So, Peter Gabriel's 1986 album, his fifth official studio record, is probably my favourite Peter Gabriel album. There's a great blend of textures, feelings and moods, and I feel it's the most consistent Gabriel solo album I've heard.

There are a lot of talented guest musicians on this album. There's Stuart Copeland's distinctive hi-hats in "Red Rain", Tony Levin's often quirky bass on tracks like "Sledgehammer", a gentle Kate Bush in the reassuring "Don't Give Up", a spirited Laurie Anderson on "This is the Picture" (I must get into her stuff one day). There's even a backing vocal by world musician Youssou N'dour on the vividly emotional "In Your Eyes".

The textures of the tracks, though produced in a similar way, evoke different things. "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time", with their slick poppy production, for me evoke the skyscrapers of the big city, while tracks like the soothing "Mercy Street" conjure up an earthier quality, mainly thanks to Peter Gabriel's vocals. His singing is top notch here, big and bold and yet vulnerable when it needs to be.

The lyrical subject matter focuses a great deal on relationships, particularly in times of trouble, in a variety of ways. There are other subjects covered too. There is the story of the man who wants everything bigger and better in "Big Time" and the tribute to troubled poet Anne Sexton in "Mercy Street", plus the image rich "Red Rain" and "This is the Picture".

As with all the 2002 remasters, the booklet comes with a booklet filled with photos, this time of the So Tour, behind-the scenes of the Sledgehammer video and of the recording of the album. There's also, as always, full lyrics and a list of who plays what (though I think some people are listed as doing things on the wrong tracks, like it says that Laurie Anderson does a guest vocal on track 9, which is "In Your Eyes", rather than on "This is the Picture").

It's probably Peter Gabriel's most accessible album, so I'd recommend it to anyone who is curious about his solo career, though all of his material is worth checking out to a greater and lesser extent.

anyone know Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush were in a sexual relationship between 1980 and, say 1984??
Anyone seen their 'Favorite Positions' VHS?? eh?

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.

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).

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.