Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Cool to hear
Some good songs but on the whole not my cup of tea.
Solsbury Hill was great, but I couldn’t really get into the rest of the album.
Yeah, I'm not into all that art-pop moaning
I'm not giving Peter Gabriel a 3.
I found the music interesting but didn't necessarily enjoy it. Lots of variety and pockets of things that I liked but as a whole it just didn't do it for me. The photograph on the cover is fantastic though, great use of texture, composition and emotion - my favourite cover so far in this project. 5 stars for the cover, but 2 over all.
I love the oddness of Peter Gabriel. Good stuff.
I love Salisbury Hill, it’s an all timer. I like a bunch of other Peter Gabriel as well. The rest of this did not click for me though.
Good, but not for me
10/10 oh boy, to think a debut album can be this perfect blows my mind
Not my fav
переменчивый и вроде приятный напомнил одного друга
Okay, mostly listened to as background music.
Really quite enjoyable and interesting! There were times I thought it was Randy Newman, but that added to the delightfully unexpected beyond the classic "Solsbury Hill."
Although I had never listened to this album, I somehow knew from the first few bars that I would love it. I mean, it does have my favorite Peter Gabriel tune, but also it just sounded cool.
Continuing an excellent week. You could tell me that this album was from any decade and I'd believe it. There's not much here that screams 1977. Loved it.
I had a friend in high school and college who was a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, so even though I couldn’t recall listening to this album as soon as I heard it I recognized every song. I appreciate it more now than I did then. Great album!
Very weird opening track, Peter. Very good second track. Cool third. Questionable fourth - melody and lyrics are fine but the instrumentation was too far down the barbershop/carnival rabbit hole for me to get onboard. Dolce Vita was cool. Last was alright. Ultimately not sure this album belongs on the list. His album So has more of his solo hits.
Kind of all over the place and definitely not my thing but overall fine. Solsbury Hill and Here Comes The Flood we’re my faves.
This album is really a mixed bag. Some of it sounds like prog rock -- the Peter Gabriel led version of Genesis. Other parts sound like him trying to make more mainstream, blues based rock music. Better music is still a few years away.
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
Bit all over the place. Struggle but I could appreciate the ideas
So boring....
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.
Listened Before? N Cool old PG album. He's not my favorite but this was a decent one. I think I liked it better before he got trippier in the 80s. Added to Library? N Songs added to library: Solsbury Hill
Humdrum
Smatterings of genius and a decent listen all round
There are some pretty decent tracks on here, but most is progrock/art rock silliness.
like it but was not the right sound for today
Não é muito meu estilo, mas tem boas surpresas.
Some really great tracks on here, alongside some confusingly odd missteps. It's a bit scattershot but there is a lot to enjoy.
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.
pretty fun :)
A good debut, some solid songs especially, Solsbury Hill, but other than that there isn't much to love. I don't mind Genesis, I despise Phil Collins and I can tolerate Peter Gabriel in small doses, if that tells you anything...
The whole album just feels epic. The sounds are big and bold. You don’t find this stuff in today’s music.
Peter Gabriel, like cheap wine, isn’t particularly offensive to the senses, but also doesn’t really stand out to me in any meaningful way.
Pleasantly surprised by this album! I’ve always associated Peter Gabriel with super hardcore 80s (Sledgehammer), so I quite enjoyed this.
It was OK
I was hoping to like this one a bit more! I'd say it's a strong three. There were many parts I liked, but not enough for me to love any of the songs. I'm more hopeful for his other solo stuff, and the Genesis stuff that is one here. My favourite song was Excuse Me.
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.
Nope, this album is still not doing much for me. Solsbury Hill is a good song, of course, but that's about it.
Strangely inconsistent album. Nice music here and there, and of course the gorgeous Solsbury Hill, but it doesn't get into one piece for me.
