Reviews (page 5 of 9)
I liked this album. I'm sorry to say I wasn't at all familiar with Phil Collins /Genesis in the way they are presented here. I knew him as more of a pop figure, which I guess is due the fact that you NEVER hear this old Genesis stuff on the radio. I may have to do some research as to why because the music is definitely good enough to be played/talked about. It's just as good as a lot of Rush stuff, and some Pink Floyd as well. Not sure if that's some sort of heresy, but there you have it. I liked the theatricality and virtuosity of a lot of the songs. They seemed like they were really trying to make good challenging music on this album. Definitely a lot of surprises, and while not all of it went over without any hiccups, I think there's something in every song to roll around and it's rewarding on subsequent listens. 3.75
Oy progrock. I can’t make it through the first song. It’s too much.
"In the beginning... " these guys were NEERRRDSS.
Interessante, ma si perde un po' via.
not gunna listen to this whole thing - bad vocals
This is the Genesis I grew up with, definitely the Peter Gabriel led Genesis. Good 70's Progressive Rock. Maybe the best Genesis album, definitely top 2 or 3. Tells a story, good blending of Banks, Hackett, and Collins. Well worth a listen.
Yeaa melodic stuff
# Album Name: Selling England by the Pound # Artist: Genesis # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: I was looking forward to this when it popped up. I dont mind a bit of phil. But this is not how i know genesis. HUGE disappointment for me. Thats an understatement. Its no opus dei, but damn, what is going on here. # Top Tunes: errrr # Would I listen to it again? I'll come back for a 2nd go but have little hope
Brilliant album, I’ve never heard Genesis before and definitely wasn’t expecting this.
Ok
Drumming on this is genuinely good. Saves it from the 1 bin.
Prog Rock is a fucking joke. If I want to listen to flute solos I’ll watch Anchorman again.
It comes close in many respects, but just misses. The guitars are too old-world sounding. The subject matter is too fanciful. Drums were too subtle. The musicianship is clearly good, it just doesn't resonate with me which causes the songs to drag. It just misses three stars for me, but it was close.
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
Great album title!!! If you're really into Progrock, then this is your shit! Not a progrocker but can appreciate the craftmanship and good songs!
I don't know what to make of this -- british bard prog rock? Nice to listen to, but I don't know what else to do with this album, 3*
So I'm not really a fan of prog. Used to be when I was younger, but ended up growing out of it when I decided I wanted more concise or "intentional" music (punk, technical/math rock), or, if you're gonna have ten minute long songs, it needs to be a vibey/atmospheric type thing (post-rock/metal, black metal). But even among prog, this is still one of the weaker ones I've listened for this project. I still gave them 3s, but I preferred the Yes albums. Mostly because those are rock, whereas this album is more folk influenced. Which is weird because I'm always down for folk, but I don't know what it was with some of those 70's prog bands and wanting their music to sound like a ren faire soundtrack. Mostly, though, this album is just fine for me, although The Battle of Epping Forest tries my patience. It's all over the place, some really annoying (if intentional) vocal inflections, and some really weird crushed guitar picking that feels out of time. Very plinky in a select few spots. But yeah. It's fine. Music is well done/performed. Mostly just isn't for me.
My dad loves this one. I can’t listen to 10 minute organ solos. There’s too many on this list
prog rock might be a new favourite genre of mine now
Nope, another I couldn't get through the 1st track. Maybe I shouldn't be listening to music today.
meh
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.)
Not so much.
Now I understand why punk had to happen. ...Just kidding! I prefer my prog crossbred with something a little heavier, but there are some lovely moments on this album, particularly during 'The Cinema Show'.
An objective masterpiece of the genere
You can tell that Peter Gabriel had a lot of influence on the group at the beginning and after he left the more commercial/pop came out. That's not a bad thing but definitely two different bands, a lot like the line up changes in Fleetwood Mac - you see and hear the influences.
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.
So so very very British. It had a few moments, not enough.
In a nutshell: baroque rock? It's prog rock with medieval (maybe baroque?) elements. A strange mix. At least it's not as long or as goofy as their next album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. Overall: 3/10
point2.
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.
Excites for their upcoming album, what an interestingly haunting but refreshing project. Faves: - Dancing With The Moonlit Knight - I Know What I Like - Firth of Fifth
Very interesting album. Never listened to early Genesis before. Reminds me of Cat Stevens. Like medieval bars music. 4/5
Much more experimental than expected
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
Album 727 of 1001 Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973) Rating : 3 / 5 I'm not as much of a prog rock fan as I might have suspected. Good album from a great band, of course, but suspect it would take multiple listens to get the full impact.
A lot of pleasant songs
Rock with folky and theatrical elements. Takes you on a journey. Insane drumming by Collins. Prog rock, chaotic in a good melodic way. Super varied and entertaining.
Hee jooongeuuuns, wie heeft die Phil Collins-muziek opgezet? Er zitten aardige stukjes pop tussen, maar het geheel bezwijkt aan allerlei interessantdoenig folkgedoe. Teveel conceptplaat, te weinig goede muziek. Jammer jongens.
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.
Progrock uit de 70s, ik vind dat vaak wel tof om te luisteren. Het zijn meestal geen liedjes, ondanks dat ik dat graag heb, maar meer composities. Ook gaan ze richting het theatrale en snobistische en nemen ze zichzelf veel te serieus. Ik ben verder slecht bekend met het complete oeuvre van Genesis. Ik ken wel wat verhalen over Peter Gabriel en Phil Collins, er is ook al wat solowerk langs gekomen, en het bekendste van Genesis voor mij zijn toch de latere 80s nummers als Land of Confusion. Gek genoeg staat Invisible Touch niet in onze snoblijst. Dat was natuurlijk ook niet snob genoeg, daarvoor moet Peter Gabriel erbij zitten. En die ging na het hieropvolgende album uit de band. Voor de snobs zal Genesis toen wel geen Genesis meer geweest zijn. Er zitten hier wel hele toffe stukken tussen, als het wat meer rock wordt, maar er zitten ook irritante theatrale stukken tussen. Er zit van alles in, van ergerniswekkend tot oorstrelend. Ik ben bang dat als ik het allemaal ga middelen, op een nietszeggende 3 uitkom, terwijl deze muziek echt wel meer is dan nietszeggend.
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.
