Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Pretty proggy - I kind of like it more than the yes stuff on the list, and am very curious how it rates next to say "wish you were here," as I feel this is the better album, earlier and with similar musical aims.
The Pound strengthens against the Dollar
mmm no. es raaaro. canciones larguisimas, mucho sonido, si qsy ta buena la musica, pero por momentos no va a ritmo con el q canta y me altera un poco. las letras estan buenas, es bien ingles, pero na.
Much more prog like than I was anticipating
Very enjoyable. I considered a 5.
"It's one o clock, and time for lunch" Talk your shit king. Firth of Firth had me have an out of body experience. The goose cameo in The Battle of the Epping Forest was hype. I enjoyed the album.
No
A magical musical journey, I didn't know where it was taking me, but I'm glad I went along in the end. Scrambled eggs.
Fair bit of wank in this, but that's kinda the point, right?
I still think Peter Gabriel's peak wouldn't come until he shed the skin of Genesis, but their run from '72-'74 is nothing to sneeze at, and it can be traced through the DNA of so much music that has come out since (especially anything in prog). I tend to prefer the Moody Blues and early King Crimson for this kind of symphonic, "medieval" prog but I still really enjoy this record. Tony's synth work really stood out to me on this listen.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Interesting and evocative, maybe a bit expansive. Instrumentals that tickle the mind and a vibe that invites you into a strange universe
Thoroughly enjoyed this. It was my introduction to Genesis despite enjoying both Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins!
One of Jeremey Clarkson's favourite albums (but I'm not marking down for this fact). Back from the USA and celebrating all things English, the countryside, the quirkiness, and of course the silliness. The first three tracks, plus Cinema Show, are enough for me to give this five stars, even if the other tracks went missing somehow. Which might not be the worst outcome when Battle of Epping Forest comes round. Like a skit track that's funny once or twice, but is too long to endure each time the album is played. I don't hate it, but it's not funny anymore, and it actually drags a bit. However, there's so much brilliance on offer that it would be petty to remove a point, so five stars it is.
The rock and medieval sound mixed together... I love it. Vocals were sometimes off for me but I will add this album in my collection of music I will listen more often.
Tiene una fusión de estilos que suena muy original y fresco pero me ha dado un poco de bajón porque al principio pensaba que iba a ser un álbum de música medieval o celta. No me gustan las canciones porque son muy largas, aunque no son repetitivas y eso está bien.
Ha leider so null ufpasst. Wär susch glaubs no tuff
These guys can play! Souch talent, this album is a pleasure to listen too.
Интересненько, но не мое
Spoiler voor mn mening over het album van vandaag, maar het was niet best dus had ff andere muziek nodig, en dit was een hele chille erva. Fun fact gedurende Firth of Fifth begonnen er buiten honden te huilen en het duurde tot het volgende nummer voor ik doorhad dat het niet in de muziek zat ???? Vond het al een weird kwaliteitsverschil maar dacht dat t een artistieke keuze was ofzo want de inzet van het gehuil was heel goed getimed. Het is laat.
tja ja zeker een genesis album
Not my kind of music sadly, few cool tracks tho
J'ai adoré les instrus de cet album mais pas du tout la voix ni le chant. Je n'ai pas passé un mauvais moment non plus mais les chansons sont trop longues et n'apporte rien de plus qu'une chanson de 3 min. Note : 2 À réécouter : Oui mais uniquement pour les instrus
Certes, chansons un peu longues mais les instrus sont orgasmiques 💅
I love this album title but didn’t care about the content.
Very good Peter Gabriel era Genesis album. More theatrical and progressive than the later material
These are pretty intricate suites of music but not really for me. Maybe I just needed more time with it because there certainly were moments I liked (the guitar in the first track for instance) but overall it felt chaotic rather than cohesive. Kid A is a good counter example here.
J'avais oublié que Genesis avait fait quelques albums bizarres
Les harmonies de voix sont top ! Peut-être pas le meilleur album pour découvrir Genesis, c’était trop fluctuant On retrouve bien la caractéristique de Genesis : rock progressif
Je me souviens plus mais j'ai souvenir d'avoir bien aimé
1.5
I like Genesis. I love Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel. I am hoping for a better Genesis album.
One of those albums where the 5 point scale kinda sucks. A 4 feels too passionate but a 3 feels dismissive of its successes. I wish there was more of a chorus structure here - something to look forward to during the meandering prog rock. A resolutions or something. I found myself lost in the sauce at times - sometimes in good ways but often kinda missing the point. Favorite Songs: "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" and "Aisle of Plenty"
Really not my style of music. Would be fun in a musical? Best Song: Dancing With the Moonlight Knight Rating: 4.5/10 Stars: 2
It is interesting to hear Peter Gabriel's earlier work. It is more like renaissance rock with an electrical bend, but I like the attitude of the album. It serves as more of a signpost with one direction being a very talented an inventive Peter Gabriel going one way, and Genesis moving in another with Phil Collins. Not sure where to land on either.
Man, this is way better than I remember it being. So fun and melodic. A worthy revisit absolutely.
Great prog rock! Just advanced enough to be interesting but not enough to be hard on the brain (looking at you Dream Theater!)
Cool album, but not my jam. I like certain eras of Genesis, but this one is not for me.
Maybe Genesis needed to go through the school of Peter Gabriel. But do we really need to sit in the same classroom for an hour?
Overall, brilliant. Very English, a bit silly in places, but i have a soft spot for progressive music unless it disappears up is own arse. Genesis walk a tightrope but usually get it right. Not their best album but it was great to revisit it
Even in my intense teenage prog nerd phase, Genesis were kind of lower tier compared to the others. This is a fun listen though...the opening track is a real ride, the musicianship is great and Peter Gabriel is a great performer/frontman/singer.
Very interesting contrast to later Genesis. Hints of Slade and Pink Floyd. Kind of cool.
Guitar-heavy prog is about a thousand times better than synth-heavy prog.
This album did nothing to get rid of my dislike for Genesis.
unexpected... and masterful. Hard not to enjoy all the tracks
Genesis has better albums.
это чтото очень интересное но недоступное для меня
Masterpiece
I did not have a strong view of pre-solo-Gabriel Genesis, but I'm shocked to learn that only ELP is keeping them off the very bottom of the prog stack. Obnoxious and bad in the finest prog tradition.
I've been a huge Rush fan since high school but I guess I kind of slept on Genesis. I mean I had heard some random Genesis here and there but never actually sat down to listen to them until starting this project. I think I've kind of missed out. I guess because I can take or leave both Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel I never really thought to listen to Genesis. But damn, I love this. Is it pretentious? Yes. Is it flowery and light? Yes. Are people gonna make fun of me for liking this? Also yes. But you can't deny the musicianship, songwriting, composition, and production are all top notch. The lyrics are debatable. I think I like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway better, but this is up there too. 4.5/5
Erittäin hyvä proge-rock albumi. Biisit ovat mahtipontisia ja kunnianhimoisia, mutta eivät naurettavia kuitenkaan. Yhtyeen kaikki soittajat pääsevät loistamaan ja Peter Gabriel on hieno laulaja. Myöskin Phil Collins päätetään rumpusetin takaa laulamaan yhdessä kappaleessa. Genesikseltä löytyy listalta vielä yksi levy tämän lisäksi ja sitä kovasti odotan.
