Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Damn Phil can play the drums
A great Peter Gabriel/Genesis album full of great songs and musicianship.
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
i liked it
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
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
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.
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.
Dancing With the Moonlight Knight I Know What You Like (In Your Wardrobe) Firth of Fifth The Battle of Epping Forrest
Interesting and full of talent but oh so pretentious
I liked the synths and the vibe
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
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.
more interesting than i thought it would be
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
Kind of messy but I love some of the highlights. I think I could like this much more with relistens.
Pretty cool.
Cool album didn't really realize how prog genesis was! But I quite liked this album!
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.
Great to hear Peter Gabriels roots. Wicked prog rock!
If you let yourself take this seriously, it is a fantastic journey.
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.
Very good
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!!
wow
хороше приємне звучання але насінг спешал
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.
Loved it
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.
Had some real Rush vibes which I loved? Honestly cool album, different, not what I pictured with Genesis?
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.
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
I enjoy genesis a lot. That was great.
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.
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
3.6 2x SLC airport 3/31
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
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!
I like this more than I should
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
this is on some nerd shit… loved it!
- 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. -
Mind bending experimental concept album
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
Ei varsinaisesti kauhean kevyttä ja helppoa kuunneltavaa mutta on progessa hetkensä
Damn, this is cheesy as hell. I love it.
87/100. Really good. The solos are incredible all over the record, from the guitars to the synths. Just a great listen that showcases why this is considered one of Genesis’ best.
Dreamy and delightful, and damn close to Lamb Lies Down level of overall quality and impact. Strong contender for one's personal all-time fave prog record (perhaps it's not too proggy). The vaguely medieval milieu and fairytale flourishes don't get in the way of quality playing and pure musical enjoyment. Yes, there's epic scope and dramatic urgency, without (crucially) self-importance, plus many hummable sections and engaging (even ear-wormy) passages. A number of the songs were of such quality as to sustain the transition to Phil Collins' singing them on later live records. Just great and aging very well indeed.
интересный прог-рок... мне понравилось, думаю это твёрдая 4, возможно со времен изменю свою оценку (выше или ниже хз), но пока что мне очень нравится и я буду это ИНОГДА переслушивать. так что. твёрдая ЧЕ-ТЫ-РЕ!!!!!!!!
3.75 Firth of Fifth is awesome
Four stars, not the best ever but enjoyable. I liked a lot of the tracks
Back in our chemistry class (1979ish) me and my schoolmates would spend whole lessons arguing over which was better, Genesis with Pete or Phil on vocals! I was firmly in the Gabriel camp and I still am. A bit pretentious at times and downright silly at others I never less love them all the more for it. The musicianship is sublime and the lyrics though unfathomanable at times are never boring. Not their best but still good fun.
Interesting soundscape. Firth of Fifth is genius!! Happy that I go to hear this band.
This was a better album than I thought it would be
A brilliant opener and two even better songs follow it. Mellows down for More Fool Me then the low point of The Battle of Epping Forest. Thankfully it then gets much better with After The Ordeal and Cinema Show. If only that middle track was better this would get 5 stars. Still, I reckon it deserves a 4.5.
That was really good, I enjoyed it. Smooth listening all the way through.
What a wandering adventure… I can see why people call it a prog rock masterpiece. Now, perhaps masterpiece is a bit strong in my opinion, but nonetheless it is a great album. The fact that our are able to write this way, astounded me every time I hear something like this. It just makes me think who comes up with this stuff? But in the best way. I enjoy most of the themes, lyrically, and the music and writing are impressive at least. Even after doing a deep dive on this, I still feel like I really need additional lessons to truly get it. I think it’s that deep.
Such an intriguing band with such an intriguing album
Really like the instrumental journeys they go on, it made me happy. Very pleasant to listen to, although the back half isn't as strong as the first half. Also Peter Gabriel sounds more whiny on the back half imo. Enjoyed the parts where he wasn't yapping most.
I didn’t know what to expect from this album, but really enjoyed the sound. Will definitely turn on again.
Very proggy. I didn’t realize Peter Gabriel was in Genesis. Flute is pretty bad ass with synthesizers. Very groovy in parts as well. Bass playing is top notch. Very well mixed album as well. Very mythical sounding throughout. Almost like a renaissance fair.
fascinating album, prog rock is so weird
Very interesting and fun vibes!
I kinda liked it
They remind me of ELP. This is rock, I understand.
Some really cool sounds. My first time properly listening to genesis (and was never a huge fan of their poppier singles.) they are more typically prog than I realised. There is some yes feeling which is great for me. I can't quite get into the concept. There are terrible modern connotations with people complaining about English culture being diluted - I don't know how this landed at the time. I know they're talking about the soft power of American culture but it still feels off to be anti internationalist in this way. Whatever the case, the accents and some of the references feel clumsy. Would like to listen to more genesis though, and could probably see past the lyrics to enjoy this one.
Gotei
# Playlist Track - Firth of Fifth # Notes - Oh boy. I've first heard this as a vinyl record. - Side A still kicks ass. Yeah, the tracks are long and meandering, but taking the trip is well worth it. I love the pacing and the diversity. - The flute lines in "Firth of Fifth" are just *chef's kiss*. - After the huge "Battle of Epping Forest" things get a bit lost and the tail end is not as good. - Still a listen that I very much recommend!
aAAAaHgdbfn
kate bush i love you
Rating: 3.8 Whimsical, non-annoying prog which is extremely hard to come by. I am very afraid of anything by Genesis without Peter Gabriel because I’m not sure this would work at all without him.
solid musicians but not yet in their true form.
