Peter Gabriel

So

SO good I cannot live without it

Review Score:

(10/10)
SO is the Peters most commercially successful album to date.

Many of us think of Sledgehammer and Big Time with their incredibly creative videos and danceable beats and hilarious lyrics. While I love thoses songs a lot, this album offers more than just those two songs alone.

Where those two songs are very upbeat and funky the rest of So is dark, eerie and very atmospheric.

Red Rain the opening track is absolutely one of the most radiant tracks Gabriel has ever produced. The title track is absolutely perfect. If there was a video I think it should have been a scene of him walking on the city sidewalk when it's pouring rain and give the picture a red tint like red plastic wrapping placed over the eyes and at the ending of the song the red clouds break up and the sun comes out. Red Rain is an incredibly moving song, so moving it's almost like a one song soundtrack because of how lonely, and intense it is. I don't think Peter will ever top this song. It's that good. I love the way the keyboards sound.

The other song to point out is 'In Your Eyes'. I,ve heard how fans were upset that it wasn't included on the 1990 Shaking The Tree collection. I kind of wished it was included on that album but I at the same time think it wasn't a bad idea to leave it off so that this album could stay in print. The chanting at the ending is Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. I at first thought it was a Native American chant but learned it was African. In fact when I listen to the song and the chanting towards the fadeout ending I definately have to say that it was a signal of Passion that would follow this album.

Don't Give Up is ambient/soul music with a truly meaningful message. I love the lyrics. They tell a story of someone who feels lost, hopeless, and all alone. The line "I am a man whose dreams have all deserted" touched me like no other lyrics in my life. I for one have gone through situations like this especially in high school. I wanted to be popular but my difference from many peers made me feel alone. This song has been a great song to enjoy. Few songs like this have such meaning like this one.

The last one I want to point is the sensual Mercy Street. It's an absolutely beautiful moody song. I believe that it was a tribute to the late Anne Sexton. The meellow, dark yet joyous melody makes this one of the most intriguing songs in Peters catalog.

There two mysterious songs at the ending called We Do What We're Told and This Is The Picture.

WDWWT is absolutely spooky with a disturbing guitar riff and strange breezy voice effects. The song then builds up with the sound of a chorus in the distance giving the song a feel of a parade of ghosts marching along a deserted suburban street on a foggy night.

This Is The Picture is an odd track that features a guest appearance by vocalist Lori Anderson. While I enjoy this song I have to admit that it doesn't rank on par with the rest of the album.

I do enjoy remastered editions of most album. Tears for Fears first three albums were re-released remastered and featured awesome bonus tracks.

Unfortunately I have to complain about how they re-issued this album. There are no bonus tracks and plus In Your Eyes was moved to the end of the album. The song was perfect placed at the middle of the album. No idea why they put at the endingPutting the chilling We Do What We're Told in it's new position diminishes the power of that powerful track. The same thing with This Is The Picture. The original lineup of the album tracks was perfect with In Your Eyes in the middle. I'm sure that Peter wanted So to end on a brighter more upbeat note wnd while I respect his opinion I must honestly say the So was absolutely perfect the way it was with In Your Eyes in the middle and the WDWWT & TITP at the ending. I actually thought that This Is The Picture ended So on a relatively upbeat note. I like the feel of the song with it making me think while I'm in the dark there is some light up ahead. So should have been left with it's original track lineup. I'm in the task of getting all of Peter Gabriels albums remastered but I refuse to replace my older copy of So. I like the album ending on a relatively dark note.

Another thing is that I find the digipak covering inferior to the jewel case version of the remastered catalog. I'm glad the digipak is limited because I truly believe the re-issuing could have been so much better if the limited edition had bonus material like B-Sides, remixes or demos. I like wtdk got the limited edition as a graduation gift and the covering hinges fell apart within a month.

A marvelous, provocitive album that was so badly handled in it's re-issue, So is absolutely one of the most artistically well crafted albums I have ever owned. It's so good I bet in 2086, 100 years after it's release it will still be available. I will be 104 in November of that year if I live long enough and I will still enjoy SO. This is one of those albums that will stand the test of time. Even the follow-up 1992s US will last a long time even though it doesn't quite rank as high.

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