Peter Gabriel - So

So is generally regarded as a peak in Peter Gabriel's recording career, notable both for its solid set of songs and lush production. For Gabriel, who'd been putting his music in theatrical contexts ever since his days with Genesis, the modern sound of So (coproduced with Daniel Lanois) was a dramatic conceit that effectively played off the organic roots of many of its songs. The album's big hit was "Sledgehammer," the English rocker's somewhat stilted take on the Stax/Volt style of rhythm & blues. Gabriel is much more powerful on his own art-rock songs, such as "Red Rain," which evokes nuclear ruin with its cascading rush of guitars and synthesizers. "Don't Give Up" is perhaps Gabriel's best ballad, with Kate Bush's heavenly second vocal enough to give anybody encouragement. But the song that best exploits So's blend of technology and soul is "In Your Eyes," a beguiling rhythmic tapestry in which Gabriel duets with Youssou N'Dour. --John Milward Amazon.com essential recording

Pete Gabriel's best

I know it's very 1980's but still, this CD has long lasting depth. I noticed the reviews on the first page are all by guys. I can't understand it since I believe "In your eyes" to be one of the most heartfelt love songs. I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic. But if a girl sang this song to me, my knees would no doubt buckle.

I was lucky enough to see Peter Gabriel live in San Francisco in Golden Gate Park at a WOMAD concert in around 1998. He energized the whole park. He brought out surprise guest Sinead O'Connor and they started immediately into a song. She got some boos because of her recent protest of the pope on SNL. He stopped the song and scolded someone near the stage saying, Don't do that here man! That's not cool." The boos stopped and then he counted "on four", and they got right back into it where they left off!

I think this CD will go down as one of his best. It's hard to top. March 8, 2008

SOME STUNNING SONGS, SOME GOOD SONGS, AND A COUPLE OF 'WEIRD' ONES FOR GOOD MEASURE

First of all, the sound quality on this re-mastered version is quite excellent. This album spawned no less than 5 major hit singles in the UK and/or the US (and, I think, most parts of the rest of the world as well) - 'Red Rain', 'Sledgehammer', 'Don't Give Up', 'Big Time', and 'In Your Eyes'. It is regarded as one of PG's more accessible albums, with it's leanings towards mainstream pop-rock. Yet, the album still has some of the trappings of art-rock (i.e. it's fairly elaborate arrangements, the emphasis upon keyboard driven synthesized sounds and the (so called) cerebral lyrics). Musically, there is a lot going on and, although it is music that is reasonably easy on the ear, it is also music which is best listened to while you are not doing anything else. PG turns in some outstanding vocals - his voice has a slight 'raspy' texture (perhaps not to everyone's taste) which combines well with the 'cleaner' synthesized sounds behind him.

Some comments about selected tracks (all songs written or co-written by PG) :

SLEDGEHAMMER - An upbeat song with a strong soul-funk groove - it features solid percussion, brassy horns and some very tight female backing vocals; also, raunchy lyrics 'with attitude' - phallic references abound. You could be forgiven for thinking that this track was a late 1960s product of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, instead of a mid-1980s creation emanating from the rather genteel city of Bath in Somerset, England (where it was originally recorded).

DON'T GIVE UP - A slow tempo song with a fine melody - the incomparable Kate Bush provides the chorus. The song parables the emotions of a man who is unable to find work. A man who feels bitter and disillusioned at being abandoned by a once trusted socio-political system - his mood is one of resignation, despondency and he even contemplates suicide. The only 'ray of sunshine' being his wife who offers words of encouragement ('don't give up') and reassurance; potent lyrics most certainly, but some may find the song depressing. There is no 'happy ending' - in fact, there is no ending at all.

MERCY STREET - Another song which is high on melody; atmospheric, haunting, eerie, chilling, 'dark' - all adjectives that can be used to describe this mid-tempo song. It is a heart-wrenching and evocative song about the life and death of the American poetess Anne Sexton; she suffered from severe manic depression and finally took her own life (the word 'darkness' is used a number of times in the lyrics). Also, some of the lyrics seem to imply that, as a child, she craved attention from her parents - but this was less than forthcoming. You cannot fail to be moved by this song - in my opinion, one of the best songs ever written by PG (arguably, one of the best songs ever written by ANYONE).

THIS IS THE PICTURE (excellent birds) - A rather repetitive song, but one that has a hypnotic quality. The lyrics are rather 'opaque' (which basically means that I haven't a clue about what they are supposed to mean) - colourful words thrown together without actually conveying anything meaningful (well, that's how I see it); listenable but not essential.