This is fantastic. With an album title like "Selling England by the Pound", you'd expect either a stereotypical punk/Britpop album or maybe something more classic-rock and psychedelic. With Genesis, you get neither – instead, you're presented with a crisp, dynamic, fresh, unique take on the enigmatic style of prog rock. It's so easy to mess up the genre and sound like you're (as many reviewers put it) "wanking around", but I would attribute that more to the meandering, stop-start-laden subgenre that includes albums like Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. (I like Tubular Bells, by the way. But I like this more.) Selling England by the Pound toes the line between wankery and tightness, and ends up with the creativity of the former and the satisfying musicianship of the latter. Seriously – the guitar and drums are excellent on this record. I enjoy the vocal, too, particularly in how it doesn't try to take the spotlight even when it's active. Reminds me very much of King Crimson's stuff. There's not a miss on the album. The track closest to being a "flop" is the medieval-sounding instrumental After The Ordeal, but even that is well-arranged with a focus on piano and an unusually melodic electric guitar. Firth of Fifth has to be my favourite track upon a first listen, mostly because of its contrasting parts: a jaunty piano some of the time, and an intense, foreboding, organ-laden feel at others times. Also a cool time signature. Genesis seems to like those. We see another nifty rhythm in The Cinema Show, and there are surely plenty others elsewhere in their discography. Something about Genesis's music reminds me of Rush. Maybe it's the overactive guitar and bass, and the flurried yet ultra-precise drumming. Geddy Lee and his gang must've taken notes. 5/5 Key tracks: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, The Cinema Show
Before: Ok Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel! I've never sat and intentionally listened to Genesis tbh. I think we watched a Genesis music video in one of my college classes but I could not tell you which one lol Standout tracks: Dancing with the Moonlight Knit More Fool Me Weakest tracks: The Battle of Epping Forest After the Ordeal Standout lyrics: "And you know, I'd always hold you and keep you warm - oh, more fool me." - More Fool Me "Once a man, like the sea, I raged; once a woman, like the earth, I gave" <3 - The Cinema Show During/after: Okay so I have mixed feelings on the first track alone. I recognize the lyrical depth here and instrumental performances are just impressive as hell. Love a good synth too. As much as I appreciate so many aspects of this opening track, I just didn't love listening to it. Firth of Fifth has a really neat intro; I love the long and complex piano and the sudden switch. I know I'm a loser and a sucker because I fucking loved More Fool Me. It's probably the most palatable for normies and it's a TRAGIC LOVE STORY<3. I'm just a sucker for a good love song and some sweet and/or lyrics (and we've got both here). The Battle of Epping forest, while complex and nuanced and just interesting, was genuinely just annoying to my ear, unfortunately. The exception to this, however, is the trumpet (or brassy synth?? idk) licks about 9 minutes in. The Cinema show is driving and fun in parts with a cool switch up as well, and it's probably my favorite track from the album's latter half. This is so British sounding in like, a medieval way. I can tell that it's an important precursor and inspiration to the math rock of the 80's and 90's. The mixing and production quality is great. I'm conflicted, because listen.... it's really epic and tells stories and I understand the significance and the vision, but I just didn't like listening to it all that much lol. I'm confident that it would hit hard with some *ahem* psychedelic substances, so maybe it'll be worth a relisten and reevaluation at some point. Even though I didn't love the listen-through personally, the talent really shines here, so my uncultured ass is hitting it with a very strong 3 to a very light 4. Since we only get a whole number, 5-point scale (grrr), I feel like I need to round down to a 3 because my ear just didn't enjoy it all the much, and I want to keep the ratings true to my listening experience. 3/5.
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.
Two great songs: I Know What I Like and The Cinema Show. Not enough to make for a great rating.
I've never heard it before now -- i like the name and the cover and i sorta like the music, but it's not exactly my cup of tea? it's very musical theatre, actually, but i did find it boring at times. Overall, I would not be upset to listen to some of the tracks again, but I don't think I'd reach for them.
Non tutte mi sono piaciute, ma come musica è piacevolissima
1. dancing - 1.5 2. knouu - 1 3. fifth - 1 4. fool - 1.5 5. forrezt - 0 6. ordeal - 0 7. zhouu - 0 8. plenty - 0
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.
Pretty sick actually wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. Sufficiently weird, minstrel-y metal-y folk-y jammy(!), and serving a bit of bowie at times.
Had some highs, but this was way too long. The tracks ended up blending in to each other.
Am I wrong is there some sort of medieval vibe on the go? I like prog rock but this wasn't for me.
I admire the ambition and aim of this. And I really enjoyed the more subtle, folk elements. But as soon as the prog kicks in, I'm out.
Best prog album ever
Sorry. White man 70’s prog rock just ain’t my rodeo.
Totally brilliant! Thank you Andy This album very dandy Don't call me Mandy Or Randy
Some excellent moments, some awkward moments, I think if I spent a lot of time with this I'd probably grow to like it more. Similar to a lot of other classic prog groups there is just so much going on sometimes and they really dig into some goofy themes that kept me from easily sinking into the tunes.
I was hesitant the first few songs, then I got sucked in. Great prog rock album
4/5
Peter Gabriel!
Very melodic, almost like an epic in musical form. I liked it, but it does lack any real standout songs. Overall as a concept it was fairly good. 3/5 Might listen again
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.
