Reviews (page 8 of 9)
Realy not was I was expecting based on my knowledge of Genesis. Didnt enjoy it too much
3.5
Super solid time. Kinda wanna get more into them now.
Good album. I enjoyed it. I prefer a trick of the tail.
Need to listen a bit more, liked what I heard
Nice keyboard and guitar bits, "Firth of Fifth" has such a compelling buildup that only progrockers can pull out. I would've love it as a whole, too bad I'm never a fan of all these glam rock-ish sound driven by such a charismatic voice.
Very very good
Probably a 3.5 but I have it the benefit of the doubt. Super long songs. Progressive.
Very good early Prog.
The song "After The Ordeal" was how I felt whilst listening to this.
Not my jam
Some parts of me loved it other parts made me think God this guy is a pretentious bastard
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
Listen to it with great pleasure
Reminded me of Mr. Toads Wild Ride 4/10
Really weird throughout
I enjoyed it, all the songs sounded different and kept me engaged even thought some were long
So, prog always feels like the artists conflate "best music" with "most music". Still, I get where people are coming from wrt Peter Gabriel's vocals and Phil Collins' drumming. There's just so. Much. Going. On.
Some of the songs drag a bit but it has a lot of good ideas.
I couldn't put less even if I wanted to
Metasis
Phil Collins’s aka mustard tiger Poggers
First song slapped. Had some other good songs 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.
Decent, didn't really sound like Genesis
This was really good, I enjoyed the progressiveness of the project.
I wanna hate this so badly. But there is some undeniable genius in there. I still don't like it though.
Quite like this, possibly the most Rush-like of their albums I've listened to. But it's still pretty wibbly and just when you start to think they're onto something they start another tune. I Know What I like excepted of course, great track.
damnnnn. great album through and through. opener is amazing, not a single song is annoying, except maybe the second one, but not to an extreme extent, and the closer (The Cinema Show/Aisle of Plenty) wraps it up really nicely. it always feels shorter than it really is, because it really takes you to a place and brings you home. I would love to give this a 5, but it does feel somewhat bland at times, and is not incredibly memorable on a song by song basis. it feels more like a long soak in this world than different songs that stick with you. high 4.5
Good, but largely overshadowed by its contemporary, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Ultimately makes me think of crime scene tape...You're pretty sure something significant happened here but the best advice you can get is to keep moving, nothing to see here.
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.
This was good for the background but I think I would get sick of it if I stopped to actually try and listen through the whole thing
Not my cup of tea
Firth of Fifth the best song on the album? Probably. Banks has done so much on different types of synth-ish keyboards, it's interesting to see how good he is on straight up piano. PG's flute coming out to play is also a treat. This is top notch prog rock. The Lamb is prob my favourite so I will settle on 4 for this bad boy.
I think this is my favourite Genesis album. The keyboard solo in Cinema Show is my favourite-OAT, with its many different themes. The instrumental passage in Firth of Fifth is great and Rolling Stone (I think) ranked Hackett's guitar solo in that song as one of the GOAT. His solo in After the Ordeal is good to. I like the opening and closing bookends + Epping - though I'm not so fond of the hit or More Fool Me. A big plus is that the entire band participates in writing the music and lyrics. Gabriel's lyrics are clever and can be hard to figure out for non-Brits. I once visited Song meanings (I think) to read more about the references in Moonlit Knight - it wasn't a short read.
This is an iconic prog album, certainly in the top 5 of all time. I can't decide which is the best song on the albu: the Firth of Fifth, Battle of Epping Forest or Cinema Show. They are all monster songs and truly epic in scope (in this case the use of epic is not cliched, but truly appropriate). Here, on their fifth album all band-members are basically in peak form. Firth features lovely piano and guitar solos by Banks and Hackett, Battle of Epping Forest has some of my favourite lyrics / wordplay sung magnificently by Peter Gabriel, and Cinema Show closes with an incredible 4.5 minute keyboard solo by Rutherford. The album lags slightly in certain sections but the sheer weight of the above 3 songs more than compensates for any shortcomings. Peak Prog indeed.
