Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Wasn't looking forward to this one, but I actually didn't mind it.
Totally solid Peter Gabriel stuff here, with two astonishingly good songs in 'Solsbury Hill' and 'Here Comes the Flood'. Funny, because I have a very strong sympathy for post-Gabriel Genesis. I'd go so far as to prefer it, if we're talking Genesis eras. But we're not - Peter Gabriel is on the menu... ...and I'm ordering up a whole mess of it!
Made me sad. I miss my mom.
The one classic song (solsbury hill) but i enjoyed most of the others too
A little all over the place, but the base of the songs are all great. Everything I've had from him in the list so far has been a fun listen.
His music is just all over the place and I love it
очень фреш, не дослушала но круто технично и интересно лайк
Dès les premières secondes, on peut l'identifier comme du Peter Gabriel (percussions, sons des basses, des claviers). Certaines pièces étaient résolument plus pop que je ne m'y attendais, mais l'exploration des genres plus jazzés ou plus expérimentaux est bien présente.
Peter Gabriel, fuera de su etapa en Genesis (la más reconocida del grupo) presenta una discografía inmaculada. Sus discos Este primero contiene dos clásicos como Here comes the flood o Solsbury Hill (Modern Love también es lo suficiente comercial y potente para disfrutarla desde la primera escucha). Excuse me y Down the Dolce Vita suenan a Genesis, obvio pues Peter fue una parte esencial del grupo. Humdrum y Slowburn (otro tema que, como Modern Love, comparte título con David Bowie) son de lo mejorcito del álbum. Colaboran Robert Fripp (estupenda guitarra en todo el álbum) y la London Symphony Orchestra en «Down the Dolce Vita» and «Here Comes the Flood», entre otros. Lancia Flavia, propiedad de Storm Thorgerson, cofundador de Hipgnosis los diseñadores de sus portadas (y de otras fabulosas de los 70, entre ellas las de Pink Floyd). La foto es en blanco y negro, coloreada a mano y esos reflejos en realidad son cortes realizados con un bisturí. Una obra de arte, a la altura del disco. Otros discos del 77: David Bowie- Low, Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, Ramones, The Clash, Television, Wire, Suicide, Bob Marley, Iggy Pop, The Jam, Suicide, Mink Deville, Kraftwerk, Iggy Pop, The Modern Lovers, Elvis costello... también Muddy Waters, Dennis Wilson, Fleetwood Mac, ELO, y Bee Gees....
This was a real grab bag of sounds, but incredibly creative and all around very enjoyable. Comes off like a British Randy Newman or Harry Nilsson, in a good way. Just enough pop sensibility to keep this “art rock” from sounding too artsy. A little bit of a rarity in that the first song is probably the worst, but Solsbury Hill makes up for it followed by the great Modern Love. The rest of it is equally engaging as it swerves through various styles, just like the apt name of “Car” it’s taken on.
Gabriel > Genesis. Great debut album.
Gabriel flexing his wings as a solo artist for the first time leaves something to be desired, but the emotional powerhouse he became is apparent already.
Solsbury Hill is definitely the highlight but the rest of the album is also pretty good.
Liked this a lot. May be a slight overrating but it evens out with the previous Gabriel outing.
At times a bit overboard it’s a brilliant album with many good songs. Lush and strange in its theatrical elements.
The joy of going through these albums are discovering these pipelines between genres, these transitory moments. Here, on Peter Gabriel's first solo album, we go from prog rock to art pop. We get some long songs, and even the shorter ones tend to feel long on the ways that they change their structure. The only song I already knew off this was Solsbury Hill, which remains an amazing song and still the best on this album. It's also the most pop, and probably represents more of the direction Peter would head in. But overall, there's a lot to like here, and I'll be revisiting it. Fav tracks: Solsbury Hill, Modern Love, Humdrum, Slowburn
I have always loved this album cover. There’s a great documentary on Hipgnosis, an English art design group responsible for many classic album covers for artists such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Peter Gabriel including this album cover. It’s worth a watch and gives a peak into the thought that went into the visual side of this album. Peter Gabriel is an incredible artist and this album is well celebrated for good reason. All the musicians he assembles to bring his vision to life on here are insanely talented, I mean come on, Robert Fripp and Tony Levin from King Crimson?! Legendary stuff for sure. These songs are so lush, layered and oddly structured, and I mean that in the best way. Gabriel and crew explore many styles while maintaining a genuine sound throughout. I’d give this one a 4.
I love me some Peter Gabriel! This is a great first solo album, but his albums get better as he goes on. I can't not hear the vocals and think of Silverchair's Young Modern album. A solid break away from Gensis, but the best is yet to come. I give this a 4.
One of my all-time favorite internet things is the recut trailer of "The Shining" as a family-friendly drama called "Shining" which perfectly employs "Solsbury Hill." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkVWuP_sO0
Why is the London symphony on here!!! Isn't this his first album? Were Genesis or Yes or whatever overcompensated/ing band of the 70s big enough to rent out a whole symphony??? Wonder what the fees/artist relations needed to set up that connection. Very curious of there's a Phil Collins is a Peter Gabriel rip or vice versa fanbase sect
4/5
Like his sound. Some memorable songs
Started incredibly strong
I've been so excited to dive deeper into Peter Gabriel - I've been working through all the Genesis albums outside of this project, but I've only heard So from his solo work. (I adore So, and In Your Eyes is one of my all time favorite songs ever ever). This album is the perfect bridge between those two points of his career. It did take me more than one listen to appreciate it as a whole when I only knew Solsbury Hill and was expecting all the songs to be more similar to that. But of course it's much more experimental prog pop, and really good overall. There's a few songs I wouldn't want to listen to all the time, but I still love Solsbury Hill and also really liked Humdrum and Here Comes the Flood.
Liked this quite a bit. It's sorta impressive how much Phil Collins sounds like Peter Gabriel. This is a cool album for 1977. Of course I knew Salsbury Hill, but I don't think I knew the rest. I enjoyed this although it slowed down a bit near the end. 3.5/5
B+
Enjoyed this a lot
In the post-Syd Barrett musical universe, only Peter Gabriel could get away with a song as hokey and weird as "No Excuses." Otherwise, this album makes the bridge between his previous Prog work with Genesis and the more accessible world of Pop. "So" was a better album, but this one has "Solsbury Hill." Without that song, so many movie trailers and TV commercials would be incomplete.
Two of my favorite Peter Gabriel songs on this album, but also some that were a little too weird keeping it from being a 5 star.
announcing your pop turn by writing an odd burble of a song about St. Vitus' Dance is a choice i think only Peter Gabriel would make -- as is following that with your biggest pop hit that is inexplicably in 7/4. the Car album probably isn't his best solo effort, but it sets up the general rule that you shouldn't really expect one thing or another from Peter Gabriel; he does what he wants when he wants. folk pop? somewhat tedious blues? tender ballads? stupid Little Orphan Annie bullshit as conducted by bass virtuoso Tony Levin? there is no one direction that Car is headed, and this spreads the project thin, but nevertheless takes it to some beautiful places.
