Peter Gabriel - i/o ALBUM REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Listen: petergabriel.b...
Despite its lacking second half, i/o is a pretty interesting and likable late-career release.
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FAV TRACKS: THE COURT, PLAYING FOR TIME, I/O, FOUR KINDS OF HORSES, ROAD TO JOY
LEAST FAV TRACK: SO MUCH
PETER GABRIEL - I/O / 2023 / REAL WORLD / ART ROCK, PROGRESSIVE POP
6/10
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
Peter Gabriel still kills it in the visuals department at his live shows. His voice really held up over the years too tbh
It definitely helps that he’s always had a bit of an older, more weathered-sounding voice in the first place. Hell, the first time I heard “Curtains,” I thought I was hearing an *old* man.
he both dressed and sang like an old man in early genesis lmao
It's because he's never smoked.
He's still singing in original key which is unheard of. You take bands like Megadeth and Metallica who have been downtuning an entire step for the past 20 years and still struggle with pitch, and PG is still nailing Sledgehammer in original key at 74. Pretty unbelievable
I went to the i/o tour last year here in Houston and I fully agree with you, it also really is impressive that his voice can still go strong especially after the unfortunate health decline of Phill Collin’s and his voice
Also shoutout to Tony Levin, the legend still killing it on bass
His work on Liquid tension experiment really makes those songs special
And the mfing CHAPMAN STICK!
Just saw Stickmen and caught a couple King Crimson gigs on their supposed final tour awhile back, and Tony definitely still rules.
Saying there can be only one bald man in music is NOT a valid reason to give it a 0/10 Fantano. But you do you.
I saw him at both of his recent tours (the one with sting and the recent I/O one). I have to say that his live performances of I/O really sell the album. He essentially played the entire album, and the songs really sound great live. Especially with Peter on the keys, Tony Levin, etc. The visuals of the circular screen were mesmerizing, and I'm 29...
The guy closed out the show with Biko, entire arena chanting Biko in 2023, something really special to see.
Totally agree. Saw the LA Forum show. Brilliant.
Would love to see a Genesis Worst to Best. Has everything from to S to D tier. Supper's Ready being one of the greatest Prog Rock songs of all time.
While that would be nice, I think fantano has implied he's not a big fan of Genesis, especially when compared to other prog acts of the era like Floyd and Crimson and Yes. I've noticed how he seems to shit all over the Collins era of the band whenever he gets the chance.
Not to mention, calling Gabriel's departure from Genesis "jumping ship before that went downhill" in this video. It could be referring to getting out before his good will with the rest of Genesis deteriorates, but I do think he means the creative trajectory of the band.
I get the feeling that Peter Gabriel era fans hate the Collins era more than *he* does, considering he collaborated with Phil often (Phil is drummer on PG3/Melt, for example)
@@KevinStriker I strongly believe you can be a full package Genesis fan.
I've been introduced to them by the Collins era when I was young and always loved it, with albums like Genesis, Abacab and Invisible Touch.
I discovered much later the Gabriel era of it, although I've known PG's solo discography since I was born, and at first I struggled a bit but I came back to it really fast, to finally love everything about it.
Now in the morning I can equally put on Selling England, Trespass as well as We Can't dance. It doesn't seem like the same band, for sure, but I love them equally :)
Let me know what you think about it
I honestly don’t think the man has a single bad album. It’s really impressive.
Great, now do a whole new classics week and review Selling England By The Pound
My favourite album ever for sure
Goated
Foxtrot as well
The greatest album ever made
I hope he reviews The Lamb one day. My favorite album ever
It’s an 8/10 imo. Sure he had some tendencies with the lyrics but I think with i/o it brings a different sheen to it all. Maybe even a little retrospective. Definitely one of the best if not the best album to come out of someone who’s been making music since the 70s
*the 60s
What sort of tendencies?
@@WaitingtoHit smelly ones
Agreed, this is an incredible late career album tbh
@@bswalem incredibly late for sure.
Peter Gabriel tier list when?
Passion
3
4
So
2
1
Foxtrot
The rest
@@jasonmclaughlin6130
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
PG4
The rest (excluding Revelation, PG2, half of Us, and OVO through to i/o).
