songs were enough to remind me that I do like him sometimes.
Wonderful 80's reverb washed, synth pop goodness. I love the strained Springsteen-esque vocals on the first track. It sounds more Bruce than Peter which is kind of funny to me. There's something about this time period music that makes me feel like I'm about to embark on something. It's so big yet small, epic yet cool, and always fun. It's an impossible mashup of artistic energy that somehow works. I think for me this might be the case because I was born in 89 and grew up watching 80's and 90's movies that had this sort of music so I think I associate so much of this sound with the start of a movie. "Sledgehammer", more like "Slaphammer" cause this track slaps. Great energy and groove. "In Your Eyes" is a great album closer. John Cusack holding up his boombox and playing this song in the film "Say Anything" is one of the most memorable pop culture moments ever. I'd love to give this a 4 but I think it's just a bit short of that. The songs in between the two big boppers that I mentioned are just OK and don't elevate it enough in my opinion.
Питер интересный. этот альбом не запомнился, но продолжаю думать, что надо расследовать всего Питера. смешно, что нигде в спотифае не упомянуто, что в одной песне Кейт Буш, просто какая-то девица на бэк-вокале
Det er sgu cool nok.
Not a bad album. I like Peter Gabriel's voice, and Sledgehammer is a good song. There are some nice harmonies in That Voice Again and Mercy Street. Didn't care for the female vocalist in Don't Give Up.
I really like „in your eyes“. The rest of it left me a little colder.
Sledgehammer is some cheesy 80s ish but I like it. And I quite enjoy In Your Eyes. A few others on this but overall not my cup of tea. And def have to check out Christian Bales monologue in American Psycho every time I think about Pete. 3.5
Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are obvi great. I’m sure there’s a lot about this album I don’t get…just sounds a little corny to me. I’m teetering between 3* and 4*, but rounding down cuz I don’t think it’s on the same level as other 4* albums thus far. Very close, though. 3.5/5
We enjoyed this, especially Sledgehammer, Red Rain and Don't Give Up.This is a Picture detracted from the cohesion a little.
I'm not sure I'll listen to anything besides the singles again, but it's far more approachable Gabriel, so I now have two reasons to appreciate him leaving Genesis.
Really good album, I'd listen again. Didn't find it super essential, but it is quality
Ok. Would listen again.
Fairly so so
“In Your Eyes” is such a great song. But the rest of the album was somewhat middling, in my opinion. It probably doesn’t help that although “Sledgehammer” is a huge hit, it’s never been one of my favorites.
Ok
I’ve always wanted to like Peter Gabriel more than I actually do. And now that I think about it, same for Genesis and Phil Collins too. They have some killer hits but then I end up being bored with the majority of work. Big Time and Sledgehammer are so catchy - the background singers make it so full and fun. But I am just not into any of the other tracks on So. In Your Eyes was a hit but has always been a track I’m quick to pass when scanning the 6 radio stations I have preset.
Прости, если трахнул 7/10
Went in prepared to hate it because I've loooooong been a Genesis and associated acts hater. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would but still not super into it. It's another case of "I kinda like the sounds but I sure like the implementation of it all when done by this other guy". In this case, after I spun this album twice, I listened to some Pete Townsend solo stuff
Very effeminate
3.5 Pretty good. Definitely had a proggy feel that a mom or dad would love
Thoughts before listening: This album is very highly regarded and I know it has some huge hits on it. I own one Peter Gabriel album which is earlier than this one, and its okay. I don't love it as much as it feels like I should love it. I can't remember if I've listened to So all the way through before, but I'm looking forward to hearing it today. Review: "Sledgehammer" is a perfect pop song. Fun, playful, and catchy as hell, it would have been a massive hit even without its video, but when I hear the song I pleasantly think of watching MTV in the 80s and 90s as well. "Big Time" is another fun, funky pop song that is also going on my playlist. Both of these songs' inclusion on So is a bit misleading. This is a very mature, serious album where everything is good, I'm just not sure I'm enjoying it. The rest of the album is certainly not as fun as "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" would indicate, with the best of the mature songs being "In Your Eyes" which is a great moody ballad. These were the 3 big hits on this album and I guess I'm just a normie who prefers hits to deep cuts. Oh well. 3-stars
Sledgehammer
Pretty good. Second to last song was definitely a weird one but nothing to write home about
Oh shit, we got a surprise Kate Bush feature. I was excited for this one. I love Genesis but I don’t know too much of Peter Gabriel’s solo work. My biggest issue is that I don’t know that I need this many six minute songs, even if they are fairly entertaining. In Your Eyes is by far the best song and an 80s classic. Overall, it was pretty meh. Not bad, but not all that great. I think I’ll stick to Genesis.