Pretty good sound. I liked it
One of my first progrock albums I ever bought. Still so great.
A genuine classic. One off.
Magnificent. To me this is Genesis's masterwork and up there in the top 5 prog albums. I really like the playful lyrics (especially Battle of Epping Forest and Cinema Show) and the lovely, understated playing of Hackett and Banks. The songs all stand up and are both complex and accessible. A total joy to listen to
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.
Classic 1970s sound.
Not really my jam
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.
Really interesting 70s prog rock, mixed with medieval themes, and folk stories. Overall an interesting listen, very different from 80s Genesis lead by Phil Collins.
Epic album, but not really my jam.
Great as music goes but as PG's Genesis goes its kinda mid. I'd take Foxtrot over this one any day
"Yeah, I like their earlier stuff better."
Ikkje særleg mykje appellerande for min del. Albumet er det ein kan forvente av Genesis.
3/8, 38%
idk not doin it for me
To weird for me
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.
Banger…. Classsic… true classsic…. Swag… etc
A prog masterwork. Ever changing songs, brimming with great melodies, creativity and life. Though the players are all incredibly gifted, technicality never overshadows musicality. If you haven’t heard it before you certainly must before you die
Inte min grej!!!!!
omg wonderful
j'aime pas phil collins!
I knew in my heart that I’d like “old” Genesis, even though the one song I knew from the era was “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”. Hope some Peter Gabriel solo albums are on this list as well. HL: “Dancing…”, “The Cinema Show” August 18, 2022
Can try what I want but progressive rock will.never be my music. These songs keep on going on and on and on without fascinating me, while music of much greater length like e.g...minimal.music.or african rhythms or Sister Ray of the Velvet does . Guess not in my blood. Can't judge the quality, a neutral 3 stars.
Bounced off these for so long because of the horrible populist noise they became in the Invisible Touch era. Despite knowing they're prog behemoths under Peter Gabriel. But anyway, how could I like the Flaming Lips and not like this, is I guess. There's still lots to find annoying, and it's partly the stuff here that's pisstake-worthy (see The Battle of Epping Forest's singular ridiculousness) and the worst excesses of Yes that I blame for my not realising how much fantastic music there was to discover in the prog genre until way late in my musical journey. But if you put all your preconceptions aside, and just give in to it, this is a joyous record.
ehhh too storybook fable for me
Beautiful soundscaping on this before there was such a thing as soundscaping
Some enjoyable instrumental sections. Not a favorite, but not bad. I didn’t have time to properly focus on it.
Could not get into it at all
7/24/2022 - ALBUM #178 Today's Album: "Selling England By The Pound" by Genesis - As a 70s prog rock album, this album is at times intentionally obtuse, but with some really fascinating production and a lot of impressive performances, it becomes easy to get locked into whatever world the artist is trying to portray, which in this case seems to be about the economic and sociological decline of england and the issues within the government and broader society that are causing it. The opener Dancing With The Moonlit Knight is a pretty impressive opener, switching up the temp and tone of the album frequently and managing to include plenty of strange instrumentation and stellar soloing. Like many other prog rock albums, this album is one that is going to be enjoyed if the listener likes other prog rock groups like Yes, The Moody Blues, Kansas, etc. and if the listener doesn’t enjoy that kind of music or hasn’t been exposed to it before, it probably will seem really scatterbrained and confusing. Fortunately, I have conquered the Court of The Crimson King and I have eaten my Leftoverature, so I fucking love the sound of this album. The overall sound of the album is quite different in the way that it mixes sounds together and brings certain sounds out in the mix. The band keeps a pretty solid energy despite the numerous changes in feel that occur multiple times a song. There are even moments where it feels like they are incorporating some sounds from artists like Bowie and Queen as well so it really feels like a full on celebration of all things prog. A huge highlight in the tracklist is Firth of Fifth, with some absolutely insane performances coming from all members of the band. The guitar solo sounds excellent, the keys add a ton of flavor, and the drums and bass are locked in this rhythmic game of chicken. It all adds up to a really mind-bending sonic experience. Overall, this album is a prog rockians dream, with a ton of unique and interesting sonic landscapes being set up and broken down. Give this one a listen if you are down with some strange music in order to get to some golden moments and have enjoyed prog rock in the past. Highlights: Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, I Know What I Like, Firth Of Fifth, After The Ordeal, The Cinema Show, Aisle Of Plenty Score: 8/10 The culmination of many of the best ideas in prog rock: an album about England?