Extra credit for each song sounding so unique. Song to come back for: Solsbury Hill
Bit odd at times but overall enjoyed
Opening track makes clear that PG didn't exactly leave prog behind. One finds a bit more theatricality (e.g., “Excuse Me”) and forced diversity than one needs, though one admires the trying on of diverse musical styles (“Waiting for the Big One”). The more direct music-making (the sublime “Solsbury Hill,” “Modern Love” “Down the Dolce Vita” “Here Comes the Flood”) is both distinctive and effective, while still possessing ample flair and originality.
4 estrelas
A varied and very eclectic album that keeps you on your toes at all times, some real highlights including the album closer 'Here Comes The Flood '
I was never a Genesis guy, and certainly never a Peter Gabriel's Genesis guy, but man, does the guy know how to make songs that sound unlike anything else. He really and truly does have all the tools in his bag and he steadfastly refused to use the same one twice for the first decade or so of his solo career.
I can really understand people feeling the way that they feel about Genesis or any of its members' solo careers in any direction, but for better or worse through genetic fate I have a deep predisposition to Peter Gabriel.
Another surprising entry for me! Always assumed this would be MoR pop, but it’s everything but that. Dramatic at times, weird at others, never predictable. I preferred the other PG record we’ve had - felt more refined - but this is still very good and I’ll be back
So much more inventive and interesting than I would have expected. Lots of different styles that all sounded like great examples of each as opposed to just having a go, the jazzy stuff in particular was great. I have no idea what genesis sound like to be honest but I don't think it's this. Every so often it reminded me a bit too much of pink Floyd but overall surprisingly good.
Again, one of the best 4-stars I've given. Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill (of course), and Here Comes the Flood are the standouts. The middle of the album is a bit of a Slowburn, some Humdrum stuff in there to be absolutely fair. Makes you anticipate Waiting For the Big One to come right at the end, which, to be fair, it does, ends with a bang. I imagine at the time his songs were some excellent examples of Modern Love tracks - not sentimental, but well-written, clever, and I do really like his variety of instrumentation. Excuse Me for going on too long - solid 4 stars. Down The Dolce Vita.
Think I'm a Peter Gabriel fan! Been surprised how much I've enjoyed both albums we've had so far. Think I enjoyed Peter Gabriel 3 slightly more than this, had a story, but this was still largely very good. Couple of tracks I could've done without, but strong opening and finish. Highlights: Salisbury hill Modern love Down with the dolce vita Here comes the food
I absolutely look forward to any Peter Gabriel because I know I’ll like it but it’s different than his last album. This is undeniably just a good and classic album. Honestly it’s not my favourite of his, however in itself so diverse and impressive.
"Solusbury Hill" is a banger. "Moribund The Burgermeister" is silly and fun. "Slowburn" has cool arrangements. Generally tracks 1-6 "Here comes the Flood" are strong. This reminds me of the best of early Genesis (lush, but odd orchestral pop arrangements) progressive rock but with decisive editing, keeping everything to a tight 41 minutes. Beautiful stuff.
What a weird and interesting album. Solsbury Hill is one of those songs I’ve heard dozens of times in the background of random places and honestly didn’t realize it was Peter Gabriel, although now knowing that it couldn’t be anyone else. What a great song. Really all the songs are interesting, if not always beautiful to listen to. Here Comes the Flood is a fantastic closer. Gabriel is a big time artist that I’ve never really dove into, perhaps it’s time.
yoooooooo this lit
nice little rock album, like the dude’s voice
I do like the different genres it taps into. Good listen
Solid album, Solsbury Hill being the standout track
You did it Peter! You can be the frontman, and although I miss you behind the kit it was all worth it for the all timer of Solsberry Hill (3.5/5)
Comfortably the best Gabriel I've heard on the list so far
Very original.
1. meh/bra, 2. meh, 3. bra, 4. bra, 5. bra, 6. bra, 7. meh/bra, 8. banger, 9. bra Overall: 8/10
Intriguing and interesting. A lot of different songs that open up a great spectrum to like about the album
"Peter Gabriel" also known as "Car" is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter and producer Peter Gabriel. Two years after his departure from Genesis, he recorded his first solo album employing Bob Ezrin as producer with a host of musicians including guitarist Robert Fripp and bassist Tony Levin. Commercially, the album did fairly well hitting #7 in the UK and #38 in the US. Critically, it had positive reviews. The album begins uniquely (no surprise) with "Moribund the Burgmeister." A percussion chant and wavering synths. It's fairly big production and his most prog rock song on the album. Gabriel uses several voices as he tells the medieval story of the Burgemeister dealing with a plague outbreak. Steve Hunter is on acoustic guitar for Gabriel's most-well known song (at least to me) "Solsbury Hill." Synths in the background with all sorts of interesting percussion. Based on a spiritual experience, he stresses being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get. "Modern Love" is the most straight-forward rocker on the album. Great bass. It's about sexual frustration. A big baroque opening to "Down the Dolce Vita" goes to a disco rock beat. He does not play it straight as there's a clock-ticking part and ends with the flute....finally. The lyrics describe men going to fight a war or sea monster. He still can't yet shake his "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" tendencies can he? The epic "Here Comes the Flood" closes the album. The song starts slowly with keyboards, acoustic guitar, piano and recorder(?) and explodes emotionally with Gabriel's vocals. It's the mental flood of collective thoughts made public through telepathy. Screw a simple love song. Gabriel later would perform this in a much more toned-down arrangement. Undoubtedly, it's one of his best songs. A critic said it best when he called this a "smorgasboard of songs." Heck, there's three right out of the gate. The styles heard include prog rock, 70's hard rock ballads, acoustic folk, baroque and rock disco and bossa nova beats. There are a few songs that don't work ("Excuse Me") but it also contains some of his best work. I don't think it's his best, but I do like it quite a bit and it sounded great today.
Didn't like it the firs ttime. Devon told me it was good so I listened again. He’s right it’s actually good. Slowburn sounds like Rush. Modern Love bangs. The hook in dolce vita reminds me of a John Prine song (“Saddle in the Rain”) somehow. There's actually not a lot of filler and then you’ve got Solsbury Hill. I want to listen to all the other Peter Gabriel albums now. This went from 2* to 4* on a second/third listen for me!
I haven't listened to any Peter Gabriel, and I am not that much into Genesis, so I didn't really know what to expect. I actually enjoyed it a bit. The tracks were great for a debut solo record.
Here we see Peter Gabriel making his music weird for the sake of being weird. Truth be told, it does sound pretty great, but it could do without the excessive quirkiness. It also makes the music unrealistic to play live in some cases, though that isn't always a bad thing (see: Sgt Pepper et al.). The drumming is fairly simple but extremely effective and importantly, actually human-sounding. No artificial nonsense going on here, like some other late-70s bands were transitioning into at the time. The electric guitar isn't always prominent; it's added in tastefully, whenever a track needs that rocky spark of energy. The only "instrument" I'm more ambivalent about is Peter Gabriel himself. His voice is pretty standard (if a little piercing) during his rock-screaming, but implacably odd at his normal energy. Could be the echoey vocal effect, I guess. Solsbury Hill is definitely the highlight here. The interaction between the wavery keyboard thing, harmonised vocals, and constant percussion give a Wall of Sound feel, but perhaps less intense. It's a simple, happy, marketable tune, and I love it. Here Comes The Flood is also really good. It's intense, varied, emotional, almost proggy at times. (I'd give the opening track, Moribund The Burgermeister, a similar description – but it's not nearly as good.) I like when strings are dropped into an already-strong track, almost like the cherry on top. It rarely fails, and definitely doesn't fail here. Fun singalong chorus too. 4/5 Key tracks: Solsbury Hill, Humdrum, Slowburn, Here Comes The Flood
This album is all over the place. Bro was definitely trying to figure what type of music he wanted to make and I appreciate the experimentation of it. It kind of reminds me of life and how most of us are just throwing shit at a wall and hoping it sticks.
