PETER GABRIEL 3 [AKA: MELT]

Peter Gabriel's third album is very atmospheric and his vocals really shine on this effort. Every track has a peculiar, dark ambience that reaches through and penetrates the subconscious. I have never been able to get the haunting 'Games Without Frontiers' out of my head since the first listen. The song has infamy for many reasons. It was the first breakthrough single for Gabriel worldwide since his days with Genesis. It cemented him as a solo performance with a distinctive style.

It also boasts some of the most potent lyrics of any song on the radio during 1980. And Kate Bush's beautiful enigmatic 'Jeux Sans Frontiers' that begins and ends the track is hypnotic. For years it was debatable what she was actually singing. I have heard many interpretations, some hilarious, worth quoting here. Was she singing 'She's so popular?' or 'She's a frumpy gay' or even 'Share some opium', 'Share soulful three tears' or 'She's not from the Earth.' see here for hundreds more! www.amiright.com/misheard/artist/gabrielpeter.shtml.

'Jeux sans frontiers' is actually french for the song title. Kate Bush mispronounces the actual phrase and that's why it sounds like 'She's so popular.'

anyway, I digress... back to the album. There is so much to recommend it. Highlights include, 'And Through The Wire', 'Not One Of Us' and 'Lead A Normal Life' among others.

This one of Gabriel's best albums along with the outstanding 'Up' and 'So'. Treat your ears to it soon.