Reviews (page 8 of 9)
Found this hard going, nice to get a bit more exposure to earlier Genesis though….
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.
The 80s did some favors for these guys. All that's missing from this album is the laser show and fog machine.
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?
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.
Rush, but worse. Just listen to Rush. A bit of Yes as well
Eh, it’s fine.
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.
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’m not even sure of the content I just spent an hour mindlessly listening too.
Meh
Awful
I’m coming right out of the gate with it - This album isn’t for me. That doesn’t mean I didn’t think it was great. In particular, I LOVED finding out where a ton of prog that DOES do it for me got its roots. One of my favorite prog albums is Dream Theater, Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a Memory. There’s a song on there called “The Dance of Eternity”. The song is 6:15 of prog glory with instrumental solos from everybody and more time signature and key changes than a mathematician can keep track of! It’s a wild ride in the middle of an otherwise fairly concise bunch of songs. This album was the other way around. Brief moments of concise songwriting but otherwise just one song after another challenging me to sink my teeth into any of it. Ideas appear and disappear. Song structures exist only inasmuch as the songs have a beginning and an ending. The band is tight and the playing is phenomenal and it’s not hard to imagine this album blowing anybody’s mind. But for me, I was impressed without enjoying it very much. Highlights for me were “Firth of Fifth” and the album closer “Aisle of Plenty”.
I don't get Genesis. What is it that people hear in this. It's just nothingy.
5/10 BORINGGGG
I didn’t think anything could make me miss Neil Young, but Genesis did it!
Growing up, a Genesis live album (the way we walk vol 1) got a lot of play in our house. I have not listened to them since, you know, maybe 1996, but I thought I got it: cheesy 80s pop. Turns out the truth is far, far worse. More than that, though: I assumed this was an unpopular, critically acclaimed cult classic. Not so! This charted in the UK and US! Top 3 in the UK! A hit single! I’m baffled. People of 1973, you know you can listen to older stuff too, right? If the current stuff in 1973 isn’t doing it for you, don’t force it! Look back to the 60s or just sit a year or two out. Help is on the way.
Selling England by the Pound, released in 1973, showcases Genesis's technical skill and ambitious compositions. The album is more palatable than many other progressive rock albums, though it occasionally ventures into self-indulgence. Peter Gabriel's vocals and storytelling add a distinctive touch, though some may find the English folklore themes a bit niche. The instrumental sections are intricate and well-executed, but they can sometimes feel overly complex. While the album has memorable moments, it also has parts that might test the patience of those less enamoured with prog-rock's excesses. Overall, Selling England by the Pound strikes a balance between skilled musicianship and accessibility, though it occasionally leans too heavily into its own ambition. The album's creativity is evident, even if it isn't always cohesive. For those who appreciate technical rock with a touch of narrative, it's a solid, if sometimes indulgent, listen. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - The Battle of Epping Forest
Voilà, on y est. La case que je redoutais. Le moment où le grand livre sacré des "1001 Albums" me force à m'asseoir, à mettre un casque sur mes oreilles de quinquagénaire fatigué et à m'infliger un truc que j'ai passé toute ma vie d'adolescent puis de disquaire à éviter comme la peste : le rock progressif. Ah, le prog ! Rien que le mot me donne des boutons. Ça sent la flûte de pan, les capes en velours, les solos de clavier de vingt-cinq minutes et les concepts fumeux sur des guerres entre gnomes et elfes dans une forêt enchantée. J'exagère à peine. Pour moi, le rock, ça doit puer la sueur, la bière et la clope. Ça doit être direct, un coup de poing dans la gueule. Le prog, c'est l'inverse. C'est un cours de solfège déguisé en rébellion pour fils de notaires. C'est la musique que tes parents trouvaient "recherchée" et "intelligente", ce qui est à peu près le pire compliment qu'on puisse faire à un disque de rock. C'est le genre de musique qui te fait dire : "Ah ouais, ils sont super techniques", mais qui oublie l'essentiel : l'âme, le bide, les couilles. Alors, quand j'ai vu "Selling England By The Pound" de Genesis arriver sur la liste, j'ai soupiré. Fort. Genesis, pour le mec de ma génération, c'est Phil Collins, les vestes à épaulettes et les ballades pour faire pleurer les ménagères. Mais non, là, on parle du Genesis d'avant. Le Genesis de Peter Gabriel. Celui avec les costumes de fleur et les doubles albums conceptuels. La totale. Je me suis donc lancé dans l'écoute avec la même motivation qu'un condamné montant à l'échafaud. Et là... Bon, je vais être honnête. J'ai pas passé un moment atroce. Juste un moment... long. Très long. Faut le reconnaître, et c'est pour ça que je ne mets pas un zéro pointé, les mecs savent jouer. Putain, s'ils savent jouer. C'est propre, c'est léché, la production est d'une clarté absolue. On sent que chaque note a été pensée, pesée, analysée. Tony Banks aux claviers est un monstre de technique, Steve Hackett à la guitare tricote des arpèges complexes avec une aisance déconcertante. C'est brillant. C'est virtuose. Et