1. So
It's at least an 8 for me, and only that low because it gets a little slow toward the end. The pure ideals of the record are really refreshing in an age of cynicism, and the sound is extremely lush. Retro-inspired, maybe, but very crisp and nuanced. It doesn't seem dated to me. I agree about the Dark Side Mixes being generally better though.
need a classic review of So
Or Gabriel 3!
First album I ever owned at age 4
Peter Gabriel said when he first started dropping singles that he simply has 2 mixes because he just wanted to see how 2 different producers would handle the material.
Nothing more than that to my knowledge
Why is Peter always staring at me
If this was made by Peter griffin you would of given it a 10
Would you blame him? Lol
Facts
I would too
This is the first actually funny one of these I've seen in a while
Would've
One of my top albums of 2023. His best album since Us, and I'd even go so far as to say that it stands pretty damn close to Melt as one of his career peaks.
Sledgehammer still one of the all time pop bops
That album cover makes me want to listen to music
Big Time and Steam are also bangers. Of course, we shouldn’t ignore Solsbury Hill, In Your Eyes, or his duet with Kate Bush, Don’t Give Up.
Listening to in your eyes makes me feel a special kind of happiness. That entire album was a masterpiece from back to back
Sledgehammer
I hit you wit it like a hammer
I remember what you did last summer
It wasn't ok it was a bummer
Now it's your turn mudafaker
Gonna shake it all up call me thug shaker
Who are you again?
Naaaah I'm right here slayin
And you back there like an orphan
I smoke dat shizz bro for fun
I write freestyle raps based on real YT comments like so I can keep it up 😤
@@mftmss7086 you rhymed hammer with hammer so i mean just quit now
I'm just happy that Peter, after so long, is making material that still sounds fresh and interesting
Selling England By The Pound mention! (I’m so happy)
Can you tell me where my country lies?
“It Lies with me!”, cried the queen of maybe; for her merchandise, he traded in his prize…
AND YOU'D BE THE ONE WHO WAS LAAAUGHING
Really enjoyed this project. It’s got its fair share of late-career schmaltz that often comes from artists out of that generation, but it’s very *earnest* schmaltz at the very worst, and I can’t fault him for it.
The fuck is "schmaltz"?
@@Ten_Thousand_LocustsI don't know why you'd advertise your own stupidity with such an aggressive tone. Bizarre.
Like maudlin or overly-sentimental.
Four decades later, Peter Gabriel STILL has that magic in him in making out consistently great art pop albums. This album is no exception, definitely deserved higher than a 6.
But he's too universally acclaimed, balding Harry Potter melon no likey
Pete feels like a guy who doesnt release music unless he genuinely wants to. Guy has so much MTV money he could drop off the face of the earth and live comfortably
Lol. Saying Peter Gabriel left Geneis before it went downhill is just ouch. Have you not listened to A Trick of the Tail, and Wind and Wuthering? They're just as good as the records that came before it.
Exactly what I was thinking
As a whole, Phil Collins-led Genesis is pretty fucking gross lol. Which is a shame because he is a fantastic musician and has done so many great things for music. Fronting Genesis was NOT one of those things however.
@@jamesd7678 I'm not saying it's not. I have every one of their albums. But it wasn't really until Steve Hackett left that the whole band transformed into something else entirely.
You acknowledge at the outset that this is a man who is in his 70s-he can see his death. The lyrical simplicity that you find fault with is likely on purpose. The album is shockingly good: simple, complex, universal, beautiful, heartfelt, wide ranging, etc.
STUFF COMING OUT
STUFF GOING IN
Not sure if this is a reference to Carpet Crawlers
I’M JUST A PART
OF EVERYTHING
@@SaltyStU2 Yeah but it’s so similar: you’ve got to get in to get out
Classic review of Melt (aka Peter Gabriel 3) please 😔🙏
A pleasant surpise this album. Strong melodies and terrific production. The Dark Mix is the version to go for on vinyl. I find the whole album a very pleasant listen and quite a revelation for an artist in their 70s. 8/10 from me.
i/o is now my 2nd fave PG album right after Melt…it’s awesome
that peter gabriel? The Genesis guy? The Sledgehammer dude? Really?
no way, shit that's cool
When you say Peter Gabriel "jumped ship before it went down," do you mean before Genesis exploded into one of the most popular bands of the 80's? You can call the earlier Genesis music better, if you want, and I definitely think it is, but you can't say they were more popular in their early days and make it stick.
