Peter Gabriel-II (1978)

A year after releasing his first solo album, Peter Gabriel returned with his strangest and most eccentric work yet. From the self-mutilation of its cover to his continued refusal to give it a proper title (something that undoubtedly displeased his record label), and the sheer musical extravagance on display, this album demonstrates that Gabriel was still searching for his identity away from his original band, Genesis, slowly progressing with an avant-garde and experimental style. Produced by Robert Fripp, Gabriel enlisted a stellar lineup of musicians, including Larry Fast (synthesizers), Jerry Marotta (drums), Tony Levin (bass), Sidney McGinnis (guitars), and Robert Fripp himself (guitars). Unlike his first album, this one leaned more towards new wave and post-punk/electronic rock sounds. Bittersweet songs like "Mother Of Violence", electronic experiments like "Exposure" or "Flotsam & Jetsam", rock songs like "On The Air" and "Animal Magic" or the intense atmosphere of "White Shadow", make up a meritorious album that is less accessible than their debut due to its strange compositions and its unusual and opaque production.