Peter Gabriel

So

Big Sounds, Excellent Production

Review Score:

(10/10)
This was one of the 1st CD's I ever got. A friend of mine described this as "perhaps the best sounding album of 1986". You have to remember this was recorded right when the technology age was starting to boom! Peter Gabriel brings in talents like Daniel Lanois (producer and guitar), David Rhodes (guitar), Kate Bush (vocals), Stewart Copeland (drums and hi-hat), Nile Rogers (guitar), Tony Levin (bass), Richard Tee (keyboards). "Big Time" is a funny song ("and my heaven will be a big heaven and I will walk through the front door") with a rhythm and blues beat provided by Copeland. "Sledgehammer" is done similarly with Mowtown-style brass ("I've kicked the habit, shed my skin"). "Don't Give Up" is one of the most encouraging songs ever (with Kate Bush dueting). "Mercy Street" has some of Peter Gabriel's best lyrics. "We Do What We're Told" is based on Milgram's 33 experiment (where people were tricked into thinking they would have to punish others for giving the wrong answers). "This Is the Picture" sounds a lot like the old Genesis of the 1970's. "In Your Eyes" features some great guitar work from David Rhodes and was featured in the movie Say Anything, released 3 years after this album: "All my instincts, they return, and the grand facade, so soon will burn". "That Voice Again" features Richard Tee on piano and has some unique chord changes (F#, C#, C minor, E flat minor, and back to C#). "Red Rain" has some cool percussion effects provided by Stewart Copeland and Jerry Marota, giving the listener the illusion of a rainstorm.

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