Some great stuff
Like a lot of his stuff but basically nothing on this album other than Salisbury Hill. Mwamp mwamp
Track one: this feels like 4 pretty good ideas for a hook mushed into one song. Track two: first familiar song I’ve heard in a few days doing this. Totally fine song, don’t feel any differently hearing it in context than any other time I’ve heard it 🤷🏻♂️ All in all, nothing here that compels me to revisit.
not really that appealing to me
It was alright. One song was recognizable. I don't see myself listening to this album again but I will round up.
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
Favourites: • Moribund the Burgermeister • Solsbury Hill
Solsbury hill brings me great joy. The rest of this album is kinda just ok.
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
Decent. Starts of really strong but loses momentum quickly.
Some messy mix of Genesis, David Bowie, and Steely Dan. Why is '70s rock full of fillers?
Bit dull innit
pretty cool, how is solsbury on this
extremely bipolar. and not really in a good way. fav songs: solsbury hill, modern love, humdrum, waiting for the big one.
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.
Eh
It was alright. Solsbury hill and here comes the flood carried this album.
Having had Peter Gabriel III eariler in the week this one disappoints, a reasonable debut solo album with the great solbury hill, but album is a little over the place, good, but I don’t think we need 3 Peter Gabriel solo albums on the list.
5 but I was tripping. Will listen again
i’d do coke to this
i liked a lot of these songs but really i cant remember them too well i think they were fine but not good enough for me to be like wow i want to listen to this again like ever and i know wow its peter gabriel he wrote solsbury hill which is not how i would spell that by the way but anyway he is just so normal oh my god
Es realmente el verdadero puede y debe mejorar, pero siga por ese camino. Un disco que intenta mucha cosa bajo la huella del rock. Evidentemente hay canciones buenas, pero los falsetes qeu no entran, la longitud innecesaria de las canciones y de plantearles problemáticas a temas que sonarían 20 veces mejor, hacen que llegue puntos a los que el disco se haga tedioso y uno desee llegar al final o terminarlo antes. También los momentum de las canciones a veces no se encuentran y realmente el cambio por más lírico qeu sea con lo melódico no entra bien y no convence, un gran ejemplo de esto es la última canción. Como canciones individuales se podría decir que tienen mucho mérito y uno queda con ganas de saber si peter gabriel mejoró a lo largo de los años 6/10.
I love Solsbury Hill but the rest of the album seemed a bit uneven.
Chill, no me ha disgustado
Peter Gabriel is someone I’m well-disposed towards without knowing that much of his stuff. He seems to have decent music taste and experimental-but-not-too-proggy tendencies, and this album displays those quite well. That said, I might've considered a lower score were it not for the joyous Solsbury Hill, which never fails to raise a smile.
Huge, bombastic, and filled with variety, you can definitely tell we are coming fresh off the heels of Genesis here (not to mention the touches from King Crimson members in the studio). Just great art pop/art rock all around, I think this just barely slides into 5 stars for me.
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
I don't hate it as much as that godawful 70's psychedelic folk band, but I am not a fan of Peter Gabriel (with a couple of song exceptions)
paljon erinlaista biisinnypäkkää, tykkään variaatiosta moni biisi heikommanpuoleisia niin, tuota, siitä en tykkää heh.. kuitenkin pophitti solsbury hill objective albumin heikoin kappale ja mielummin kuuntelen outoa HUMPUUKia kun sanan-toisto-poppia heh B-OSIO PELASTI!! HYVIÄ BIISEJÄ SIINÄ!!! waiting for the big one
The musical ideas are there, but the execution isn't.
‘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).
6/10. Eh, I probably just wasn't in a pretentious enough mood for a genesis solo album today, and this started to wear on me after the first few songs.
Wacky but enjoyable overall. 7/10
Solsbury Hill is great. Really good album.
The more i listen to it, the problems i initial detect start to disappear and each track has some mood or meaning that fits in the whole. Even the quirky Excuse Me i've begun to appreciate. The tracks are interesting, lyrically and musically. I'm fully engaged.
meh. One big hit and a bunch of... something
Peter Gabriel fuckin GETS IN THAT ASS. Power ballad after ballad. Lettem know, my man.