Haven’t listened to a Gabriel led Genesis album in forever, and this reminded me why I love them. Perhaps has one of the most underrated opening tracks to an album ever!!
Some weird skits but otherwise great album
Easily top 10 prog rock albums to come out of 1973. 3.3/5
One of many classic Genesis albums. I am probably more inclined to listen to one of their 80s albums: Duke / Abacab / Genesis / Invisible Touch are all 5-star but probably not on this list. From their Peter Gabriel period, I had only expected to see the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, but of course Selling England By The Pound is an appropriate choice too.
Firth of Fifth has to be one of the best prog rock songs of all time. Now listening to the entire album for the first time in quite a while, I can confirm again it is brilliant from start to finish.
Many unnecessary notes.
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.
If i'de grown up around this I know I would have been a big fan. Can see their influence in many bands.
imagine jethro tull, overcomplicated further and featuring phil collins
the weird stuff was ok. easy listeing stuff was painful like some boring music you'd hear in a taxi
6/10. Good, but boring for bits. Could probably be a 7 on a good day
Not sure what they were talking about at all but it was definitely prog rock. 7/10
Like listening to a musical mad-libs.
Genre: Progressive Rock 4/5 A prog rock record I had yet to get around to, Genesis' Selling England by the Pound is just as good as any of the prog records which may have surrounded it on the shelves at the time. Yes' Fragile, King Crimson's Larks' Tongues in Aspic, and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon were all just released, giving listeners plenty of new material to keep them happy, but Genesis' epic entry into the genre was just around the corner, featuring plenty of elements familiar to prog fans, but with a melodic, symphonic focus not omnipresent in the genre. While Dancing with the Moonlight Knight and Firth of Fifth are the two tracks most widely known from this record, and while both are great prog journeys in their own right, The Cinema Show, the epic on the B-side, is one of the best prog epics of the decade. The track beautifully blends its symphonic elements, its folk elements, and its heavier rock elements with ease, even finding space for some really solid jamming, culminating in one of my favorite prog tracks of the decade. The rest of the album is rife with the sorts of material that would make any prog devotee happy, from the medieval and quaint, to the driving and complex. Really solid album that I'm sure will reward repeat listens.
Not as bad as Yes, but I really don't like prog it turns out.
What an amazing album. True work of art from beginning to end. I know Phil Collins isn't some master class singer, and Peter Gabriel was great too, but Phil Collins voice is just wonderful to me for some reason.
Essential prog work listening and the best album of the Gabriel era of Genesis
It’s the tuneful and dramatic passages (“I Know What I Like” “Firth of Fifth” “After the Ordeal” and “The Cinema Show” are standout examples ) that make prog rock albums for me, and there are certainly more than a few here. They create a kind of mosaic-y feel (artists probably want you to think Renaissance tapestries). “More Fool Me” and “Epping Forest” (at least the first part) sound pretty modern. And while I like quite a few bits, there is almost as much excessive noodling and Gabriel gets dangerously close to “Minister of Silly Voices” territory here and there. Still, pretty solid overall and holds up relatively well.
Quirky but stands the test of time and much is ahead of it’s time. Cover art. It is art unlike many. Love the story of the addition of a lawn mower to the original painting.
3/5
Great start sort of folky rock but tailed off a bit.
Selling England By The Pound is Gensis' magnum opus. Well, really it's frontman Peter Gabriel's magnum opus. Prior to his departure from the band in 1975, Peter Gabriel with Genesis was making some of the finest prog rock around. This band could play with the best of 'em: King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, etc. Selling England By The Pound is a tight hour of songs builds in an epic way. Prog music always liked it's big moments, well you'll find plenty here. Truth be told, my favorite points are the simpler, quieter lulls of the album such as More Fool Me, which I feel is more indicative of the pop that Gabriel would go on to make. Your mileage will vary. If you've heard the prog rock from this time period, you will already know how you'll feel about this album. I'm pretty lukewarm on prog rock, but this is done well-enough that I walk away more impressed than not.