I love prog, but never really got into Genesis. They sort of embody all of the reasons people make fun of 70's prog, but there's a lot of good in this album. I did find myself regularly upset with the singing and lyrics, but musically, a nearly flawless album
3.5
Great Album. A bit too wordy but would listen to again
I've heard that early Genesis was progressive as I'd only heard their hits after Phil Collins took over the band but didn't realize how awesome they are as a prog band. Collins' drumming is amazing. Musically this is amazing prog music with face melting guitars & a flute!? With a dash of folk music.The songs run a bit long but thats expected for the genre. Lyrically though Genesis did little to nothing for me but I'd willing to go down the rabbit hole for more Genesis. 4
Great. I was more familiar with their 80s pop sound. I like this better. Favorite song: the battle of Epping forest.
This is both really good and too long at the same time. 3.5/5
An early Genesis album. but shows why they had staying power. Symphonic virtuosity.
All around good album, but I can't help but feel like I've heard other bands do this really big, symphonic sound much better, i.e. The Who. Still, that opener is insane and the album rarely loses its intensity without good reason. I like how much the lead singer sounds like a dwarf/elf/other fantasy creature, it makes it sound like something from The Lorax or similar.
Super solid prog. May need to check out some more of their stuff.
Liked it.
Great piece of prog rock but I will have to dock a star for tricking me into enjoying a Phil Collins song.
Better than Rush, not as good as Yes. Enjoyed the very metal interlude in the opening track.
Despite being a huge prog fan back in the day, I never really got into Genesis. I don’t know why! Once again those nerds were right.
I like this a lot more than I thought I would given that prog is far from my fave genre. There are actually some good melodies In here and they are relatively restrained when it comes to the noodling. The Cinema Show is the low point, the keyboards sound dreadful. My Peter Gabriel fandom continues, somewhat surprisingly. 4 stars
You're never going to hear me complain about some prog rock. And this Genesis album is so good. The opening of this is so epic, like something you'd hear before a big Medieval battle scene on a show/movie. But then it transforms into this really beautiful sounding song before barreling into a fast-paced middle section. Such a cool song. Firth of Fifth might be the most pure prog rock song I've ever listened to. So good. Likewise, The Battle Of Epping Forest is another highlight despite a long runtime. Unlike some other Genesis albums, this might not be among my favorites because it does run pretty long. Not the most re-listenable album. That's really only my minor critique and why I'd score it at 4.5 stars, but would skew closer to a High 4.
Early Genesis, like so much prog is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. A pleasure because the songs and conceptual follow through are fantastic; made guilty because its hard to deny that the concepts, lyrics, and even a lot of the instrumental flourishes (flutes and shit) are often quite dorky. In this case, pleasure absolutely wins out. I'd say the album is a little long-winded for my preference, but its hard to pick anything to cut. Love epic opener, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight -- the guitar line near the beginning is so pretty and well supported by other synthy bullshit. And love how it opens up in the middle before giving way to some aural, jazz-influence back section. Firth of Fifth is epic and absolutely wonderful. The flute sections are beautiful and counterpointed wonderfully by the guitar. Collins goes nuts on the drums throughout. More epicness on The Battle of Epping Forest, though I felt less engaged by this one. Love the weeping guitar on After the Ordeal and the synthy stuff through the back half of The Cinema Show. Aisle of Plenty was a fine closer that digs back into the guitar melody from the opening track, but with what sounds to be reversed vocals. Two extra bits. (1) The Spotify mini-video of Collins wapping himself with the tambourine over and over again is low-key hilarious. (2) It is always kind of funny to find hip-hop samples buried in prog rock epics. I counted at least two that stood out: the flute section around 4:00 in Firth of Fifth forms the prominent sample by ScHoolboy Q on Gangsta in Designer and Outkast sampled Dancing with the Moonlit Knight for SpottieOttieDopaliscious. Fine album all around. I think it ran a bit long, but the peaks were fantastic on Dancing with the Moonlit Knite and Firth of Fifth. Not my favorite Genesis album, but still great. 4 / 5
Another solid Genesis album. No real notes, but it was good. Their style is unique for sure.
Damn this first song is awesome. That was one of the shortest 53 minute albums I've listened to. Some seriously good stuff. Still think it's weird that Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins sound exactly the same.
Some good stuff! It took a couple listens to appreciate it
Multiple tempo changes straight away in Dancing with the Moonlit Knight. There's a couple of fast middle sections that are heavier than I expected, bookended by introspective slower parts. The album then alternates shorter songs and longer ones, with Firth of Forth the next epic. Lots of different instruments involved but the guitar solo is the highlight of the album so far. Overall, it's the long songs that grab me the most, The Cinema Show different but equalling the best of Firth of Forth. Aisle of Plenty is a nice outro too, initially repeating the melody from the end of Cinema Show. All in all, this is _so_ much to process. It's inconsistent, but intricate and there are so many great melodic moments. I wouldn't have minded more of the speed from the first song, but there's a folksy warmth and accessibility to it which draws me into the world they've created.
Never got to hear early Genesis, but that sounds awesome
Surprisingly excellent. I don't know much about Genesis other than Phil Collins, and he's more of a pop guy to me, so when I would read things about Genesis being a prog band I was always so confused, because the few songs I heard by them didn't sound prog to me at all. This album is definitely prog. I liked it quite a bit. I just read the blurb and apparently it's kind of controversial amongst Genesis fans, but I don't have time for all that nonsense. I listened to it, I enjoyed it a lot, and so I'm giving it 4 stars.
I'm mainly familiar with Genesis from the Phil Colins era "Invisible Hand", though that admittedly seems uncool (although I have a soft spot for "Land of Confusion"). It's interesting to hear their early work and how different it was. Firmly still within the prog rock camp, this album was a breakthrough for the band and you can see why. There's a distinct pop quality that's emerging here and it's very listenable, particularly for those long 11 minute long numbers that are usually pretty challenging for audiences. The Medieval English flourishes are a bit much but I can see how they work for the theme of a idealistic England being corrupted by American culture. I didn't love every second here but there are more hits than misses.