QUICK REVIEW...... excellent review. Classic 80s easy listening. This is what I picture when radio stations are labeled as Adult Hits. I didn't dislike it, but I won't remember it.
Hi Peter
In the 80s I did like a few of his songs. But the rest on the album are simply ok, nothing more.
I tend to like western music inspired by African/Brazilian music but this didn’t do much for me. Had about the same reaction to the other solo Gabriel album on the list. Maybe it’ll grow on me with time but as of now it hasn’t. Rating: 2.8
Reminded me of Phil Collins. I was pleasantly surprised with this album. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are bangers.
As much as I don’t like 80s pop, this record has so many hits from movies I grew up with, I suppose I can at least give it 3 stars. The synths and drums kill me though - so cheesy.
The singles are all timers. The rest of this I could leave.
definitely an interesting album but i feel too young and out of touch listening to artists like genesis etc. was still pretty nice though PG prolly a chill guy
Good and consistent pop record. Not the most engaging or memorable though. This aesthetic is pretty dated I feel. Some bangers though.
3.5 - Starts very strong.
Not a bad album. Kinda slow at parts, but it worked. 3/5
Una grasada, pero qué bien suenan las programaciones.
Laurie Anderson and Kate bush are the highlights, but peter plays along nicely with them
I'm pretty familiar with big single from this album, Sledgehammer, but not the album as a whole - it's not something I'd have made an effort to listen to at the time. And I think the mid-80s production values don't serve this album well, at least from a 2020s perspective - it's a bit too polished for my taste. That said, I like Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up. Not an essential album in my view.
Loved Mercy street. Everything else didn’t really stand out.
Meeeeh, couple of decent songs but happy this album is done. Sometimes I feel bad reviewing albums like this one and leaving them tainted. I come into it with an open mind and I see the overwhelmingly positive reviews but it fails to resonate with me. Not much I can do I guess as there's way too many albums out there to sit listening to this on repeat until I 'like' or understand it.
Ok
Underligt
I enjoyed the second half more than the first. Big time is a favourite.
Better than it's Wikipedia page made it sound
1. red rain - 1 2. hammer - 2 3. dont give up - 2 4. that voice - 1.5 5. mercy ztreet - 1.5 6. big time - 1 7. told - 1 8. picture - 0 9. in your eyez - 1.5
I was really hoping this album was going to be my next 5 but it fell short. The opening song had the energy of a Bruce Springsteen song - vocals also reminiscing of the Boss. Sledgehammer is still just as incredible as it was the first time I heard it. I love the sexual innuendos throughout. If you didnt know that song was about getting laid... The lyrics would go over your head. As it did with me for many listens. The overall album isn't bad... It sounds good. I'm just unimpressed with the typical 80s sound: digital this, digital that, drum machines (I now enjoy them, as they don't sound as cheesy), over use of samples and synths... Basically the same complaints I have with 80s Rush... but personally, Gabriel can't hold a candle to Rush. I'm torn between this album, as there are some really interesting things going on: the fusion of world music, soul, with art rock. The use of those traditional instruments with modern instruments of the time... I just think it didn't land the way I wish it did. Perhaps I need a Peter Gabriel fan boy to sit me down and show me why I should like his music. Without a doubt, Peter Gabriel is an incredible artist. I also know he's quite the entertainer during his live shows.
Not a bad album to listen to in the car on the way to pick up someone from the airport. But once I got to the end, that was enough, no need to hear it again.
