Track Listing

1. Intruder
2. No Self Control
3. Start
4. I Don't Remember
5. Family Snapshot
6. And Through The Wire
7. Games Without Frontiers
8. Not One Of Us
9. Lead A Normal Life
10. Biko

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8491 in Music
• Released on: 2002-12-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

From Amazon.com
An epic production highlighted by the clockwork undertones of "Intruder" and the Afro-prog-rock of "Biko," the third in Peter Gabriel's trilogy of eponymous solo titles is a watermark of the former Genesis singer's career. Drummer Jerry Marotta's tight global groove templates drive the edgy guitar pastiches of Robert Fripp, David Rhodes, Paul Weller, and XTC's Dave Gregory. Yielding the enigmatic 1980 hit "Games Without Frontiers," the Steve Lillywhite-produced opus travels the dark psychic corners of its narrator with a then-profoundly futuristic sound that's no less compelling than Bowie's Scary Monsters, which was released the same year. The cover may depict Gabriel's melting face, but the album marks Gabriel's arrival as a solid solo artist. --James Rotondi

CD Description
Peter Gabriel's third self-titled album pushed the boundaries of recording technology (it was among the first to experiment with gating acoustic drums, an effect Phil Collins usedlater in his song "In The Air Tonight"). Gabriel's mix of electronic sounds and alienated lyrics created a mood captured in the eerie single "Games Without Frontiers".
The song "Biko", which became a Gabriel standard, concerned the death of South African activist Steven Biko during interrogation by police. The song inspired Little Steven to start the Artists Against Apartheid project.

Customer Reviews

Possibly Timeless!
Revisiting this album after many years I am struck how this album and the next one, really caught Peter Gabriel at his most innovative in terms of the technology he was experimenting with and importantly his most accessible music.Often when listening to an album you haven't listened to for many years the experience can be a disappointment, this album does not do this! It still sounds current and fresh today which is why I feel this qualifies it for 5 stars. If you have never heard Peter Gabriel before this is a good place to start and if you, like me, hadn't listened to this album since it was released then I think a revisit is in order.

Start
This album shows that Peter Gabriel had finally found himself musically and lyrically. He had now homed in on that amazing musical talent, crafting an album that is artier, stronger and more song orientated than before. The opener, "Intruder" has a controlled menace. He has never found such a scary sound, yet it is an appealing scare, one that is alluring, and Peter Gabriel keeps this going throughout the album. The song "No Self-Control" continues the haunting menace that the opening song promised, "Start" is a wonderful instrumental track, let down by the fact it only lasts slightly longer than a minute-it should be a lot longer. The song "Biko" is the best song to close the album (you become so moved to tears that you do not feel you could listen to another song), but most importantly it is a beautiful tribute to Steven Biko (may he always be remembered). What is perhaps most surprising is that for an album that is undeniably popular it is remarkable to see that this is a bleak, chilly, dark and haunting album. Favourites such as "I Don't Remember" and "Games Without Frontiers" are hardly joyful, spiked with paranoia and suspicion, insulated in introspection.

This is the first time that Peter Gabriel had found the sound to match his themes, plus the songs to articulate his themes. Every aspect of this album works, feeding off each other, creating a romantically gloomy, arty masterpiece. This album articulates the emotions as well as Peter Gabriel's cubist lyrics and impassioned voice. He has had albums that have sold more and generated bigger hits, but that does not matter, this album remains to be one of his best pieces of work.

A masterpiece of electronic rock...
Peter Gabriel's third album is where he started getting really good. His first two albums had been good, but not masterpieces. Here he found his voice. The deeply sinister Intruder opens the set in fitting fashion. Loud drums, offbeat vocal backing and strange electronic noise. Like all the tracks, it is also a great song. No Self Control follows, with capable vocal assistance from Kate Bush. Start is no more than an instrumental introduction to I Don't Remember which a remarkably strong song and should have been a single rather than the less commercial No Self Control. Family Snapshot is a wonderful slice of narrative theatre. And through the Wires is a return to the sinister territories of Intruder with excellent vocals. The second part of the album opens with the hit Games Without Frontiers, which still sounds as fresh today as it did twenty five years ago. Not One of Us is simply brilliant. Lead a Normal Life is wonderfully understated. Closing track, Biko, makes for a splendid end to a strong album that deserved it success, it is one of the best things Gabriel has ever written. Mind you, he could have included the three tracks from the ep of Biko he released at the time, but Gabriel just doesn't do extra tracks. Pity. The sound is impeccable throughout. This album was a bit of a star studded one, with Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Kate Bush, Robert Fripp and XTC's Dave Gregory all making important contributions. But this is very much a Peter Gabriel album, his individual voice is stamped right through it. He has released many fine albums in his career, but this is probably the best.
Recommended to anybody who likes inteligent music...