Already listened to this a while back. Good album. Love Cinema Show, Moonlight Night, Firth of Fifth, I Know What I Like, etc. 9/10
favorite track: The battle of Epping forest. Overall score: 7.2/10
70's prog rock was something else, and Genesis demonstrates it. This was very good musically speaking
I’m honestly shocked that I’m not as into this record as I used to be. When I was a baby [read: 12 and in my prog era of my brief 2 years of classic rock obsession before I got exposed to punk music], I remember really enjoying Selling England by the Pound. In actuality, I think I was just into “Firth of Fifth,” which is a pretty great prog song. I have a couple issues with this record, but the main one seems to be the main issue with [early era] Genesis overall. Whatever Peter Gabriel is selling, I’m not buying. He is a rock musician for theatre kids, and while that has its place, I’m not ever up to join him in the passenger seat for his joyride. I’m not a fan of his singing, I’m not a fan of his lyrics, and I’m not a fan of his theatricality. Now, normally, the input of one band member– even the frontman– isn’t enough to dissuade me from a band entirely, but I think Gabriel’s influence looms so large over Genesis at this time, that it’s hard to separate the two. He is someone I seem to be mostly against, although we do align in the ‘80s when he’s making straight up pop music, but especially here, he mucks up a genre I already seem to have a hard time with, now that I’m no longer a dorky 12 year old. Gabriel’s vision for prog is excessive and derived from the vaudeville tradition, and I don’t give a fuck about any of that, so I rarely ever want to listen to it. But my other issue is that, for a prog band, Genesis seems to be pretty goddamn tame. I get the impression that all of them sit down to play; it feels technical and precise, but that precise technique requires the players to have almost no fun while they play this music. I was in mathcore bands, so I’m sure it was fun to WRITE this album, but it’s not particularly exciting to play, because it’s the type of music that requires concentration. As a result, I feel like none of the instrumentation here really stands out. The guitars are very subdued, the bass is basically nonexistent, and while I’d say the keyboards are maybe too prominent, they’re not sticky earworms by any means. Compare this to a contemporary peer like Yes, and the difference is night and day– because I can imagine Yes being active and bopping around the stage. I can’t imagine anyone from Genesis having fun while they play this. Now, of course, there is one exception, and that’s Phil fucking Collins. Phil Collins is not only playing drums that tower above everything on here, but it sounds like those drum parts are incredibly fun to play. Selling England by the Pound is a drummer’s dream record, one that imagines a world where they are the star of the show. And that’s fun, and very cool to hear. But no one casually listens to music just for the drums. Thankfully, despite these critiques, Selling England by the Pound is far from the worst record ever made. There are actually some great songs here. Obviously, “Firth of Fifth” is a standout of the genre overall, but I do admire “Dancing with the Moonlit Knight” and “The Cinema Show,” despite their prog-ness. I wouldn’t say either are my favorite songs of all time– again, the Gabriel-ness of it all– but I can get behind them enough to not trash them. I also think “More Fool Me” is a gorgeous song, and Collin’s vocals are amazing. The actual issue seems to be either the songs with not enough excess where Gabriel is still being extra without the band’s support, or when it all goes into ✨too much✨ territory, like on “The Battle of Epping Forest.” It ends up creating a weird dynamic whiplash, and while I get how that can feel engaging and appear to create variety, to me, it creates incoherence. Selling England is nowhere near as obnoxious and up-its-own-ass as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, so I’m a lot more forgiving of it. And sure, while I’m not going to seek anything out here after this listen besides “Firth of Fifth” and “More Fool Me,” I can respect what is happening here. But respect is not enjoyment, and I’m not really on the same wavelength as this record, and maybe prog-era Genesis as a whole. Criminal that there’s no ‘80s Genesis in the book. Truly, if Invisible Touch was here, I’d be able to stomach this record a little better.
Not really for me. It has good energy, but just didn't connect.
This is exactly my kind of music - experimental yet still accessible enough prog rock, layered, written, played, sang and produced very well. Hardcore early Genesis fans consider Trespass/Nursery Cryme/Foxtrot as the Holy Trinity in the band's catalogue, but I love this album and The Lamb...just equally. Selling England by the Pound is even better produced than anything they recorded previously. I love the opening track, I know what I like, the epic prog rock songs The Battle of the Epping Forest and Firth of Fifth, the medieval beauty Aisle of Plenty and most of all, Cinema Show which is one of my favourite songs from this era by any band. The changes of timing and tempo, the drumming, the beauty of the singing and lyrics are just perfect. My least favourite song is More Fool Me, sung by Collins. It's still a 5 star album in my book and one of my favourites in their catalogue.
2/5 Maybe I haven't heard an amazing prog rog album yet. But I just think the genre overall is a bit cringe
The keyboard gives the feeling of Yes while the wind instruments gives the feeling of Jethro Tull. Two prog bands I really enjoy. Despite the connections, Genesis really does feel like its own thing and I'm here for it. The instrumentation is delightful and varied. The vocals are soft but still feel impactful. Good stuff.
I wanted to love this , I think I like it and that’s ok too
Preposterous. Not always necessarily a bad thing.
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
oh boy, dass eins der schlechtesten alte Genesis Alben. Ich hoffe da kommen die guten auch noch!
not for me
Один большой спектакль длиной в альбом. Данный альбом сложно воспринимать как музыкальное произведение, так как песни, которые длятся около 11 минут, больше воспринимаются как мьюзикл. В этом плане альбом действительно стоит похвалить, так как инструментал в нем качественный, и и мелодии в нем реально звучат. Отдельно стоит выделить тот самый отрывок из первой песни, который стал очень известным семплом. Самой интересной песней мне показалась After The Ordeal, трек без слов, служащий переходом между длинными и, не побоюсь этого слова, затянутыми песнями. Selling England By The Pound сложно оценить положительно как музыкальный альбом, так как его тяжело слушать, но своим экспериментальным наполнением он вдохновляет и поражает одновременно. Сильно экспериментальные 3/5
Good, but too prog for me in general.
I wasnt intimately familiar with the Prog-Rock Era of Genesis with Peter Gabriel as the frontman. I was surprised by the sound- very different from late Genesis. I found myself really enjoying a lot of the songs and instrumentation. The lyrics on the other hand were a little trite and silly for the advanced musicality of the instruments. I also prefer Gabriel as a solo artist. Overall- good album. 3.5/5
Long ago, I remember reading about list of the greatest prog bands of all time and seeing Genesis ranked highly. “Huh? Phil Collins?” Silly me. Genesis were such a more interesting band in the Peter Gabriel era, and this album highlights it in pretty much every way. The story telling and the composition of it all is beautifully constructed. It reminded me a little of Jethro Tull at times too, although that may have simply been because there were flutes. Overall, this album is bloody great.
Are all British progressive rock bands required to make a medieval album? Barely bearable.
You know I wasn't really into early Genesis, I liked the ambition but I feel like this was the starting point for more succinct songwriting by Peter Gabriel and the band after this
I was so impressed by this record, an absolutely gorgeous example of British folkish prog rock. I listened to it twice in a row, beautiful on the hi-fi and powerful in the headphones. The creative power of this band is on full display here. I read online that the band wasn't happy with the original production, but I streamed the 2007 stereo mix, and the production and mastering sounded borderline perfect to me. Some purists online complain that the original mix is the way to go, but I don't have a history with this record, so I wouldn't know the difference. This record's legendary status is fully deserved, and this is one I plan to come back to again. Five stars.
This gets 2 stars for musicianship and trying something new (very early prog rock). Otherwise, this is pretty shit...it sounds like if overly talented musicians went to a Renaissance Fair and decided to record an album. At some level I don't respect Prog Rock. Most "great songs" succeed because of self-editing and making choices to serve the song above all else. Even more elaborate (Steely Dan) or theatrical (Meatloaf!) artists are extremely tight in the songs/production. This feels like lack of impulse control...awesome musicians who just can't stand to be limited to making music people will want to like...so they just go off and do their own thing. Only thing worse than Prog Rock musicians are the fans...the CrossFitters of music who can't wait to tell you something is in 7/4. That being said...if I'm going to listen to Prog Rock...YES and King Crimson do a much better job of composition and attempting to write actual songs.