It’s absolutely all over the place, but there really aren’t any bad songs.
Unpredictable and influential, listening to this Peter Gabriel album for the first time is like walking with your eyes closed: you don't know what your next step will bring. In the end, the second half is really solid. I loved it
5/21/24 S Tier—————————5 Solsbury Hill A Tier—————————4 Modern Love Slowburn Here Comes The Flood B Tier—————————3 Humdrum Waiting for The Big One C Tier—————————2 D Tier—————————1 Excuse Me Moribund The Burgermeister
Very good
May 5, 2024 HL: "Moribund the Burgermeister", "SOLSBURY HILL", "Humdrum", "Down the Dolce Vita", "Here Comes the Flood" Though the rating doesn't exactly show it, this was a disappointment coming last after So and Melt. (The latter was just last month) Though it is unfocused and overproduced, it's also exciting to see Gabriel's varied influences clearly visible here before they coalesced in later releases, like a nebula. Tracks like "Slowburn" make me yearn for Queen or Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell, and "Waiting for the Big One" was a draggy blues tune, but most of the rest is pretty cool stuff. The dynamic "Dolce Vita" slapped me across the face while I was walking through the city. And "Solsbury" is just one of my favourite songs, period.
I need more time with this album. It seems like a great record to listen to with headphones. Solsbury Hill is a total banger. This album reminds me of Kate Bush, with a lot of quiet but interesting musical tidbits happening in the background. But the record isn't quite as good as The Hounds of Love. Four stars.
Better then expected! Solsbury hill is a hit but there was a lot more I did enjoy. The last few tracks then blew it for me…
Enjoyable, not my favorite Gabriel, but still a delight.
Excuse me preventing that 5* life
Some hits some eh
Really like it!
A fine album - not quite his best - 3.5 rounding up to 4 stars
Peter Gabriels debut album. Good start
Quirky and interesting. Enjoyed it
I really enjoyed this album. It was eclectic for sure, but I liked where it went. I was pretty hooked from the first "I will find out".
My mom was a huge Genesis fan, so I'm sure she would love this album. I'm gonna have to listen again because I feel like I was a little too distracted to give an accurate rating. He's got some very interesting songs and unique style.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Moribund the burgermeister, Solsbury hill, Here comes the flood
a lovely portent of what was to come after he left genesis
Good debut, a bit of a mix but nothing bad - Solbury Hill is the best and good choice for the single
Solsbury Hill Here Comes The Flood
Love this, though I think Gabriel improved each album. Still can’t argue with Salisbury Hill and Here Comes The Flood.
Very good and engaging album. Never listened to Peter Gabriel's solo career, glad to hear he's still good after Genesis. Top tracks: Solsbury Hill, Here Comes the Flood
This was beautiful I cannot believe he is not more mainstream. Amazing production truly a mastermind
Quite a diverse album. From classic progressive rock to more standard pop.
I dig this. I think most of the credit goes to the band. It feels like the music sets a vibe and holds it really well. The singing feels secondary, but it's never in the way and it doesn't mess with the vibe. Overall a fun album
Solsbury Hill is an anthem for the ages. Rest is mid.
I'll be surprised if this is on here at the expense of So, and I'm not sure list needs two Peter Gabriel albums. Solsbury Hill stands out ahead of the rest here. But it was very enjoyable.
Can't tell if it's the time period, or the Genesis influence, but certainly sounds familiar. Lots of reverb on all vocals. Lots of synths. I like the varied change of styles. Knew Solosbury Hill and didn't realize it. "Excuse Me" reminds me a lot of "Mr. Kite". A blues song thrown in there, with a chorus overtop gave some Pink Floyd vibes. Hear some Wings in there too. Enjoyable to listen to.
Not his best stuff but still a nice mix of Genesis sounding stuff while PG gets out on his own.
It's kinda nice. 7/10
Better than Peter Gabriel 3 but not as good as So. Kind of fun at times. Low 4.
Dynamic style and interesting voice, overall fun listen.
Nice to listen to
Unsuprisingly some tracks are very 'Genesisyfied' but others show promise- quite a mixed bag of inventiveness and quite interesting to listen to.
It was pretty good. I’d never really listened to Peter Gabriel before, and the album had a nice variety. Some songs were a bit too long or had odd arrangements, but other than that a pretty decent album.
Way more Tom Waits and Randy Newman than I was ey
A great debut album from Peter Gabriel. Obviously he was trying to find his own style at the beginning of his solo career but I like the varied styles this album offers. My fav tracks: Solsbury Hill, Modern Love, Here Comes the Flood.
I did not listen to the full thing, but there is a guarantee I will at some point, From what i heard, absolutely amazing
I'm a fan of Peter Gabriel. But other than the hot on this one, I'm a little less enthusiastic. This record is too all over the place. Maybe that is what he was going for. But it doesn't feel cohesive the way his Genesis work did. It feels more like a collection of songs. There are better records by him out there.
Very good
Here Comes the Flood is an incredible track.
Not a fan of Excuse Me. The rest was good. I've always loved Solsbury Hill. I love the guitar work and the nostalgia inducing horns. I wasn't sure I liked Humdrum when it started, but it got beautiful. I liked everything after that. I definitely want to listen to this again.
Opinionated and weird, I think it's the work of an extremely talented songwriter throwing stuff at the wall on his first solo outing. He's having fun. I can dig it. Hints of greatness here and there. Here Comes the Flood, Down the Dolce Vita, Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill... But it's not his best work.
Some varied styles on here and not all of it lands but worth coming back to for the outstanding bits that do. Progtastic.
An album released just three years after Genesis' Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and there are hints of that classic Peter Gabriel sound here. Very prog in places, lots of pomp and grandeur. But it is also incohesive, touching many different styles and forms. Gabriel seems to be fishing around for the style that would define him as a soloist, while not entirely able to escape from his past. Solsbury Hill is definitely the strongest track here, but there are other high points. Moribund the Burgermeister, the opening track, could have been lifted from Lamb Lies Down directly, and acts as a kind of bridge into this newer work. While Modern Love feels more like the kind of arena rock that Genesis would produce without Gabriel. Overall, enjoyable. Not as good as he was. Not as good as he would be. But and interesting link between the two.
Cool to hear
I'm not giving Peter Gabriel a 3.
Really well put together if not my personal taste. Impressive arrangements and decent Melodies.