c'est précisément ça qui me gonfle. Ça manque de gras, de crasse. C'est tellement parfait que ça en devient froid, désincarné. L'album est considéré par les adeptes (la secte, devrais-je dire) comme le sommet de la période Gabriel. Et je veux bien les croire. C'est sûrement le plus "abouti". Il y a même un morceau, "The Cinema Show", qui sort du lot. C'est une longue pièce (évidemment), mais il y a une vraie beauté mélodique qui s'en dégage, une sorte de mélancolie pastorale qui, l'espace d'un instant, m'a presque touché. Presque. Il y a aussi ce single improbable, "I Know What I Like (In a Cuckoo's Nest)", avec sa tondeuse à gazon, qui sonne presque comme une chanson pop normale. Un moment de répit avant de replonger dans les méandres des mesures impaires et des paroles sur la vieille Angleterre. Parce que c'est bien de ça qu'il s'agit : vendre une vision fantasmée et nostalgique d'une Angleterre de légendes, de chevaliers et de pelouses bien tondues. C'est un disque d'évasion totale, un refuge dans un imaginaire folklorique qui me passe complètement au-dessus de la tête. Je n'arrive pas à connecter avec ce délire. J'écoute "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" et j'imagine Peter Gabriel avec une flûte traversière en train de gambader dans une prairie. Pour moi, c'est le summum de l'antithèse du rock. Alors voilà, mon verdict. C'est un 2/5. Un point pour la technique irréprochable et le son impeccable. Un autre point pour "The Cinema Show" et le courage de proposer un univers aussi personnel, même s'il n'est pas le mien. Et un point car je suis sympa. Mais ça s'arrête là. Je n'ai ressenti aucune urgence, aucune émotion brute. J'ai assisté à une démonstration, une performance musicale de très haut vol, mais ça ne m'a pas parlé. Est-ce que c'est un album qu'il faut entendre avant de mourir ? Si on suit le livre, oui. Pour la culture, pour comprendre ce qu'était ce mastodonte du rock des années 70, pour saisir ce qui a pu fasciner des millions de gens. C'est un document historique. Mais une fois que c'est fait, on a le droit de ne plus jamais y revenir. C'est ce que je vais faire. La case est cochée. Je peux passer à autre chose. Et pour me nettoyer les oreilles, je crois que je vais me mettre un bon vieux Motörhead. Histoire de retrouver un peu de cambouis.
Progressive Rock I can't seem to place. While thinking of it being music played on a carousel ride while the horses go up and down as well as a Renaissance fair both doesn't entirely fit. Will not relisten.
Prog...might be a wee bit much prog on this list. 2/5
did not catch my attention, was quite boring to listen for me. but the cover is great
Impressive creativity, but doesn't really have a cohesive vision quite like Dark Side which came out the same year. There is perhaps too much going on to really follow. Could use a few more listens to fully process and appreciate, but I don't see that happening.
Voor hoever ik progrock kut vind, doet deze plaat het best oké. Ik vond het theatrale Dancing With The Moonlit Knight best goed. Heb het sowieso altijd wel kunnen vinden met Genesis. Het middeleeuws achtige thema door het album heen is goed uitgevoerd, en zorgt toch voor een enjoyable listen. Rating: 6,5/10 Higlights: Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, After The Ordeal
This feels so far removed from the later Genesis output that I am a little torn. I like a lot of their later music, but this album has the "angsty teen trying to look clever \ different" feel to it. I know that's not a great explanation, but I can't really put it into words. It all sounds a bit like "musical wanking" to me. Made it all the way through so it gets 2 stars by default. I just don't feel it deserves 3 when I think of other albums I gave 3 stars to.
Plodding. Early efforts.
I respect Genesis and like other albums, but too many knights and wizard songs!
Yawn...
Un rollo, lo siento ...
Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
I got distracted and only listened to a few guess it was kinda boring
Was going to rated a 3 but it just keeps going on and on and on and on so...2
I was impatient for this to end. I'm sure the band worked really hard on this.
I really didn't hate this as much as I thought I was going to from the opening but I'm still ultimately just not a prog rock person
i try not to write off any genres completely but im yet to listen to a prog album that doesnt make me come out in a rash. i have some sort of physical aversion to this tripe.
Not my cup of tea
This was a huge, self-indulgent turd. I couldn't finish listening to this mess. (Some good drumming though.)
There’s something here, don’t know exactly what, but definitely something, maybe I need to come back to it later?
That's a long long long album. I can see it being a rock opera. But it's not as compelling as I would have hoped. It was a thoughtful experiment.
Didn't make it through. Actually started off strong for the first few minutes of the first song, it went quickly downhill from there and never really came back. Very frustrating album, there are some really fun and interesting elements to quite a few songs here, but it's so bogged down by the classic awful prog elements that really it's an awful listen. Fav track: I know what I like
Not as painful as anticipated, as there's some grooves an moments of light and shade here that have been much less present in other overblown concept glam prog albums. Still not something I'd ever put on, but, if it works for ya. Two and a half. Fave track: Dancing With the Moonlit Knight
Like Genesis. Like Peter Gabriel. This was not the best music from them. Too 70s Prog Rock.