Enjoyed this a good deal more than Alex and Ted, want to go 4 but Battle of Epping Forest is a parody of prog rock. I think a good producer could cut 30 minutes of this and make it a legitimately great album. Maybe drop the vocals for some of the obnoxious medieval imagery. Left this feeling intrigued by Genesis and wanting them to chill out like 15% on the constant changes. Instrumentation rips, some songs are great as is, vocals are good minus the words. Maybe when Frank’s kid learns AI he can make me a stripped down version of this. Selling England by the Ounce? We can workshop that.
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.
Man… I tried my absolute hardest to like this album. And to be clear, it was awesome. I found pockets of nearly every song to be interesting, but the overall ideas to be too broad or niche for me to understand. Ill definitely come back to this again. Firth of Fith and Aisle of Plenty were fantastic
Wow this was not at all what I was expecting when I saw we had a Genesis album. So much more avant garde than their music I'm familiar with – way less poppy, way more in-your-face-prog-rock. Feels both ahead of its time (lot of synth for 1973!?) and retro (has that baroque Jethro Tull feel to it, but shittier). All of that said, I didn't like this album. Too progressive for me. Jethro Tull felt like whimsical renaissance faire music from guys who knew it was all in good fun, but I think Genesis take themselves a little too seriously for my taste. Iron Maiden is to Metallica as Jethro Tull is to Genesis
An odd album in that as I listened to it more, I found myself liking it less. My first impression was this is unlike anything I’ve ever heard and not really what I expected. I thought I was at least somewhat familiar with Genesis’ sound but think I may not be as versed in the Peter Gabriel period. I also knew this period of Genesis was a big influence on Phish and Trey in particular, and that he gave their induction speech at the Hall of Fame a few years ago. I came in interested. At first, I kind of liked how chaotic it was, and thought that meant there would be more to hear on subsequent listens. But I’ve listened to this at least four times now and I’m kind of annoyed by it for the same criticisms of others - overall it feels like a lot of ideas slapped together with no cohesion. The songs don’t really build to anything meaningful in the way other prog or jamband music does. And the melodies just aren’t that catchy. I’d still consider myself Genesis-curious, and I’m happy to have this as a reference point. I like Cinema Show and Firth of Fifth.
5/10
I feel like a clown whenever it turns out I enjoy a prog thing a lot more than I expect, with this one being another example of that, it's pretty good! I think I enjoy Peter Gabriel's voice more in this context than I do his solo work (although I couldn't shake the feeling I was listening to that stuff a bit because it's, well, Peter Gabriel), especially because it has all the fun noodling of prog that feels exciting instead of just lame or like too much (like Yes). I take that over feeling like this album tortured me.
En blandet omgang progrock, Peter Gabriel og Phil Collins
Damn, this is a really great record. Only ever knew a handful of songs before, but I loved the entire record. Have been listening to it on repeat all week!
Liked it less than Lamb, less cohesive.
Eh. Intense rock album
The best Genesis album
Irritating bordering on intolerable and a contender for the whitest album on the list. I used the term self-indulgent about Genesis' previous album but this really is. I guess they're doing this for themselves, which is good because it's definitely not doing anything for me. The puns in the song titles and lyrics are eye-rolling, not a tenth as clever as they think they are. Although this is a personal thing, this music reminds me of the feeling of life around the early 90s, when everything was kind of plasticky and crap and cheap and this type of music was inflicted on society because we just didn't have the same range of choices and availability of culture we do today. I thought The Battle of Epping Forest was going to be some historical thing, then it turns out to be this overlong noodling fantasy, with the character voices just the final straw after the parping synths, arrhythmic drumming and pompous wordplay lyrics. Until this track I was finding this album better than The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, but it's nearly as bad.
Kinda mid. Cool rhythms tho
This is not really for me actually. Genesis also has better songs and albums I feel.
Nja, ik ben geen Genesis, Phil Colins of Peter Gabriel fan. Sorry. 1.5
Not the best Genesis album but it's still good
Ridiculous prog album from the 1970s.
Хорошо
Prog rock. I hate it. Pretty sure I heard flutes in one track. I hate flutes. Ren faire feel on parts. I won’t one star this, because it clearly took talent. It just is full of things I personally don’t care for.
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
Progressive rock is really hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes, I struggle to get past the evident showboating of talented musicians—like Emerson, Lake & Palmer—who, in my opinion, lack the emotional depth and melodic warmth that Genesis brings to their work. For me, "Selling England by the Pound" is the quintessential progressive rock album, capturing Genesis at their most imaginative and technically brilliant.
Pretty good, but being prog and from the Yes era, they're inevitably compared, and Yes is just on a different kind of plane from others. So that kinda hurts the score, because if I want to hear 70s prog I'm gonna turn on Yes, not Genesis. No offense.
There are things that you need to do before you die, like going to the supermarket or listening to this album
This era Genesis is my favourite Prog Rock. Everyone here is amazing. Rich, lush and beautiful.
At the time of this writing, I have a one-month old baby and ever since he’s been born, I listen to my album of the day with him. He HATED this album. Every time I tried to play it, he would scream bloody treason until I killed the music. So maybe he’s not going to be my little prog rock monster, but for my part, I loved their lush sounds and silly little nerdiness.
проходное звучание, не цеплянуло
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.
This is so medieval.
Lots of flute 🪈
Awesome at times, weird at times. Phil Collin’s is a legend.
The haters gonna hate. But I don't give a fuck because this was and remains one of my favourite albums of all time. So I'll have a day's break from objective listening to stuff I've mostly never heard before and fill my boots with this absolute joy. Best track The Cinema Show. No, wait, Firth of Fifth. No... Battle of Epping Forest. Fuckit the whole damn lot. 6/5
Not into prog
I was going to make a pun on Genesis doing what ninten-don't, but that didn't really fit. So I don't have an intro, sorry. This is one of the consensus picks from the fandom for best album from Peter Gabriel's time with the band, and I have to agree. I love 'Supper's Ready' as a side-length song, and there are some really good tracks in 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway', but aside from some dodgy lyrics to 'Firth of Fifth' and the lyrics to 'The Battle of Epping Forest' not fitting 100% with the music, it's all solidly great. The opening and closing tracks bookend it perfectly, Firth of Fifth has some of the best keyboard and guitar riffing that the band ever did (and the flute work is great too) and it just feels a lot more... fun. Genesis never took themselves too seriously, but they accidentally projected a po-faced attitude to people who hadn't listened to them (Because honestly, one look at the ridiculous album cover to Nursery Cryme would've clued you in). Most importantly, the band is completely balanced here. In both earlier and later albums the organ, piano and synths were the centerpiece of the band's sound. Here, it shares they spotlight with the guitars, along with the best production work from this era, and that just gives it that extra special oomph. Oh, and they actually made a single that could've been a hit, had it been marketed properly. I'm not sure this is where I'd start people off with listening to Prog!Genesis, but if you like it then you really need to get this one. Tangent: I feel like Pokemon ripped off the instrumental section of Dancing with the Moonlit Knight for their intro theme. (Not the anime, the 'dan-dan daaan, dan-dan daaan' one from the games) Fave Song: I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) Least Fave: The Battle of Epping Forest Strong Bad Demerit Rating: 2
Klang seltsam nach Mittelalter oder dem Soundtrack eines Fantasyfilms. Irgendwie schräg.
