So

Inspired by the possibilities of digital technology and the audacious rhythms of Brazil and Africa, Peter Gabriel invigorated pop music with 1986’s *So*. “Sledgehammer” is a James Brown groove reinforced with juicy synths and hard-hitting drum machines. While that song highlights Gabriel’s most soulful singing, his husky voice materializes like a beam of light through the roiling pulses of “Red Rain.” The dueling currents of tension and comfort merge on “In Your Eyes,” a love song so pure in its intentions that its intricate machinery becomes almost invisible.

The first of Peter’s studio albums to have a proper title, 'So' was a watershed release in his career. Its marriage of the artistic and the commercial made for an indisputable success, with the album quickly sitting atop the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Aside from some intriguing collaborations – with Laurie Anderson on 'This Is The Picture', Kate Bush on 'Don’t Give Up' and Youssou N’Dour on 'In Your Eyes' – it was the unity of singer, band and producer that makes 'So' such a crucial record in the Gabriel canon. Originally released 19 May 1986.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit Peter Gabriel’s 1986 art-pop masterpiece, a turning point in the commercial globalization of pop music.

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Peter Gabriel introduced his fifth studio album, So, with "Sledgehammer," an Otis Redding-inspired soul-pop raver that was easily his catchiest, happiest single to date.