I was sure I would hate this. I like Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins' solo careers plus Mike and the Mechanics, and Post-Gabriel Genesis (yes even the Ray Wilson album). I had never really taken the time to listen to the earlier stuff though, just because it was different. And despite what Richard Hammond thinks, I actually really liked this.
good stuff
The A side of this album is pretty much perfect. The B side lacks a bit of that same energy, but it has Cinema Show. Overall its good but not my favorite Genesis album
Very good.
Classic album.
Dark Side of the Moon if Pink Floyd was really into Lord of the Rings instead of LSD. Always enjoy a cohesive album and you can clearly tell this was constructed to play out cinematically. Lead singer's voice would be a bit distracting at times but there are some incredibly cool riffs and moments within here.
8/10 Well I was really not expecting to love this as much as I have. As a complete stylistic juxtaposition to the ZZ Top album yesterday, where they wrote one good riff and stuck with it, Genesis seem to have a hundred ideas and somehow combine them all into one coherent (to my ears), if a little bit batty, whole. It’s going to sound like a very odd comparison, but this reminds me in some ways of the Aphex Twin album Drukqs (One of my favourite albums of all time) in that it is so frenetic at points and often doesn’t settle on one idea for very long, but also has these little breathers sprinkled around, like More Fool Me and the ending of Dancing with the Moonlit Knight that just give you a minute to collect your thoughts before it lets loose again. I mention this during one of my track summaries, but this album feels like living in my brain. I can walk into a room with the intention of doing something, end up getting distracted, doing four different things before, ten minutes later, remembering what I started doing in the first place and then getting back to it. Anyway, I can really feel the folksy influence of traditional England that they’re trying to reference and I think the concept of the album does come through quite clearly. It’s obviously pretty self-indulgent in places (it’s a prog record) and it could probably have been made a bit tighter without losing anything, but all in all, that was a really fun ride that I’ll definitely be coming back to. Dancing with the Moonlit Knight - Love the way this tempts you in with a few builds that then just drop away, before it eventually goes balls-out. The change in tempo, time signature and dynamic at various points is great. This song feels a bit like my brain when I’m trying to do a simple task. It ends with a nice bit of reflective palate cleansing too. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) - Feels like they’ve listened to some of the Beatles more experimental tracks and said “you think that’s weird? Hold my beer.” It’s a more straightforward song than the first, but scattered with an undercurrent of lunacy. And that low mellotron note on the intro and outro is beefy and nasty. Love it. Firth of Fifth - The first minute or two of this is more what I was expecting from Genesis. Nice piano intro into a more straight forward rock section. I love the light and shade of this and the rhythm section really punctuates the rest of the music nicely. And it just drifts into various different ideas again and again while still sounding like a coherent whole. But does get a bit self indulgent in the second half. More Fool Me - I feel like this is them going, oh by the way, we can all sing too. Harmonies remind me of the Bee Gees. Lovely little track and another great palate cleanser. The Battle of Epping Forest - I’m a sucker for an irregular time signature. The way this track keeps changing emphasis is wonderful. The beauty of this is that, if you just had it on in the background and weren’t listen to it properly, you might miss how strange it is. Has enough little hooks to keep it from being too much of a jumble, at least to me. After the Ordeal - Another palate cleanser. Nice little track, if a bit cheesy. But I think these little bits of respite are key to the flow of the album. The Cinema Show - Quite a delicate intro and then it kicks in nicely. The drums sound amazing here, especially the little ghost notes on the snare. So deft and crisp. I feel this is a bit ponderous and, while there are bits of it I like, I felt like it maybe drifted a bit too much and maybe didn’t justify the track length. Aisle of Plenty - A pretty little coda. The overlapping vocals are nice.
Instrumentally it's a great album, amazing performances by everyone involved, I particularly liked Banks' solos, like the final one in "The Cinema Show". Gabriel's and Collins' vocals are very good too, and the drumming by Collins is of course excellent as well. As a record, I found it pretty consistent and easy to listen to, even though several songs are quite long, they don't feel uninteresting. Thematically and lyrically it's interesting too. The main feature of the record though is how good of an example of Progressive Rock it is, the songs evolve in such an interesting way, keeping your attention and showcasing the group's technical ability and inspiration. My favourite was "The Cinema Show", but most of the songs are pretty strong.
Not at all what I expected this to sound like. Gave very heavy Emerson, Lake, & Palmer vibes. Enjoyed it.
4/5. Unique for sure, it's rock but feels like it could be from a distant past. This is an album we were told we had to listen to and like, for anyone looking into progressive rock after Pink Floyd and Yes. And although I do like it, it does take a few go arounds to get into. The silliness at first feels out of place and cringe, and now it's hard not to quote it outside of the song, because of how iconic it is. If someone listens to this at first and is turned off by it, I honestly get it. The guitar and keys are the highlights, but I don't think this is Peter Gabriel's best. If the lyrics were a little more finetuned or with more care, this would be perfect. This album does not hold up as a perfect album, despite how much I do like it. Best Song: Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, The Cinema Show, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
Wild
epic prog classic
Пока что не запоминается, но отлично звучит фоном. 6,5 из 10.
Genesis was really something else when it was headed by Peter Gabriel. This is some of the most interesting and unique music I've heard. It covers a diverse range of sounds while still sounding cohesive. It's striking to listen to.
niin moningmutkainen ja hullutus hullutus! wautsi! nämä ovat viisaita henkilöitä jotka tätä tekivät. musiikkiteoriaa aivan uskomaton ta. now goes down to c.. goes d sharp.. and half step up, and another... aand.. aaand... a full step to the major scale... wow... koskaan kuullukkaan moista. ja nokkelat lyriikat siihen päälle todella nokkelat, niitä kannattaa miettiä vielä jälkeenpäinkin. ja kuionka hauska! kukaan ei kertonut kuinka humoristista .. classic british humor... love the brits.. kaikenlaista vitkutinta ja vatkutinta löytyy tästäkin, 1973 semmoista vatkonta-aikaa musiikkimaailmassa että ihan ymmärrettävää firth of fifth
nisu mi najomiljeniji prog bend ali daleko od lošeg
A bit weird at times, but the music is really interesting. Didnt care that much for peter Gabriels genesis vocals, Phil's song was an interesting break in the album.
estou impactada com a guitarra de "firth of fifth"!!!!! prog rock é tão bom né, gente?
