One - Gabriel, Peter

Advantages: Superb Debut and a huge range of style
Disadvantages: Nothing

In the mid seventies at the height of Genesis' popularity (they'd made a commercial breakthrough with "Selling England By The Pound" and hit the singles chart with "I Know What I Like " and issued the monster double concept album "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway"). So what happens, their lead singer quits, the band advertise in Melody Maker for a singer with a "Genesis type" band, ingnore the applicants , put Phil Collins at the ...
...Gabriel pulls in Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper's) producer and puts out this superb solo album. Peter Gabrile always has an eye for the unusual , and although people give them names, the first four albums have no names. The reason for this is that Gabriel concieved as magazine type musical installments , hence they are are called "Peter Gabriel" distiguished only by their difeering catalog numbers, covers , and contents. What's in a name? The album was ... Read review

Advantages: Solsbury Hill, Moribund the Burgemeister
Disadvantages: Brought Collins out of his shell

...A Flower? Heard that one before - well, I have, it was the cry that used to go up at live Genesis gigs when they were at their peak with the magical Peter at the helm. However, just as punk descended on our lives, the said Mr G split the scene and so avoided the worst of the criticism of his sad old prog rock mates as Baldy Collins came stage centre. Gabriel chose instead to plough his own furrow and reappeared with the quaintly autobiographical ...
...a suitable intro to this amazing little debut solo album. ############################################# Not the man I used to be... No, Peter, you're very much the man you always were and in 'Solsbury Hill' we get a typical vintage Genesis track, but the little mastro certainly branched out with barbershop harmonies on 'Excuse Me' and weirdie voices on the sublime 'Moribund the Burgemeister' - ooh, this is ace stuff. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ... Read review

Advantages: Worthy addition to Gabriel's work
Disadvantages: Some people say it contributes nothing to his previous work

...The album OVO: The Millennium Concert is the long expected cd by Peter Gabriel. Especially composed as soundtrack for the Millennium Dome in London, it is featured with a rich variation of moods. Some people say the album is easier to listen to than his previous album Passion and therefore nothing new, but I like the sound of it. It's a worthy addition to his musical carriere and full of adventurous sideturns. Besides Peter Gabriel, one of the vocal highlights is Paul Buchanan, bandmember of The Blue Nile. The voices of Gabriel and Buchanan mix together very well.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: Five classic tracks in one place
Disadvantages: Nothing

...Released in 1973 , this album was part of a series of budget live releases by the Charisma label (which included Lindisfarne) which were priced at the time at 1.99 GBP. This album was seen very much as a holding operation coming between "Foxtrot" and "Selling England By The Pound". The album is well put together with an excellent shot of the band live on a flooded stage featuring Peter Gabriel in one of his more exotic costumes. The liner includes more band pictures. As you might expect you only get five songs, but these are all excellent versions of classics from their previous albums, which , if anything outdo the studio versions. The opener is naturally "Watcher of The Skies", followed by "Get 'Em Out By Friday" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed". The second phase contains a gorgeous "Musical Box" , and closes with a thunderous... Read review

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Advantages: THAT voice, intelligent lyrics, good use of unusual instruments
Disadvantages: None

...of. Can you honestly say you've heard of a djembe or a surdu? What about a doudouk? But this remarkable assortment of world sounds, underwritten by the usual strong bass lines from Tony Levin and the multi-faceted drumkit of Manu Katche, with David Rhodes on most guitars and Gabriel himself playing most of what's left, delivers the perfect backing for that unmistakable throaty, earthy voice delivering highly intelligent lyrics. Unlike on "So" there are no duets with his girlfriend at the time, but she is allowed a couple of backing appearances. Their voices actually mix quite well and I think that Sinead O'Connor's ethereal tones encouraged her man to reach higher with his own voice. The result is quite special, best heard in "Blood of Eden". If you've never listened to a Peter Gabriel album, start with this one - it's not as good... Read review

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