Lovely folk pop prog.
ganz ok honestly nix besonderes i guess
There are some beautiful moments, and some pretty cringe-worthy dated moments as well (Battle of Epping Forest). Interesting, but something I would have listened to of my own accord - which is why we do this I suppose
Ugh, prog. Too clever clogs, no goods tunes, and heaven forbid you should rock out for more than 8 bars at a time. Phil Collins, bless him, manages to keep his drumming tastefully restrained and maintain some sense of momentum, which is rare in 70s UK prog,
Some nice drum work on this.
The calm before the storm, Selling England by the Pound features Genesis at a moment of transition. While there are ferociously awesome progressive noodling permeating the album, there are also moments of accessibility that forecasts what would eventually happen to the group in the ensuing years. An essential album in the prog rock era of Genesis' career. Favorites: Dancing with the Moonlit Knights, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe), Firth of Fifth, The Battle of Epping Forest, The Cinema Show.
Hodgepodge of songs put together, listened while driving.
Interesting old tunes before the got popular
I love Peter Gabriel, I love Phil Collins, and I really like Genesis, but this album doesn't quite make my like list. It felt like it was pulled right out of mideval times and that's not to say it's bad. Just that none of these songs caught my attention or made me want to listen again.
Really enjoyed this! I always assumed that Genesis made more poppy stuff like Phil Collins' solo work, but this is whole hog prog. Lots of long, cinematic rock stuff on here, pretty wacky to hear Phil singing in this space and style. I was legitimately floored when I heard "Firth of Fifth" because there's a flute portion that ScHoolboy Q sampled on "Gangsta in Designer." The obscurity of some hip hop samples just blows my mind. Long story short, this was a very cool album, and even though I didn't save too many tracks to return to, I think it's great. Favorite tracks: Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, Aisle of Plenty. Album art: I like the art, though the muted pastel palette isn't my favorite. I'm not sure what's going on with these garden people but I like it. 4/5
Groovy.
more like selling england by the £9 becasue of inflation
A true classic from one of my favourite bands. Didn't listen to it today to be fair, but listened through most of it last week and know pretty much the whole thing off by heart, so I can still give a fair review. This album plays off somewhat as a concept album, with common musical themes popping up in several places and an inescapable English vibe. The three main highlights to look out for are "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight", "The Cinema Show" and "Firth of Fifth". Genesis was in a purple patch in terms of instrumentation and creativity at this point, and it shines through in places like the breathtaking guitar solo on FoF, or Cinema Show's colossal organ solo. Scattered between are everything from love ballads to the prog-folk rock behemoth "The Battle of Epping Forest". Even if this album doesn't strike you at first, appreciate the scope of the sound they are creating and you'll see the beauty behind it.
this is such a cool listen!! docked a star for being british and a little weird
Have not listened to this in full for a very long time. Brought back a lot of memories.
Solos for solos sake. Long songs. Doesn't do it for me.
Another solid album from Genesis. The Battle Of Epping Forest is easily my favourite, but each track feels rewarding in it's own way.
Pas mal pour du Genesis Prefs: Dancing with the Moonlit King, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe), Firth of Fifth, After the Ordeal, The Cinema Show Moins pref: More Fool Me
I've discovered a liking for prog-rock through this list, but this listen was tough. I've always had trouble getting into early Genesis, maybe its Peter Gabriel's falsetto or the weird hippy-dippy Jethro Tull-like flute music. I do get early Genesis' influence on music and would give this a second listen at some point, but don't see a heavy rotation from this one in my future. 3/5.