5/21/25. What a great album! This is the epitome of prog rock for me, with interesting sounds throughout, and trying different time signatures and elements that challenge you. Will definitely come back to this.
Really nice example of prog rock
4.5
Prog Rock soso. Früher war das Musik für Gymnasiasten. Die sich die englischen Texte auf den Album-Innenseiten übersetzten und interpretierten. Die jeden Rhythmus/Tempi/Akkordwechsel analysierten. Je komplexer desto besser. Die Bandmitglieder natürlich Meister an ihren Instrumenten, vielleicht mit etwas klassischer Musikausbildung garniert (gerne Orgel), komplexe Songstrukturen. Futter für Eggheads. Klingt heute wie von gestern, genauso wie Jazzrock. It's not dead but it just smells funny. Ich rieche es immer noch gerne.
ég elska byrjunina á i know what i like (in your wardrobe) ahahhahfhahha
This surprised me since I went into the album expecting your run of the mill whining group of British men (The Kinks certainly put me off bands of this type), but I was pleasantly surprised that there was some art in the vocals! I would definitely say that the instrumentals were the strongest part of this album, I barely felt time passing when listening to the 10-11 minute instrumental tracks. Overall, I would definitely be willing to listen to more of them.
Yeaa melodic stuff
Fav: I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) Least Fav: More Fool Me Ok fair play, Peter Gabriel and co were cooking with this, just wish the best parts of the songs lasted longer
Probably the high point of Genesis' career, (nearly) every song on *SEBTP* is fully-developed, and everything within the songs, even the long instrumental parts, keep the songs constantly moving forward. The songs span a wide range of emotions and musical directions, but album holds together as a whole really well. (The only thing that keeps *SEBTP* from being a complete masterpiece is the inclusion of "More Fool Me", a lightweight track with a tentative vocal by Phil Collins.)
Хороший альбом, есть один трек, который оказывается был засемплирован
Wow a prog album I like, even further it was the longer classic prog tracks I liked and the shorter tracks I didn't. Rating: 4.5
I know what I like and although it tends to lean more towards Amon dul or can, my partner has been on an early genesis Phil Collins & Peter Gabriel kick the last 10 years so I’m pretty familiar with this album and it’s got one of my fave genesis songs on it. British prog rock perfection.
Genesis does this thing where they'll come up with some of the greatest and most meticulously crafted music you'll ever hear, and then follow it with uneven and at times downright goofy songs that really start to detract from the greatness. A great album showcasing the highs and lows of 70s prog, warts and all. Top tracks: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, More Fool Me
Man, Peter Gabriel just makes everything better, doesn't he? Also, Phil Collins is a badass drummer.
Very interesting album. Never listened to early Genesis before. Reminds me of Cat Stevens. Like medieval bars music. 4/5
I am learning I don't love prog rock, but I do quite like prog rock.
Low 4 Not the catchiest album but lot of mesmerizing moments
A lot of pleasant songs
Nog niet de jaren '80 Genesis waar we mee groot zijn gebracht, al komt er wel wat bekends voorbij. In plaats daarvan varen ze zelfs wat op de jaren '60 met vrij speelse muziek, zoals bij "The Battle of Epping Forest". Toch kan ik niet zeggen dat ze in de jaren '60 zijn blijven hangen. Het lijkt geëvalueerd naar een meer uitgedachte compositie. Fijn is dat het album een geheel is, geen collectie van een paar hits en een paar opvullers. Helemaal mijn smaak is het niet, maar een bovengemiddelde waardering kan ik hier wel voor noteren.
One of the most ambitiously arranged albums I've heard. A really crazy/cinematic prog rock record. If I give it more time it may become a classic but the music is so intricate that it's hard to let stick in your brain. A really cool album however overall.
A solid prog album. Very English. It is making a statement about the Americanization of England which still holds up today with all that is happening now. The Cinema Show might be the best song Genesis ever recorded. Musically, not for everyone and I get that with its medieval musings and Shakespearian motifs. Still, I'll listen again.
Non tutte mi sono piaciute, ma come musica è piacevolissima
Walked into this blind, what a fakeout the first track is. I thought I was in for 50 minutes of Ren faire background music. Still on the first track, HOW MANY SOUNDS CAN THEY INCORPORATE INTO A SONG?! Aggressively Bri'ish during the battle of epping forest. No notes for the rest of songs, it brought energy when it needed to, and only lost me during the 3 longer songs. I think the 3 lengthy songs after the opener were a bit redundant. Overall a 4.
4/5
Estupenda muestra de prog rock de los 70. Composiciones complejas, tocadas virtuosamente y con influencias medievales/pastorales. No le había prestado mucha atención a Genesis, sobre todo a sus primeros álbumes, y me ha sorprendido gratamente. Aunque, como suele pasar con los álbumes de rock progresivo, acabo desconectando pasado un tiempo debido a la larga duración de los temas y a la falta de "gancho", por decirlo de alguna forma. De todos modos, le voy a dar cuatro estrellas porque me ha parecido muy interesante y quiero revisitarlo.
70's prog rock was something else, and Genesis demonstrates it. This was very good musically speaking
Kova, prog rokkia. Vähän jotenkin keski-aikainen soundi. Kunnon sooloilua. Parhaat: Dancing With The Moonlight King, Firth Of Fifth, The Cinema Show
Baš mi je dobro sjeo ovaj album! ✨ Nisam nikad njih preslušavala ali eto, dosta mi je kul. Firth of Fifth mi je vrh stvar, mislim čak najdraža s albuma. Fino osvježenje nakon niza dosadnih preslušavanja! 4/5, 8/10
I know this is kinda goofy. Some of these songs go on forever. There's a lot of fucking around. But I just love Peter Gabriel. I love the grandiosity and weird time signatures. The medieval mysticism works here, I think - maybe not. i'm not sure. Not always. But either way I love when artists make strange and inexplicable decisions with a confidence that borders on lunacy. I'd rather something be enthusiastically misguided than safe but effective. Sometimes that ethos leads to a 12 minute synth jam to nowhere, sometimes it leads to The Cinema Show, which rocked. I won't return to this album often, but when I do it will be for an extremely specific vibe I don't think any other band could provide.