I'm not getting much reward out of these prog rock albums. Can hear some decent stuff in there, but god you could get away with so much rubbish. Taking the worst/most indulgent bits of rock and jazz and aiming for a lyrical level of metal.
Not awful, but like so much of this era’s prog rock bands, they seemed like they’re trying to show off their writing and/or playing chops at the expense of making something good to listen to. Pretty boring by the third song.
Wasn't a huge fan of genesis and this didn't change my opinion on em.
way too british
How many times do you think Lin Manuel Miranda listened to this while writing Hamilton?
Typical Genesis music. Music, rock opera, not sure. Only seem to make albums with 1-2 good songs. I guess that’s ok. They do have some good songs.
Not my bag at all phil
Whimsical…
I was unfamiliar with Peter Gabriel's version of Genesis before starting this challenge. It appears I'm not much of a fan. Definitely enjoy the Phil Collins era more.
interesting I had not heard this album before.
brijem da bi se trebao fino nadrogirati da ovo slusam kako je namijenjeno
I'm not a genesis or Phil Colins fan
I didn't really like this album
I’m sure in its day it was a good album, and though musically very good the songs were rambling and too long. I’m not a huge fan of prog rock and so I’d like to keep this in 1973 where it belongs.
More prog-rocky than I was expecting. It's fun, but every time it hits a melody I really like, it switches things up on me.
so lala...
I can’t believe this is still going. This has been teetering on interesting the whole time, but hasn’t gotten there once.
Sorry Peter and Phil. As much as I love you stuff, I didn't enjoy this album at all. [shrug]
I appreciate it for its clear influence on contemporary Prog rock, but my God I hate Phil Collins.
starting out w an 8 min song is a big and slightly chaotic choice. i know what i like (in your wardrobe) is kind of a vibe and i also might like more fool than me? is that a recorder? a kid in my office was playing the recorder the other day when he thought no one was around which is why the sound is recently familiar. this is not good music to listen to while doing sat imagery stuff. maybe i am just against songs over five minutes. i am a self proclaimed classic rock girlie but this is not my favorite choice it kinda just sounds like all the others in this particular genre
Didn't care for this, not a fan of early or late Genesis.
It was odder than I expected.
Pfffffffff
not their best work
While you can tell there's talent here, this is an early version of Genesis, before they refined their sound and made it big.
Coolish. Too elfin. Mild Spinal Tap vibes. Much prefer their later synths stuff
2/5. While I really enjoyed the first two songs, the rest of the album left a lot to be desired. I was expecting more from such a popular band!
Not for me.
Rubbish
Not a particularly compelling prog rock album.
Not much of a prog fan. This record seemed rambling and unfocused. Maybe I just don't get the genre.
It was pleasant, and I like the history behind the album, but the album itself as a listening experience is just so-so in my opinion.
Felt like it faded away rather than built up to triumph
These long ass fucking songs This is way weorder than I thought it would be. Very King Crimson-y. 2
Feels like I'm in a Robin Hood film
Pareceu-me uma série de tentativas de fazer uma sinfonia a partir do rock. Não reconheço como progressivo, pois não tenho envolvimento suficiente com a ideia geral.
The occasionally melodic descends to the unbearable and unlistenable in this uneven, immature, meandering prog rock soundscape. If there's to thing I don't like in this world it's hippies and Tories and in this jumble of an album Phil Collins casts a long horrific shadow
Ah, prog rock. I hate it. I mean, Peter's cool, Phil's cool, the musicianship is great - and I totally appreciate bands that experiment. Let's play with time signatures and instrumentations - see what's possible and maybe inspire some future bands. Kudos for doing that. I just don't care.
Bit of a hard listen, this one.. Whimsical, abstract, with folky-psychedelic undertones, but somewhat hollow (to my ears).
Lähtee yllättävän lupaavasti, heti tokan biisin jälkeen innostus lopahtaa. Tosin soittajista kuulee, että heillä ei, joten fiiliksestä pisteet. Ja keskiaika- / vanha Englanti -teemasta (yllättävän tyypillinen näissä levyissä).
Ymmärrän, että 70-luvun alun esteettinen ilmapiiri rohkaisi (proge)muusikoita tiettyihin ratkaisuihin sointukulkujen ja pehmeän karmeiden stemmojen osalta, mutta eikö kukaan maininnut heille edes heidän kilinkaliniensa ja tilulilujensa hölmöydestä? Minkälaisia ystäviä heillä oikein oli? Sääli sinänsä, koska esim. avausbiisin kitarakuviot ovat melko vastustamattomia.
Early Genesis, prog rock take
Literally everything on this album was done better on Emerson Lake and Palmer's "Brain Salad Surgery".
honestly, couldn't listen to it in full. boring and annoying.
Parts of this sound like YES, but it's not.
I really am not a fan of this early Genesis
Ugh. This is hot garbage. All the old Gennesis is.
Un rollo, lo siento ...
Prog rock can be so fucking weird. Expert musicians purposely playing off kilter, whacked-out music with jarring time signature shifts, sudden tempo shifts, and nonsense nursery rhyme lyrics. I don't understand it. Arty bollocks, this one.