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill I could see the city light Wind was blowing, time stood still Eagle flew out of the night He was something to observe Came in close, I heard a voice Standing, stretching every nerve I had to listen, had no choice I did not believe the information Just had to trust imagination My heart going Boom-boom-boom Son, he said Grab your things, I've come to take you home Hey, back home To keep in silence I resigned My friends would think I was a nut Turning water into wine Open doors would soon be shut So I went from day to day Though my life was in a rut Until I thought of what I'd say Which connection I should cut I was feeling part of the scenery I walked right out of the machinery My heart going Boom-boom-boom Hey, he said Grab your things, I've come to take you home Hey, back home When illusion spin her net I'm never where I wanna be And liberty, she pirouette When I think that I am free Watched by empty silhouettes Who close their eyes but still can see No one taught them etiquette I will show another me Today I don't need a replacement I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant My heart going Boom-boom-boom Hey, I said You can keep my things, they've come to take me home Great album, but I will admit that only Solsbury Hill is a heavy repeat listen. 4/5
I'm surprised to see PG's first solo album on this list. But, listening to it for the first time in many years, it really is a great album. Interestingly, I'm hearing a little Randy Newman influence on a couple of the songs. Never noticed that before. 4 stars.
This album is a microcosm of how I feel about Peter Gabriel's music overall. There are some really great tracks (Solsbury Hill, Modern Love, Here Comes the Flood) and other tracks I really have no idea what the hell is going on (Excuse Me, Waiting for the Big One). I can't advocate for this album, but I think it may be important to listen to it in order to determine if you like Peter Gabriel. For me, this only reinforces my feelings. I don't get it all, but I appreciate certain tracks.
The whole album just feels epic. The sounds are big and bold. You don’t find this stuff in today’s music.
Pleasantly surprised by this album! I’ve always associated Peter Gabriel with super hardcore 80s (Sledgehammer), so I quite enjoyed this.
PG III, IV, So are are all 5-star albums, and in my memory the same goes for Passion (but would need to check). PG I (Car) contains Solsburry Hill and the best version of Here Comes the Flood, both classic 5-star songs. I much like the other typical art rock songs as well, but the album is (just like PG II) a little too uneven for five stars - I always skip the couple of Randy Newman-ish tracks. Overall score: 8/10.
I enjoyed Peter Gabriel on this album more than on anything he ever did with Genesis. Still, the album suffers from what a lot of first solo albums do, which is a lack of focus. This is kind of a stylistically random collection of songs, with a pastiche of styles and varying in quality. Still, it's a strong first solo effort from Gabriel, with flashes of brilliance throughout. High 3, rounded to a 4. Fave Songs: Solsbury Hill, Here Comes the Flood, Waiting for the Big One, Humdrum, Slowburn, Excuse Me
Beaucoup de chansons tellement solide et très variées en genre. Les deux dernières pièces finissent particulièrement fort l'album. Les changements de styles sont très variés, ça joue en la faveur de l'album, mais parfois aussi ça crée des moments faibles (ex : Excuse Me), ou des moments qui se démarquent trop (ex : Waiting for the big one qui est ultra blues). En gros c'est un très bon album, mérite définitivement une deuxième écoute. 8/10
Peter Gabriel's first solo effort post-Genesis turned out to be a huge hit. At least, Solsbury Hill was. I don't think anyone doubted Gabriel's songwriting ability, but his willingness to try new things outside of progressive rock. This includes a questionable vaudeville song, but more importantly includes the incredible folk-inspired Solsbury Hill. Peter Gabriel's solo debut is as strong as ever, still standing the test of time. Side B is especially impressive, which seemed to be Gabriel getting more ambitious with "bigger" songs. This concludes with a monumental Here Comes the Flood. I hold Peter Gabriel's artistic efforts in high regard. Even though Genesis was his more ambitious work, his solo releases were more concise and effective.
i’d do coke to this
I love Solsbury Hill but the rest of the album seemed a bit uneven.
A little bit bloated for my taste, also Modern Love and Waiting for the Big One were not as harmonious with the rest of the album. The rest was Rock solid, however.
Old favourite
‘Moribund the Burgermeister’ has delicious prog rock vibes - an absolute fantastic opener. Don’t know if it’s because it’s overplayed, but did not love ‘Solsbury Hill’, and it felt jarring next to the opener. ‘Down the Dolce Vita’ has some funky funky funk influences, love that slap bass. ‘Here Comes the Flood’ is a fittingly conclusioney song, feels like a good send off track (can’t think of another way to describe it). Came into this album not loving Peter Gabriel but he may have turned me around, at least a little (he’s certainly better than Phil Collins).
Wacky but enjoyable overall. 7/10
Solsbury Hill is great. Really good album.
Peter Gabriel fuckin GETS IN THAT ASS. Power ballad after ballad. Lettem know, my man.
4.0
Solid album
Good but not great for me overall. Had a couple stinkers (shout out to Excuse Me) but still had the Peter Gabriel sound that I like. Here Comes the Flood was my favorite track. A 3.5 rounded up.
Peter Gabriel s'est retroussé les manches pour nous sortir de cette série catastrophique proposée par Robert et sen est plutôt très bien sorti. À ce sujet, une énorme cargaison de cocaïne a quitté le port de Buenaventura en Colombie ces derniers jours et devrait bientôt accoster devant la porte d'entrée de chez Robert, en espérant que ça lui donne envie de s'en remettre plein les narines.
I don’t think it’s consistently perfect but theres some really great heights this album reaches especially down the dolce vita which was definitely love at first listen. Most other tracks are solid though 4/5
It’s unusual to find an artist decide to dabble in different genres and manage to sound both convincing and cohesive, but here Gabriel has managed it. A pretty fascinating collection of songs showcasing his talent.
Great
Surprisingly better than I was expecting
Mye kult mye meh
Fantastic! Brings back some memories!
The one Genesis album I’ve heard was when they had Peter Gabriel singing and I thought it was fantastic. My knowledge of his solo work is very limited, but I’m excited to change that today. I think I generally prefer Peter Gabriel’s music to Phil Collins from my somewhat limited exposure. Songs I already knew: Solsbury Hill Favourites: Solsbury Hill, Excuse Me I’ve said this in written and video reviews: I love songs with strange timing. Solsbury Hill is a prime example of this as it is in 7/4 timing, and yet it’s catchy enough that you might not even realise it if you don’t know any music theory. Excuse Me was a fascinating change of pace that sounded like it might have been written for The Muppets, and yet it was still really catchy and I still find myself singing it to myself. Overall, a very good, enjoyable album.
Very good, some very interesting songs
I enjoy Peter’s solo brand of weird in this album. Salisbury Hill will always be the greatest of ‘self-motivation to escape whatever current situation you are in’ songs of all time. Most of the album is not melodic, which knocks it down a few stars. But this is what he wanted in the end. A single radio-friendly track for which to pay for the highly artistic album remainder. It’s a strategy. 3.8/5
Pretty interesting. Not all great but liked a lot of it.
Classic and fresh at the same time, with just the right amount of quirky artistry to make things stand out.
The first of three eponymous Peter Gabriel albums, this was his first after leaving Genesis. In many ways it's a transitional album, as Gabriel moved from the prog rock of his former band to what would become his 70s art rock style. Nothing exemplifies this more than the jaunty, prog song Solsbury Hill and the brooding Here Comes The Flood. Overall, though uneven, the album provides a great listening experience.