This is what pink floyd sounds like to people who don't like pink floyd
Very Jethro Tull
I want to like this. I desperately want to like this. At points I actually do. But overall this just isn't that great. I struggle so much with Peter Gabriel - both the solo albums and Genesis.
The musicianship is top shelf, but this just didn’t tickle my fancy. It’s just TOO Genesis, I reckon. 1001 album worthy: No - 38/67
Fire asl
Intolerable. Awful singing
Överlag gillade jag musiken. Tyvärr lider sen lite av 70-talsskjukan. Långa flummiga låtar. Men faktiskt inte fullt urballade som andra skivor på denna lista. Ändå bättre, rent musikaliskt. Men tror jag gillar det mer om det kokats ner till mer klassiska låtar. Det finns så många bra element, men lite här å där.
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.
«Selling England By The Pound» — эдакий портал в туманные аллеи викторианской Англии, где эхо рыцарских турниров смешивается с шумом первых печатных станков. Genesis в 1973-м, словно алхимики, смешали фолк с арт-роком и создали какое-то адское зелье. Музыка на этом альбоме — даже не музыка. Это огромный нарядный гобелен, тканый из барной пикантности, театрального гротеска и джазового смятения. «Dancing with the Moonlit Knight» звучит как крик старого рыцаря, усталого от битв, выброшенного в мир, где его доспехи уже стали ржавчиной. Понятно, что это не музыка средневековья, это музыка пасторальной тоски по выхолощенному, рафинированному образу средневековья. И даже эта музыка давно уже успела устареть. Слушая её, чувствуешь себя гостем в музее. Она слишком сложная, слишком изысканная для мира, который давно привык к резкости и скорости.
I prefer Peter Gabriel's solo material. A lot of these songs sounded like generic prog.
Early Genesis with Peter Gabriel was a trip. An interesting trip to who they ended up becoming years later.
Weird British prog. Pass.
I found this really annoying. What do Genesis fans see in this rubbish? If I ever meet one I’ll be sure to ask!
Not really a prog rock guy, but didn’t mind this. Would need to be Dark Side of The Moon or something to get more out of me for prog rock. Simpsons: Yes
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.
I just really hated this. Can’t explain it. On a different day it may have been different
love Peter Gabriel Genesis.
This one really wowed me. The tone, the writing, the technicality, just a masterpiece of a prog album.
8/10
I’m really enjoying Genesis more and more
Never a big fan of prog rock. This album however, is one of the better ones. Not bad actually…
Has no business going that hard
This is really not for me. The very definition of wanky, pretentious 70s prog that I suspect people just claim to enjoy to seem smart. The medieval folk influence just adds another layer of silliness that Genesis don't really need. The longer songs simultaneously combine having lots of ideas without really going anywhere either, which is sub-optimal to say the least Ironically the song 'After The Ordeal' is actually placed with a fair amount of the ordeal still to come
Just not for me.
Very troubadour, but I have to admit I like the band's later work better.
Not a Genesis fan.
Parp
I'm sorry, this just isn't for me. The prog rock stuff. The weird medieval stuff. I love classic Genesis but I guess everyone needs to start somewhere. Solid 1. Nearly offensive.
Weird Phil Collins
i think these gentlemen might be english
Great !
Musically, this is great! However, there seems to be a lack of cohesion within each song. I did enjoy my listen, but it was a little all over the place.
Interesting, but not too into it.
Never listened to a Genesis album before. It wasn't as bad as I expected, like a softer version of Zeppelin. The theme is a good one, but no songs really caught my attention.
Not had a bit of prog on here for a while it feels like. Definitely underrated this one from the couple of listens i've already given it, had a blast this time. The first track especially kicks with off with a huge bang. None of the longer songs feel like their actual length at all.
I never realized how much of a prog rock band early Genesis was. It’s OK. But it doesn’t hit as hard as some of their contemporaries. Maybe that’s why they “matured” the way they did. Not everyone likes the more pop version of Genesis either. But it was very much its own sound. Throughout this album at various times I thought I was listening to Yes or Zappa or ELP or or or.
emotional. a bit too emotionally intense for me. I prefer less emotionality today
I'm pretty new to prog as a whole, but this one I really adore. there's tons of great stuff, but the first two tracks here are near and dear to me - especially 'dancing with the moonlit knight' which I have fallen in love with outside of this project. the thing I love about this album is how expertly it switches gears from one movement to the next. I really adore the rhythm section on this one, particularly the bass playing. just a great album that is becoming one of my favorites!
Loved it
Hyvä progeplatta! Klassikkomatskuu 4/5
Hienon lempeä progeleyv.
Well, consider me a fan of this era of Genesis. Seriously, it's incredible I've never listened to this stuff before. I mean, I've always been aware that it's been pretty damn quality, but, for some reason, prior to today I've only ever listened to one of their songs, "Land Of Confusion". Which, hey, that's not a bad one song to be stuck on; it wasn't a world conquering single for nothing. But actually diving into something from Gabriel's tenure in the band — and not even one of the more well-known ones, at that... Oh, wow. Wow. Woooow. This is amazing. Simply amazing. I'm struggling to put a word to exactly how this sounds to me, but goodness me, I love how it sounds. This kind of, y'know, vibe and tone. I'm comparing this to some of the other 70's prog bands I've heard, like King Crimson and Yes, and unlike critics' comparisons at the time, I'm actually **favoring** Genesis. And don't get me wrong, of course; Yes is great, and I've really liked what I heard from King Crimson. Genesis, though... This sound that they got just really appeals to me. I think the best I can describe it is that it's the most "uplifting 70's rock" prog I've ever heard. Seriously, I can't even begin to describe how this scratches an itch I didn't even know I had. As soon as possible, I'm really gonna hafta check out some of the other more well-known Genesis albums, like FOXTROT and THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY, goodness. And... Yeah, on an initial listen, tryna describe my initial reaction, that's really all I hafta say. From one album alone, Genesis might've already become my second favorite prog rock band, only beaten out by how much Pink Floyd is truly a part of me. It's a hard 5 from me, no question about it. It's a new benchmark for judging prog albums I haven't heard before. So, y'know, good luck tryna match up... I'unno. CRIME OF THE CENTURY? Do ELP have an album here? Yeah, they probably wouldn't stand up too well.