Just not a fan of Peter Gabriel Genesis.
This is a big no from me. I like a couple of Genesis songs (and individual songs from Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel) but this album is just a load of progressive, experimental rubbish to my ears. Long fables over music at 10 mins long that are neither memorable or enjoyable to hear.
One of my older sibling use to listen to it when I was a kid; not a fan then and not a fan now.
Lol 5/8 tracks are 8+ minutes long. 👉👁️
Not great Prog Rock album
Wanted to like it but did not. It was not good. Cinema Show gave me laughable visions of an SNL skit. Gave it a 2 because I like later stuff and heard glimpses of it from Phil and Peter
Too weird and waay too long of songs. Aisle of Plenty saves this from a 1 star. Very British. Be better Phil
Very inconsistent and at times agitating to listen to with how long some songs clock at. Not my cup of tea, though I did really enjoy the drumming.
What the actual ... this album is so weird and not in a good way. It's all over the place, mixing cloying folk melodies with experimental prog. I offically hate the first song, but then there are some cool moments here and there, but then they are immediately ruined by cloyingly pretty lute plucking or a flute solo. I *like* prog. I *like* folk. I like folksy rock, too. But this combination is the worst. Heck, I even thought I liked Genesis, but this is terrible ... clearly they got better with time.
Ugh. Genesis, you disappoint me.
This album really annoys me. The genesis of the concept had to be, “let’s make a bad, but not terrible, annoying album.” The guitar solo on the back half of Firth Of Fifth is Gilmore-esque. The album also annoys me because I want to give it a 1 star for annoying me, but it’s not bad enough. I have standards (feel free to disagree)!
Never understood the hype for Genesis. Still don't.
To experimental to me
Niet goed, niet slecht. Af en toe wat gave wendingen, maar niet overtuigend.
This was hard work. It really wanks along, at turns boring then irritating. I can just about see its appeal but not for me. Best song is the mercifully short Aisle of Plenty, amongst 7 other songs that outstay their welcome.
I think Phil Collins might be the blandest musician of them all and while Genesis clearly had more ideas than his solo work, there's a tangible dullness that permeates everything he touches. There were a few parts where I couldn't tell if I was judging them harshly from Phil Collins bias or if he just has a unique quality to make otherwise interesting music beige. Either way, never listening to this again, ta Phil.
Now this is dad rock! My dad used to play "the lamb lies down on Broadway" by genesis when I was younger.....I don't remember it sounding anything like this... I thought I might like this but I did not at all! Sorry Phil. Found bits of it quite interesting but largely disliked it. Maybe there will be other genesis albums on the list which I'll prefer.
This was confusing for me. For example, parts of songs - like The Battle Of Epping Forest - I would really enjoy, but then other parts I hated, and when a song is 12 minutes long… geez. Overall, this is not really for me. Some of it was great sonically but overall it was too much not nice to make up for not enough nice. Give me solo Phil Collins any day.
Too weird to really love, but definitely able to groove to it at times.
Creo que es el primer disco de Genesis de esa época que escucho entero. Siempre me atrajo la época con Peter Gabriel en el grupo, pero en general se me hacía insufrible. Este al menos se deja escuchar en su estilo folk-psicodelia-pop, pero tampoco lo veo algo imprescindible.
A whole genre that I always found a little too wanky and precious.
Influential? Probably. Essential? Maybe. Personally, even though the playing on it is amazing, It was a wacking great proggy mess.
Ich weiß, dass das technisch ganz toll ist, und eigentlich kann ich Prog auch ganz gut hören, aber das ist zu einem großen Teil einfach nur nervig.
Pretty boring album, not a big fan.
Much as I like Peter Gabriel’s voice, this is all a bit too worthy and pompous. I kept wishing the Prog Rock had progressed already. I recognised ‘I know what I like’ which I don’t mind but the rest was all a bit too self-important.
On paper, this is a band I should enjoy, but this era of Genesis has a particular ability to dredge up serious disinterest. I began the album paying attention, determined to enjoy it, but I was actively bored two songs in. The compositions, the flatness of the production, Peter Gabriel's vocal elastics... I've tried on many occasions to dig in, but alas, I'm empty handed. Give me "Duke" and "Abacab" era Genesis.
Prog rock is too much adolescent boy energy for me. The only interesting thought I had about this album is how much Peter Gabriel evolved as a musician. I prefer him being a sledgehammer.
Lamb lies on broadway
Self indulgent
I do not like this album.I understand that everyone here is a good musician and I can hear how good the drums are but I just cannot stand how long the songs are, how they have no hooks and how self indulgent the whole thing feels.I also don’t like the album cover it’s ugly.