Fame means nothing to deep thinking humans.
@@pinkimietz3243 Okay. But, generally speaking, does it indicate a sinking ship?
Albums at least a 9. Very little music is this nuanced, understated, and moving.
I think seeing the concert live (my wife got me tickets last year as an early birthday gift!) is what sold the songs to me. It was absolutely mind-blowing seeing it live.
Plus seeing Digging In The Dirt from US played with the trombone was pretty badass. I would've never thought in a million years seeing a trombone being played in a way that's not ska. lol It was pretty sick.
But that concert is what makes me want to get the album (haven't got it yet).
Overall I think your review was as lazy as you expected the album to be, it felt like you had made your mind up before starting. I actually think ‘live and let live’ is one of the strongest songs on the album as it has space to breathe and the interplay between muted trumpet and vocals is outrageously good. The album 7.5/10 your review 4/10
he didn’t even listen to the in-side mixes this review is honestly a shame
I actually think the simplicity of Peter Gabriel's lyricism is part of his appeal to me. This is not to say other styles or voices are bad in my opinion. I just think Melon and I probably have different favorite Peter Gabriel songs, and that's ok. :D
Yeah! "Love Can Heal" is my favorite off the album. I love the hypnotic trance of the chorus. It's a simple lyric and sentiment, but sometimes it's what's necessary to create the emotionality of the song.
@@luisalonsoecheverria Oh hey! I like "Love Can Heal" too! And definitely! I think he puts a lot of consideration into his inflections when singing, or at the very least the slower pace at which he transitions from line to line gives more time to appreciate how he sings a given line. I think a lot of what I like from i/o feels more like Mercy Street and less like Sledgehammer, not that there's anything wrong with Sledgehammer.
Thanks!!
The one thing that’s crazy is when you hear/see some of these songs live it brings a whole new level of appreciation
Dated doesn’t mean it’s bad. The album is great. Four kinds of horses slaps, don’t understand why he skipped right over it.
His description of it as a "beautiful heart-wrenching ballad" is baffling. I love Four Kinds Of Horses, I think it's one of the best songs Gabriel's ever released, but that isn't how I would describe it at all.
This album is an 8 for me. But I'll say it was a very different experience hearing these songs live. I think they were almost all better in concert - they had time to grow and I think even Peter discovered some new textures by playing them in front of a crowd. Part of me wishes he had waited until the record was out to tour, but I think that was the whole point; to invite the audience into something that was fresh and still taking root. Not knowing most of the new tracks kept it from being just any "old guy playing the hits" show and really made it an artistic statement. He played very few of the classic tracks and gave people an exciting new experience.
I'm just glad that you are starting to open up to review more more albums that already dropped a long time ago, honestly you should review with big thought and scores and allá of that albums from years ago even if you don't rate them as classics, it would be great to hear your thoughts on detail
Past his prime? That remains to be seen, especially since he is a genius.
Absolutely should've been higher. This record demonstrates that it's more than okay to be curious and tackle so many wide topics and genres without worry of respite. On confidence and sheer, unmitigated ingenuity, this is a 10.
But I've come not to expect that from you.
Love Peter Gabriel, really liked this album. Was following the releases over the last year. I'd give it an 8/10 for me with only a few tracks I didn't love
My second favorite album of 2023. Behind Saved!
I really believe that if God was a rock star, they would have the Peter Gabriel discog (not just because he had a band named GENESIS, but his solo discography is just in another level of perfection and epicness).
Peter Gabriel rocks
I love this album. He can do no wrong.