Just some pretty dope prog rock, simple as. Solid 5 Stars.
Well, that’s a 5. This is my first full Genesis album – I’m very aware of the whole Peter Gabriel to Phil Collins switch, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything from either era of the band, save for Misunderstanding (which is basically a Phil Collins solo track, let’s be real). To put it more blatantly, the fact that this is a full blown prog rock album (and by extension, Genesis being a full blown prog rock band at this time) kinda hit me out of nowhere, but I am not complaining one fucking bit – this is spectacular. Call me dumb if you want, it might be a bit deserved. I’ve just always assumed, based on both Peter & Phil’s 80s work, that Genesis leaned more into rock with a bit more blues involved (i.e. Chicago, Boston, Toto, etc), and not big booming Yes or King Crimson-esque stuff. This is proper prog rock, and it’s treated with the full slate of respect; there are melodies upon melodies upon melodies throughout this album, and it somehow keeps an incredibly tight rhythm while somehow finding room within each sandbox to keep expanding far beyond the imagined scope at the start of each track. The shining example here is “Firth of Fifth”’s extended instrumental break, but I simply have to give a huge shout to all of the longer tracks on this album, especially the instrumental outro of “The Cinema Show”. It’s very rare to have that many long tracks be *that* captivating. When this album does lean back from its prog rock sensibilities, it still sounds great; “I Know What I Like” has some killer melodies with a Beatles-y flair, & “More Fool Me” is a really nice bit of foreshadowing for Phil’s solo success to come – stellar vocals & harmonies on that track, seriously. “Aisle of Plenty” is fine, with some decently layered guitar riffs, but it is a bit of an odd ending to the album to pun on UK supermarkets and whatnot. It does require a bit more attention lyrically than I would’ve figured on a first pass; it certainly feels like there’s a lot of sociopolitical commentary scattered throughout this album, most of which is probably UK-based. The only one I *think* I picked up on was “The Battle of Epping Forest”, which I sort of took as a 60s/70s culture war allegory, replete with greedy CEOs and executives simply making money while enjoying watching the warhawks and the hippies fight. I’m probably way off in that analysis, but there’s certainly something close to that. The rest of it, if it is UK-based, will probably just remain a bit of a mystery to me. Regardless of all that, I’m still just a bit stunned; it’s clearly on me for never really listening to Genesis before now, but for this to exist, and have gone under my radar for years upon years is rather annoying. Better late than never – it’s just a spectacular prog rock album, and I feel like I really need to dive deeper into Genesis. I’ve probably been missing out. Very easy 5.
What on earth did prog-rock think it was progressing towards?
Fucking bands going through their fucking “experiment phase”. Singing madrigals like that shit hadn’t already been done 1,000 years ago. Sounds like Marillion, and that isn’t a compliment.
I wonder what makes folks switch from Prog to pop. Genesis really shifted as a group.
weird but ok
Genesis is an important band both as a prog rock entity and for the careers it launched. Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett. Mike Rutherford. Oh and um that drummer fellow. Bill Collings. Why do we pick an album nobody seems to like? I’ll be fair, Genesis - their seventies stuff - kind of passed me by so I might be missing something. (I loved Peter Gabriel’s solo stuff. Really enjoyed Steve Hackett. Found Mike and the mechanics interesting. And can appreciate Will Colliison. Man sold a lot and is a great drummer songwriter and producer. For prog rock give me Jethro Tull. All day every day. But nonetheless is an album a must listen when there are 13 others by the same band that everyone likes better? 2.5 in case I’m missing something.
Ugh, prog. Too clever clogs, rubbish lyrics, no good tunes, and heaven forbid you should rock out for more than 8 bars at a time. I am incredibly uninterested in the musings of a bunch of elite public school boys on notions of 'Englishness'. Pretentious gits. Phil Collins, bless him, manages to keep his drumming tastefully restrained and maintain some sense of momentum, which is rare in 70s UK prog,
Disco existente basicamente para mostrar o talento de cada um dos integrantes.
Interesting, but not very. It's hard to judge these albums when you first hear them 50 years after their release.
I am still enthusiastic about Genesis' old albums, including this one. Selling England by The Pound is an album that I enjoy listening to again and again. 5/5
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.
pretty good
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
2.5
full blown prog rock pomp
So, is Selling England by the Pound perfect? Maybe not, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s ambitious, weird, beautiful, and unapologetically itself. And really, isn’t that what makes it so timeless? Favs are Dancing, 5th, and Cinema. 5/5 would sell England off into debt.
I honestly didn't like this one. It felt uninspired and boring above all. A lot of flashy instrumentals for what felt like it lacked a lot of heart. Firth of Fifth was the only song I really liked here.
Dude…… I’ve never heard any Genesis from before their more pop-centric material. What a wild first listen this was. The kind of 70’s prog noodling that appeals to me exactly. The piano on Firth of Fifth and the long solo on The Cinema Show were high points.
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
Great art rock album rock. Nice to hear such good drumming from Phil Collins.
Not bad, no Lamb
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.
******
That was... pretty disappointing. Kind of can't stand these long winded concept albums that have these long songs that go on forever. Was hoping to hear some hits and what I got was... this. 4/10.
Strange but listenable
3.5
Not great. Not awful.
Great, great, great.
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
I definitely know Genesis and enjoy some of their tracks, not sure if I have heard anything off of this. This album gives me very much Pink Floyd vibes. I have not heard of any of these tracks so far. Pretty artsy
Pat Bateman didn't like it (but I do)
Masterpiece
I have a love/ hate relationship with Genesis. Maybe this is a very good band to make that idea clear in fact. I LOVE quite a few Genesis songs and even whole albums. I also can't really get into some others. They are a band that has changed over time. To me, personally, I felt they "somewhat" evolved over time, but I can't quite say that as some early work is sublime as well, but maybe (again for ME) overall they grew in a way. Some super fans completely disagree and take this the opposite way. I am not willing to argue. Preference in this case is not a hill to die on but we can try to see each others perspectives. I think it is mainly an old school/ new school thing but whatever. For me this album is "somewhat weird" and hard to genre. It is still Genesis and you can hear them in there. It isn't bad or anything, just not my go to cup of tea.