I was a real big fan of this album! I was very surprised I really liked how different each song was and how it moved as a whole. I liked many songs off of this and saved a couple.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It was surprisingly original and innovative. He uses odd time signatures without making them sound odd. The writing and instrumentation and also pretty good. I was never a big fan of his voice, but it could be worse. The album never seemed to feel repetitive. Always something new going on, though some tracks ran a tad long. 4/5
Solsbury Hill is a banger
Peter Gabriel's first solo album, simply titled "Peter Gabriel 1: Car," is an impressive debut that showcases the British musician's versatility and unique artistic vision. Released in 1977, the album features a mix of art rock, experimental pop, and world music influences, creating a sound that was both accessible and innovative. One of the album's most striking features is its use of unconventional instrumentation, such as the African drumming on "Excuse Me" and the eerie sound effects on "Here Comes the Flood." These elements add a layer of texture and depth to the music, creating a sense of otherworldliness and mystery. This album is a bold and ambitious debut that showcases Gabriel's talent as a songwriter, performer, and innovator. The album's blend of different styles and influences makes it a classic that still sounds fresh and exciting today.
Þessi er mjög skemmtileg, dramatísk og fjölbreytt. Ég þarf greinilega að hlusta oftar á þennan fína proggara.
Prog tone aside, the Gabriel debut is far stronger as a stupendously wide cross section of rock music. The production slid off the record leaving a sheen, but the effect was still only positive. Straight but never square, typically.
Moribund the Burgermeister sounds very much like old Genesis. Excuse Me sounds like it was written with Randy Newman in mind. An interesting but sort of disjointed mix of styles, but nothing I didn't enjoy.
Cinematic and wild. Many different layers of sounds and moments were expertly created and refined here. What a start to a solo career.
7/10, pretty decent
CLIMBING UP ONTO SOLSBURY HILL
Solsbury Hill is so good. The rest of the album feels a bit experimental to me, but I'm glad to have heard it.
Another trip down memory lane to when I was alive. Solsbury Hill was top 40. And album includes a Tuba / Baritone accompaniment on barbershop harmonic.... Good times
Phenomenal debut album. An interesting and enjoyable listen! Made me wanna check out his other albums!
Peter Gabriel's self-titled debut album, released in 1977, is a groundbreaking work that defies easy categorization. From the energetic "Modern Love" to the haunting finale "Here Comes the Flood," the album showcases Gabriel's unique vision and artistic sensibility. "Modern Love" is a standout track, with its catchy chorus, driving beat, and classic rock vibe. The organ backing adds a distinctive touch, and Gabriel's vocals are full of energy and passion. The song is reminiscent of the works of Bruce Springsteen or Elvis Costello, with its themes of youthful rebellion and romantic longing. "Humdrum" is another highlight, with its chilled-out atmosphere and sweeping synth sounds. The song's dreamy quality and ethereal vocals create a sense of otherworldliness, and the production is top-notch. The combination of acoustic and electronic elements is a hallmark of Gabriel's style, and it's on full display here. "Here Comes the Flood" is a stunning closer, with its epic scope and theatrical flair. The song builds slowly, with Gabriel's vocals rising in intensity as the arrangement grows more complex. The guitar solo is a thing of beauty, showcasing Gabriel's talent as a musician as well as a singer and songwriter. And then there's "Solsbury Hill," arguably one of the greatest songs ever written. The song's themes of personal liberation and self-discovery have resonated with audiences for decades, and its catchy chorus and memorable guitar riff have made it a classic of the rock canon. Gabriel's vocals are heartfelt and sincere, and the production is impeccable. Overall, Peter Gabriel 1 is a triumph of experimental rock and pop music, and a testament to Gabriel's unique talent and vision. The album's diverse range of styles and influences make it a fascinating listen, and its songs have stood the test of time. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer, there's something to love in this classic album.
Git
I should get to know Peter Gabriel's work better. This album was really good. It won't surprise anyone that I liked Solsbury Hill the most and Here Comes the Flood takes the second spot. I really appreciate the diversity of this album.
I only knew Solsbury Hill from this album but such a cinematic (is that the right word?) album
Quirky rock that grew on me more than expected.
Com va passar anys més tard amb Phil Collins y ‘In the Air Tonight’, sembla que Peter Gabriel es guardava el seu hit per iniciar amb bon peu la seva singladura en solitari. ‘Solsbury Hill’ és un d’aquells temes pop perfectes. Però la signatura més comercial de Gabriel també es deixa a ‘Here Comes the Flood’ i ‘Modern Love’. Tot el disc és recomenable i deixava pistes de l’exitosa carrera en solitari que tot just començava.
Surprised I like some of these! Great pick!
I love his creativity and exceptional song writing. Great stuff. Personally, I think he was better without Genesis and Genesis was better without him. It's a rare breakup that turns out for the best on both sides.
Apart from the execrable "Excuse Me", an otherwise brilliant album.
fantastic.
I'm a huge Peter Gabriel fan, but I've never listened to this whole album, shame on me. The experience is a bit disconcerting. It's like the regeneration scene transitioning from Romana I to Romana II when she tried on a bunch of different bodies. One was right, several were silly. Solsbury Hill shines like a beacon. The rest of the songs are entertaining, but mostly interesting from a historical perspective. I particularly liked Here Comes The Flood. I'm not sure this album influenced anyone but Peter Gabriel, so I'm not completely convinced it belongs on this list. I am, however, entirely happy to have listened to it. 3.5
Still my favorite male voice. Mostly great. A few songs are just plain goofy.
I enjoyed this, it was goofy at times but also went really hard
It’s a good album. Out of the 4 self titled albums, is it the best? No. #Melt4Life
Ketchup tier poggers
Góð plata. Auðvitað einn risastór banger, en restin er líka fín. Meiri blús en mig minnti.
4/9, 44%
intricate compositions (as expected from a former Genesis member), but here the focus is not so much as on intricacy/progression but rather on the vocals and melody - which I loved! definitely a great album which I’ll re-listen soon
On muutamia asioita joita seuraamalla huomaa vanhentuvansa, yksi niistä on se että Genesis ja Peter Gabriel alkaa kuulostamaan hyvältä. 4/5
It seems like he was trying to settle on his style. Some tracks are odd, some show promise, others are brilliant. Solsbury Hill remains one of my top ten songs of all time.
Rock.
Some cool tunes and got me listening to more of his stuff. Supremely talented.
Subtle touches of the prog rock Gabriel did with Genesis, subtle touches of blues and synth rock. I never listened to this album other than Solsbury Hill and really enjoyed it. 3.5.
This was so close to being a 5, but it lost me a bit with the last song. Overall a great album that somehow manages to explore a ton of genres without ever losing it's cohesiveness, the songs had enough variety between them that even when there was one I didn't like as much the next song completely, keeping anything from feeling like a drag. If I could give a 4.5 I would. Best tracks: Moribund the Burgermeister, Excuse Me, and Down The Dulce Vita.
I really liked this album, it reminded me of my childhood because my dad loves Genesis (I wonder why it reminds me of Genesis hmm...), so I'm definitely accustomed to prog rock. The middle of the album drags a little bit, but was still enjoyable. Some standout songs were "Solsbury Hill" (obviously), "Modern Love," "Down the Dolce Vita," and especially "Here Comes the Flood." "Down the Dolce Vita" gave a cool cinematic experience and "Here Comes the Flood" made me want to hear it live in concert with everyone in the crowd screaming along.