I was hoping I would be hearing the Phil Collins version of this band. I knew if it wasn’t I was in for a world of weird. Well, I can’t say it’s weird yet. I’m only 6 minutes in and 8 minute opening song….. Definitely prog rock. In the realms of Rush and those type of weirdos who can pump out a jam of a hit but it’s surrounded by weird experimental music. Now I think I hear Phil Collins singing instead. I don’t know . I don’t really know much about these guys other than they were basically sellouts when Phil Collins took over completely. So far, I’ve liked and disliked every song. Where do I go from here? This sounds like a soundtrack for a movie with mystical creatures in it. It’s definitely something. There’s no hiding the talent and musicianship within this band. I just don’t know where I’d classify it in these rankings.
Nah
This just didn't hit with me. I typically like Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel, but more solo than in Genesis.
5.5/10
Damn Phil can play the drums
A great Peter Gabriel/Genesis album full of great songs and musicianship.
I have a total soft spot for Prog Rock. I will take this over much of the other music I have discovered here.
amo genesis
te amo steve hackett
I'm not usually a big fan of prog, however this record is extremely approachable. Always fun to hear an earlier version of a band too!
Dancing with the Moonlit Knight 3.8 I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 3.8 Firth of Fifth 4.1 More Fool Me 3.3 The Battle of Epping Forest 3.4 After the Ordeal 3.5 The Cinema Show 3.3 Aisle of Plenty 3.3 Score: 3.5625
Ah, interesting. First track is actually quite proggy with an unusual structure and plenty of variety in instrumentation. Some folk influence, rock, even some hard rock, psychedelia. Sitar in I Know What I Like, and other world influences. The Battle of Epping Forest is too much for me - too proggy, too folky, too long. Overblown. Instrumental at end of The Cinema Show is nice Best track - Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, After The Ordeal, Aisle of Plenty 3 stars - 4 star moments, but it's generally overdone
I wanted to like this more ….
i liked it
Pretty wanky prog-rock. Dated, and too far up itself. Are you a medieval bard playing tunes for the landed knights and nobility? No, you're a bunch of blokes from London with delusions of grandeur. Not to my taste, needless to say.
odie la primera canción asi que ni siquiera lo pude terminar
I enjoyed this
Sadly Genesis is one of my "I don't get it" prog groups that other prog friends love. Can't win 'em all I guess.
i like yes, i like king crimson, i like elp, so there's no good reason why i haven't listened to genesis before. i've been missing out. complex, virtuosic, filled with both immense energy and great delicacy. spectacular.
Generally speaking I enjoy prog rock, some of my favourite albums are from bands of this era. I've never really given 70s Genesis a try before. I thought this album was good, not great. The drumming is exceptional and some of the guitar parts great too. I just found some of the changes of pace a little chaotic, more so than other prog rock bands. 3/5 for me, didn't grip me like some other bands of the era.
It's always interesting to hear what Genesis sounded like before they, as well as Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins individually (and even Mike & The Mechanics), became what they were as a trio in the 80s. You couldn't escape them on the radio during that decade, but these earlier versions of the band just don't get played on the radio at all. That certainly doesn't make this an inferior record, though it is an interesting dichotomy between where they ended up and where they started. You could say that it was Peter Gabriel's influence, as his solo work most sounds like the early Genesis stuff vs. any of the various Genesis, Phil Collins, or M&TM work that followed in the 80s / 90s. However, Gabriel wasn't a principal songwriter back then. It's simply that Banks, Collins, and Rutherford changed towards more of a pop sound later on and away from their progressive rock roots. Back to this album. It has a ton to like about it. The sweeping tracks, most moving through various phases within the songs. The drums on this are pretty incredible. PG's front work is great. It's all just so interesting, even if I understand how some wouldn't like or appreciate this record. This type of music is not for everyone, though I quite enjoy it. I've seen some say it schizophrenic and that's true, but it's not a bad way. That they can mix various moods, sounds, etc. and create something original and melodic is a testament to the talent of the band. Highlights for me were the first three tracks: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, I Know What I Like, and Firth of Fifth. After that, this album wanes a bit for me. But it is a really great start. It's far from a perfect album to me, even if it was great to go back and visit. 4-stars, given in part because the people in this band deserve more on this list. As an aside, that nothing from 80s Genesis or Phil Collins is included is really criminal (I'd even throw the debut Mike & The Mechanics album on). At least we get some Gabriel records as part of this list.
Listened Before? N This is a really solid prog album. I will spend some more time with it in the future, but at first listen it's top-notch. Just about what I expect from a big band like Genesis in their prime. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Firth of Fifth
Was quite boring
Very unique and distinguishable sound. Very British. I liked the variety of instruments used.
Always great these are real creative musicians with near perfect delivery on their music. Amazing album still not my favirite bit great non the less
Decent album, I really wanted to like it more. Just not my cup of tea
Starting to worry that I might really like Genesis. It's not quite as ambitious (or insane) as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway but it comes very close to the same level of brilliance. Peter Gabriel has definitely been one of my favourite discoveries of this challenge overall.
It was OK. I like later Genesis better but it was fun hearing Peter Gabriel’s voice along side Phil Collins. I’d have guven it 4 stars but it felt loke it was all the same and got monotonous after a while.
It’s kinda mid. No song really stood out.
Overall Rating - 4.43/5 (8.86/10). (7 Tracks) I've been told that early Genesis was very much a Prog Rock band. I hadn't really listened to early Genesis, so this was new to me. Prog-era Genesis is AWESOME.
I didn't hate it but it was a pretty tedious combination of prog-rock and folk.
Another week derailer. Inexplicably iconic drummer/nerd Phil Collins rears his presumably balding head once again here. I've mentioned this before, but the unfortunate part of discovering 50 year old albums 50 years later, is that the previous 50 years happened. I have had to endure decades of people talking about this guy, thousands of non-consensual listenings of "In the Air Tonight" and because of this, I have developed a distaste for the guy without even really hearing most of his discography. Does he have some sort of blackmail on important people? Although, we've seen that building a system that rewards sociopathy is run by (GASP) sociopaths and there are no consequences for any of them, so your 15 minutes (50 years) might be up ol' Philly. Keep your head on a swivel, pal. Those photos of the baby eating seminar are readily available on the the official USA government twitter page now. This is actually a semi-interesting prog album. It is reminiscent of Rush, if they were doing a set for preschool children. A sensory inclusive journey through the cosmos. Or East London. There is a Renaissance fair vibe to the whole thing that ensures I'm still in some pain, but overall, we made it through and I have a shred of respect for Genesis. Anything above a one is a massive victory for this record. Now please don't send me Genesis again. Don't want to press your luck. Big bucks, no whammies. 2-2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: You alright bruv? You 'it your 'ead pretty 'ard.
Dancing With the Moonlight Knight I Know What You Like (In Your Wardrobe) Firth of Fifth The Battle of Epping Forrest
Dancing with the Moonlit Knight More Fool Me After the Ordeal Aisle of Plenty
Interesting and full of talent but oh so pretentious
I liked the synths and the vibe
I learned that Genesis started out as a 70's psychedelic rock band that was influenced by medieval music (this project has taught me that the connection is not unique). So yeah, it was fine, palatable, nothing offensive, but also nothing enlightening at this point.