This is interesting. 3.7.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Meaaahhhhhh!
I love this album. Haven’t listened to it in some time so I really enjoyed this after Yes yesterday. I’ve always loved all the word play in the lyrics.
This is pretty good, but it wasn’t that striking to me.
Enjoyed that more than I thought I would.
I enjoyed the impressive musicianship, particularly the guitar solos and drums, but also found it very annoying, especially the keyboard solos and vocals.
Found this hard going, nice to get a bit more exposure to earlier Genesis though….
For some reason I'm always a bit sceptical about Genesis... I sometime feel its too religious, but I am not sure if this actually warranted, or just due to the band name and some minor things in some songs. This album was a bit of a surprise. The cover art definitely mirrored the music quite well: a theme album touching on old English culture. We had Joanna Newsome's 'Ys' album here recently, and this reminded me a bit of that, but in a more modern and rockier setting. Overall I didn't really find a favourite song, but I thought most of the songs were quite decent. I don't have any deeper analysis; it was a pleasant listening session, but didn't move me in any particular way, so a dead on 3 feels appropriate.
The first minutes of "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" was really, really good and I was really having high hopes for the album. Then I remembered this is progrock and the progrock began, it quickly went down hill. I just wish the first minutes kept going, felt a bit like "Rainbow" and it had some great riffs. Firth of Fifth is on this record and I think it is one of the better progrock tracks. Their complete commitment to the fantasy theme makes it quite fun. I you like progrock this is probably a great album. For me it's not really my style but still decent.
Not very impressed by this - I wanted to make a comparison to another album but I already forgot which one. oops. 4/10
This was very of its time, lots of prog rock noodling and faux national pride. The music felt quite Mike Oldfield to me, and like Mike Oldfield it’s much better when people aren’t singing over it.
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but a bit too weird for my tastes - I love Peter Gabriel's later stuff, and I'm usually a fan of progress, but this was just too up itself for me.
I couldn't make it through. Not for me. 1/5
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.
Pretty pretentious proto prog, perhaps precocious pap, perhaps pretty passable.
Classic prog album, the A-Side is perfect, the b-side isn't as good, so it comes into the middle as an A.
Fantastic album.
very cool
Good dinner music
brilliant - this and foxtrot are their two best albums. Every track is different and every track is an event, with no gratuitous instrumental solos, everything is in the service of the track, only 'The Cinema Show' is a bit self-indulgent and goes on a wee bit long. I had always thought the first track was 'Selling England by the Pound', only paying a bit more attention now I see it is 'Walking in Moonlight' - it is still as brilliant as it ever was though! One of my best ever albums.
Love Genesis, this however, was not good.
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.
Bit weird, good tellers though
Need to give this another listen someday. At first I wasn’t sure what I was even listening to. Some parts felt a bit too goofy. But by the end I’d fully been swept up into it. Has the potential to rise highly in my estimation but for now I’ll give it a 3.5/5
4 really cool interesting prog
ezt meglepően nem utálom, ezek szerint a korai Genesis nem volt rossz? :O
Take me where you're going, Genesis! I'm not a middle-aged white man, but boy, do I love prog rock. "More Fool Me" ripped me to shreds today.
Always good
The 80s did some favors for these guys. All that's missing from this album is the laser show and fog machine.
Gran disco al que seguirían otros del mismo nivel con peter gabriel.
Before the key members of Genesis gained commercial success as solo artists, Genesis gained an audience as a Prog band with interesting and thought-provoking songs which received moderate critical acclaim. I've never been a fan of Genesis or Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, but albums such as "Selling England" and their earlier records opted for overly, long drawn-out epic songs with an English sounding conceptual pieces that lost my interest after the first couple of tracks. In some ways, I prefer this album to their later work, it feels more low key, there are moments to like, but for me, not a lasting relationship.
yes
Not terrible, just not my thing. I found it a bit boring and pretentious. I did want to like it more. Instruments are well played at least.
For some reason it feels like partway through the album Peter Gabriel starts doing what can only be described as all of the accents of the cats from Cats. Why?
A classic
This was not the Genesis I was expecting. Over the top prog rock. Album started off pretty good but I found myself getting bored toward the end. Another one I think a bean bag chair, some headphones, and it still being the 1970s would have helped immensely. It was alright. I don't have a strong opinion either way.
Honestly, I don't think I said "Wow this music is really good" once while listening to this album. I found it was very messy, coming from a Prog Rock fan. I understand they're one of the pioneers, but this music really just isn't for me. 1/5
Did not enjoy at all. Disconnected, boring, random. Very disappointing.
story telling 70s album w the ever present organ lol... reminds me of Styx, Kansas, etc and sounds so dated but I have always liked Genesis and I still love Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel so I have lots of praise for one of their first efforts, mostly bc I know well what their sound developed into (selling OUT by the pound?), which may be them trying to fit into radio rotation but I LOVE Genesis starting with Duke, which now sits in my mom's basement. I do like the very sweet More Fool Me and I Know What I Like - for me the best track on here (prob bc it's the most melodic)
if I’m going to listen to prog rock, this is not it
I found this one a bit painful. It's so heavy on the extended instrumental pieces, and I got lost. I felt like I was stuck in a long transition.
Ren fair Genesis. I just can't get into it. I occasionally respect the instrumentation. But the songs I do not find engaging. They at least leave the forest next time out. I just need a little more rock in my prog rock.
Weird medieval England themed Prog Rock by the band of the dude who made the Tarzan soundtrack. I don't know what to think.
solid solid 4 very fun very experimental very cool i loved it for a lot of reasons
Pre-listening thoughts: hmmm… so here’s my thing with Genesis. This is Peter Gabriel Genesis and I truly feel that once he left the band got better. Now this isn’t to say I dislike Peter Gabriel, I actually love some of his solo stuff. However. Phil Collins’s pop sound changed the band for the better imo. (Yes I know Phil Collins was in the band atp but when he became lead singer I mean). This is very prog rock so I’m not going to enjoy this as much as I’d have hoped I bet. Post/during listening thoughts: this is lowkey so full of character. Like within the first 10 seconds. I do agree with other reviews that Phil Collins on the drums is such a vital piece of this band and record. They were kinda insane for cooking this up in 1973. My biggest issue is the same as it is with all prog rock - song length. Man but even the long songs I find myself still consistently interested and enjoying the whole way through, it’s like a big album of songs that move and change like Scenes From an Italian Restaurant. Genesis I’m so sorry for doubting you (although I still mostly stand by my original statement that Phil Collins-fronted Genesis is better than this). 9/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: I kinda rock with this a lot actually so yes ⁉️Prog rock can be good and this is a great example of it ‼️ Fav tracks: whole thing. This won me over in ways I did not expect Least fav tracks: none
Måske den bedste Peter Gabriel-æra Genesis plade, wall to wall bangers. Noget af det mest nørdede musik jeg elsker
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.