Don’t agree with your criticisms at all. An absolutely brilliant album from start to finish, 12 great songs, so moving and powerful, with such depth and sophistication, and showing a nice variety of styles. The songs and production are exceptional throughout, from the emotive and contemplative lyrics to the lush meticulously and intricately crafted soundscapes and instrumentation that are so fascinating and compelling on repeated listens, and just work so well. A masterclass in music construction and production, and such a rewarding journey, from somber contemplation to outright joy. The best album of 2023, by quite a bit, 10/10, and quite possibly Gabriel’s best album.
I'm also beginning to think it's one of his bests.
Watching this review and Peters picture in the background says it all 😂
LMAO
Them ol Genesis records Pete did were sooo cool.❤ Makes gettin owed look aight.
Its a solid 8
This is a really good Peter Gabriel album. Maybe he'll never have another song as good as In your eyes but Playing for Time should be considered one of his classics.
if you haven't already, please go listen to Peter Gabriel's third self titled album. One of my favorite albums of all time.
I was a Full Moon Club subscriber on PG’s BandCamp page. So we got the album plus an alternate mix of each song, and a second one of Love Can Heal recorded back in the early 2010s. For me this is a solid 8/10. I prefer the Dark Side over the Bright Side. This whole project feels comforting to me and I don’t mind some simplicty and optimism to the lyrics. The Subscriber Bonus for So Much is a guitar-based version that I’d love to hear on a soundtrack to an indie/mid-budget drama film.
Ok another good chance to test our ear when it comes to production. Which mix did you like more, and why? I found that bright-side is really what it says essentially, brighter and with less low end. I'm not sure if brighter means also clearer, though. All in all both are good but the ear is trained to like the low end so I tend to go to the dark side. People on Spotify show love to the bright side
Teddy fresh? My man 🤝🏻
MGMT was right. Brian Eno is everywhere.
Anthony is pumping out these reviews lately respect
I'm old enough to have seen Peter with Genesis touring "The Lamb lies Down On Broadway". The dark mix sounds more '70's, which I prefer, but at the same time agree with you about it sounding dated in other less compelling ways, and I try not to waste my time with strong 5's. Thanks for the heads up.
I don't get what you mean by him jumping ship before it went downhill. Genesis with Collins is among the greatest bands of all time. I'm sure it would have been interesting if he stayed.
saw him live in MN in october on the rollout tour for this. he sounds fucking incredible and his stage theatrics really sell the songs.
It starts at a 7.5 for me just for the fact that he actually put out a new album at all
Generally agree with this. Four Kinds of Horses and Panopticom are my absolute favourites, they have a mood and sound to them that is retro and new and quite unique. Glad to see a review like this from a legacy artist putting out new stuff - now, similarly, why didn't we get one for Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point album?
Those two are my favorites along with "The Court", which I seriously think might be the best song he's ever released.
As a longtime Gabriel fan, some thoughts:
- Dark-Side Mix is the better version by a huge margin, I was disappointed in the album when I initially listened to the Bright-Side Mix but changed my mind after hearing the Dark-Side versions. While there's very little difference in some songs ("Playing For Time" sounds near-identical in both mixes), "The Court" and "Four Kinds Of Horses" especially are vastly improved in the Dark-Side Mix.
- The second half is weaker than the first, but not for the reasons given in this review. Calling the album's sound "dated" is a weak criticism, Gabriel's long since stopped giving a shit about current pop trends if he ever did in the first place ("Sledgehammer" didn't become a huge hit because it sounded like everything else on the radio!). In both versions, the album sounds the way he wanted it to sound, and that's far more admirable than if he tried to sound like he fit in with current trends. No, the reason the first half is better is because it's front-loaded with three of his all-time greatest songs- "Panopticom", "The Court", and "Four Kinds Of Horses"- and they overwhelm the rest of the record. There's no way the second half can compare.
- Fantano criticizes the lyrics of "i/o" as overly childish while ignoring the beauty and humility of its overall statement- "I'm just a part of everything" is one of the sweetest, most open-hearted sentiments I've ever heard expressed in pop music, and the line "I run like water, no cause or effect" is so beautiful. If there's any lyric on this album that actually deserves the criticism it's the "sticky with desire" line in "So Much", I really don't need to hear Gabriel ever sing those words again.
8.5 to 9… love the slower songs and the lyrics therein.