Meh, Would rather listen to Pink Floyd or Yes
2.4
kinda bad tbh it feels like several attempts at the bad songs Paul wrote for the beatles 1.5
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.
This album is fucking bonkers. There's a lot going on, and Gabriel tries many different things. You can tell he's trying to find his signature sound. Some of it was fantastic (Moribund the Burgermeister), and others weren't (Humdrum). I appreciate the risk and the inventive nature of this album, but the majority of the songs fall flat after Solsbury Hill.
There were a couple of good tracks here but it didn't deliver anything special. Just another mediocre 80's album.
Solo por Solsbury Hill
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.
Mon camarade d'écoute robcavalière m'a déclaré hier que Peter Gabriel, je cite "s'est surpassé pour nous sortir de la merde". Je vous laisse maintenant aller voir la note que ce dernier a attribué à l'album. Cela devrait vous permettre de comprendre le calvaire vécu au quotidien dans cette éprouvante épreuve des 1001.
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.
One good track
Great
Surprisingly better than I was expecting
strange
I love Salisbury hill. Couldn’t warm to rest
Mye kult mye meh
Yup!
Starts out nice and proggy then gets gradually more boring as it goes on
gostei
Best Song: Solsbury Hill. It's like I'm living in a coffee commercial. Worst Song: Excuse Me. Nobody wants this parlour circus silliness. Overall: Exceedingly humdrum. I expected much more. This was the genesis of nothing.
3.5/5
Very much all over the place, can't see myself relistening.
Just an ok album, "Solsbury Hill" was about the only song worth a re-listen.
Fantastic! Brings back some memories!
Raro...Conocía Solsbury Hill, un poco musical. Al final una heavy-lenta-romántica...Raro.
Found myself enjoying quite a bit with the odd tune I disliked, however left no lasting impression. 3.3
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.
Mid way between his proggy heights of Genesis and his MTV hit making. Interesting in place but again not really my taste
You're standing on my memories.
Very good, some very interesting songs
2,5
I mean Solsbury Hill is one of the greatest songs ever. The rest of the album is good but not on the same level
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.
Alright music. While I don’t have a distaste for this one like I do for So (hasn’t come up, but it’ll probably be a 2), I don’t particularly enjoy this. ‘Solsbury Hill’ is a great song, and I enjoy the more rocking tracks, but it doesn’t really interest me overall.
Classic and fresh at the same time, with just the right amount of quirky artistry to make things stand out.
Not super impressed actually. Solsbury Hill is obviously a big one, but the rest of the record is really just alright. It's produced well and everything, and the collection is quite varied and eclectic. Just mostly uninspiring.
Lots of mediocre tracks and one we all know.
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
Ietwat poppy progrock. Wel oké, maar niet direct iets wat ik opnieuw zou op zetten
I enjoyed it, though it is a bit eclectic in a way that feels random. He sounds so much like Phil Collins at times, I suppose that's no coincidence given their time in Genesis together.
Sounds like Pink Floyd and Randy Newman were forced to write a musical together with no discernable theme, for a vocalist who has a range far beyond their capabilities. Peter Gabriel is a true iconoclast, and while I enjoy his work with Genesis, his solo records are where he really shines as an artist. He is an out of the box thinker on the level of Brian Eno or Robert Wyatt, who is able to create truly original music unbound by any sort of genre conventions or commercial sensibilities. He follows his muse wherever it takes him, shape shifting wildly from song to song, yet somehow the production feels aesthetically consistent and fluid. He always takes you on a rollercoaster ride, with all manner of ups and downs along the way, but in the end I'm left feeling exhilarated.
I respect his work, but never can vibe with it. Always sounds a bit too cheesy for me.
Solsbury Hill is a banger
Terrible. I gave it an extra star only because of Solsbury Hill.
Some interesting songs from the Genesis guy but I don't feel it holds together as a coherent album. Solesbury Hill and Flood are great tracks. He found his feet on later albums.
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.