Not super impressed by this
nah
These guys are clearly musical geniuses. I was impressed by the ease with which the band switches between medieval folk, hard rock and prog. But I just can’t get over how pretentious it all sounds. A lot of that stems from Peter Gabriel’s vocals. Not for me. 🤷🏻♂️
I thought it’s was a little all over the place but I did really like the music. It was something different like. Peter Gabriel was chatting all sorts that I didn’t really take notice of but yeah, Iittle organ here an lad there and some weird synth
This was just a weird one, and not necessarily in a good way. There's definite musical skill and talent here, but I didn't find myself enjoying it that much. For something that should have been so interesting I just got a bit bored by it all. Firth Of Fifth slaps hard in like the final 1/3 of the song though. Favourite: Firth Of Fifth
A bit too experimental for me at times
Realy not was I was expecting based on my knowledge of Genesis. Didnt enjoy it too much
This makes me think that Phil collins has the potential to make an album that I would love but this shit ain’t it. At times there’s amazing guitar and drums and Phil has a great voice but aside from those moments it’s just so corny and shitty it’s unreal. Whole lotta hobbit music and not in a cool or fun way
Really weird throughout
Was is that I was in a bad place? Or maybe I like Gensis at such a different moment? This album was so hard to get. It couldn't be in the background but I couldn't get my head into it in the forefront. If it is a concept album, then I missed the premise.
I wanna hate this so badly. But there is some undeniable genius in there. I still don't like it though.
Pretty forgettable. Like it's fine but I'll never put it on again. I can't think of anything else but Jackson tucker and his sweatpants though. Woulda been a 1 but there are some premium synth tones on a few songs
It's safe to say this isn't what I was expecting from this album at all. It's not my thing, and I have a major aversion to Phil Collins usually, but I do really dig parts of this album. There's some good jamming and guitars on firth of fifth in particular. Elsewhere it's pretty damn weird, which I was surprised by and kind of respect in a way, but ultimately it is still just weird and I'm not that into it.
Not my cup of tea
I was looking forward to this, but feel ambiguous now. I find it uneven. It’s like the band has found this treasure chest of sounds and chords and words, but can’t stick to any one element long enough to really explore and taste it. The better pieces seem to do that. Mahler used to through bits and pieces of unconnected stuff together, but managed to build a whole out of it. This album doesn’t achieve that often enough for me.
My parents are fans of Phil Collins genesis but I am less familiar with Peter Gabriel Genesis. Found this just a bit bloated and over the top. Can see why it’s on the list, but not my taste at all.
Sounds ahead of it’s time but kinda meh
Ganske slitsomt, mulig jeg bare ikke er så glad i prog. Føles veldig datert, men ikke på en god måte.
Inte min grej!!!!!
I am torn by this album. Not because it is that good or that I have some fond memory associated with it. I am torn on what to rate it. It is not particularly memorable. The 8-9 minute songs were unnecessary. I didn't skip any songs, but I am going to recommend it to anyone. It is certainly better than some albums that received a two but not really a 3.
imagine jethro tull, overcomplicated further and featuring phil collins
Like listening to a musical mad-libs.
Not as bad as Yes, but I really don't like prog it turns out.
ganz ok honestly nix besonderes i guess
Hodgepodge of songs put together, listened while driving.
Interesting old tunes before the got popular
Solos for solos sake. Long songs. Doesn't do it for me.
Phil Collins solo, može. Ne znam zašto, Genesis mi se nikad nije svidio.
Dobro pa nisam zaspo hodajuci, bas bland album
Good example of the genre and obviously good musicians. But a bit self indulgent and somewhat rambling. Not massively engaging. (2.3/5)
I found this too chaotic to enjoy. There were moments that worked and I’d start to get into the song and then it would completely change.
Noodly doodly, some familiar elements, but not really my bag
Tolerable Genesis, before they went downhill further
Wel priem maar niet echt van deze tijd
What the hell was this? Utter madness. Don't think I will recover any time soon.
no, phil spector is... just this guy you know?
I bet these fellas bogarted the best medicinal shit available. How else to explain the difference between this and what Collins, Rutherford and Banks were doing a decade later. Some of us prefer that version of Genesis over these self-righteous textures.
Paikoitellen kivaa melodiaa, mutta toisinaan tuntu lähtevän taiteellisuus omalle laukalle. Ei jatkoon.
Paikoin mukaansa tempaavaa, mut pitkäveteiseks kävi
Meh. Żadna piosenka mnie nie zainteresowała.
1st sounds not very good 2nd slightly better 3rd I like the best so far 4th is ok 5th kinda sucks skipped after listening 2/3s 6th eh ok song kind of forgetable 7th Not a fan of this album
Why is this in the mix? Some album that Genesis squeezed in between tours that "Critics and the band themselves have given mixed opinions" about? They have so many other albums. Anyway, there's some interesting stuff here but ultimately it's nothing I'm going to go back to.