Gosh the music Genesis created in the seventies is beautiful. Progressive music can be easily overdone, but it was so easy to melt into the music. Genesis knew exactly where their limits were. And they had such variety in the instruments! Truly, a treat to listen just the instrumentals. But the lyrics and vocals detract from their strongest element. I would get lost in the music, only for the vocals to jar me. Their fantastical lyrics aren't accessible, but they make for good enough lyrics. I suppose I'm just a sucker for lyrics written by Lana Del Rey--or at least Genesis' eighties work.
I found the concept of this album to be interesting. While progressive rock, it seemed to dabble a lot in the space of baroque or even renaissance folk type music. That's quite the crossover. Overall though, I still struggle a bit with progressive rock. It often sounds to me like jam sessions in which the band is just switching context or theme on a whim. This album didn't exactly escape that scrutiny from me. But still, I think Genesis stands as such a pinnacle of progressive rock because they found ways to make it approachable and thematically captivating. This album, despite me not flat out loving it, accomplishes that and is a fascinating specimen.
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.
One of my only thoughts on this album after listening is god DAMN was Phil Collins a fucking monster on drums. What a fucking beast. Incredible prog album, Firth of Fifth is one of the best prog songs ever made, easily.
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!
Prima
I think it must be a production thing but earlier Genesis always seems to lack a depth and quality in the sound
Decent Prog rock. No one will confuse it for Yes... but a reasonable listen. 2.5-3 stars
I tried but it didn't take five seconds to be reminded why I hate Genesis. To give them credit, they find new ways to be irritating with every album.
After getting the likes of Yes, ELP, ELO and other prog rockers, I'm not at all surprised to see Peter-Gabriel-era Genesis appear in the daily feed (and I now see we have two (2!) Genesis albums, unfortunately). I'm quite sure the band members enjoyed the whole stream-of-consciousness music and lyrics that seems to constitute the entirety of the genre, but it doesn't do much for me (and the opening track seemed to have this in spades, along with "Firth of fifth" and "The cinema show"). I enjoyed "I know what I like (in your wardrobe)" and "More fool me" more than the others, although that may not be saying much, I know. It *is* weird to hear Peter Gabriel in a different context than his solo career and musical evolution. And while I didn't enjoy the song (at all), I like it that "The cinema show" lyrics were inspired by T.S Eliot's "The Wasteland". And Phil Collins' drumming is quite good on this album. Although I doubt I would have enjoyed listening to a full set by the band when they toured the album, I must admit I'd have paid good money to see Peter Gabriel in "full costume with a helmet and shield representing the Britannia character" for some songs, and with a stocking over his head for "The battle of Epping Forest". The photo in the Wikpedia entry for this album is hilarious, but probably doesn't do justice to the actual event.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to-- a lot of the music was really good though the lyrics seemed inane at times. I feel like this is the kind of album a ten year old boy might think was really awesome.
Rush, but worse. Just listen to Rush. A bit of Yes as well
3/5
More Fool Me indeed. This is risible, unbridled bum rot of the highest order. Its centrepiece, the name of which I already can't remember and can't bear to look up, is an 11 minute load of nonsense in a faux cockney absence that immediately brings to mind the kind of people who re-enact battles in the woods for fun. There is one proper song on this, and the rest is self-indulgent, pompous horrible nonsense.
phil collins!!!!
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.
Track one was a banger- I definitely hear guitar sounds that Grizzly Bear would go on to rip-off verbatim. I thought immediately, oh, this one’s a strong 5. Then, despite all the proggy glory and medieval references, it lost me along the way. I gave it a second listen, and felt exactly the same about it. I’d give it a 2.5 for being meh, but I’ll up it 50 cents for how awesome track one would most definitely sound live. Can’t believe I haven’t heard this track before.
Better than the last one
Way better than I was expecting, silly but this goes hard at points
Listen, it can be a little theatric, bordering on silly at times, but the music is so overwhelmingly good that I'm definitely going to revisit. The opener has a sweet little guitar line that sticks with you, "I know what I like (in your wardrobe)" has a fantastic chorus, the exploratory "jam" section of "Firth of Fifth", it all adds up to a banging album.
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.
Like most prog there are great songs hidden within, but needs a good producer to cut the crap out.
Eh, it’s fine.
In the same year this album came out, Black Sabbath released "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath." A somewhat lesser Sabbath album, but nonetheless, a far greater album than this Genesis effort. The Stooges "Raw Power" was also released in 1973. Moral of the story, better things were available to listen to than this foppish, limp attempt at prog music. I can't even say "rock" for this album.
Started out like, wow! this is a Genesis album this is kinda cool. A few songs in, oh, this IS a Genesis album -- that tracks. Overall just ok. Props on the firs song though I liked that one alot.
A couple of highlights, but a bit dreary in the middle.
Genesis coming in with a damn-near-four! I have to admit, my only exposure to them was the somewhat-novelty tune “I can’t dance” that my mom was into in the 80s for a couple of weeks. I was not expecting a prog-rock odyssey into, what, Robin Hood? This album rips way more than it should and Phill Collins’ prowess as a drummer shines. Every song is an epic with multiple movements and it keeps you on your toes.
I was pleasantly surprised when I heard The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, but after hearing this one, Foxtrot, Trick of the Tail, and Seconds Out, I’m convinced Genesis is just not the band for me. There are select songs (especially on Lamb) I dig, and I certainly respect all the individual talent, but I just feel a massive disconnect with the overall style and execution. 2.5/5
I bet Rush really dug this. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
When an album opens with a bard-like voice saying a line about a unifaun’s true love, you know you’re in for some Spinal Tap adjacent stuff (in a bad way).
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.
Really nice
I don't know how to feel about this album. This is before Phil Collins became the full time singer for Genesis. He does have a song here. I was a bit bored during my listening session. But I liked the sound of this album. 3 stars for "Selling England By the Pound".
This has some really cool elements but something about the vocals and some cheeesiness keeps me from really loving it.
I’m not even sure of the content I just spent an hour mindlessly listening too.
Honestly it was just ok.
The band that gave us Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins has to be a 5/5!
Meh
Pretty. Pretty good.
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