Background music for 40 minutes with a single breath of “oh ok maybe” on the second to last song but that feeling fleeted after 20 seconds and then the album ended. Shrug
A bit of a mess as an album. Still some nice guitar. Overall not as proggy as I expected
Þessi er mjög skemmtileg, dramatísk og fjölbreytt. Ég þarf greinilega að hlusta oftar á þennan fína proggara.
Was curious which 'peter gabriel', all first 4 album have that name don't they? This one too eclectic for me, love e.g. Solsbury Hill and Here Comes the Flood but not as strong and coherent as e.g. Peter Gabriel (4).
I couldn’t get into it. To theatric for me. However, “Solsbury Hill” is a great track.
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.
Bit proggy
First album after Genesis hits hard
Not really a 'debut' album based on the experience of genesis but a good album anyway
It’s a strange album because he’s written songs in multiple different genres. Kind of makes no sense.
Solsbury Hill is certainly a song that has survived remarkably well with its cheerful and bouncy melody. Boom, boom, boom. It's a song that of course is familiar, but I haven't personally played to death. That stands. I could do without Excuse Me and Waiting for the Big One and I often wonder why musicians pollute albums with songs like these. Humdrum was a high point for me as I'd never heard it and I liked its sound, lyrics, and especially the quavering keyboards in the background, eventually opening up into a polyphonic sound cathedral. Gabriel at his youngest and with full potential and power. I am positive this sound has surely inspired generations of important bands of today directly and indirectly. Epic guitar solo on Slowburn Down the Dolce Vita has echoes of Bowie and I like it a bit.
I wanted to name my first kid Peter Gabriel, but my wife said she'd divorce me and file for custody if that happened so, I named them Phil Collins. It's the same kid, really, and my first was the Genesis of having more kids. Now they're in middle school and are relentlessly teased. Sure, they changed their name to Colin, but most kids know their real name and it's not uncommon to hear "Feel Collin!, Feel Collin's (nuts)" in the school hallways before class. Kids are so mean. I named my second kid Peter Gabriel, and even they get teased. Kids refer to him as "Petter..."
Gabriel almost lost me right off the bat with "Moribund the Burgermeister." This self-titled album was saved by "Solsbury Hill," which holds up well, but after that nothing really stands out. The division between early-Genesis Gabriel-led prog rock and later-Genesis Collins-led pop rock is clearly carried over into Gabriel's solo work, but even as a fan of 70s prog "Peter Gabriel" doesn't deliver as a full album.
This album explores a variety of sounds, much like the prof rock Genesis from which Peter Gabriel came. I wish he would have explored in private and only put the found gems, like Solsbury Hill and Down The Dolce Vita, on the album. Tracks likes Moribund the Burgermeister are off putting to say the least.
Because The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway didn’t have enough pompous excess, Peter Gabriel opens his first solo record with one of the most ridiculous song titles to ever get printed on a record jacket: “Moribund the Burgermeister” After the fantastic “Solsbury Hill”, Gabriel decides he’s a sexpot of sorts and turns in some truly lecherous metaphors on “Modern Love”: “I trusted my Venus was untouched in her shell But the pearls and the balls in her oysters were tacky as hell” and “Hey, I worship Diana by the light of the moon When I pull out my pipe she scream out of tune” He follows that up with obnoxious music hall cabaret (Excuse Me) and, later, an overwrought blues romp (Waiting the Big One). You really get it all on Gabriel’s 1977 self-titled, and by “it all” I mean “a few great songs and a bunch of stuff that probably should have been left on the cutting room floor”. It’s all well executed, but lacks what I’d call “consistency”. Kind of a “let’s throw everything at the way and see what sticks” vibe here and the end result is just ok.
Pas trop compris la ligne éditoriale
chaotic neutral ?
Me gustó, para rescuchar
yet another "why is this on this list?" pick. exactly as self-indulgent as you would guess it would be, given that it's the debut by a guy who quit a prog group over clashing egos. "Excuse Me" and "Waiting For The Big One" are straight-up embarrassing. ("Solsbury Hill" is, of course, gold, and keeps this in 2-star turf.)
