Peter Gabriel [2]

by Peter Gabriel

Overview

The pairing sounds ideal -- the former front man of Genesis, as produced by the leading light of King Crimson. Unfortunately, Peter Gabriel's second album (like his first, eponymous) fails to meet those grandiose expectations, even though it seems to at first. "On the Air" and "D.I.Y." are stunning slices of modern rock circa 1978, bubbling with synths, insistent rhythms, and polished processed guitars, all enclosed in a streamlined production that nevertheless sounds as large as a stadium. Then, things begin to drift, at first in a pleasant way ("A Wonderful Day in a One-Way World" is surprisingly nimble), but by the end, it all seems a little formless. It's not that the music is overly challenging -- it's that the record is unfocused. There are great moments scattered throughout the record, yet it never captivates, either through intoxicating, messy creativity (as he did on his debut) or through cohesion (the way the third Peter Gabriel album, two years later, would). Certain songs work well on their own -- not just the opening numbers, but the mini-epic "White Shadow," the tight "Animal Magic," the tense yet catchy "Perspective," the reflective closer "Home Sweet Home" -- yet for all the tracks that work, they never work well together. Ironically, it holds together a bit better than its predecessor, yet it never reaches the brilliant heights of that record. In short, it's a transitional effort that's well worth the time of serious listeners, even it's still somewhat unsatisfying. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/01/2024
Label:	Real World Prod. Ltd
UPC:	0884108016947

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Peter Gabriel   Primary Artist,Organ,Vocals,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Tony Levin   Guest Artist,String Bass,Chapman Stick,Vocals (Background),Bass
Robert Fripp   Guest Artist
Larry Fast   Synthesizer
Jerry Marotta   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Roy Bittan   Keyboards
George Marge   Recorder
Tim Cappello   Saxophone
Sid McGinnis   Mandolin,Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Tony Levin   Recorder Arrangement
Steve Short   Engineer
Steve Tayler   Engineer
Larry Fast   Treatments,Photography
Ed Sprigg   Engineer
Robert Fripp   Composer,Producer
Richard Chappell   Engineer
Jill Gabriel   Composer
Tony Cousins   Remastering
David Price   Equipment Technician
Dan Blore   Sleeve Restoration
Albert Lawrence   Equipment Technician
Susie Millns   Design Coordinator
Richard Macphail   Coordination
Peter Gabriel   Composer
Phil Kamin   Photography
Fin Costello   Photography
Edel Griffith   Assistant Engineer
Mic Smith   Research,Introduction
Michael Ruffo   Assistant Engineer
Michael Getlin   Engineer
Marc Bessant   Graphic Design
Armando Gallo   Photography
Hipgnosis   Design,Sleeve Art,Photography
Brad Owen   Photography
Dan Roe   Assistant Engineer