Long time Peter Gabriel fan (I'm talking kindergarten age, my parents loved his solo work), but I've somehow never listened to this album? I really fuck with it though, it's not as worldly as his other stuff but I think he does enough differently to make it stand out from its contemporaries. It's delightfully weird, in a way that points towards what rock would look like in the next decade. That being said, it's in my bottom half of albums by him. I miss the innovative percussion elements that I associate so strongly with him, which definitely made some his later stuff stand out in comparison to this. I'm not faulting it for being a bit of a bridge album linking his solo stuff to Genesis, but it absolutely feels like a debut. The songs are each distinct in a way that makes it feel like Gabriel is trying out different things to see what sticks (with varying degrees of success, but never outright failures; I think the worst tracks on here are at least decent). Standout tracks: Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill (of COURSE), Humdrum, Slowburn, Here Comes the Flood I'm giving it a solid 4. There are some really great tracks on here, some of which are hella underrated, but they aren't all bangers. If I'm in the mood for Peter Gabriel, I'm almost always going to pick Melt or So - both of which I would probably give 5s - over this one.
Rock progresivo. Un megahit. Está bien. Un 4.
It was very Peter Gabriel and I found it pleasing
listened to again such a great record, proggy but also pop
Solsbury Hill is a banger. Peter's voice is both so iconic and so well produced that its one of these distinctive sonic signatures in rock and roll. Down The Dolce Vita is also a banger. "stranded starfish have no place to hide."- Here Comes The Flood could be a fun cover.
The name of this song is "Solsbury Hill?" wow ok! I checked Spotify to make sure it wasn't glitching out and playing a different track hahah. Yea this song is a 5/5. Unfortunately Spotify started this album in shuffle mode so after the wild first track with weird guttural vocals it went to the rockin track 6, "Slowburn". The contrast wasn't bad or anything, and I think it would have been just as much of a leap as track 1 to track 2, "Solsbury Hill". I really hate accidental shuffle. I love the instrumentation on "Excuse Me". Love a good tuba oompah sound. Really enjoyed the album full through!
Usually, when artists go solo due to creative differences, they start to suck or become more stripped down. In most cases, even if the songs are decent, you feel like the band could make those songs better, or at least that's how I felt in cases like Stevie Nicks or Morrissey. But just like Donald Fagen leaving Steely Dan, Peter Gabriel shows he's full of a colorful diversity you just couldn't expect to find on their band's records. Not saying they're better, in fact these records tend to be less cohesive, but it goes to show how talented these artists are when they have full creative control. At heart, it shows that Peter Gabriel is a pop rock artist, who will fully realize his potential in his later masterpiece So. For now, he's exploring and finding what works for him. But as an audience member, I find myself enjoying every minute. It's actually a really great introduction to Gabriel-era Genesis, less busy and more spacious but still full of as much personality. "Modern Love" appeals to arena rock fans, "Humdrum" to adult contemporary, "Waiting for the Big One" to blues (and a bit of jazz), and "Down the Dolce Vita" to disco. But of course, the one that shines is the folk-like yacht rock "Solsbury Hill." Favorites: Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill, Excuse Me, Down the Dolce Vista
Hadn't listened to this album in a long time, enjoyed re-listening. Solsbury Hill is a classic.
Wow, didn't realize "Solsbury Hill" was Peter Gabriel! This is one of my favorite songs ever. The whole record is awesome! Love Petey Gabe's stuff, especially the more theatrical cuts. Hope more of his work pops up!
Bra biltur-album! God stemning hele veien
Rock progresivo. Un megahit. Está bien. Un 4.
Was good, different from what i know of him
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was such an excellent LP I couldn't believe Peter Gabriel split from Genesis after that one. He was always the weird one in Genesis with the costumes, crazy acid induced lyrics (see Supper's Ready) and singing style. This made him the easy one to like. When his first solo album arrived I remember reading the song names before playing it and seeing the first song was "Moribund the Burgermeister". That made me so happy. I had no clue what this title and that's what I liked about it. It was weird which meant Peter was back in business.
I remember eagerly running out and buying this album, being disappointed with the drivel Genesis had been putting out since Peter Gabriel’s departure. The wonderfully weird opener Moribund the Burgermeister did not disappoint. Solsbury Hill showed he was going to explore different styles, which he confirmed emphatically with Excuse Me. The production on big rockers like Modern Love sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it and realize now that the missing link was Alice Cooper – Toronto’s Bob Ezrin was producing both artists at that time! The Flood preceded by Dolce Vita is a great finishing combo. Between a 4 and a 5 for me.
After splitting from Genesis, Gabriel took a break and then released this solo album. And boy what a debut solo it was. Although he was essentially the leader of proggy Genesis for years he completely re-vamped his sound and this album sounds nothing like Genesis. So extra kudos to him for that. There are so many great songs here: Modern love, Down the dolce vita, Here comes the flood, Humdrum etc, but Solsbury Hill has to be one of his all time greatest songs. Overall this is a tremendous debut.
"Solsbury Hill" is probably the best, most known song on the album and my personal favorite. Nice album though I suppose I was expecting to hear more known songs but that's probably on his other albums. 7/10.
Enjoyable poppy prog rock album. Standout is "Solsbury Hill" which is extremely catchy. Felt a little over-produced at times, with some exaggerated ballad-y moments.
I was expecting something very different. Something more experimental or psychedelic, but this album is pretty much diverse. I hear some psychedelic but mixed with old plain rock n' roll, pre-indie rock, and a choir(?). I'll increase my evaluation just because of my surprise.
Rock? Jazz? What is this? A bunch of bangers and a couple duds.
I like Peter Gabriel. He's such a little musical gremlin making music for small toadstool-dwelling gnomes. I'm basically saying that if Papa Smurf was real, he would listen to Peter Gabriel. Cool mix of pop and prog rock. I'm a fan. Going to blow smoke rings from my comically oversized pipe now.
Weird as fuck but really good
The first half of the album was very interesting, unusual and creative songwriting. It has a few low points but an entertaining listen throughout
This album didn't make a huge impression on me, but it was consistently good. It's an interesting look at the interim period between the prog rock Peter Gabriel of Genesis and the pop start Peter Gabriel that I grew up with 4/5
Peter Gabriel's first solo record starts with 'Moribund the Burgermeister' that still contains quite a bit of the Genesis atmosphere of 'Lamb', but with the beautiful 'Solsbury Hill' Gabriel takes a different path. A perfect pop song with great lyrics and a catchy melody. Next song is the Bowie-like rocker 'Modern Love' makes it clear that this is going to be a varied album. When we continue in a kind of vaudeville style song with the somewhat strange 'Excuse Me' we are going all over the place. Together with Side B's 'Slowburn' and 'Waiting For The Big One' these are the songs on the album that drag it down from a superb debut. The songs feel too much all over the place. Closer 'Here Comes the Flood' is once again a brilliant song, and therefore a nice end to a fine solo debut. The stripped-down version of that song on 'Shaking the Tree' is also very worthwhile.