I'm still listening to Lamb on Broadway, which isn't a totally terrible album... but I really had a hard time with this one. It feels really disjointed. Nothing clicks. Mostly I think this album is annoying. Could not get into it.
Sigh. More Genesis. If this project excels at anything, it’s cramming a lot of unnecessary music by the same musicians down your throat until you beg for mercy. Again, these songs feel made up on the spot, much like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, but these are slightly more structured and this album has a more aggressive tone to it. It’s also a single album instead of a very long double, so that helps A LOT. I prefer this one. Still not a huge fan of prog, but this is tolerable. 3.75/5
This had some cool moments, I liked how big some of these songs get, and there's some cool instrumentation going on. But also the songs are SO long and it veers a little too prog rocky for my taste. I like this marginally better than the Genesis album we JUST had, so I'll bump it up a star.
Anstrengend.
Der Prog-Einschlag hat mich durchaus überrascht. Es wechselte für mich zwischen guten Ansätzen und gewissen Längen. Viel hängen blieb nicht, könnte sich aber bei mehr Durchläufen ändern. Reicht noch für schwache 3 Sterne Sterne.
Bin eigentlich nicht so der Prog-Rock-Fan, wenn wie hier nicht ins Psychedelische abgedriftet. Ein Song mit 10 Minuten, der in unterschiedliche Parts gegliedert ist, sorgt häufig für Abwehrhaltung (10 Minuten stumpf das gleiche Riff mit minimaler Abwechslung spielen finde ich dagegen super). Unter diesen Voraussetzungen hat mir das hier überraschend gut gefallen, wohl auch, weil hier schon eine gewisse Pop-Sensibilität zu erkennen ist. Allerdings gab es hier auch Songs (darunter ein Long-Track), die mir zumindest beim ersten Hören gar nichts gegeben haben. Könnte ggf. noch wachsen.
Hat sich bisschen gezogen. War aber eigentlich ein solides Werk.
I’ve probably listened to this album 8-10 times in one day, simply because of how dense and at times impenetrable it can feel. And I’ll probably continue listening to it more just to fully appreciate what’s on offer here. Four of the eight song pass the eight minute mark with multiple movements. And on balance I probably enjoyed the shorter, more traditionally structured songs like More Fool Me and I Know What I Like. Of all the epics, The Cinema Show was probably my favourite. Really showcases what every member brings to the table. Feel like I’ll continue to discover things about this album for a while to come.
Didn't love this one.
I've never listened to a Genesis album start-to-finish before. It's not that I hate prog. It's just that sometimes it just feels empty. And that's what I'm getting here. There are times where the instrumentation and musicianship is great, but it just doesn't add up to something that seems meaningful. This isn't bad, and I am glad I listened, but I'm not into it.
This is quintessential 70’s Prog rock. But it also has meaningful elements of what Peter Gabriel’s solo work will sound like. And what Genesis will sound like after he leaves.
Maybe I’d have liked it in another life.
Few samples I recognised in there
more interesting than i thought it would be
few albums with songs this long manage to keep my attention throughout
Fifth of Firth is a great place to start for early Genesis. Go from this album to "The Lamb Lays Down on Broadway" What Prog Rock was supposed to be. Very good stuff, not quite their best, but still very good
jako mi je teško ocijeniti. počelo mi je lošije nego što sam očekivao da će biti - trebalo mi je vremena da se priviknem na glas(ove). iako ima dobrih te stvarno dobrih momenata, uvijek se pjesme nekako useru nekom krindž solažom ili kojim drugim bumerskim momentom. podsjeća me na trenutke na jethro tull, no radije bih dakako slušao jethro tull. stoga jedna trojka za nekakvu sredinu. nipošto nije loš album i neke bih dijelove ponovo slušao - i baš je u tome problem, što ne bih možda slušao čitave pjesme. osim "more fool me" - vrhunac albuma, odlična stvar EDIT: slušam ponovo nakon što sam u međuvremenu potpuno pošizio za peterom gabrielom. ovo je sigurno četvorka, ako ne i petica. ne znam što mi je bilo kad sam »more fool me« proglasio vrhuncem albuma. kad vam album dođe, poslušajte ga pozornije! razmišljao sam i razmišljao tijekom slušanja u kojem sam u biti naprosto uživao i mislim da moram zaključiti: zapravo... volim... genesis? jebiga, evo petice. ovo je super
Heck yeah. Another prog rock masterpiece. This is exactly what I'm looking for with this genre, 8 to 11 minute tunes that go all over the place. Excellent musicianship throughout. And, Edward Van Halen and Brian May list Steve Hackett as an influence, which means he's a badass guitarist. Banger 5 star album.
one of my favourite records - love the piano intro to Firth of Fifth
Kind of messy but I love some of the highlights. I think I could like this much more with relistens.
This has some really great tracks. I enjoyed it way more than the last Genesis album I checked out.
I respect it. Not something I'd want to have on and listen to but the sound is nice and the concept is solid
I was hoping I would like this because I love a lot of Genesis, but as a child of the 80s, I think I've mostly listened to their later works. I do appreciate the art of this album and the immense musical talent from this group.
Pretty cool.
Better than I thought it’d be. Some really great moments in here and the musicianship is undeniable. Don’t feel the need to listen to it again.
Very different but I think also better than I expected!
Cool album didn't really realize how prog genesis was! But I quite liked this album!
Nope.
I found this as exciting as the Book of Genesis.
I will never listen to this again. Ever.
Musically this just feels a mess. Masses of over-elaborate twiddling that frequently sounds incoherent, like the worst kind of improv modern jazz, with instruments taking turns at jumping in with portentous chord progressions that don’t take you anywhere, nor have much seeming relevance to the song lyrics. As to the lyrics, well, at least there’s kind of a theme, but it’s a curiously fogeyish little-England one that often sounds twee. The album gets one extra star for trying, though.
An album I'm very familiar with having played it myself many times and also heard live by both Genesis and more recently Steve Hackett. This takes me back to my late teens and it's been one of my favourite albums from that time. It's classic prog rock and, to me, as good an example as you'll find. Musically it's very good, showing off the great musical talents of the band. Lyrically the ballads can seem strange, but they're a bit of fun, and in one or two cases cover societal matters from the time.
Thought I’d love this cos I love Phil Collins but it really wasn’t for me!
This was sweet. I'm not the biggest prog fan, but I always enjoy the ambition an execution of pulling it off. Which, I feel like they did in this record. My favorite was Firth of Fifth (probably because of time in Scotland) but also because the grandeur and epic of this song. Pretty cool stuff.
Pleasant music to listen to, if you're wanting something more chill.
