Peter Gabriel

So

Gabriel's most accessible and FUN work

Review Score:

(8/10)
Far and away Gabriel's biggest commercial success, this is a terrific album by almost any standard (except in comparison to some earlier, even more brilliant Gabriel albums). The production work is lush and detailed, a hallmark of Gabriel's incredible attention to detail and interest in layering sound upon sound. And he put to use relatively new digital technology to create a sound of unusual crispness and clarity for its time.

RED RAIN A very moody, even creepy piece, featuring oustanding vocal work. Evokes his prior albums, which relied heavily on creating moods of dread or drama. The finale, where the song gets quieter and quieter uses that fading to create a feeling of great sadness.

SLEDGEHAMMER A huge commercial success, and one of Gabriel's friskiest songs to date. It still holds up well (and of course, the video was a CLASSIC). Shows Gabriel's terrific sense of humor and his "dirty" side, but it's only dirty if you want to dig for it. Most it's upbeat and fun to sing along with. A happy song!!

DON'T GIVE UP A duet with Kate Bush, whose vocals are fantastic. It's a shame she never got the attention she deserved. Gabriel plays an out-of-work man in England, falling into dispair, and Bush represents family and loved ones offering words of encouragement. It's a sweet song, tinged greatly with sadness. It makes a social commentary without resorting to anything but very personal commentary reflecting on the damage done by unemployment. Bush enjoins Gabriel to not give up and reminds him "somewhere there's a place...a place where you belong." The song is full of love and yet sadness as well, as though we know that Gabriel's character is probably beyond feeling good about himself again. It's powerful, quiet song.

THAT VOICE AGAIN Gabriel often sang songs in the first person about people with, shall we say, mental problems or at least, obsessive/compulsive disorder. Add this somewhat mediocre song to the list.

IN YOUR EYES One of the most romantic pop songs EVER written. It was a great song even before John Cusack made in legend in SAY ANYTHING. It speaks directly to the heart of how a great love in your life can transport you. Gabriel's vocals are yearning, the lyrics are mushy in the best possible way, and the backing chorus of an almost tribal quality give the song a buoyancy that's just a hoot. The opposite of RED RAIN, which gets slower and quieter as it builds in power, this song gets faster and more festive as it builds its power.

MERCY STREET A rumination of the sad life of poet Anne Sexton. Although we don't get most of the references in the song (I assume you need to know more about her life and her work) the song nonetheless builds sumptuous "word pictures" that evoke a mood. If you can, listen to this one with headphones...it really gets into your head.

BIG TIME Another hit song. Another upbeat tune. This one is a bit of a social satire...I can almost imagine The Kings coming up with something similar if they had written A WELL-RESPECTED MAN about 20 years later. The lyrics are funny and self-effacing.

WE DO WHAT WE'RE TOLD Sorry to say it, but this song is mostly filler, and is the reason I can't give the album 5 stars. Pointless and dull.

THIS IS THE PICTURE A fun trifle, done with Laurie Anderson. They both have quirky voices and quirky sensibilities, and they have crafted this ditty strictly to amuse. (The song didn't even appear on the original album...it was a B-side). Not a classic, by any means, but I dare you not to smile while listening.

I prefer a couple of other Gabriel albums over this one, but this is his most accessible and is quite excellent. It's a great introduction to the man's work and should be part of any well-rounded collection.

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