I was never a big fan of Genesis, or any post-Genesis bands or projects, so Peter Gabriel was fairly anonymous for me before listening to his first solo album. My first impression was that the first two songs are fairly underwhelming. By a quick research I found that "Solsbury Hill" is a well-liked single from this album, but I really found it boring and uneventful. Nothing that would excite me, both in the Gabriel's singing and in the musical layer. When moving into the second part of the self titled record, I actually realised how good this is. "Humdrum" and "Slowburn" were a really fun songs, but the best comes at the end, with "Waiting for the Big One" and "Here Comes the Flood". Very nice and not obvious compositions, heavily influenced by progressive rock, with a lot of tempo changes. Interesting solos, piano at the last track and great singing made those two a great songs. I was curious of who was the main creator of the album. Gabriel was the writer of all of the songs, but the music was created by Robert Fripp and Tony Levin, both known from King Crimson, which explains quite a lot. It might be my subconscious, but last few songs on the album, and "Waiting for the Big One" especially, could be easily added to Crimson's discography and no one would notice that there is something wrong. To sum up, I am positively surprised with this album. As far as I know later records are a little bit more pop than alt/prog rock, but going on a trip into Genesis albums and early Phil Collins should be very pleasant. Possibly even on this list!
I had never listened to this album but knew his music, good stuff.
Solid album from the og drummer from Genesis
Perfect blend of badass amazing shit and annoying bollocks
Gotta Love Solsbuty Hill, of course. The rest of the album feels a bit abstract, but still fun
dis shit NOICE. Peter gabriel progboy goat genesis GANG. solsbury hill makes me wanna go on a ketamine bender. swing your dick and balls mr gabriel because you were ahead of your time with this one. sadly Phil Collins is the better musician. Minus one star. solid debut from an influential king
Gets better towards the end. Overall very enjoyable.
Yes
Stunning, lovely stuff. Solsbury HIll is a modern classic.
Awesome album. Some weird tracks but enjoyable. Humdrum, slow burn, down the dolce, solsberry hill
Good album. Solid instrumental and good vocals. Were some parts that weakend songs but I enjoyed.
Highlight: Here Comes The Flood
Awesome
Good
got it since it came out
Not bad. Might be willing to listen to again but won't specifically seek it out.
Never heard of him, realy good album, I liked it.
More ‘prog rock’ than I would have expected and pretty polished for a first solo album, reflecting years of prior work with Genesis. Insightful lyrics re: the human condition that are typical of his other work. Big vibe change between the pop single and the other tracks - sound like different albums.
Most tracks have a good intro, great riff, and interesting detailing. But the vocal parts lack tension; even when the song is not upbeat on the surface, it just sounds like they have all the answers, so there is no reason for me to care. So I would classify this as a solid nostalgic 70s rock album, but not a timeless classic.
Very like his work in Genesis, showing how much control he had in the band. Solisbury Hill is far and away the best known (and probably with good reason) but the album as a whole is pretty consistent.
I didn't expect this to be good but I was surprised. I enjoyed it. I really liked Excuse Me and Waiting for the Big One.
Liked this. Very odd
Prefs: Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill, Humdrum, Down the Dolce Vita, Here Comes The Flood Moins pref: Waiting for the Big One
Good solo album. You can see that he was the driving creative force of Genesis.
Eh. I like a lot of what he’s going for here. Cool sounds, nice arrangements, pockets of weird - but ultimately it’s too disorganized and disorienting to come away with anything I find with returning to.
Wasn't blown away by this one. Some great songwriting here, but it felt kind of all over the place and underwhelming.
Down the Dolce Vita is a Bangor, Maine.
Another middle of the road album.
This album is all over the place. It opens with a bizarre theatrical piece, jumps into one of the greatest pop songs ever written ("Solsbury Hill"), follows it with another strong rocker, and then suddenly veers into barbershop. 😅 The good songs are genuinely excellent, but the sequencing makes the album feel more like a showcase of Peter Gabriel's different musical personalities than a cohesive listening experience. The experimental moments aren't bad—they're just so stylistically different that they pull me out of the flow rather than drawing me deeper into the album. Overall, enjoyed this and I'll likely go back to try again
A great musician, but this is in my opinion not an interesting album.
Solsbury Hill is amazing.
It’s ok. Some good stuff here but not enough.
You know how in early sci-fi, everything is trying to be futuristic but the future turns out nothing like those visions so instead they look kinda cheesy and dated? That's how I feel about this album. I have to appreciate the creativity and the experimentalism but it was more misses than hits for me unfortunately. I did really enjoy Solsbury Hill and I wish there were more tracks in that style. Still for a debut where it's clear he's still trying to find his sounds it's at least an interesting album. 2.5* rounded up to 3.
Me gustó pero ya no me acuerdo jajaja
Funky, fun and different. Definitely worth a listen.
Okay
I just don't have anything interesting to say about Peter Gabriel, really. As I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before, I keep expecting him to be 80s cheese like Phil Collins, and he keeps surprising me by being a credible art rocker. He's no Brian Eno or anything in that respect, but he's got a better ear for writing hit songs without having to compromise his sound. Alas, outside of "Solsbury Hill", I can't really say I love anything here
Rather eclectic. Solsbury hill and here comes the flood are very good. Moribund the burgermeister is truly an odd song to start a debut solo album. Some good stuff and some very odd stuff
Great
Solsbury Hill is a perfect song
An unexpected experimental ride reminiscent of early Billy Joel and a bunch of other influences - including opera? Random, interesting, a fun listen.
I bought this album when it came out but, for some reason, I couldn’t connect with it at all. So, listening to it now, I find it stylistically diverse and adventurous. Really impressed. Of course, he had some great musicians helping him which helped a lot.
When to listen: Just Solsbury Hill, on a road trip. I love Peter Gabriel's voice and I love the album's one clear breakout hit, but the album is a bit of a mishmosh mess.
No Steam no point.
I love Solsbury Hill. The rest had moments, but also felt a little bit all over the place. Individually songs were good but I had to keep checking if this was still the same album because the songs were just a little all over the place.
Solsbury Hill is a tear jerker classic and really stands out in this album. There were all kinds of intriguing sounds going on throughout though, and I was drawn to Modern Love and Down Dolce Vita too. At this moment in time, I’m at a 3.5 but I could see it growing on me with more listens.
All over the place. Basically a bunch of carnival music mixed with some epic moments with horns and strings and weird synths and Phil Collins oh wait that's Peter Gabriel plus Solsbury Hill.
Highlights: Solsbury Hill, Slowburn, 3.0
6/10… symphonic rock / art pop / *1977
its ok. its a bit hurdy gurdy and i am sure it makes more sense with a large spliff but nice enough
A really talented singer that I have heard before both as a solo artist and in Genesis so nothing new to me really. The album as a whole is good but I definitely like some songs a lot more than others. None are bad but some are really easy to forget when its over.
An English musician.
Varied and experimental as expected
Not bad, some of the songs sounded wildly different from others but what did you expect from an album like this
Good album… some weird songs but also some really solid ones.
Not really sure what genre to call this? But the orchestral sounds throughout were 💯
Peter Gabriel goes Randy Newman
Ja descent, miss moet het nog meer op me groeien maar ik leef te kort om alles twee keer te luisteren.
Sounds like it's trying to be pink Floyd
This was all over the place. There were a few decent songs on here and a lot of complete randomness. He was clearly experimenting.
Tough one to review because it's so varied. There are tracks I really enjoyed (especially when he sounds a bit like Bowie) and tracks I didn't. 3/5 feels like a cop out, but here we are.
Peter Gabriel is a true original. This album is equal parts whimsical, theatrical and soul-searching. Its centerpiece is Solsbury Hill, which depicts the internal struggle Gabriel experienced in leaving Genesis, and its unusual time pattern, joined by the off-beat but distinctive vocals and sounds of the other tracks, paved the way for Gabriel's later works and great success as a solo artist in the decades to come.
