Peter Gabriel (3)release date: May 23, 1980
format: digital (2003 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,90]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Virgin / Real World - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Intruder" - 2. "No Self Control" - 4. "I Don't Remember" (4 / 5) (official video) - 5. "Family Snapshot" - 6. "And Through the Wire" - 7. "Games Without Frontiers" (official video) - 8. "Not One of Us" - 10. "Biko" (4,5 / 5) (official video)
3rd studio album by Peter Gabriel and his third of four consecutive albums to be self-titled follows two years after his '78-album and is made with upcoming new wave-producer Steve Lillywhite, who would later in the year (and forwardly) be associated with the sound of U2. The album was also released as "Peter Gabriel 3" / "Peter Gabriel III", and is also referred to as 'Melt' with reference to its cover. Stable backing band musicians like drummer Jerry Marotta, keyboardist Larry Fast and guitarist David Rhodes contribute on most tracks, Phil Collins plays drums on three tracks, guitarist Robert Fripp is credited on three. The album also features Kate Bush, who sings backing vocals on tracks #2 and #7, XTC-guitarist Dave Gregory features on tracks #4 and #5, and The Jam-frontfigure Paul Weller is credited as guitarist on track #6.
Musically, the album introduces a new move towards a more original blend of art pop (with some influences from Bowie and Eno) and new wave, but it's also Gabriel's first album to showcase his inspiration and admiration for African music and / or world music in general - especially heard on "Biko" but also on track #9.
The album was met by fine reviews, and over the years, the album has only gained strong status for its mix of styles as well as its original sound. It's also Gabriel's first of two albums to top the albums chart list in the UK. Atlantic Records, who had distributed Gabriel's two first albums, dismissed the album, which then found its way to Mercury; however, the album also performed better in the US than his previous albums by reaching position #22 on the US Billboard 200. "Biko" and "I Don't Remember" were selected for single releases with the former peaking at number #38 on the singles chart, and the latter has no registrations except for a position as number #107 on the US Billboard Hot 100 [107 in 100 positions?]; however, both eventually gained status as classic signature tracks for Gabriel. The album is the second of two albums by Gabriel to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
Despite being released in the midst of / at beginning of other stylistic strongholds like new wave, post-punk, new romantic and synth-pop, Gabriel's third album, which is none of that, is simply an album not to overlook. It's simply one of his absolute best and highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo, 5 / 5, Uncut 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