"The lyrics have since been praised [...], but the band later said they did not gel well with the music and made the piece complicated for the sake of being so". This quote is from Wikipedia's page on the album. It is only about one song, but it could as well be applied to the record. Heck, it could probably be applied to Peter-Gabriel-era Genesis as a whole. But to stick to *Sell England By The Pound*, it's interesting to know that, by their own admission, the majority of the band members consider this album as a failure of sorts (a point confirmed many times on the Wikipedia page). And this is probably because, apart from very, very rare highlights here and there (most of them in "Firth Of Forth"), the music on *Selling England By The Pound* is not particularly well-written. Sure, it sounds complex and convoluted, but a single listen is enough to tell that the band actually just pasted different parts or jams together so as to create their overlong songs. This here is the very definition of bad writing and logically, the end result is horrendous in its lack of cohesion. As for the recording itself, it has aged very, very poorly. The flute solos sound a little cheesy, but they're not the worst part, the worst part being those terrible synth solos sticking out like sore thumbs in some of the most boring passages ever written in the prog-rock genre. Stupendous how so many people had such bad taste when they made this album a commercial success at the time. When it comes to vocals on the album, they are more than decent overall. However Gabriel's melodic lines are often not catchy or memorable enough to bring that cohesive fabric that's so direly needed here. Lyrics are fine, with many striking one-liners here and there (the last line of The Battle Of Epping Forest is indeed an interesting anti-climax). Yet most of the songs are too clunky to seal the deal for me. They simply don't make me feel anything. I always try to keep an open mind, but clearly, I don't see what the fuss is all about here. What we have is more than competent musicianship, of course, even talent. But if you want to select a list of 1001 albums you should absolutely listen to, there are probably twice as many albums worthier of your time out there. Life's too short to waste it on stuff you consider a little ridiculous. My loss, maybe. But that's the way it is for me. [Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 972 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 10 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 7 Albums from the list I will *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 9 (including this one) Albums I might not be able to judge (some might end up on my final list but it's because I recognize how culturally important they are): 2]
I hate prog rock
Peter Gabriel was much improved by breaking out solo. Genesis was made even worse by making Phil Collins their lead singer.
p294, 1973. 2 stars Was prepared to dislike this as I tended to lump Genesis in with the entire prog rock-wank era but... parts of this are OK. Always liked Peter Gabriel's solo stuff, and his voice is spot on. Steve Hackett and Phil Collins also on form. Set against this, all the usual early 1970s complaints... dodgy lyrics, overly long instrumental "fiddly" bits - look how fast I can play! Listen to my fabulous, sterile instrumental "improvisation"! See how long I can go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and ON - and dig my groovy 70's synths maaaaaan. But it's got something, despite all that. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it, but I don't hate it either.
Music for a Renaissance Fair. There's too much plinky guitar plucking. I don't know man, I might be in the minority here but I prefer the way more commercially appealing 80's Genesis over this prog rock experimental stuff.
I can appreciate the musicianship and production but its not for me.
Not sure why I had to listen to this one
Gave it three run throughs, they just miss the mark on every track for me, nothing catches my ear at all. It’s as though they they collectively decided “hey let’s not put anything memorable on this album at all”
Like Phil Collin’s, didn’t enjoy this album
Nah
Pretty good prog-rock. Early flashes of Marillion with a touch of ELP thrown in. I still say that the best thing that happened for Peter Gabriel and the three who remained as Genesis was their split from each other.
Trippy late-60s Pink Floyd-ie feel. I had no idea this band was ever anything more than 80s mainstream!
This album will appeal to a very specific set of people. Of which, I do not belong. Tedious. Didn't like the sound in general. Decent concept.
Genesis's fifth album is another progressive rock one, with a few long running jam songs. The band combined their older, whimsical sounds with harder & heavier rock sounds to create a magical adventure of an album. This album has been certified gold. I do like this album because it's rock music that can be put on in the background and not be distracting.
44. Selling England by the Pound - Genesis 8 tracks. This is early Genesis & I don't think I recognise any tracks. It sounds more Gabriel influenced than Rutherford or Collins & he left 2 years later. Personally I think Genesis were better after he left than before. 2/5
Yeah
started off horrifically, then behaved like it was going to be good before nosediving at the end. can't decide if it was utter crap or just middling. it belongs in the lower middle crap field.
I was too tired to pay any attention to this, but Scott says it was hard work and who am I to argue? Jude Law looks increasingly like Phil Collins. They both have hot daughters. Goodbye. 🧊
Really feels quite self indulgent, maybe a few more listens and I'd find some stuff I like but not really for me
I mean. It's Genesis.
This was quite weird. Like a concept folk album with some psychedelic rock thrown in once and a while. I didn’t dislike it but it didn’t do much for me. Might grow on me if I listened a bunch more. The first suggested Genesis song that came on after this album instantly reminded me how much they can rock, but this just wasn’t it.
Very prog, OK if you like that sort of thing but really irritated me. It felt really smug.
Generally terrible.
Småtrist. Det var inte mycket jag har att reagera på egentligen. Inget extra intressant, inget extra ointressant heller. Bara ganska smaklöst hela vägen igenom.
081021 18:08 2.5
Picnic!
2/5 nothing really stuck tbh
Tjemig, is dit nu een conceptalbum?!
Phil en Peter zijn natuurlijk beste kerels, maar het is gewoon jammer dat ik een pleuris hekel aan Progressive pop/rock heb! Ellendig dit. 2 sterren is echt het maximale wat ik kan geven.
Ik ben fan van latere Genesis, met Phil als zanger. Peter Gabriel is ook een erg puike zanger maar ik vind die oude Genesis zo theatraal, bombastisch en langdradig.