With it's variety of musical styles, 'So' probably has something for everyone. However, whether you can enjoy all of the album much depends upon how catholic your tastes are. The two biggest hit singles -'Sledgehammer' and 'Big Time' are not, in terms of tempo and rhythm, representative of the rest of the album - you should not buy 'So' simply because you liked these two songs

I think the music samples are pretty useless in this case - 6 of the songs, each in their full length glory, can be listened to on You Tube. A couple of songs, 'We Do What We're Told' and 'This Is The Picture', are too far 'off the beaten track' for me. Perhaps, a little self-indulgent sometimes but, by and large, 'So' is an album of sophisticated pop-rock for 'grown-ups' (regardless of age).

January 27, 2008

Who needs Genesis?

The SO album combines accessible pop rock with progressive trances of beautiful, soothing power that knows no limits. Peter Gabriel's career is laden with medals of Silver and Gold, but the trophy that still shines brightest is perhaps this very album. The Deep and energetic song Red Rain opens up the album track listing, which quickly jumps into the toe tapping hit of Sledgehammer. The elegant song called Don't give up floats merrily along until hammering into the timeless melodies within "That Voice Again", which in turn leaps forward into the infinite track "In your eyes". The rock hit "Big Time" is also on this CD.

Peter Gabriel's "So" is a masterpiece, a true work of art in a world that often forgets just how magical music can be for the heart and soul. Gabriel touches both and leaves one wishing for more.
September 6, 2007

peter gabriel hits the big time

peter gabriel's so is his most successful album. the hit songs are sledgehammer at#1,big time at#7,and in your eyes in the top20. other good songs are red rain,don't give up,this is the picture,mercy street,that voice again,and we do what we're told. i have enjoyed listening to this album again,thanks peter. ed wilson July 7, 2007

Former Genesis frontman Gabriel's arguable finest hour as a solo artist 20 plus years later

Former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel released his fifth studio solo album So in May of 1986.
1986 was the year of Genesis past and present. Ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett released his hit collaboration with Yes guitarist Steve Howe called GTR's self-titled album. Also, Hackett and Gabriel's ex-colleages which were the rest of Genesis (Phil collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford) released the hugely successful Invisible Touch under the Genesis moniker.
A month before Invisible Touch, Gabriel released So which was a year in the making but was well worth the time it took to create this now classic to rock history.
Gabriel and his supreme team of session players, including the reliable Tony Levin on bass, David Rhodes on guitar plus Police drummer Stewart Copeland and drummers Manu Katche and Rick Marotta.
The thunderous "Red Rain" is a stellar opener to this album and is possibly his best solo track. Next is the smash hit "Sledgehammer" (with Gabriel going a bit funky on the R&B thing) and was rightfully a #1 hit. Ironically, it KO-ed his ex-bandmembers' "Invisible Touch" single out of #1 in the US. Also this track's video was groundbreaking with its animation effects. Next is the excellent duet with Kate Bush called "Don't Give Up" (w/ Kate Bush) which is a stellar song and one of the best duets I ever heard. we end the first half with the atmospheric sounding "That Voice Again" which was a rock radio hit yet didn't get released to pop radio.
"Mercy Street" starts the second half off (it was "In Your Eyes" but Gabriel changed the CD tracklisting for the remaster) and is a nice piece. We follow with another big hit called "Big Time" which featured Stewart Copeland on drums and was also known for its classic video. The original vinyl album's closer "We Do What Were Told" is reminiscent of Gabriel's darker material. It's brief, lyrically simple, but very, very haunting. The original CD and cassette closer "This Is The Picture" is a terrific, light-groove collaboration with avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson which combined singing with spoken word, and the funky guitar of Nile Rodgers. The original album's second half opener and now album closer "In Your Eyes" is the album's most well known hit. This track was a #1 on US rock radio and is a nice love song and featured The Call's Michael Been and Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr on backing vocals plus African singer Y'oussor N'Dour helping out at the end.
So became peter gabriel's biggest selling solo album reaching #2 on the Billboard album charts and has sold FIVE million copies to date in the US alone. The album was nominated for the Grammy for Album Of The Year, but it lost to Paul Simon's Graceland (why in the Blue Hell was this dude still winning Grammies when he was past his prime). However, Gabriel did win Video of the Year for "Sledgehammer" which ironically beat his old Genesis mates' "Land of Confusion" video. Aside sales, So proved Peter Gabriel was a force to be recoked with.
RECOMMENDED! June 22, 2007

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