Prog bops. Ton of variety. I don't have any observations on this. Do you like early Genesis? Cool, this is that. It's a fun time.
My first PG album experiences as a middle schooler from my cool older sister. Wonderful bonding with this album. Sadly the commercially successful SO album was quite divergent and a bit of a let down. I haven’t heard this in years. So glad I’m listening to these- new hood ones, old loves, and sure- some I hate.
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.
One classic song, one good song, and a bunch of other stuff.
⭐ Solsbury Hill
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.
A weak 3. Certainly listenable but more bad than good. Last 2 songs are really good tho
A benevolent 3 for this one. Couple of better songs, couple of weirder ones...
I honestly didn't get into at all, I found it distracting. Solsbury Hill was nice, but that was about it for me.
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!
really swings wildly between great song and goofy song (which is often but not always bad). production is absolutely the highlight but gabriel's voice and songwriting also shine. best tracks: here comes the flood, down the dolce vita, solsbury hill
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.
I want to love Peter Gabriel, seems like the kind of character that I'd really love. But this aint it. Didn't hate it, I finished it, but aside for Solsbury Hill, can't remember a single song.
I know this doesn't really make sense but this album reminded me of the Queen album A Night at the Opera, but without the genius of Bohemian Rhapsody, etc. What I really mean, is that this album is kind of all over the place. It's not bad musically, but it just doesn't work for me. It feels like he's throwing songs at the wall and seeing what sticks. Solsbury Hill was the only sticker in the bunch.
Amazing. Very theatrical. Never listened to before but will need to give another listen.
Actually really freaky sounding. this music makes me vvv anxious
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.
It's ok. Mix of good rock and good pop.
Something of a rag bag collection. Not sure why this would make the list as it is way short of his later work. Not overly keen on his vocal style but it is more tolerable as a sol artist than when part of Genesis.
Had a couple good tunes but many sounded gimmicky
Best Song: Solsbury Hill. 3/5
It was okay. It’s very artsy. Gotta love solsbury hill though. 6/10
Reminds me of the 90s... hard to determine a distinct voice
Trist.
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.
Solisbury hill is a classic but other songs were hit and miss. 70s glamish.
never heard of him but he seems good
Surprised I like some of these! Great pick!
I don't know why, and this isn't a reflection on Peter's musical prowess, but this album just makes me uneasy and I did not identify with it at all. "Peak boomer rock" probably conveys it best.
This album is all over the place. Sometimes it sounds exactly how I expect Peter Gabriel to sound; other times I think I’m listening to Randy Newman.
I went to Solsbury Hill once and it was shit.
indulgent as fuck and i can't just take to this. Appreciate this album is getting the brunt but there's whole swathes of indulgent english prog rocky shite from the late 60s to late 70s that i hate. God bless punk. Ha.
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.
A patchy album, but enjoyable.
An exuberant and commanding listen, if a bit more pomp than substance. Signals the coming of the 80s as it maintains some narrative worth, but opts more for the big synth splashes and gated drums, a herald of the gradual cheapening of the instrumental and lyrical value that was to come over the next decade. Would consider re-listening as I had a pleasant experience, but only because the songs did not leave much impression outside general positivity the first go round.
Meh
I don't really know what to say I didn't hate it but I didn't like it
Track one is giving me the heebie-jeebies... Overall, album was boring more than creepy, but I struggled to get through it.
Want to like it more because of Salisbury hill but album doesn’t sound good to me. Lacks character and just blends together.
I bought this album in the 1970s, but it never got a lot of play. At the time I was shifting my musical mindset from prog to punk/new wave, and this was too associated with the 'old'. On revisiting, it is decent without bein spectaculsr.
What an off putting album. Did not enjoy it at all. 2 stars because the atmosphere was BIG but overall not one for me.
Peter Gabriel is the debut album by the English singer-songwriter and producer Peter Gabriel after he left the progressive rock band Genesis. This "impressively rich debut album" left critics happy and is certified gold in the US and the UK. I liked the relaxed nature of the rock music on this album and the song "Solsbury Hill" is especially great. This was a good album, but not enough to recommend to all your friends.