I'll search for comprehensive information about this classic Genesis album to provide you with an in-depth review. Based on my research, here is an in-depth review of **Genesis's *Selling England By The Pound*** (1973): --- ## Overview *Selling England By The Pound* represents the creative zenith of Genesis's classic Peter Gabriel era. Recorded in August 1973 at Island Studios in London and produced by John Burns, this album captures the five-piece lineup—Peter Gabriel (vocals, flute), Tony Banks (keyboards), Steve Hackett (guitar), Mike Rutherford (bass, guitars), and Phil Collins (drums, percussion, vocals)—operating at the peak of their collective powers. The album reached #3 in the UK charts and #70 in the US, marking their most commercially successful Gabriel-era release while maintaining uncompromising artistic integrity. --- ## Lyrics & Themes The album's title and overarching concept emerged from contemporary anxieties about **British cultural identity eroding under American commercial influence**. This theme of "selling England by the pound"—trading heritage for profit—permeates the record's pastoral yet critical worldview. **"Dancing With The Moonlit Knight"** opens with Gabriel's a cappella invocation before exploding into a multi-sectioned epic. The lyrics employ dense wordplay and puns ("Chewing through your Wimpey dreams") to critique the commercialization of English tradition, with references to "the pound" appearing throughout as both currency and weight of value. **"The Battle Of Epping Forest"** stands as Gabriel's most theatrical narrative—a nearly 12-minute gangster operetta depicting territorial warfare between North London vice gangs. With characters like "Harold Demure, from Art Literature" and "Mick the Prick," it blends Monty Python-esque absurdity with genuine social commentary on corruption, materialism ("judgments based on what a person owns as opposed to who they are"), and the commodification of counterculture ("Love, Peace & Truth Incorporated"). **"Firth Of Fifth"** presents poetic, imagistic lyrics that evoke Scottish landscapes and existential searching: "The path is clear though no eyes can see / The course laid down long before." Meanwhile, **"The Cinema Show"** reimagines the Tiresias myth through a modern lens, exploring gender duality and transformation with lines like "I have crossed between the poles; for me there's no mystery." Even the lighter **"I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)"** subverts its pop accessibility with surreal imagery of a lawnmower-obsessed protagonist, while **"Aisle Of Plenty"** closes the album by weaving supermarket chain names into its lyrics—a final commentary on consumerism that bookends the opening themes. --- ## Music & Composition The album showcases Genesis's **unparalleled ability to balance complexity with melody**. Tony Banks's classical piano introduction to **"Firth Of Fifth"** remains one of progressive rock's most iconic moments, evolving through time signature changes into Steve Hackett's legendary guitar solo—a performance of emotional construction rather than mere technical flash. **"Dancing With The Moonlit Knight"** demonstrates the band's structural ambition, moving from plainsong intimacy through folk-rock passages to aggressive prog-rock sections, all unified by Phil Collins's intricate drumming that links "disparate ideas" seamlessly. **"The Cinema Show"** represents the album's musical centerpiece—an extended composition where the trio of Banks, Rutherford, and Collins demonstrates the interplay that would define the band's post-Gabriel era. The instrumental section features Banks's synthesizer work at its most lyrical, building to an emotional crescendo before the reprise of "Moonlit Knight" themes. **"After The Ordeal"** serves as a delicate instrumental interlude, showcasing Hackett's classical guitar and the band's chamber-music sensibilities. Conversely, **"More Fool Me"**—the only track featuring Phil Collins on lead vocals—offers a stripped-back, almost pop-oriented breather that hints at the band's future direction while feeling somewhat disconnected from the album's overall texture. --- ## Production John Burns's production represents a **significant sonic advancement** from previous albums. The recording captures the "beautiful and often haunting storybook atmosphere" that distinguishes Genesis from their progressive rock peers. The mix allows space for atmospheric details—the Mellotron choirs on "Moonlit Knight" and "Cinema Show," the sitar-like guitar textures on "I Know What I Like," the delicate interplay between acoustic and electric elements. The 2007 remix (and subsequent high-resolution editions) has been praised for clarity, though some listeners find the original mix possesses a warmth that later remasters sacrifice for precision. The 2014 Blu-Ray edition's 5.1 surround mix reveals the album's intricate layering, though the stereo presentation can sound "clinical" at high volumes. --- ## Influence & Legacy *Selling England By The Pound* stands as **one of the most influential progressive rock albums ever recorded**. It ranked #7 in Rolling Stone's "Readers' Poll: Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time" (2012) and consistently appears in top-tier positions in progressive rock canon assessments. The album proved crucial in Genesis's evolution: it gave them their first hit single ("I Know What I Like" reached the UK top 30), demonstrated Collins's viability as a lead vocalist, and showcased the trio format that would carry the band into their commercial superstardom. John Lennon publicly praised the album, reportedly causing Gabriel to dance around the dressing room in celebration. For the broader progressive rock genre, the album established a template for **"symphonic rock"** that balanced literary ambition with emotional accessibility. Neo-prog bands of the 1980s and beyond essentially "ripped off this sound," recognizing its perfect expression of "emotive and sentimental vibes while still being rooted to what people love about progressive rock." Steve Hackett has consistently cited it as his proudest Genesis achievement: "Selling England is the album I'm proudest of in Genesis both as a player and for its unique quirkiness... I think it was very heartfelt." --- ## Pros **+ Peerless Songcraft**: "Firth Of Fifth," "The Cinema Show," and "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" represent progressive rock at its compositional peak, combining structural sophistication with melodic memorability. **+ Atmospheric Cohesion**: The album maintains a consistent "storybook" atmosphere—pastoral, whimsical, yet subtly melancholic—that distinguishes it from more clinical prog contemporaries. **+ Musical Virtuosity in Service of Song**: Every member contributes distinctive elements—Banks's classical piano and synthesizer textures, Hackett's lyrical guitar work, Collins's intricate yet musical drumming, Rutherford's melodic bass lines, Gabriel's vocal range and flute—without overwhelming the compositions. **+ Lyrical Intelligence**: Gabriel's wordplay, literary allusions, and social commentary create a lyrical landscape unmatched in rock music, balancing wit with genuine poetry. **+ Production Quality**: John Burns's recording captures the band's dynamic range and textural nuance, representing a major step forward from earlier albums. **+ Historical Significance**: As the bridge between the band's experimental early period and their commercial future, it captures a unique moment when artistic ambition and accessibility aligned perfectly. --- ## Cons **− "More Fool Me"**: This Phil Collins-led track, while historically significant as his first lead vocal with the band, disrupts the album's flow. The stripped-back arrangement doesn't suit Collins's developing voice, and its pop orientation feels incongruous with the surrounding material. Some critics consider it "trash" or at best a "nice little tune" that works only contextually. **− "The Battle Of Epping Forest"**: Though ambitious, this 11-minute epic divides listeners. Tony Banks himself criticized it: "Although the vocals are very nice, they completely ruin the song because there's too much happening—a complete battle between the vocals and music." The density of Gabriel's character voices and wordplay can exhaust listeners, and the humor doesn't always translate (particularly for American audiences unfamiliar with Epping Forest or British vicar stereotypes). **− Pacing Issues**: The album's second side, while containing masterpieces like "The Cinema Show," requires patience. "After The Ordeal" functions as "filler" to some ears, and "Aisle Of Plenty" concludes too abruptly for an album of such scope. **− Accessibility Barriers**: The very elements that make the album distinctive—Gabriel's theatrical delivery, the complex time signatures, the dense lyrics—can alienate casual listeners. It demands multiple listens to reveal its depths. **− Uneven Quality Distribution**: While the highlights rank among rock's greatest achievements, the album contains material that doesn't reach the same heights, creating a somewhat uneven listening experience compared to more consistently paced masterpieces. --- ## Verdict *Selling England By The Pound* represents **the definitive statement of Genesis's classic lineup**—an album where folk tradition meets progressive ambition, where social critique wears a whimsical mask, and where five distinct musical personalities achieve perfect synthesis. Despite minor flaws in pacing and the occasional misstep, it stands as one of progressive rock's essential documents, influencing generations of musicians while remaining utterly singular in its vision. For listeners willing to engage with its complexity, it offers inexhaustible rewards: the "scrambled eggs" conclusion of "Aisle Of Plenty" reveals itself not as nonsense, but as the final, surreal image in an album-length meditation on what England was, is, and might become.