The best Genesis album
Not the best Genesis album but it's still good
Хорошо
Went into Selling England by the Pound completely blind — not really a Genesis fan — but I was pleasantly surprised. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" was easily the standout for me. I’ve always been a sucker for when bands sneak sitar into Western rock, and it works really well here. That said, “Battle of Epping Forest” lost me. It’s just too long to be doing all those goofy voices — felt like I was trapped in a Renaissance fair skit. Still, as far as prog rock goes, this album makes a pretty strong case for why Genesis is so highly regarded.
Weird, prog, expansive, grand, self indulgent. I enjoyed it. Definitely not for everyone, but I found it to be refreshing and unique. So many sounds and wacky choices on this record but that feels like the point
Another really good album from Genesis that was new to me. Definitely a grower with a lot going on, but killer instrumental sections with great vocals from Gabriel and Collins.
Kände direkt vid första lyssningen att den här jäkeln hade något och den växte verkligen med flera lyssningar. Lite experimentell, men tycker det mesta dels fungerar riktigt bra. Kul överraskning då jag inte hört tidiga Genesis förut.
Early Genesis with Peter Gabriel was a trip. An interesting trip to who they ended up becoming years later.
Really enjoyed this across two listens. First, whilst drifting in and out of a nap. And then again later that evening, to confirm that I had definitely listened to it all.
love Peter Gabriel Genesis.
8/10
Very troubadour, but I have to admit I like the band's later work better.
i think these gentlemen might be english
Hyvä progeplatta! Klassikkomatskuu 4/5
Hienon lempeä progeleyv.
Very cool prog rock that expands on an old English style.
Genesis ☑ I discovered their music around the time I was introduced to Pink Floyd and seriously getting into music, but I never really dug their deeper into their discography. "Selling England By The Pound" is a perfectly good prog album though.
The memories, the nostalgia. Must have been about 16 when I loved this album, before being swept away by punk/new wave, not to be listened to again before now. My younger sister appropriated this and all my other Genesis LPs
Feels quite ahead of it's time for being '73 and for being rather... medieval themed. One or two tracks that don't do much for me, but the other few have their moments. Often the tracks drift and flow into different forms and styles and every once in a while the band finds a sound that just SLAPS and I'm like "Oh shit" but then after a minute or two it's gone again. So for those fleeting moments it's still worth it. 7/10
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.
******
3.5
There was enough here to pull it into 4 star territory, although it’s on the lower side. I was engaged by the progressive folk sounds, it was quite unusual to hear such a blend of styles & instrumentation. This was the first time a Genesis album has captured my attention - attempts in the past have fallen flat.
Det er meget eksperimenteredne! Alle mulige genrer, og så så gammelt. Virker ret banebrydende for tiden. Ikke lige nogle sange der hooker en, men der sker så meget fedt jeg er villig til at placere dem ret fint.
Really enjoyed it
Pat Bateman didn't like it (but I do)
This is interesting. 3.7.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
This is pretty good, but it wasn’t that striking to me.
Enjoyed that more than I thought I would.
Gabriel era Genesis is not my favorite, but I did listen through their entire discography and have a much greater understanding and appreciation for their entire catalog and journey from where they started to where they ended up. "Selling England by the Pound" is a large album, in concept and in sound. I think it is deserving of high praise, and it is a bit of "comfort listening" to me, at this point, though I still would only give it a 4, at this point, as I don't think it is their best, personally, and I think it just holds up as a very good prog album from that time.
Classic prog album, the A-Side is perfect, the b-side isn't as good, so it comes into the middle as an A.
very cool
If I heard this album without knowing anything about it, I would never guess it was Genesis. The guitar solo in Firth of Fifth made me ascend.
4 really cool interesting prog
ezt meglepően nem utálom, ezek szerint a korai Genesis nem volt rossz? :O
Always good
Gran disco al que seguirían otros del mismo nivel con peter gabriel.
A classic
solid solid 4 very fun very experimental very cool i loved it for a lot of reasons
Jeg har manglet tidlig Genesis i mit liv, virkelig god plade. Firth of Fifth specielt er super fed.
Really well produced and great songs! Not so sure about The Battle of Epping Forest though 😅
Pretty cool especially for its time. I know it’s often called out as the best Genesis album. To me it’s a little theatrical. Only thing keeping it from a 5.
It’s genesis, what’s not to like?
I believe I bought this one. A really good album, nice to visit it again. Give it 4 stars, there may be a couple of songs on here that don't fit in, and makes the whole album a little too long.
I… had no idea Genesis did straight up prog rock. I thought it was all like That’s All. I have a lot of respect for this, it’s a good album!
Nearly a 5 star rating from me for this British Prog Classic. For the era and genre, it's very listenable even to a more modern ear. It's one of my favorite Genesis albums, and if I'm being honest with myself, I think I return to it more than The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
I was unprepared for another Genesis, and I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Now, give me more.
Upon seeing the title of the first song, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, I worried this was going to be just dreadful. That track was a little tough to get into but after that I pretty much loved this album.
Way better than I was expecting, silly but this goes hard at points
It isnt that this album is fittingly politically, it is rather socially bitter, while trying its earnest to madk it under a blanket of upbeat janky prog instrumentals.