Apart from the execrable "Excuse Me", an otherwise brilliant album.
Saw the top 10 singles one week in 1976 and thought, I could do that.
peter gabriel by peter gabriel is not as good as peter gabriel by peter gabriel or peter gabriel by peter gabriel or, for that matter, peter gabriel by peter gabriel
1977. Solsbury Hill
Solid 3.
Can definitely see why "Solsbury hill" was so popular.
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
Jj
For an artist as accomplished as Gabriel it is interesting to see his first solo effort come with such an iconic song like "Solsbury Hill". Quite often artists will have one "in the chamber" ready to release to start their career, but it is more telling that it is the sole major hit from this album. Instead we have more musically diverse B-sides and experimental songs which show the future inventiveness he would bring to his solo career.
Solsbury Hill is a 5⭐️ song Here Comes The Flood isn’t far behind The rest is fine but later albums hit that standard more consistently
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
Sounds way more modern than it is. Enjoyable and a great cover.
Ketchup tier poggers
weird album. i felt lost at points but some decent songs
2 good songs but not as strong as some of his later work.
A phenomenal album cover. And a perfect song in Solsbury Hill. The rest is melodic and well-produced, but leaning too heavily into the art spectrum for these ears.
Who knew what a weirdo Peter Gabriel was? The style of this album is all over the place.
Góð plata. Auðvitað einn risastór banger, en restin er líka fín. Meiri blús en mig minnti.
4/9, 44%
Some good bits but a bit over proggy for me
Definitely was not his best album
PG's voice is thin with little range. The production lifted the late 70s Springsteen sound which isn't a good fit with the songs here. Some songs had that jaunty British end of pier music hall quality, which is an acquired taste. More style than substance here. I wouldn't want to listen to it again.
I love Peter Gabriel.
Honestly, since my only exposure to Peter Gabriel was "Sledgehammer", I thought this would be weirder. In fact, as the first few tracks rolled by, I thought to myself, "Man, this is a pretty solid 70s rock album." And then I hit track 4, "Excuse Me" and was like, "Ah. There's the weird." It didn't last that long, though. It feels like he's just sort of playing around with being weird but isn't fully committed to the bit yet. Overall, this debut solo album is solid but not exceptional. Not great, not bad, just... solidly middling.
I was so torn between giving this one 4 or 5 stars that I gave it a second, consecutive spin. My appreciation grew a bit more on the second spin, so here we are. As a solo effort, the scope and vision of this album are extremely impressive - as is the variety. The tracks on the first side of the album don't even really sound like they're from the same band. A bit more consistency would have been nice here. In general, I like the first side (4 stars) a bit less than the second (5 stars). Whereas the first side contains more psychedelia and folk influences, the second side is more clearly progressive hard rock. The exception is the fantastic Solsbury Hill. Gabriel seems to have taken all of what he liked most about Genesis and given it a bit of personal spin - adding some inspiration from Pink Floyd into the mix (not that that's ever a bad thing). Definitely enjoyed this one. Highlights: Solsbury Hill, Waiting For The Big One, Here Comes The Flood
Lots going on here. Some of it brilliant, all of it interesting and none of it bad. Rock, folk, blues, disco, prog. It does feel a little bit like he’s searching for his genre as a solo artist. A few tracks remind me of other big hits, but a little bit of research shows me they were all made after this came out. I was on the fence for a 4 or a 5 but Solsbury Hill really resonates with me right now. I had this album over a weekend and listened maybe 5-6 times and could happily listen again to find more going on. So full marks it is.
This album was.... ok? There was just nothing that really stuck out to me. It's not bad, but other than one or two songs I can't say I "liked" this album. It's a little all over the place musically, but somehow it all still feels like it kind of blends together. There are some moments that make me think I might like some of his other works better, but this album isn't one I plan on coming back to, maybe just for one or two songs. In a word, Meh. Favorite Tracks: Solsbury Hill, Down The Dolce Vita, Here Comes The Flood
Better than I was expecting!