Not for me.
Gabriel Collins und der dritte prog rock naja. c
something i appreciate about prog rock is that it's incredibly indulgent. that's an aspect that can most definitely be a negative sometimes, but you have to appreciate and respect the attempt at creating an epic. an album like this just makes me want to sit back and let it wash over me. the pianos, the woodwinds, the synths, the drumming, the extensive range of guitars, etc etc. it's all so Much, but i gotta admit i enjoy it a lot! it helps that everyone here is an incredibly talented musician. the chorus to "i know what i like" sounds great to me and is where i knew this was gonna be a banger after the killer opener, but all of "firth of a fifth" is pretty much gold. i appreciate the general whimsical nerdiness of the thematic topics, but i'm a real sucker for the grand orchestral feeling evoked.
Huh. Well Patrick Bateman wasn't kidding when he said Genesis in the 70s was experimental. I get the feeling this album has a marmite like quality to it, but I really like this! The way "Dancing with the Moonlight" builds is kind of wild and definitely hooked me. Its interesting, I can hear aspects of the Genesis I know in here, which is to say the later pop-genesis the original fans largely hated, but its mixed in with daring and progressive ideas that largely are gone from the later era. The way Firth of Fifth goes from a Grand piano introduction to rock to flutes and then synth really keeps up the pace of these longer songs. The thing that suprises me is each section in itself works so well and the sum of its parts is even better. Honestly the entirity of Firth of Fifth is incredible. I was debating between a 4 and a 5, but I think this just eeks out a 5 for me.
boring prog bullshit, terrible vocals, just listen to Yes or Emerson Lake and Palmer
A little too meandering for me. Don't need the 10 minute songs and don't understand the rhythm of the album.
I'm on the fence on this - I really like the olde english medieval vibe and there is some great musicianship on display - but in parts it just disappears up its proggy arse - eg Battle of Epping Forest - and just becomes noise.
Early Spinal Tap. That film didn't half get 70s and 80 rock music. Now I can't take albums like this seriously. I'm sure it was on the edge in 1973, just sounds a bit cheesy 50 years later. The Cinema Show is cringeworthy 70s synths.
Yeah there’s potential
Great to hear Peter Gabriels roots. Wicked prog rock!
Peter Gabriel often brings a triumphant feeling to a song in his vocal performance. When it comes to prog rock, I tend to lean on more technical, less lyric heavy stuff, but this is quite enjoyable. That being said, I don't care to interpret the lyrics much. Firth of fifth has a guitar solo that seems to draw on some influence from Pink Floyd's work at the time. After all is said and listened, it was good, but not my favorite flavor of prog.
listen. listen to me. no disrespect intended to peter gabriel. but i don't know if i've ever known a greater disappointment than pressing play on this album and not immediately hearing phil collins' voice.
This project has revealed that I perhaps have a higher tolerance for prog than I previously thought. That said, the parts of this where Peter Gabriel is affecting the voice of a character? No thanks. But this is surprisingly palatable, even if it's not something I'd return to much.
I listened to this only like 7 weeks ago and I can't remember how any of the songs go, but I'm nevertheless going to give it the same full-throttled 5 stars I gave it then. Being great and yet something that instantly erases itself from your mind such that you can come back to it repeatedly with an innocent heart every damn time truly makes early Genesis the MST3K of rock.
I've struggled with several full albums from Genesis, including this one. On one hand I love the approach, the instrumentation, Peter Gabriel's vocals, and some tracks are fantastic! On the other hand, the full sets often leave me bored or unclear what to think or feel. Most music will impact or change my mood, this doesn't—it leaves me solidly in place but wondering, “what brilliance am I too ignorant to realize is sitting before me?” This will remain an album I continue to explore from time to time, but not a favorite.
Embarrassingly, today I learned that Genesis was a prog rock band. In my head, they made the same 80's pop that Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins went on to make. I was, uh, wrong, so this caught me totally off-guard. Not entirely sure how I feel about it; it's kinda all over the place. I get that being weird is part of prog rock, but it was hard to latch onto anything here for more than 10 seconds. There's a wide spectrum between "no chorus" and "no cohesion whatsoever" and this leaned too far toward the latter for me. Didn't hate it. I respect the talent here. It just didn't end up working for me even if I liked it more than I like solo Peter Gabriel. 2.7
9.5
If you let yourself take this seriously, it is a fantastic journey.
That was a BLAST. Exactly what I wanted from this list. It gave me good vibes like Styx, Boston, the classics. Really cool rhythms beats and just a vibe in general. I'll give this one a five star.
I have never done a deep dive on Genesis… although maybe I should (although I listened to other stuff on different albums and liked them more…) solid 3.
Huh. What a weird album. It was musically dense, and decently enjoyable. But I don’t know that I’ll ever care to listen to it again. 5/10 Decent
some of the songs were absolute slogs but others were fun
Not my favourite Genesis album, but it's still a great progressive rock landmark that it's worth listening even today.
I've tried listening to this album before and was not very interested in it. Like before, I really like prog, but was not into this album. However, listening to this album again, it is not bad. It definitely has good moments. I enjoyed the songs Firth of Fifth, The Battle of Epping Forest, and The Cinema Show. The instrumental ending to Cinema Show is beautiful, I love it so much. I also like the vocal harmonization (?) in Firth of Fifth. Album as a whole gives strong fantasy vibes (this is good). A solid listen after giving it a chance.
2026.02.07.
This is absolutely unbearable.
This was surprisingly fresh and dare I say timeless? Favourite track: Firth of Fifth
Not the biggest fan...
„Selling England by the Pound“ ist ein Album, das sehr lang ist und sich oft in ruhigen, ausgedehnten Passagen verliert. Die Instrumente spielen viel, aber meistens passiert dabei nicht besonders viel. Die Songs ziehen sich, wirken stellenweise etwas schwerfällig und bleiben selten wirklich im Gedächtnis. Alles ist sehr ordentlich gemacht, aber ohne große Überraschungen, und die experimentellen Momente fühlen sich eher wie lange Umwege an. Am Ende bleibt ein Album, das manchmal interessant sein könnte, aber meistens einfach nur ruhig vor sich hinläuft. Und ehrlich gesagt: Diese Rezension ist genauso langweilig geworden wie das Album selbst – was irgendwie ganz gut passt.
I've never been a genesis fan, but this album is good (at best). There are a few passages that I like, but a lot more that I feel drag on for far too long. Overall it is a fine album. High 3.
It's a lot to take in, but mostly enjoyable.
This was just awful - I’m sorry as I know so may people love it and Genesis but I just couldn’t find anything about it I liked. Just no redeeming features at all for me - I didn’t like the lyrics which felt trite, I didn’t like Peter Gabriel’s voice, the songs felt so boring. It was a no from me sadly.