Phil Collins solo, može. Ne znam zašto, Genesis mi se nikad nije svidio.
ovo su najbritanski nazivi pjesama koje sam vidio na jednom albumu, ali stvarno dobrih stvari ima. sjećam se da sam taj album nekad davno preslušao, ali ne tak detaljno, i znam da mi je odma bio dobar, pa evo revizit karta. dakle poput pink floyda me podsjećaju - zašto? više tako što baš zvuči što bi slušo da sam u njihom kraju i da je sunčano, onako rana jesen, ujutro, sunce izlazi ili proljeće i ovo se sluša, ovce na ispaši, ptice cvrkuću, ja ispod krošnje sjedim na klupčici i uživam.
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)
This is a 'love-it or Hate-it' scenario. I can see a whole army of 1* reviewers massing on the border....... I used to love 'Phil Collins Genesis' and thought 'Peter Gabriel Genesis' dull but actually listening to this now it's like the Heavens have opened and the sun is shining down. It's marvellous. I'm in Prog-Paradise. The musicianship is amazing and the meandering bits no longer irritate me. Maybe it's an age thing? Our army of 5* defenders will repel the enemy!
This album came up as my recommendation and I said to myself, "Great!" This version of Genesis is a solid line-up with Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford, and Phil Collins. I like Peter Gabriel, and I like a lot of what Genesis has done. A few years ago I listened to every single Genesis album to try and figure out how they went from their prog-rock beginnings to pop music superstars. I've heard "Selling England" by the pound at least a couple of times, and several of the tracks more than that. You could take any track from this album and get a good idea of what Genesis has to offer at this point in time. I had two tracks that I wasn't sure if they were a full 4 stars, but the rest of the tracks were easily a 4. The album works well as a single whole. This album is not my favorite Genesis album, but it is a favorite and worth a listen.
Still their best album overall, still listen to it regularly. The worst song is the one with Phil Collins singing, a sign of what was to come. There's a live version of Cinema Show on Youtube from 1976 with Bill Bruford doing the twin drummer thing that's amazing if you haven't seen it. Shame they didn't bring this last tour out here. One of the few bands I've never seen. Haven't seen PG ever either.
The preferable era of Genesis.
Because the world needed more navel-gazing about England. Best track: I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
A pleasant listen
Seminal progressive rock album. Genesis at the height of their creative run of albums. 4.5/5
This album is weird to me, because it sounds so much like something I would like, but none of the songs really hit for me. I think whoever the lyricist is just don't quite work for me. Always misses by a hair. That said, most of the instrumentals are very good, and the drumming is incredible
Not sure what it is about some of these classic British rock albums where it seems the band was strung out on drugs when they made it. I like a lot of why Genesis did but this was tough and a little all over the place.
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.
Nick Green would be happy.... Liking it so far. Firth of Forth is great. Also More Fool Me. Yeah, ok, I loved this. Genesis is one of those bands I'm always surprised to discover I love, but....this ruled.
Interesting. Have I heard Genesis before? Not that I can recall. Had some very cool sounds and parts I really enjoyed, but also got quite rambly. Some of the songs were just too long. Still, I enjoyed it. Probably would have liked it more if I were actually listening instead of working, but alas. Time is precious.
Very interesting, I liked
Noodly doodly, some familiar elements, but not really my bag
Rating: 6/10
I quite enjoyed this. The long song suites work well, sounding magical and whimsical one minute before rocking out the next. Peter Gabriel had a great voice back then. It's a very theatrical album with a heady mix of organic sounds like flute and piano and various synthesizers, typical of 1973.
Tolerable Genesis, before they went downhill further
One of the reasons why punk happened!
Hard to get excited by prog rock noodling nonsense.
No thanks. Not for the likes of me.
I hadn't really listened to much of Gabriel-led Genesis, (which is odd as a I have a soft spot for 80's Peter Gabriel). First time listening to the whole album, quite enjoyed the prog-rock, best experienced inside a wardrobe.
Wel priem maar niet echt van deze tijd
Pour moi, Genesis avec Peter Gabriel au chant et Phil Collins à la batterie est la meilleure époque. Les albums Nursery Crime, Foxtrot et ce dernier sont à écouter. J’aime beaucoup la puissance qu’apporte les bass pedal à la fin de Firth of fifth. Pièces préférées: I Know What I Like (In your wardrobe), Firth of Fifth
just not for me lol - i made it halfway through.