There are some good songs here and there (Moribund the Burgermeister and Down the Dolce Vita are a lot of fun) but it's a very disjointed album, and sometimes doesn't quite stick the landing (Excuse Me feels like it's trying to be weird but just comes across as strangely nervous)
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
Tässä oli paljon hyvää, mutta myös sellaisia vitsikkääksi tulkittavia kohtia, joille ei meikätosikkp lämpene lainkaan. Kuitenkin parempi kuin odotin.
On muutamia asioita joita seuraamalla huomaa vanhentuvansa, yksi niistä on se että Genesis ja Peter Gabriel alkaa kuulostamaan hyvältä. 4/5
Nämä progehenkiset 70-luvun pop-levyt eivät minusta ole kovin hyvin kestäneet aikaa. Ja tässä ollaan sen skenen syvässä päässä. Voi tietty olla, että olen vain liian nuori.
Mukavan monipuolinen levy, ja muutama hyväkin biisi. 3/5
Not my favorite
Solsbury Hill!!! Love that song. Rest of album equally good.
Ik sluit me aan bij de wijze woorden van Arjan.
Behalve zijn geweldige 80s stop-motion clipje heeft Peter weinig kunnen brengen als 't mij vraagt. Dit soort muziek irriteert me niet, maar los van een paar aardige nummer gaat alles veel te gemakkelijk aan mij voorbij.
Aparte plaat, maar kon dit goed hebben
Ik had hier meer van verwacht. Een paar schitterende nummers, maar ook veel langdradige theatrale prak.
Prettig!
I expected this to be better. It wasn't exactly terrible, but I was pretty underwhelmed. I do enjoy some of his other solo work and Genesis era but I could do without most of this.
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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
solsbury hill and here comes the flood were good, the others are a bit mid
Rock.
In Peter Gabriel, Solsbury Hill and Modern Love are good, the rest not so much. 2/5.
I do like Genesis, but not so much a fan of Peter Gabriel's solo stuff. First track of this is quite Genesis-y, then Solsbury Hill is very different but good, but the rest of the album disappears into mediocrity (aside the end track which is quite cool). 2/5, just falls short of a 3.
Well this didn't stand the test of time. I've never listened to the full album before and was profoundly disappointed. There is, of course, Solsbury Hill, and a few other listenable tunes. But half the album seemed to be some kind of fever dream where he mashed up elements of ELO, Styx, and Meatloaf into an unholy sound. I never expected to give this album such a low score. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - I enjoyed listening to it but wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
A couple of all time favorites (Solsbury, Flood) but too much filler.
Some cool tunes and got me listening to more of his stuff. Supremely talented.
I like Peter Gabriel but found this tedious and scattershot. Yeah Solsbury Hill is very good, but there’s not much else here I’d want to listen to again. I know Here Comes the Flood is much revered but I just found it a bit over dramatic and pompous.
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.
Didn't expect to like it but I did. Waiting for the Big One was good with great guitar
Sounds like Bob Ezrin more than it sounds like Peter Gabriel, except Solsbury Hill, which outshines every other track by a mile
meh, whiny and generic
15th December 2022 Listened on the way in to the office. Drove home and had a chilled night, picked Seb up from his Christmas party. Incredible song writer, this album walks the line between the trippy imagery of Genesis and the everyman folk of Simon and Garfunkel. 3.5 if I could.
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.
I admire Peter Gabriel's artistic vision and achievements very much, but his debut solo album is a huge scrambling mess saved only by the excellent 'Solsbury Hill' and the mysterious 'Here Comes the Flood' (one of my favorite songs).
On another day, this may have been a 4, i like the pace and energy. But I think I really wasn't in the mood for it today, and some of it just seemed a bit too try hard.
Just an amazing ride from beginning to end. It has Genesis, Pink Floyd and David Bowie vibes, in a great run time, with dynamic production and vibrant songwriting that keeps you engaged and not knowing what will come next. And of course, one of the best songs ever in Solsbury Hill.