I had tried this before, but this was the first time it clicked for me. It's a wonderful prog CD. Just a great diversity of sound, very well-produced, very creative. It is not especially catchy. Only "Firth of Fifth" and "I Know What I Like" are what you could really call "catchy", and then even only to a prog rock fan. It also drags a bit on the 2nd side. I like that material, because I like the style, but it's definitely not as exciting as side one. Good CD though, going in the rotation.
Very fun album
As someone who's only familiar with their pop music eras, it's kinda crazy to hear Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins doing prog rock. Gabriel plays the hell out of that flute though.
Although not really a fan of progressive rock I really loved this album. Great creativity and a lot of variation in the music.
This has some really cool elements but something about the vocals and some cheeesiness keeps me from really loving it.
A fantastic prog album and, in my humble opinion, the finest hour from arguably the biggest band in the genre. The opening track in particular is astounding but there’s some great stuff all around here. It’s bold, theatrical, and incredibly goofy in places (Gabriel tries about 20 different ludicrous accents on The Battle of Epping Forest), and always interesting
It was hard for me to get into early Genesis. I grew up with Sledgehammer era Peter Gabriel, so the fact he was in the same band as the one Phil Collins fronted was something I had to learn. I tried to get into it when I was younger, but it was impenetrable. Now that I'm older, having expanded my listening horizons, early Genesis is the proggiest of prog rock, and I find it delightful.
I liked this much more than I expected. It is more structured than some of their earlier works. Peter Gabriel’s lyrics are still obscure to an American like myself but overall it was still easier to follow than Foxtrot or Nursery Chryme.
Really like the progressive rock sections of this, less into the "intros", but overall really good once the songs get going. Some awesome/fresh ideas that clearly influenced a lot after them in surprising ways and great drumming.
Went in with low expectations, Genesis always just kinda seemed like an average band in an average time. But it surprised me a lot! A fun album, it gives Rush but without the ADHD. So that'd make this one a... 3.9/5!!!
An interesting album, I liked Dancing With the Moonlit Knight and The Battle of Epping Forest the best.
My mistake was avoiding these early works due to the 80's "hit machine" of Genesis - all of them, even Phil and Peter. Didn't explore these until much much later when I hit a total prog phase.
Especially like the first half of the album.
i didn't start off with high hopes but this had some really beautiful sections. to be honest it would have been better if the singing was reduced to like 10% of what it is now.
#282. I mean, Peter Gabriel isn't very good at singing, but the rest of it slaps. 4/5: good
This album is at the absolute edge of being a crazy masterpiece, still they didn't manage to cross that line. Nearly every song wants me to push them a tiny inch more into the explosive power underlaying this album, yet they stay in calm and controllable waters. Potential 12/10.
This is one of the best by them.
Growing up, my dad listened to 80's Genesis so I was familiar with that, but 70's Genesis is a whole new animal. As a prog rock fan, this is outstanding.
long songs, very clean but i like it enough. so british its insane
Great stuff! You can hear Rutherford, Banks, and Collins in a more progressive sound. A portent of greatness to come.
pretty good
Yet another example of why the 70’s was such an important decade for music. One thing I love about Genesis over the other prog bands of that time was the attention to melody. As impressive as the music is for most of this album nothing seems to get in the way of the lead vocal or instrument and it all serves to support them. Sometimes prog albums have so many left turns and challenging musical parts that it can seem forced, that doesn’t seem to happen here, just incredible musicians letting their creativity flow. A solid 4.5 for me.
I grew up on Phil Collins Genesis, and have always been a fan. Separately, I grew up on Peter Gabriel's solo stuff. As a child, I just thought Gabriel was always just his solo songs. As I got older, I discovered he was the original singer for Genesis, and as my musical taste has expanded over the years, I have grown to love the Gabriel Genesis more than the iteration with Collins leading the vocals. I was excited to see this album pop up, because it is my favorite. The music and melody is so cool on this one. I will always love the pop Genesis, but prog Genesis has taken over in my mind. My favorite song is The Cinema Show.
Fine vintage progressive rock. 4
I think "Epic" is the best word to describe this album. It's a story, not individual songs, with crescendos and falls throughout. A fun listen, I enjoyed the guitar on firth to the fifth a lot, but again no individual song is really the point here, its a conglomerate
Firth of Fifth carries.
Genesis are so cool
One of the few legitimately progressive rock albums I’ve heard
I didn't expect to enjoy the more artsy Peter Gabriel era Genesis that much, but this was excellent. You can hear a brilliant band with excellent musicians teetering between the artsier side of prog rock and a band that will embark on a quest to pop royalty. It's an excellent album from front to back.
What an album! Released in 1973.. this couldn’t embody more of that time period, do you think they listened to zeppelin?? The riffs, the flow, the messaging .. I love it all. It’s not quite perfect with some songs dropping off but nonetheless it’s fantastic.
Before listening to this album, I was only familiar with Genesis' 80s/90s stuff. Turns out their earlier work is much more interesting! I really enjoyed this album, both the instrumental and lyrical side of it. Several tracks went on for 10 minutes or longer, but they never dragged for me. I did not expect to enjoy this so much—I thought this was going to be in line with the generic pop-rock route they took in the 80s, but this was a pleasant surprise. 4 stars
Starts solid, loses interest towards the end, but when it's good, it's absolutely great.
Good!
Actually pretty good, first track was mid. Then it really ramped up
I've heard of Genesis before but only a few singles from the '80s and '90s. I hadn't ventured into their '70s catalog until now with this album. This is as genuine of a prog-rock album as possible, complete with various guitars, flutes, organs, and synthesizers. It's pleasant to have in the background, with notable passages here and there, and certainly with "More Fool Me" as the centerpiece. It's not an album I don't see myself revisiting as often, but I wouldn't mind if it comes up in rotation.
Most of this album I like a lot, but usually with Genesis albums there is stuff in between I wish wasn't there that lasts too long. Will I listen to again: 70%
Firth of Firth is a really nice song. The rest of the album is okay to listen to, but a bit too chaotic for my liking sometimes.