It sounds like most of the folks in the comments think this falls closer to being an 8 and I have to say I agree. I am also frustrated by the "dated" criticism - it's true to an extent, but I would argue that that is more just a byproduct of really rich, full, expensive sorta peak rock music industry-era mixing and engineering just not being popular anymore in favor of things that are rawer, noisier, more lo-fi, and generally lower budget. If anybody's still gonna be making millionaire rock musician music with a millionaire sound recorded in a massive self-constructed recording studio out in the country it's PG.
It also sounds like everyone is in consensus the that Dark-Side Mix is much better overall - I saw one review that framed it like the Bright-Side Mixes are more for treating every single song as though it is its own single, whereas Dark-Side treats the whole set more cohesively as an album and I totally agree with that.
My favorite PG record is Security because it's his darkest and weirdest one with his intoxicating blend of cool old school sampler textures and the use of found material from outside the Western world. So at first it made me sad that "i/o" is on the polar opposite side of the spectrum. It's quite conservative sonically and songwriting-wise, there are some cool textures to hear on headphones throughout of course but the focus is on this big, broad, universal stuff. But also as many others have said, seeing it live completely changed my perspective and made me feel like I was really hearing the tracks for real for the first time, while politely tolerating his wealthy prog rock philosopher bloviating of course. Now I totally understand the mission statement - "This would be the perfect one to go out on if it ends up being my last record." It doesn't seem like that will be the case as he is already planning on releasing more new singles over Bandcamp in the coming months, but yeah in that framing you can see why he whittled down and polished this material over 20 years. He laments over missing his mother, he reflects on the deterioration of his body... there's so much big stuff in here thematically that is tender and incredibly poignant and powerful.
It does get sappy, the sort of "Disney soundtrack era" does come through big time, but wouldn't that be where you would go if you were him and were trying to accomplish what this record is trying to accomplish?
I like the weirder stuff more, but this one is diamond-hard.
1:15 incorrect to say the least. Genesis did not go "downhill" after Peter left, as they continued to create prog-y music for a time then switched to Collin's very successful pop sound. I encourage a bit more research and listening before commenting any further on this era of music.
I personally love that Peter is bringing surveillance and detachment to the thematic forefront of the album - a part of modern life people from his gen especially may feel even more alienated from
Okay but this is my theory: Fantano wears his huge HP glasses like this because he's self conscious about his eyes being pretty high up in his face, and attempts to center them by framing his eyeballs at the very top of his glasses. Any takers?
All the mixes are mastered loud. Except the bluray in-side mix in Dolby Atmos..
Fantano's opinion that Genesis completely fell off after Peter left is quite literally the single worst take I have ever heard from him LOL
They are my favorite band ever so there is obviously some bias but just the first 2 albums post-Peter alone are argument enough that they still had so much to offer. I think their whole career is essential and obviously those classic era albums are special but to discount the following 20 years after that is insane to me
I am completely blown away by the album. It is absolutely on par musically and can unquestionably stand up to comparison with the SO album.
It's at least a high 8, and my favorite record of the year. And I prefer the Bright Side mixes, they work better for each individual song. But many points he's making here, I agree with
Peter's departure from Genesis was the best thing that could have happened to both artists. Arguably, Genesis's creative musical peak came right after with the release of "A Trick of The Tail". Rick Beato mentions that it's an album he revisits & listens to it once ever few months.
And Gabriel was able to go off and make his stuff, which was more eclectic. Helps that he stayed tight with them, and basically worked with Collins and the engineers to invent gated snare on Intruder
@@ParsnipPizza yeah, I forgot about Gabriel, Collins and Padgham basically inventing the percussive sound of the '80's on "Intruder". And, keeping true to the spirit of their departed, innovative frontman, Genesis helped advance the concert lighting state of art by capitalizing Vari-lite development
A Trick Of The Tail is GODLIKE
Trick of the tail, and wind and wuthering were both amazing
Still not better than the lamb lies down on broadway or selling england by the pound
Your take on why Gabriel left Genesis is revisionist history to say the least.