What an intriguing album. Weirder songs like the Bürgermeister one and the barber shop one, combined with songs that are very grandeur and pompous. The "weirder" songs kinda disrupt the flow of the album, but the other songs are good enough to give this 5 stars. Likely an album that grows on you with each listen
Rock progresivo. Un megahit. Está bien. Un 4.
Raro...Conocía Solsbury Hill, un poco musical. Al final una heavy-lenta-romántica...Raro.
3 pretty nice stuff
It was very Peter Gabriel and I found it pleasing
could not finish
The fifth star is for solsbury hill
listened to again such a great record, proggy but also pop
Some good stuff - Solsbury Hill stands out. There are other, much better later versions of Humdrum and especially Here comes the flood. This album was just a rough draft of later finished articles.
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.
Banger album goes hard
Phenomenally eclectic, but rumbles along without any particularly weak moments. Good singing. Good composing (folk, orchestral, rock, blues, funk, pop, vaudeville)! Less prog than Genesis, but still wacky. I can see how Fish-era Marillion were influenced. 3.5 Good.
I can't bring myself to care about Peter Gabriel
Wanted to like this more Stand outs - modern love - Salisbury hill
3.6 - I like Gabriel's voice and songs like "Excuse Me", with its blend of barbershop a cappella and dixieland jazz, are playful fun. But there are moments where songs get dragged out, like on "Waiting for the Big One" that limps along for a full minute before ending on whimper.
some lovely melodies but some lamentable excursions as well
Its pretty decent stuff TBF. But also, TBF, its pretty uneventful
Ok, this unexpectedly ruled. I've heard Solsbury Hill before but wasn't expecting the rest to be so good. I think I'm gonna give it a 5/5!
I wasn't expecting the variety, but it wasn't that good eighter
Peter Gabriel is clearly a man with a thousand ideas running through his head. One minute he’s singing in theatrical voices on “Moribund the Burgermeister,” the next he’s crooning on the pop song “Solsbury Hill.” There’s rockers like “Modern Love,” the old-timey throwback “Excuse Me” and multi-part songs like “Slowburn,” where he tries to capture the breadth of his musical interests in one dramatic song. I think it mostly works! It’s certainly interesting to hear him go for it all. At times I found it overblown the same way I do the proggy Genesis albums Gabriel made just before leaving the band. But these songs are more accessible. There seems to be more of an effort to cater to popular genres and styles. Gabriel sounds like he’s having fun too. “Solsbury Hill” is the clear standout. It’s a bright and catchy pop song but it isn’t simplistic or formulaic. Feels like his genius was more focused on this track and the result is a classic song.
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!
I had hoped for more off the back of Solisbury Hill and the oddly named opener, but this album definitely peaks early then settles into a reliable mediocrity. Solisbury Hill guarantees it's place though
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
A odd mixed bag, this one. Only recognized Solsbury Hill, though I don't know that I'd known its title or who it was by. And then there's some stuff that almost sounds like Randy Newman and so stuff wackier than that. Overall I liked it but it had no cohesion as an album.
Haven’t heard this one before, I’ve only listened to So. But I really enjoyed the unique instrumentation and songwriting on this one. Looking forward to listening again.
Solsbury hill is kinda chill but meh my man.
Enjoyed this, Solsbury Hill reminded me of happy school times
This is a really interesting album. It was original and had great composition, the lyrics were good and you could hear it constantly innovating from all these different sources. This is definitely sometimes favourite album of all time, and if I were on The Desert Island with just this album I'd get really into it before dying of starvation. ... I'm just not sure I'd choose to listen to it ever.
Hadn't listened to this album in a long time, enjoyed re-listening. Solsbury Hill is a classic.
cool
Some pretty creative instrumentals!
pov: you're digging through your dad's vinyl collection.
La la la Liv-er-pool, Liv-er-pool! La la la Liv-er-pool, Liv-er-pool! X