Never been intrested in prog-rock but this might just make me go down that rabbit hole. From the very beginning this album has a lot of charm and wit. It's instruments are of course the main focus really enjoyed this musical roller-coaster.
C'était excellent
Surprisingly fun and listenable - who would have thought I’d like a Genesis record? What next? Pink Floyd?
Lots of fun psychedelic stuff in here.
Schön unironisch… eine ganze welt… Stimme wird aber mit der zeit zur herausforderung
Yes. Wait, that's another band! What I mean to say is this, good shit. Good shit right there.
More partial to Phil Collins-led Genesis but some great songs on this one.
catchy! 4 if all songs are like the first one. Yea! I like their stuff.
I got this album as an LP and I played side one a ton….but I rarely turned it over to side two. I think initially I didn’t care for “The Battle of Epping Forest”, and since it kicked off side two, I just didn’t play it. Having listened to the last four songs a lot more closely, I think I may have missed out. There is some pretty good stuff happening there. This was the second Genesis album I owned and it helped solidify them in the upper echelon of prog bands for me in the 70s. Solid album, with “Dancing With the Moonlit Knight” and “Firth of Fifth” being favorites.
It's a lottt to unpack.. definitely coming back. Thoughts: 2. You gotta respect a man who knows what he likes 3. Beatiful but also very cool 6.pretty
Strong from start to finish. Love Peter Gabriel's vocals. This is the stronger side of prog rock.
I love Gabriel-era Genesis, but actually hadn’t listened to this entry yet! Glad I got to! Super sonically pleasing to me. Production is perfect, sounds so good. Instrumentation is stunning, his voice is enviable. Had a great time with these British weirdos!
Genesis' prog era with Peter Gabriel as frontman. I liked it just enough because I've listened to it before, but I prefer Genesis after their prog era & Peter Gabriel's solo work - same for Phil Collins. 3.5 stars
Byrjar með smá kjánahrolli, en nær sér svo á strik. Oft grípandi og mig langaði að hlusta oftar en einu sinni. Gerði það og mæli með, fínt progg.
Really like this one a lot. I never really gave 70s Genesis a proper listen, even though I am a big fan of the genre. I can see coming back to this one again and again.
Peter Gabriel genesis >>>>>>>>>> Phil colins genesis. These are facts and there is to be no discussion. Goof agrees.
Epic and still so english
Loved by geeks of all ages
Heard this a few times before, not very familiar with Gabriel era Genesis. Always loved the Seconds Out live album as peak Genesis and of course a lot of the originals are on here. I suppose this is their most formative album, it really sounds like each guy is developing into the artist they would become. Peter and Phil sound great singing together, Steve and Tony are playing their wonderful flowing original solo parts. It sounds cohesive and concise, there's no noodling really. Great stuff.
One of their best.
I mean it's Genesis. The band I should in theory be absolutely obsessed with. They have every ingredient to be one of my favourite bands of all time. And yet every time I listen to them there's just something missing, and I never become an absolute superfan. I'm not sure what is missing but it bugs me to no end. Oh well. Still a banging album
4 - It's a pretty solid album with a few standout tracks. I don't really have a lot to say about it besides that it's good. Writing reviews is hard. I should probably listen to more Genesis, and more prog in general.
As far as prog rock albums go, this one is delightful. Not quite the same league as, say, Dark Side of the Moon, but very close. 4/5
Epic album, I’ll have to give it another listen later on
Pretty standard 70s rock album. I still think Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel had better solo albums after they left. That doesn't mean this a bad album by any means. It's just very 70s rock which in itself was never very unique.
8/10
70s prog-rock at its finest. If you get the chance, listen to Yes' "Close to the Edge" and compare.
I really have grown to like this album quite a lot. It is classic Peter Gabriel era Genesis! More Fool Me is one of the few times we get to hear lead vocals by Phil Collins. Standouts: Fifth of Firth, The Cinema Show Others: Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, More Fool Me, Battle of Epping Forest
The only downside to this album is that Phil Collins barely sings, otherwise it feels like Peter Gabriel's Genesis mixed with King Crimson which is bad ass.
This album is so weird and all over the place but that’s what made it so unique. It brought you on this musical journey from start to end and could easily be made into a fantasy adventure film. I can see it now ✨“On his way to school, Bastian ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. He becomes enchanted by this book and sneaks away with it. Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive” ✨ Oh wait, this is the plot to the film “The Never Ending Story”, but it could still work with this album too. 8/10
I have no clue what they are singing about in these lyrics. But the musical journey has been enjoyable in “Dancing With The Moonlit Knight” I still don’t know what they are singing about but the music can stand on its own telling a story. “The cinema show” is another goodie. Great music for a road trip, which I just so happen to be on. 8/10
The first song was so confusing and felt like three different songs mashed into one. I didn’t mind the background music as it is pretty interesting, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit but the vocals take me out of it. As the album went on I guess I grew more accustomed to the vocals as they started making more sense with the instrumentals. The sections with no singing were still my favorite as they felt like musical adventures telling a story without words. Going into this album not liking Peter Gabriel’s solo stuff very much at all, I was pleasantly surprised how much liked this. The songs are very long and could have been cut into individual songs. I believe this would have made the album flow a lot better. Did I enjoy this album? Kindof. Will I seek out more genesis or relisten to these songs again? Probably not. A very strange album in general that brings some interesting sounds while being held back by weird vocals. 7/10
I've heard way too little Genesis. This is prog rock goodness and way better and weirder than I thought Genesis could be and totally unexpected. I would totally go back and listen to it again. It's not that accessible and should be listened in one sitting undisturbed.
I get it is Genesis but anytime I hear Phil Collins my mind goes straight to Tarzan... "Firth of Fifth" - amazing. Overall enjoyed the album.