Very good
fucking tråkigt
None for me thanks. Album is very good and very inventive though
i downloaded all the genesis albums for a listen through this year but goddamn this kicked ass.... excited to listen to all their albums!!
A lot of pros seems to rely quite heavily on lutes ands other medieval plinky plonk that I could do without. Overall it was ok, 2.5 but I’ll round down to 2
Random but enjoyable album. Not my favourite Genesis stuff, but definitely an experience. Few drinks, a smoke, and an hour with this album on an evening would be a vibe!
Un très bon album très progressif pour son époque. D'habitude j'aime pas vraiment les groupes typés "ultra progessistes" branlette intellectuelle mais là certains éléments font penser à plusieurs sonorités qu'on retrouve dans la guitare moderne, avec des arrangements et des techniques extremement développé, c'est une très bonne surprise et je vois difficilement comment on peut mettre autre chose que 5
I feel like I should like this because it’s Genesis, but I couldn’t even finish it, damn
wow
Its good listen but didnt captivate me a lot.
This is pretty fun. I don’t know how re-listenable it is, but I could really appreciate what they were doing.
хороше приємне звучання але насінг спешал
GOING IN: Quite hopeful LISTENED WHILE: in the bath FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Might come back to it DISCOVERY CURVE: Warmed up nicely ALBUM ARC: Peaked mid-way VERDICT: Better than expected BODY'S VERDICT: Decent head wobble FAVOURITE TRACK: My Rating: 3 My parents were big Genesis fans, so I have a soft spot for them despite only knowing one album (Trick of the Tail). My dad saw them a few days before I was born; if I'd been born male, I'd probably have been named Phil or Peter.
First time listening, it is more like pop music using classical instruments and structures (compared with other prog), i didn’t see the necessity in it. But it sounds good.
Not for me, but theatrical
I kind of wanted to like this a lot more. Iconic and influential band, however it was a bit of a rambling mess. So fantastic moments, some great ability in show, but it didn't hang together. The lyrics are annoying at best, the subs are all over the place and it's themes are weak and rambling. I expect much stronger prog albums to come.
Just not my jam really
I have such a complicated relationship with Genesis. I enjoy Gabriel's and Collins' solo stuff but when you blend them together it just doesn't gel for me personally. It feels like a mess and not at all coherent
Oh, boy. Overly theatrical 70's music. This sounds like a Cat Stevens folk record, not a true Genesis rock and roll album. 8 min, 9 min, 10 min and 11 minute songs, just agonizing and lost on me. Peter Gabriel grew out of this sound and most of the theatrics for a reason. The first 3 tracks have a ton of listens (17M, 20M and 26M), why? I cannot explain. This is one you had to grow up on or be very English to enjoy. I did not enjoy a single song, I especially didn't enjoy "The Battle of Epping Forest", wow what a slog. I kept waiting for the king and queen and court jester to walk around the corner. Utterly lost on me, I hear nothing I can relate to. 1 star from me. I'd love to understand how this is categorized as a Must Hear album.
Do I need to hear this classic one more time? No. Do I want to? Eh, yes!
Never listened to this before and probably liked it a bit less than I thought I would. Good prog rock but a bit OTT especially vocally at points
I am discovering that I really do not enjoy prog.
Loved it
It’s like the smelliest guy at the Ren Faire keeps telling you about his band and you just want to get away. But he keeps talking.
So annoyingly meandering both across and within songs.
You kind of have to shut your brain off for this one. It's admittedly pretty dynamic and impressive from a musical sense, but keeping in the theme of prog rock, it jumps around quite a bit to fully hold your attention. You have to embrace the zaniness with early Genesis.
A very pleasant surprise. My heart sinks when prog rock turns up on here. I often find it too silly. This has got a lovely vibe going on though. A kind of English wistfulness. I'll be returning to this.
I was trying to figure out what I would call this genre. Minstrel rock? Pastoral rock? I knew Genesis was a prog rock band well before their pop fame in the late 70s and 80s, but I had no idea the extent of their progness. I actually liked a couple of songs but most of it was a miss for me.
A nice, clean rock sound from a group of very talented musicians. Besides the normal allotment of instruments, Genesis throws the occasional flute interlude and (possibly even) a harpsichord solo. The lyrics on a couple tunes are pretty far out there and I have no idea what they were talking about, but musically the album was successful.
If the Incredible String Band wandered out of their woods and stumbled upon a cabin, where they found some folks who had instruments that looked like theirs, but had wires attached that somehow plugged into the wall to make them louder, then they all sat down and jammed on the most pompous, ridiculous songs they could dream up, you would get this album. Maybe I missed something when I listen to this, but I doubt it. Hot garbage.
I've always been curious about prog era Genesis, but never took the time to listen. Glad to finally dive in. Not entirely what I expected but enjoyed it. The players are exactly the quality you expect for the genre. Amazing musicians creatively playing off eachother, a joy to listen to. This is definately not the Genesis that gave us I can't dance and sussudio. Overall the songs were great but Firth or fifth, by far my favorite song on the album, it really shines. The album had a vibe in general, kinda midevil maybe? Odd and strange but very enjoyable. This album took me by surprise and I enjoyed the ride. Not many complaints. Btw...who knew Phil Collins was an absolute madman on drums?!?! Damn.
Had some real Rush vibes which I loved? Honestly cool album, different, not what I pictured with Genesis?
I was more familiar with Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel as solo artists and never really came across Genesis music. I was surprised by their sound when the album started. The first song was a lot heavier than I was expecting. As the album progressed, it settled into more of what I'm used to and started becoming repetitive, which was a little disappointing. The instrumentation on this album is beautiful though.
2.8 prefer duke.
Nerviges Gedudel
Gear: Hifiman HE6se v2 SE Artwork: 🤑💸🎨 Production (Remastered 2008): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🧼❓🤯 Rating: 💂🏻♂️💂🏻♂️💂🏻♂️(💂🏻♂️)/5
I love aggressively English progressive rock, and this album is so rich and varied with exactly what I'm looking for. I'm also Scottish and I revel in the misery of England.
some good songs but too long
Dang this album rocks
This is great.
Not for me. At this time, 1973, I was 15 and deeply into Bowie/Roxy Music/Mott and not prog rock. I was waiting for the next thing which for me was punk/new wave. This music did not speak to me at all, especially the emphasis on virtuoso playing.
Liked some songs
Favourite track was the opener - "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" which had a fun guitar lick. The album rocked harder than I expected in the start, but overall it felt bloated at 53 minutes over 8 tracks. 3/5 stars.
Yes så okey jeg er litt sucker for prog rock selv om jeg ikke hører det sånn veldig mye men elsker jo et flytende og godt sammensatt album derfor jeg liker sjangeren og dette er virkelig det herregud for et album starter med et bang med dancing with the moonlit knight og bare fortsetter fra der gitaren er fantastisk og de små folkedelene er så peak produksjonen er faktisk ganske for et 70talls album jes usikker hva gi det men blir endten en 4 eller 5
This is driving me crazy. It's the worst album ever made somehow cheesy but pretentious at the same time. But, I've now listened to it three times and I can't stop. It was a 1 without a shadow of a doubt after the first listen. I had to Ironically listen to The Battle of Epping forest again and then I put Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, but then, it was ironic? I was enjoying it. So I guess it's good? I thought Genesis were a bit more route one than this and I've always enjoyed that about them, they can't do anything too adventurous because my dad likes them. So this really has been quite the day for me. This is the worst album I will give a 5 to and I have no doubt about that.