Э-э-э... Я предпочитаю более эмбиентные вещи вот этим поп-хитярам. В целом неплохо. Песня с Кейт Буш не такая уж и плохая, как почему-то утверждают. Лучшая песня - Mercy Street.
Sounds very 80s - I was reminded of Phil Collins - but there’s also some interesting stuff going on here. Some of the tracks are a little generic (“Big Time”), though others, like “This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds),” are more compelling. This isn’t really my thing, and it’s not quite enough to break me out of my 3-star slump. Maybe 3.5. Favorite tracks: “This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds),” “Red Rain”
I waited to write my review until the Monday after the Friday I listened to the album now I can't remember anything about it. That means it wasn't bad enough to get two stars but wasn't good enough to get four.
This album is so 80s and I love that for it. Unfortunately, while it starts out great it quickly gets a bit boring.
Peter Gabriel’s So is nothing that spectacular. he starts it off decently with the best two songs on the album, Red Rain and Sledgehammer, but the album goes downhill consistently after that. Most of the songs are just alright. All in all, So is an alright album. Best Song: Red Rain Worst Song: That Voice Again
Whilst the album is quintessentially 80s, Peter Gabriel has a voice that is able to transcend the era in a way some artists don’t. The album could use some editing though, songs that go on far too long. I get creating an atmosphere, but it gets boring after a while.
Ok so this album sounds great from a production perspective, the vocals are good, the choice of Melodie’s is good. However it feels like there’s nothing here, maybe I missed the point of the songs but I didn’t feel like any of them were saying anything. I couldn’t go back and really find a single track that grabbed me in any way. Musically it’s a good listen I just didn’t think there was anything there to go back or to warrant more than the 3*
3.5
Imagine thinking Peter Gabreil is a "Sledgehammer." That's apparently the most popular song on the album and it's silly in how tough it tries to be. This might be the whitest music on the list. Mr. Gabriel is very talented, but the 80s synthesizers are a real vibe and it ain't mine.
Wow, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins sound so similar to me. So, this album was mainly interesting and not particularly enjoyable. Not a single song stuck with me, but Philter Collriels voice makes up for it.
Ja wel lekker, kende verrassend veel, maar vond het niet geweldig
Most of the album is very slow compared to the Sledgehammer hit
The 2 big singles are good, the duet with Kate Bush was solid. The rest was pretty meh.
Sì, so
"Guarantee you anyone born after 1982 is not putting this in their 1001 albums to listen to list" “It is the 3rd top-rated comment of 'So' on this site. Well, I can guarantee that I was born well after 1982 and I not only put this album on my 1001 albums list but I also give it a 5. The reason is that I appreciate great music. 'So' is one of the best albums of the 1980s for sure - this album is a great example that pop music can be very good if everything is of high quality: songwriting, lyrics, production, guests musicians etc. Even the video for Sledgehammer is iconic, innovative and the best of the decade. Perhaps it helps that I've seen Gabriel live at a concert and when he played these songs from 'So', the quality was the same as on the album. Mindblowing experience. If there is any pop album that deserves to get high rating, it is this album.“ is the now 3rd top rated comment and omg you annoy me. "because you appreciate good music and if any pop album deserves to get a high rating it is this one", like stfu we know you are some 25 year old music snob who "still appreciates the good old classics". Just let people enjoy and hate the music they want and stop putting your own taste on a pedestal. you are not special just because your young and still like older music and it certainly makes you very annoying, when you permanently brag about it. the album itself isn't even bad, but I still despise comments like these, that are so incredibly pretentious and also work against what this generator is trying to do, which is to get people into more music. in the same vain original first comment isn't much better, so fuck both of you.
One of those albums I've meant to listen to for so long. So now after listening, I thought I would have like it more to be honest, but it's pretty solid
Bra album. Tyckte det var bättre förr än idag. Men kul att lyssna igen. Sledgehammer och Don't Give Up är bra hitlåtar.
Awe I love this last song, In Your Eyes. Just for that I'll give it a 3 it was mid. lol