Gabriel Genesis is much odder and proggier than post Gabriel Genesis. This album is really good, just not as good as the highs they reach later in their career. 4/5
Oh man, I'm biased maybe because I grew up listening to Genesis. But this is a reallyyy really cool album to me. It's so weird and it feels like such an adventure to listen to. It's the kind of album where I totally understand why someone wouldn't like it, though... but man what a cool one! Peter Gabriel goat
I liked a lot of it, but there was some that I could do without
Enjoyable set of songs. Would listen again
Some seriously long tracks, but an amazing display. Loved The Cinema Show!
This is the legendary Genesis I've heard about. I'm a little blown away, and Phil Collins has gained favor with me after many years of decrying his solo catalogue. Rating four stars without fully digesting because I think it deserves it.
Powerfully constructed songs and creative lyrics makes it a great album. Favourite songs: Dancing With The Moonlit Knight; Aisle of Plenty.
I keep forgetting how good Collins could drum and Gabriels voice is great.
Quintessential 70s prog silliness. I wasn’t looking forward to playing this but I enjoyed it more than Pink Floyd/ Yes etc. Maybe doesn’t take itself that seriously so ends up closer to The Kinks than King Crimson?
Pretty good ig, 3.5?
I don’t love prog rock, but it’s amazing how modern this sounds for being recorded in 1973.
Goddamn, I bloody love Genesis! This is one of my favourites too! Easy 4 stars as I know it’ll be a bit odd for some so it’s not perfect!
Proggy
I always thought genesis was one of those schlocky 80s band. This album was actually good.
Perhaps my favorite prog rock album yet. When the bass kicks in at around 6 minutes into Firth of Fifth, WOW. Some of the most technical drumming I've heard in a minute. How can he keep those time signatures?? So much movement through the songs
The vocals: emotional and well-delivered The melodies: varied and soulful The drums: https://tinyurl.com/msvu3ddx In all seriousness, this one surprised me in a great way. Layered and proggy without feeling like a product of its time, as so many other prog bands of the era do. There are times the guitar and drums reminded me heavily of Yes without delving into the more experimental, abstracted side that sometimes lacks an emotional beat.
Genesis was not a band I grew up with so I'm hearing much of this for the first time. This brand of prog is not one I've explored much either. The music is dense, expertly layered, and is truly a masterclass in musicianship. The guitar playing in particular is phenomenal. In general, the music clearly has had some British folk revival influence thrown in with a healthy does of jazz insofar as Genesis experiments with time signature changes and interesting chord changes. Of course, this album is marked by the long suite-like songs that go through several movements. It's overwhelming to a new listener, but I can imagine that this would really grow on me. Unfortunately, the synth has not aged well, but the whole of the album as layered as it is holds up well. I also really enjoy the lyrical references to Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages.
Class
This is such a ‘majestic’ record, the epics are great and the tracks sound very well produced. First impressions, very good. Favourites: #1 / #2 / #3 #4 / #7
way better than i expected.
I'd never really heard this part of the Genesis catalog. Very enjoyable and some amazing skill went into this.
Best Song: More Fool Me. The prototypical "ditty". Everything about this song seems ethereal. Fairytale. The musical equivalent of sitting in a windy field of wild grasses, with nothing to do but sit. Worst Song: The Cinema Show. It's not that it's bad, it's just needlessly long, without anything that interesting to say. Overall: This feels like an album that understands the utility of vocal harmonies and - maybe more importantly - uses them judiciously to maximize their effect. The vocals feel like the obvious source of interest, but the backing instrumentals really fucking jam, sometimes. Feels like tall Hobbit music.
although I love Prog Rock, I haven't listened to any album by Genesis before, so this was my first one. I liked the influence of classical music and folk on this record and although I didn't liked it at first, I started to really appreciate it the more I got into it. No song is not interesting and good although I think that The Battle of Epping Forest felt a bit streched. Not because it is over 11 minutes long, I got no problem with that (Songs like Close to the Edge, Dogs or Echoes are some of my favs. and they are over 17min), but rather because it had a lack of chord progression imo. All in all really good and a 4/5
Today's album is the fifth studio album by prog rock supergroup Genesis. The group consists of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel, along with Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford. The album was a departure from the more rock oriented previous album, Foxtrot, and a return to the more prog heavy sound of their early records. Peter Gabriel had some wild getups at the time, with his glow in the dark face paint, and reverse mohawk. His nonsensical lyrics send the listener on a tour of this midieval landscape, with subtle injections of humour at times. One such instance occurred during the song The Battle of Epping Forest, when he says: It all began when I went on a tour, Hoping to find some furniture, I followed a sign, it said Beautiful Chest, It led to a lady who showed me her best ... He's singing about a Woman's tits. This prog rock is more of a "nerdy prog rock" with the mystical folklike feel of the songs. Overall, not a bad album at all, once you settle in and accept the weirdness and constant tempo changes. Phil Collins drum work on this record is tight! I'd never heard this album before, and although not as good as prog rock masters King Crimson or Rush, it is still pretty good in its own right. Favourite songs: Dancing With the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, The Battle of Epping Forest, The Cinema Show, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) Least favourite songs: Aisle of Plenty 4/5
Not bad. Would I listen to it again? Unlikely. As prog rock goes, it wasn't unbearable.
PG was apparently worried the long instrumentals would get boring, I think the long wacky lyrics are more of a concern. but everything else here is undeniable genius
every other song on this album is 8+ minutes long and super cool. the other songs were fine, not bad by any means
Alright, now I feel kind of bad for never really giving Genesis any sort of attention. This kinda slapped. I'll have to explore the other Gabriel albums now...
All I knew about this album beforehand is it's one of my dad's favourites. Within 2 minutes I thought I was going to hate it. First listen through, I'm not sure whether it's genius or terrible. The sarcasm/juxtaposition of writing a battle ballad about an east end cockney brawl is ridiculous, but in an amazing or awful way? After the second listen through I think it's more the former. Very rarely after a couple of listens am I still utterly conflicted about an album. One to revisit, for absolute certain.
Liking the instrumentals but not the singing parts.