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?
eitthvað þarna
Go off kings
Like it! Full of classical elements!
3.5/5
A colleague just noted today an article discussing the shortening of attention spans in the modern era. I must be a victim. I had a hard time with this one fading away into the background during its long long passages. I also had a hard time imagining that this was the same band that produced "Invisible Touch." It's not going to be my favorite, but it was fun to hear the Genesis of Genesis.
Well, when I saw the band was Genesis, I was not expecting what I heard. I am not at all familiar with early Genesis, quite apparently. I struggled at times and was interested at others. Definitely never fell in love with it and I am really on the line between 3 and 4. Because I enjoyed the vocals of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel, I landed at 4.
Never bad, occasionally great, often meandering in that prog rock noodly, Hobbitty way. Interesting to see this incarnation of Genesis that I'm not familiar with beyond a song or two, particularly hearing how Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins' voices blend. Very pretty!
I am not really familiar with early Genesis… and don’t know that I have heard any of these songs before. I enjoyed the prog-rock sound and rambly songs for the most part, although even after reading the lyrics I am often left scratching my head as to what these are about. The music is great in that 70s prog-rock way. As I listened to “The Cinema Show’s” very, very extended instrumental section I was wishing I was listening to this on a record player back in 70s. Enjoyed this strange little journey…
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.
This album is a masterpiece! Prog with folk/medieval melodies. Favorite tracks: * Dancing With The Moonlit Knight * I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) * The Battle Of Epping Forest
So....I don't really like prog rock. There are definitely good things about the genre, but a lot of it, for me, feels like forgettable stretches broken up by the occasional bit of good music. There wasn't anything I specifically disliked about this album, but it was also hard to get too invested in it because of how slowly developing it is. Also, Jesus Christ this album just keeps going, doesn't it? Like, I'm 37 minutes in and there is still one hell of a lot of album left. 3/5
3.3 - Sometimes unlistenable, often downright joyful. It sounds like a rock opera about forest elves who have developed advanced technology. The synthesizer sonics are lame, except around 8:00 on “The Cinema Show.” Genesis ejaculates signature changes and they wank through epically meandering chord structures. There are some laughably bad stretches of ungainly noodling, stepping up and down from one key to another. All that makes for some ghastly melody lines. The lyrics and subject matter, so much as I’ve been listening for them (which I mostly haven’t cared to), seem utterly preposterous. And, unfortunately this is another British album that features Monty Python sounding skits, which seems to be a regrettable trend among Brits of this era. BUT, this album does reward at some stretches. There’s an amazing guitar solo around 5:30 on “Fifth of Fifth.” The vocals are excellent. Peter Gabriel sounds incredible on “More Fool Me.” Glad I gave this a listen.
Paikoitellen kivaa melodiaa, mutta toisinaan tuntu lähtevän taiteellisuus omalle laukalle. Ei jatkoon.
Paikoin mukaansa tempaavaa, mut pitkäveteiseks kävi
Not a fan of prog rock. It sounded like the hobbit the musical
Good for listening to while reading Lord of the Rings
Dobry kawał rocka progresywnego. Nie wszystkie rzeczy się udały, a sam album nie miał żadnego utworu, który wywoływałby we mnie jakieś szczególne emocje, ale na pochwałę zasługuje Peter Gabriel ze swoim wokalem (Collins w utworze "More fool me" niestety nie dowiózł) oraz duża rozpiętość instrumentala (która przeważanie tworzyła dość spójną całość)
mmm, Genesis :3 Definitely a worthwhile album. Epic in a sense (?), full of unexpected sound fusions, which made my jaw drop at times. Love the vocals, love the drums (as if I expected anything else from Phil Collins). Sounded surprisingly fresh for a nearly 50 year old album - I would say that's a solid sign of an evergreen. A well-deserved spot on 1001 list. Will happily come back to this album in the future. Highlight: The Battle of Epping Forest
Większości nie znałam, ale giga fajne
Genialny muzycznie album. W każdym z utworów Phil Collins zaskakuje swoim kunsztem perkusyjnym, niemniej każdy z muzyków na przestrzeni całego albumu ma kilkukrotnie okazję zabłysnąć i pokazać swoje umiejętności. Niezwykle trudne do zagrania utwory, które dodatkowo poza klasycznym trio rockowym wplatają syntezatory, intrumenty dęte, gitarę 12 strunową czy pianino, dodatkowo solówki skomponowane typowo pod każdy z instrumentów, które przewijają się przez całość utworu. To wszystko, oraz muzyczna opowieść w niecodziennie długich utworach trwających nawet 10 minut sprawia, że album odciąga od innych czynności i angażuje w aktywne słuchanie. Mocno wpleciona lirycznie kultura anglosaska podkreśla pochodzenie albumu, które można także usłyszeć w warstwie muzycznej, szczególnie instrumentów dętych.