As an album, it was all over the place. Some theatrical prog stuff, even some blues or something? Solsbury Hill is by far the best song, but this is about albums right?
Quite good. But also quite forgettable.
This was really ambitious and it sort of payed off in a way. I loved how diverse the album was. Sometimes it didn’t work sometimes it did.
5/10 Best songs: Waiting for the Big One, Down the Dolce Vita He sounds like the male version of Kate Bush on this album, but like, worse. The first half is not that good, but it improves tremendously towards the end. Overall not bad, not great.
One of the most diverse sounding albums I've encountered so far in 1001, lowkey gem that I may keep in rotation
1st song was terrible! It got better after that.
Ei mikään ihmeellinen. 3/5.
Didn't really connect with me much. I feel like I prefer more of his later work. Here Comes The Flood was pretty outstanding though. 3/5.
Interesting
Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel for Peter Gabriel
Wore the needle out on this one back in the day. I gave no fucks about Beatles vs. Stones, it was all Jam vs. Clash for me and my friends.
Pleasantly surprised. I'm generally not a fan of Solsbury Hill so wasn't looking forward to this album but actually enjoyed listening through. Lot's of interesting styles and variety. Album flow is kinda non existent due to this though... Not an album I'd rush back to, but still quite enjoyable.
When he drops the prog-rock shyte (see Solsbury Hill), he's an above-average pop star from the '80's. But the pretentious theater kid songs are unbearable.
solsbury hill is a great song but the rest of the album didn’t really hit for me
Interesting one this, tracks from across the genres. From roots in early Genesis, to popy rocky, to bluesy. Something for everyone. (Well, if you have half decent taste in music anyway). I quite enjoyed it, the quirky and the well know. Still the best I can give it is a 3 though.
Decent, without being great. Standout tracks are ‘Solsbury Hill’, and the epic ‘Here Comes the Flood’. Couldn’t stand ‘Excuse Me’ or ‘Waiting for the Big One’. Hints of what was to come from his solo career. A solid 3.
Solsbury Hill is such a classic and it lowk carries, but it was still an enjoyable listen overall
Fantastic opener followed by one of the greatest pop songs ever written ("Solsbury Hill"). The rest of the album, while never bad, is a mess of non-cohesive ideas, ranging from very lovely ambient pop ("Humdrum") to epic prog ("Here Comes the Flood") with some less great tracks in between. He would find his sound more definitively later on.
Le site me donne un chanteur connu ET avec un bon album ! Peter Gabriel avec son album éponyme nous livre exactement ce qu'on attendais. La premiere chanson est un peu space mais la deuxième chanson vient rattraper ça et ça reste bon jusqu'à la fin. Un album qui fais la job.
Nothing from this album got to me, unfortunately
Like others have said, this is musically all over the shop and not in a good way. Saved only by Salisbury Hill and the Hypgnosis album cover
Every Jelly Boy loves this album. I am just a jelly boy I am made gelatine Some times it makes me quite annoyed I can only jiggle and spin Met a doctor who walked past Said he had a range of cures Recommended a podcast Said was its called Regular Features Gav Joe Log Mat Steve in my ear holes I did not dare hope for miracles My heart going boom boom boom Then they they said it Jelly boy we're going to give you bones Yeah some bones Some jelly boy bones
6/10 A real mashup - some good, solid songs, some dress.
3.5
Nothing could have prepared me for how weird this is. Maybe I just hadn't heard the right "art rock" but I was totally surprised by how many multitudes this album contains. One listen was not nearly enough. There's cute songs, there's hard rock, there's strange singing, there's very plaintive tunes. All over the place. Even after multiple listens now, I'm not even sure if I /enjoyed/ everything on the album. But I'm sure it made an impression on me, a positive one at least. I have to give it credit for that.
Album #116 Peter Gabriel: Car Has there ever been another band that would have two members go on to become international stars on their own after leaving the band, other than Genesis? Most boy bands don’t even accomplish that, and they intentionally market each band member over the actual music. The 70s and 80s just seem like a time where actual talent was prioritized within the arts instead of aesthetics; you can’t tell me that in 2026 a bloke that looks like Phil Collins would become a pop-superstar on the level of Taylor Swift. Though Phil did experience more success on his own than Gabriel, Peter Gabriel undoubtedly has made the albums which have stood the test of time far better. The issue that Gabriel has on this album ‘Car’ and his next album was that he was making some really interesting experimental art rock, but also some radio-friendly pop-rock hits, and was finding it hard to reach a balance between the two. Bouncing from Moribund the Burgermeister into Solsbury Hill certainly feels like whiplash, whether intentional or not. However, as he went on, he learned how to better thematically arrange his albums, with ‘Melt’ being a brilliant art-rock album, and ‘So’ being a wonderful pop-rock album. ‘Car’ lies somewhere in the middle between both, and as a result suffers from a lack of identity. But at the end of the day, this is still Peter Gabriel, so half the tracks on this album are brilliant, but there are also a few tracks in which his experimenting missed the mark for me personally. Best Tracks: Solsbury Hill, Here Comes The Flood, Moribund The Burgermeister Worst Track: Excuse Me Score out of 10: 7
I hate to add more weight to the appearance of "Randy Newman" in the word cloud, but...yeah... This was sort of incoherent, but enjoyable. I prefer Gabriel's later work, and can see here he was developing something he'd really hit his stride in later. Solsbury Hill has always been a favorite (and speaker/headphone test track) of mine. ⭐⭐⭐
Not as good as So but still decent
I’ve heard this one before. I don’t think I’ve listened to any Peter Gabriel songs in at least a decade. I’m not a huge prog rock fan, though Peter Gabriel is more on the weird side of the genre rather than the pretentious side and I appreciate the weirdness. I’ve always liked Solsbury Hill and its cool that a song in 7:4 signature could be a big hit at one time. This album kind of jumps all around in style without being too disjointed, other than the balance between good songs and not so good songs, but there’s no stinkers here. I like it just fine.
A little all over the place. Still, there are some gems in here
This is album is fine, and I like the sound better than his even more famous “So” from ‘86. I give it a solid 3/5, but I wish I could catch the Peter Gabriel bug and go higher… maybe when “PG3: Melt” gets dealt to me I’ll be able to get there. But so far, all things Genesis are kind of like David Bowie to me: interesting, and have their moments, but I have trouble getting very deep below the surface.
The departure from Genesis makes sense to me. Peter Gabriel has a unique ear and vision, and while I don't think he hits his stride here, he is showing signs of the interesting music he creates in the 80s. This is where the album is intriguing to me. You really hear it on Solsbury Hill, which sounds like it could have been released in 1985.
The generator has been reading my mind lately because I've totally been in a Peter Gabriel mood recently. That being said I don't love this album as much as his 80s albums, though it does have my favorite PG song on it. Favorite track: Solsbury Hill 3.5/5
Better than Coldplay
3 pretty great songs, lots of weird and meandering ones. Sounds like Genesis produced by Bob Ezrin, accurately enough.
The only Peter Gabriel solo album here not to feature Kate, smh. This album is best when it leans into prog and operatic vibes, and less so when in the middle songs where it feels a tad dull. All albums should have a song called Moribund the Burgermeister though.
3/5 need more listen