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Peter Gabriel - So CD (album) cover

SO

Peter Gabriel

 

Crossover Prog

3.86 | 807 ratings

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evenless
Prog Reviewer
4 stars I already know this album since 1986 since my 8 year older brother owned bought it just after it had been released. You could say I sort of "grew up" with this album. I liked it so much that years later I had to buy my own copy of it. (Of course)

I wouldn't really call it a progressive album, since it had some use "potential hits" on it like "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time". These are probably the tracks I like the least now, since radio played a big roll in "overkill" of these songs. The same actually goes for Peter's duet with Kate Bush, but this is such a fantastic and delicate track that I never seem to bothered by it. I also loved the video by the way. And then that fantastic bass- line at the end of the track by one of the best bass players of the world: Mr. Tony Levin!

SO lets talk a bit about the highlights of "SO". In my eyes that would certainly be "In Your Eyes". (I just made a pun about that sentence :-) The whole song has great lyrics and a very catchy chorus. Many African instruments are played on this album as well. The end of the song contains some great singing by Youssou N'Dour. And this was quite some years before he had his big hit "7 seconds" with Neneh Cherry!

I also really like the drumming on "Red Rain" by Stewart Copeland. Anyone who remembers him? Right: he was the drummer of "The Police", another band I used to listen a lot to in the eighties. Just listen to it and you'll know what I mean! "Mercy Street" is another highlight. Very emotional song with some great instruments like a delicate triangle and some of the best flute playing I have ever heard! Astonishing!

"We do what we're told" is a bit of a weird track. Fortunately it doesn't last too long, because right after it we get another great song, the final track of the album called: "This is the Picture (excellent birds)" a very nice duet with Laurie Anderson.

Conclusion: it might be a coincidence, but I find all PG's 2 letter word albums the best. "SO", "US" and "UP". I think "SO" is my personal favourite because I have known it for the longest time, but also because the great songs and instrumentation on it. If you don't know PG solo (who doesn't?) and you're interested in buying one of his albums: look for a 2 letter title. Or start with "Growing Up Live".

4.5 stars for "SO"

evenless | 4/5 |

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