I enjoy it a lot, but Peter Gabriel has always been one of my favorites so I am aware that I'm a bit biased towards him. I like the sounds he uses and will likely enjoy them for what they are more than a random person just experiencing it for the first time. That said, while I did really enjoy it, I noted some weaker parts, especially the lyrics and some of the "kid song" feeling a few of the tracks have. I was really worried when Panopticon was released as the first single because I did not like it (and still think it's my least favorite song on the album). It, and a few other tracks, felt like he did a first pass on the lyrics and really needed to do another one or two. But the music behind it and all of the production I really enjoy. I would probably rate it more in the middle of his other albums (definitely under SO and US) but still strongly worth listening.
Also, all my worries about the album were cleared up when I saw it live. It was an amazing show with a great mix of songs off the album and old classics and Peter's flare for showmanship. And his live band are all insane. I think between the 9 people on stage they played over 20 different types of instruments between them, going smoothly from a classic guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals line up to violin, cello, bowed upright base, and piano, to many other combinations to fit the needs of each song.
You need to check out Riot Farmers Prehistory 4
Yeah man check it out!
Yeas please check this
Best album of 2024
You NEED to check out Peth
Solid 8/10 for me. This album completely embarrasses AJR’s sound
Supper’s Ready
I thought it was great and it was one of my favourite albums of 2023
I love this album. Playing for Time and Road to Joy are my favorites, but I really enjoy the entire thing. 8/10 for me.
Peter Gabriel can do no wrong in my eyes
You didn't like the tentacles line? Been singing that one in the shower a lot.
It's a 9/10 tbh idk what melon head is gonna say but hopefully it's high
It is an easy 8 for me . Sure, the lyrics are borderline cheesy sometimes, but it always been Peter Gabriel forte and downfall at the same time. I just love how cohesive and emotional this album is. It is certainly not innovative as a lot of his old records was but sometimes consistency and being safe while doing what you are best known for
Also personnaly much more of a fan of these type of orchestral arrangement than any of the trap beats that you love to death and who sound horrible and repetitive to my ears
Mellon in a Teddy Fresh hoodie? Ok. That’s an unexpected crossover.
Review Corinne Bailey Rae? Fantastic record from last year
Peter Gabriel tier list when???
This is the most positive-sounding strong 5/light 6 review ever
Saying Genesis was a sinking ship that he hopped off is such a bad take
I too love Tony Levin and So, but I can’t fathom calling the 80s Gabriel’s “artistic peak” when Foxtrot and Selling England By The Pound
I give this record an i/O
To be fair, Genesis didn't actually ever go "downhill" for about 23 years after Gabriel's departure. Their subsequent albums from Trick of the Tail thru Invisible Touch are all brilliant, if a tad more commercial. The critics' received wisdom concerning the Collins/Rutherford/Banks trio is especially overvalued and repeated too often tbh.
Also, being 70 years or age has nothing to do with being old or past your creative prime. Especially when you're Peter Gabriel.
Praising Peter’s work in Genesis and Progressive Rock as a whole and then proceeding to have distaste for his lyrics on this album is pretty ironic, considering most of his contributions in Genesis were lyrics and not music.
HUGE PG fan here; i/o is a 7,5/10 for me; the "2 different mixes" sound *exactly the same* 😅- I still bought the 2 LPs anyway because of course 🙄😃. Show was _great_ . Glad you covered this album 👍
hey the new glass beach album just came out by the way, might wanna give that a listen
New Peter gets a 6/10....Tool's Fear Inoc' got a 4/10...Killer Mike's Michael got a 6/10...........I think I'm out Ant'.
Is that some Teddy Fresh drip?
Funky but grim is exactly what I go for with my music.
Just throwing out a few suggestion, liquids heaven-jimmy edgar, zoospa- jets, and play with the changes- rochelle jordan
Here’s the additional 4 Anthony forgot to add! 🤘🏾🤘🏾
Probably already mentioned here in the comments but I wish he would have only released one "definitive" version of the album.
Liked it more than you did although you are right but I wonder why at the beginning of December when the fill-length came out everyonein the media heralded it as some kind of "late-career triumph". It is his best, if you ask me, since "US".
Turn that six upsidedown lil bro 😡