This is #day523 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… it's time to close out yet another band, as this is my second and final album by Genesis. I don't know how to feel about this prog rock stuff, or rather, I do know: I just don't give a fuck about what's going on. It's like listening to a fairytale you can't focus on, no matter how hard you try, and God knows I've tried. For some reason, I gave their previous record a 3, but I'm not doing that again, sorry. Weirdly enough, during "The Battle of Epping Forest," I heard black midi (must have been the vocal delivery). This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day524.
This album is a noticeable improvement over the previous one (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway), but it confirmed that I’m just not much of a fan of 1970s progressive rock. I enjoy the more radio friendly Pop Rock Genesis after Peter Gabriel’s departure and I also love Gabriel’s solo work, but his era as Genesis’s frontman doesn’t really work for me—so I’m content that they only appeared twice on this list and that I’ve already heard both.
Same old, same old from 70's Genesis. It's fine, but not really an enjoyable time for me.
I enjoy genesis a lot. That was great.
very rush sounding
Medieval prog rock is apparently an acquired taste; it's not really for me, but did like portions of it.
Wow. This is awful. Completely and utterly awful, from start to end. I had wondered if I would give any one star reviews to a list of supposed great albums, and on day 11 here we are. I can't believe how bad this was, in every single facet.
It’s too proggy for me. No real catchy tunes
Very clever and of its time.
Genesis had a geneson with her genehusband
was on a road trip with a genesis fan when this album pop up and the light on his eyes when he got to listen to his fav Genesis album is something i'll won't forget. phil collins cooked on the drums and Gabriel sung well, cool moments but Prog is just not my genre as much as people say that it should be haha
There are some cool moments in this album, but these moments are brief. I'm not as big a fan of the prog direction of the Peter Gabriel version of Genesis as the later direction of Phil Collins, personally. Just too much prog. (Also, Phil Collins is great as usual.)
Instrumental vey good.
Genesis is one of those bands I respect, but I find myself enjoying certain albums more than others. This one definitely lands towards the top of my list. Usually, I’m not a big fan of theatrical elements in music, but with this album, those elements actually make it even better. In fact, the combination of theatrical and symphonic elements is what makes this album stand out for me. Even though “Firth of Fifth” is one of their more popular songs, it’s also my favorite track. Oh, and the keyboards and synths, those are another highlight that really make the album enjoyable for me.
Puh . Hat mich gar nicht abgeholt
Not my type of songs
Dragged on a bit
It was ok. Real promise with the first song, then a bit inconsistent.
Enjoyed this more than I expected (although I don't really know what I expected). Suspect that this would grow with more plays
I have a tough time with Genesis, it's a band I respect, I admire their ability. They take no shortcuts and it's clear that they were absolutely ambitious and their songs reflect that. I like prog rock but prog rock is complex, and I think Genesis just isn't exactly for me and that's totally fine. They deserve the acclaim, they deserve their spot among the most important prog rock bands of all time. All that being said, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight is a fantastic track, made me a little sad that they don't turn up the noise a bit more often. Firth on Fifth was also pretty great, with some Pink Floyd esque guitars shining thru. Even Cinema Show had some really cool moments that had me second guessing my assessment of this album, so I listened again and although there are many moments that are really cool and demand my attention, I just didn't enjoy my entire ride. The Battle of Epping Forest was exactly that, a battle for me, I found it annoying and I know prog rock can be nerdy but this was far too nerdy, it sounded like a song about a Dungeon and Dragons mission and that's too much for me. I want to like Genesis more that I do and maybe one day I'll get there. 5 star glorious burst moments but ultimately 3 stars
First real intro into Phil Collins/Genesis, was a good and fun listen but not something I would put on again. Songs are too long to put on a playlist too. I like it when an album has a theme, this one did wash over me a bit but still had some enjoyable songs. It was no invisible touch
My uncle has been trying to get me to listen to genesis for years and this is the album he recommended. Very glad that I finally did because it’s really great. Special mention to that guitar solo in Firth of Fifth.
Still dont get Prog. And this is barely prog
mmah
What a story of an album. It was okay.
Mixing prog with British twee every day life observations is one of the most tedious sub genres of prog but it's decent in part, I think Peter Gabriel just saves this from being totally abysmal 2.5*
Favorite Track: Firth of Fifth
++: Firth of Fifth, Aisle of Plenty +: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe), The Battle of Epping Forest, The Cinema Show +-: More Fool Me, After the Ordeal 6,0/10
piatto
mid
Some cool sounds and story telling
This is another familiar, brilliant album
Pros: synth sounds, when they settle into a groove and the guitar takes over, the pop informed bits, the odd heavy riff Cons: the neo folk pastoral stuff, the clever for its own good overly elaborate compositions, flute, the lyrics, the acoustic ballad bits, the meandering stories that dont go anywhere.
Kurt jam band music Not my thing but some fun energy Best- when it feels like a soundtrack Worst- when it’s getting too zany to even consider a musical progression
Not gonna lie, that opening song blew my mind. Gets a little stale in some parts, but I like prog Genesis. Really, both are good. 4/5
Genesis with Peter Gabriel … and without him … it’s like two completely different bands.
3.6 2x SLC airport 3/31
Me like, but requires multiple listenings...
This was great. I've held off from checking out early Genesis for a while despite liking contemporary prog and I wish I had listened to this sooner, I love the classical elements like those in Yes' records. Originally gave it a 4 but after listening a couple more times I've bumped it up to a 5; easily one of the best prog records I've heard.
A wonderful album full of magic.
Prog rock with Peter Gabriel seems to be an irresistible mix for me. Early Genesis may be one of the biggest revelations of this list for me.
its not bad. just not what i'd listen to on my day to day
I liked this album not my usual listen but I did enjoy it most likely won’t listen through again but will look into the band a bit more :)
I love off-the-wall prog rock lyrics but unfortunately the instrumentals on this one did very little for me
Best start to a prog album, I mean "Firth of Fifth" is a chef's kiss. It gets a bit too scattered with "Battle of Epping Forest", but ends well with "The Cinema Show". 4.5 stars getting closer to 5 each new listen
3 sterne
Wow Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel are so much better as solo artists. This was all over the place in a bad way
Reminds me of hair bands. It's not bad!
Scratched an itch I didn't realize I had...More Fool Me and The Battle of Epping Forest were FANTASTIC!
An okay album but I am not a big fan of the early Genesis stuff. 3 stars or C+.
I just can't be fucking bothered with something like this
Early Paul Simon
BANGER
I like this more than I should
After the last Genesis album I got I was like, “Great! Who knew I’d love Genesis?!” Don’t quite feel the same about this one.
Pompous nonsense.
I wanted to really like this. I think it's the idea of really liking it, than actually hearing anything of interest. In the end it was all a load of hippy nonsense, as expected. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) was a rare highlight.