Too artsy for me
N/A
Did not really enjoy the songs on this album. Nothing very memorable
Was probably a good concept album but wasn't playing close enough attention to it so was pretty dull for me
Busy and ambitious.
Super nerd-prog menstrual vibes, concept album worth listening to once
The problem with prog rock songs is, they tend to all be half good half bad.
Really uneven. Some good moments, but some really long, repetitive moments. Lyrics were also really rough in places.
A bit slow for me, not a lot really catches the ear. Still, a solid album by a classic band. Would listen to other albums by them before this one most likely, no Phil Collins on vocals (I think...?)
Below average prog rock. 6.9/10
I didn't particularly like the album, but it was mostly just crazy to hear Collins, Gabriel, and Rutherford playing long operatic prog rock. It seemed worlds away from their "Invisible Touch" cashing in.
Can see artistic route they were going for did not like
that was some freaky weird stuff. I wanna say drugs but I dont know. I give it a ripe orange and two burnt avocado's
Its almost okay, but it just gets weird for most of the songs. Can see where they turn into a good band eventually but its not there yet.
yeah you know what this kinda sucks
Yea, not feeling it...
Another meh
Not really my type - love Genesis though
This was a slog to get through, but not awful. Not as much FUN as I expect from Genesis.
Snooze fest fornme personally, respected the vibes but fuck these Brits 2.2
it was chill
first 2 songs
This was a little too funky for me.
Wasnt as fun as nursery crymes
Not my cup of tea. I don't really like Phil Collins and many of these songs are just too pretentious.
Too much like Rush. But better than Rush.
I do not vibe with prog rock. A lot of it blended together and didn’t really keep my interest. There were some parts that were decent but I couldn’t name them specifically. I’m sure it makes sense to others but not me.
Did not enjoy, Very long songs and silly voices.
Seems like average prog noodling. Fine as a soundtrack, but if you want to do the noodling thing at least commit to a silly concept or 20-plus-minute opus. Otherwise you end up with a pop record for people who claim not to like pop. To be fair, this is much looser than your typical pop project. Whether that's good or bad is up to the listener.
I prefer 80's Genesis
I was in no mood at all for this fucking prog nonsense. Drumming was good, bonus point for Phil on that. 2/10
As with the worst of ‘70s prog, it sounds like a cheesy musical soundtrack. Except that this adds in some easy listening schmaltz, for further insult. Nearly unlistenable.
This was poor. How embarrassing for everyone involved.
What a snore fest
There are no redeeming features here.
I just don’t get it, I really don’t. The songwriting is just awful, vocals flat, the dated proggy synth is utterly cringe, and the guitar solos sound like Bill and Ted’s band. Drums are decent mind. Another flatulent Genesis album ticked off the list and never to darken my ears again. And relax….
Don’t like
228. the same
Not for me. 1/5
First track stressed me out. Actually all these songs stress me out. What the fuck is going on here? Are they trying to be as frantic as possible? It's almost ok, but then they throw in some very odd timing and melody choices. Is this what Prod Rock is? Sorry, I can't. Negative 0 stars.
No
Ugh. I really don't like prog rock.
Awful
Takeaway #1 from this project so far has been how much I hate Genesis.
Hateable mix, unlistenable
Pre-80's Genesis is such a fucking snoozefest man. This fucking bored me to tears I was so done by like song 3. *ahem* BOOOOOOORRRRRRIIIIIINGGGGGGGG!!!!
Can't explain why, but there's just something about the early genesis albums that sounds creepy to me... They were the first band I loved and listened to when I was 12 years old, and I've always wanted to connect with their early days. Back then, I thought maybe I needed to be “more grown-up” to appreciate the early albums, but to my disappointment, nothing has changed now that I’m 42. I’ll be patient and just give it another try in 30 years.
Yikes! Someone wrote: "Utter shit!" Yep, their shit goes to -11. Utter shit. Make it stop....
Not really my flavour of music….
A meandering, meaningless mess. Monstrous, in a bad way.
No
I did not have a strong view of pre-solo-Gabriel Genesis, but I'm shocked to learn that only ELP is keeping them off the very bottom of the prog stack. Obnoxious and bad in the finest prog tradition.
odie la primera canción asi que ni siquiera lo pude terminar
I will never listen to this again. Ever.
Gabriel Collins und der dritte prog rock naja. c
boring prog bullshit, terrible vocals, just listen to Yes or Emerson Lake and Palmer
This was just awful - I’m sorry as I know so may people love it and Genesis but I just couldn’t find anything about it I liked. Just no redeeming features at all for me - I didn’t like the lyrics which felt trite, I didn’t like Peter Gabriel’s voice, the songs felt so boring. It was a no from me sadly.