Total: 2706912000000.00£
Sounds later than 1973. This is well produced, played and performed with a lot of talent and they do a great job. I never really gave these guys a fair shot but this prog effort is worth revisiting.
If you dislike prog rock of any age you're gonna hate this. It meanders and goes all over the place in a very pleasing way if, and only if, you're in to that kind of thing. Honestly the songs are less than 5 minutes long are entirely forgettable, but Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, Fifth of Firth, Battle of Epping Forest, and The Cinema Show are bedrock examples of prog rock. They're not only archetypes for the genre, but they could slot in at almost any time period. You can be sure that modern popular prog acts like Dream Theater, Symphony X, etc all revere Genesis of this era as foundational work for their music. While I really enjoy the synth and guitar solos, I think Phil Collins's drumming is really insane on this. He's got all the chops required and then some. It's funny to think that the 80's sensation is also this amazing studio drummer, but he is, and always has been. Without getting too in to it, the biggest complaint I have about the really epic level songs in this is the lyrical content in "battle of epping forest" which made me think of a bunch of barber of seville level musical characters fighting each other and singing at the same time in victorian london or whatever. Musically it's incredible. This is a four because I don't think the shorter, more radio oriented songs, are really that great. They're fine, and they fit in to the album as a whole but they're on another planet from the progressive masterpieces in here. anyway, NEEEERRRRRRRDDDDSSSSS
I recently listened to a Yes album, and while I know it's not a contest, if it was, I'd be on team Genesis. Yes feels more like prowess is on display, where Genesis is more like place-making, like I feel like I'm somewhere else. And while it's still hella-Prog, it doesn't have so many switch ups and changes. It's more fantasy and less jazz. Gotta say our boy Phil Collins is tearing it up on the drums here! I like the feel of Genesis. Peter Gabriel's voice is soothing and makes me feel safe.
I love these sprawling songs full of mythic references and an epic feeling of Importance, even though they may cover such small things as a gang fight in a forest. I could listen to a lot more of this (fortunately, the list provides). Favorite track(s): "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight," maybe "Firth of Fifth"
Es la típica voz que se me viene a la cabeza cuando pienso en los 70. El álbum tiene partes excesivamente largas que hacen que te canses en algunos momentos, pero luego tiene partes guays que lo salvan. Sin embargo al ser tan largas las canciones algunas partes estan bien y otras mal, no me pegan en ninguna playlist y me dan pereza volver a escucharlas.
I enjoy some Genesis hits so I was excited to listen to this one. Can't say I enjoyed it that much unfortunately.
this is on some nerd shit… loved it!
I wasn't particularly enthused by this album. It felt a lot like poncy people noodling. The music was alright, it just didn't grab my attention, and felt like jazzy people trying to play rock music, which is what happens when you have a prog album. My rating: 3/5 umbrellas
this shit would go wild on some nitrous in the middle of an acid trip
Extremely British (in a good way). I’d have to listen to it a couple times to appreciate it though so a 3er it will be for now.
Day697 - this album is awesome and drugs would probably make it even better
Obviously you have to be in a certain mood for prog, which I don’t think I was listening to this. Aside from that, I think sometimes slightly too medieval for me.. I found the songs on Lamb Lies Down on Broadway a bit more attention holding personally.
I went back and forth with whether this was catching my ear or just being kinda ... there.
impossible to take a tax dodging whiner like phil collins seriously singing about a lost england. also impossible to take him seriously because this is dogshit.
every song was long enough that there were bery enjoyable and very bleh parts. 2.5
I prefer to pretend the British prog rock era of Genesis doesn't exist
Oh damn, Genesis - that's the crappy Phil Collins band from the 90's. Apparently they had a whole life as a prog-rock band and this is some great prog-rock. I would have never guessed this was Genesis. Great find and this is the reason I keep coming back to this website every day. I will definitely be diggin into their back catalog.
Eines der besten Prog-Rock Alben aller Zeiten. Allein schon für das Klavier-Intro von Firth of Fifth 5 Sterne wert. Aber auch sonst viele hörenswerte Klassiker wie "Cinema Show" und "I know that I like" 5/5
496/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
- Tough to review; you certainly need to be in the mood for complex and literary. Very well done and, again, in the context of the times, very different from much of the other output but also their fifth release at this point. Is it groundbreaking? i don't know if it holds up from a "this is n important release" standpoint ... I'm struggling to get to a 5. -
Not a prog fan, to be honest, but this was surprisingly "cheerful" in a way many prog records aren't. I didn't know Genesis' music that much, it's not that inaccessible as I thought it would be. Not sure I'd listen to the record again, but hearing Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins together was great.
I like English History and Mythology as much as the next guy (Maybe even slightly more) and I was really excited when I saw Genesis ... But this right here ...
Mind bending experimental concept album
Ok 2/5
god
I didn't like it very much. I think I would have liked this more if I was in my 20's. Side A was really pretentious sounding, although I did smile when I heard Phil Collins sing on "More Fool Me". Some bits still made me smile though.
I was introduced to this album in college as every young man should be. I have always loved it and i can’t be subtle about it.
2 stars Another example of prog rock that was just not for me. This was better and somewhat more enjoyable than ELP but all in all was not something I want to revisit. I did find it amusing that they had 3 weeks to write the songs and they create this intricate work where most modern artists take years to come up with relatively simple mediocre works. Anyway, I can hear the talent of the band and clearly Gabriel and Collins showed their talent over time. But the whole was not something of interest to me.
A great progressive rock album that has mostly stood the test of time. His vocals are a bit silly, and it's not as iconic as many of it's contemporaries, but nice overall. 4/5
7/10
Folk-inflected prog. Pompous, and often overblown. Beedly-Beedly guitars, fax-classical keyboards, big dynamics. Very English.
What the fuck! Ironically without change and development from old England village cricket grounds to modernity 9they would not have been able to record this album never mind moan 8about everything! If this was recorded now it would be about immigrants taking our jobs hahahaha Oddly though I love their Mama album one of my all time favourites Its one of those albums where every band member has to have a solo! This explains the emergence of punk in one fairy encrusted record, only surprise is it took so long to arrive They clearly had aspirations to be Pink Floyd but unfortunately they fell well short Put The Clash The Clash on to expunge my 👂's .
Not sure what to say. I think this album would definitely get better with more listens, but the first one didn't make a big imprint.
It IS interesting but I actively hate it so I'm going to break my own rules and mark it probably lower than it deserves
Talented musicians perform pretentious medieval-prog with downright annoying vocals.
First song was insufferably pretentious and i was dreading an entire album of this.....and it was. After the ordeal was ok. for the most part the songs are long winded and wanky. 2.5 stars.
What a strange album that somehow... Works. It's definitely a concept album that I don't think I would want to pull a single song into my playlist. It's good though, like really good. 6/10
Dated.
Bunch of dads trying to be trippy and weird but forgot to take the drugs to make it real.
God, I'm bored! Could might as well be listening to Genesis. Rik Mayall, early 80ies.
The best album by Genesis, hands down. It has the musical depth and shows the talent in songwriting by making the Englishness theme not too overt. And then there's the talent to write really complex, but also catchy songs. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" or "The Battle of Epping Forest" are classic prog rock at its best yet highly sing-a-long-y. Not an easy accomplishment!