Not for me, but theatrical
I have such a complicated relationship with Genesis. I enjoy Gabriel's and Collins' solo stuff but when you blend them together it just doesn't gel for me personally. It feels like a mess and not at all coherent
Oh, boy. Overly theatrical 70's music. This sounds like a Cat Stevens folk record, not a true Genesis rock and roll album. 8 min, 9 min, 10 min and 11 minute songs, just agonizing and lost on me. Peter Gabriel grew out of this sound and most of the theatrics for a reason. The first 3 tracks have a ton of listens (17M, 20M and 26M), why? I cannot explain. This is one you had to grow up on or be very English to enjoy. I did not enjoy a single song, I especially didn't enjoy "The Battle of Epping Forest", wow what a slog. I kept waiting for the king and queen and court jester to walk around the corner. Utterly lost on me, I hear nothing I can relate to. 1 star from me. I'd love to understand how this is categorized as a Must Hear album.
I am discovering that I really do not enjoy prog.
Wow. This is awful. Completely and utterly awful, from start to end. I had wondered if I would give any one star reviews to a list of supposed great albums, and on day 11 here we are. I can't believe how bad this was, in every single facet.
What a story of an album. It was okay.
Wow Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel are so much better as solo artists. This was all over the place in a bad way
Pompous nonsense.
Es la típica voz que se me viene a la cabeza cuando pienso en los 70. El álbum tiene partes excesivamente largas que hacen que te canses en algunos momentos, pero luego tiene partes guays que lo salvan. Sin embargo al ser tan largas las canciones algunas partes estan bien y otras mal, no me pegan en ninguna playlist y me dan pereza volver a escucharlas.
impossible to take a tax dodging whiner like phil collins seriously singing about a lost england. also impossible to take him seriously because this is dogshit.
I prefer to pretend the British prog rock era of Genesis doesn't exist
Folk-inflected prog. Pompous, and often overblown. Beedly-Beedly guitars, fax-classical keyboards, big dynamics. Very English.
What the fuck! Ironically without change and development from old England village cricket grounds to modernity 9they would not have been able to record this album never mind moan 8about everything! If this was recorded now it would be about immigrants taking our jobs hahahaha Oddly though I love their Mama album one of my all time favourites Its one of those albums where every band member has to have a solo! This explains the emergence of punk in one fairy encrusted record, only surprise is it took so long to arrive They clearly had aspirations to be Pink Floyd but unfortunately they fell well short Put The Clash The Clash on to expunge my 👂's .
Dated.
God, I'm bored! Could might as well be listening to Genesis. Rik Mayall, early 80ies.
Oh, this is why that guy on Top Gear hates Genesis
You almost have to be impressed by their earnest commitment to producing an album with the worst singer I have ever heard. Some of the music itself is technically sound, and enjoyable at times. Overall this feels like a student project album and I don’t see how this makes the list.
Okay, it's not my cup of 5 o'clock tea... I could definitely survive without listening to this album. First track is medieval, the second one — psychedelic rock, the third one starts as a classical piano piece... That's too much of a "Look, we're professional musicians" swag. Previously I heard some hits by Genesis, and I quite liked them. But not this album.
Glad it was all gone by the time I got to the cashier.
this was one of the roughest listens so far, not a fan of prog rock and i hated the weird medieval sound. the songs for 9 minutes and up were the most irritating to listen to and felt completely unnecessary
Boring.
Was not feeling this album at all. Not a single song...
I know this is a progressive rock album. But I really cant stand this fairy/fantasy/ pixie elf-pan flute shit. I love Peter Gabriel, but I cant in good conscience give Supertramp and Yes zero stars and think this is any better.
What a load of bollocks. You can see totally why people cringe at the term progressive rock, when progressive rock translates to a bunch of fairly talented guys churning out absolute nonsense for the sake of it. Strange guitar and bass lines with odd drumming and loads of pointless key changes. For me the point of music is to make you feel something and it at the very least to sound good, this style of music has neither of those and also by the way contains some of the worst lyrics I’ve ever heard. So so questionable, how they gained traction after this album is beyond me.
Maybe there is a place for this kind of rock music somewhere and maybe it is important in the development of the genre and breaking boundaries but I sadly cannot see or understand it. It is self indulgent and over the top but not in a good way and I just can't get on board. Sorry Genesis.
What a pile of the proverbial. Overlong crap with lyrics that belong on a rubbish parody with the battle of epping forest possibly the worst offender, search for furniture indeed.
maybe if I did acid this would have been enjoyable.
I had a revelation about prog rock while listening to this, and explains why I dislike it so much: So many prog rock songs sound like Jack Black doing a bit, except where he is goofing around, prog bands are being serious and therefore come across as more ridiculous.
This is bad
did not enjoy any of this, sonically it’s not bad I guess. Not something I would’ve ever expected to listen to in my lifetime tbh
Pretentious wank
Oy progrock. I can’t make it through the first song. It’s too much.
Prog Rock is a fucking joke. If I want to listen to flute solos I’ll watch Anchorman again.
Nope, another I couldn't get through the 1st track. Maybe I shouldn't be listening to music today.
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
Sorry. White man 70’s prog rock just ain’t my rodeo.
Eh. Intense rock 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.
This is so medieval.
This is what pink floyd sounds like to people who don't like pink floyd
Very Jethro Tull
Intolerable. Awful singing
I found this really annoying. What do Genesis fans see in this rubbish? If I ever meet one I’ll be sure to ask!
I just really hated this. Can’t explain it. On a different day it may have been different
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