Meh. Żadna piosenka mnie nie zainteresowała.
Fajny albumik, dość mocno wychodzący poza stereotypowe brzmienie klasycznego starego rocka przez wplatanie elektronicznych dźwięków przez co muzyka się nie nudzi, ale przez to cierpi wokal, który nie nadąża różnorodnością instrumentów i dźwięków. Ciekawie się słucha albumu jako całej historii, ale poszczególne kawałki się nieraz dłużą. Liryka i wokal 3.5/5 reszta 5/5.
Fenomenalny album. Na pewno często wrócę. Bogactwo melodii i przenikanie się gatunków, przyjemna warstwa liryczna, zdecydowanie magnum opus Genesis. Takie ciekawe rzeczy pod względem muzycznym tam się działy, że aż ciężko było się skupić na czymkolwiek innym niż słuchanie. Każdy tam dał popis swoich najlepszych umiejętności. Pierwszy i trzeci utwór zdecydowane topki z albumu, do których z chęcią wrócę. Na minus przedłużone niektóre kawałki, moim zdaniem na siłę. Niemniej jednak wydaje mi się, że nie mógłbym temu krążkowi dać czwórki i spać spokojnie.
i didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. it had the potential to be a 4 but some of the songs just dragged out. i also wasn't a fan of a few of the tracks, those definitely brought down the album. i feel like it wasn’t very outstanding. maybe i’ll revisit it, but i don’t feel a strong urge to
The production is incredible. The execution is incredible. I realllllllly wanted to dig tf out of this but maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood. I’ll definitely come back to this, but it’s a bit much, which is why I haven’t listened to it multiple times already. I will come back 100% focused. For right now, the songs just didn’t hit as hard as I’d like them to.
A bit prog- rock for my tastes!
This is my personal favorite Genesis album. The whole first side is spectacular, especially Firth of Fifth. The second side is mostly story songs that are intricate in their execution and interesting in their story lines.
Even though most of the songs clock in over 7 minutes, it's easy to listen to and get lost in the song. I laughed a few times out loud about the lyrics in "II Know What I Like" and felt like "Cinema Show" could be a song that came out yesterday. The arrangements build in such a way that makes would could be a jam, something more.
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
At first i was like "oh no..." at its worst, lyrically it feels like bad showtunes but musically some of this fucking rips.
Prima 4.
Un album très sympa de la part de Genesis même si j'ai été très perturbé par l'attitude de Phil Collins qui ne cesse de se plaindre tout au long du projet. On entend en effet dès les premières notes celui-ci grommeler en fond « putain c'est moi qui devrais être en train de chanter j'en ai marre de la batterie... » Il ne décolère pas sur le morceau suivant : « il chante comme une casserole ce connard en plus » peut-on entendre derrière les cymbales. Le dernier morceau se conclut sur une véritable bagarre déclenchée par un « mais il va me laisser chanter, bordel ?! » capté par les oreilles du chanteur. Quel dommage...
On pourrait me reprocher de ne pas appliquer mes reviews en ce moment, mais rendez vous à l'évidence: c'est toujorus mieux que mon camarade d'écoute robpoirière qui présente actuellement à son actif une dizaine d'albums de retard. Un comportement scandaleux, que je ne manque de rapeller à Robert chaque matin. Ce dernier n'a pas encore décidé de la moindre sanction à l'égard de rob, mais je vous tiendrais au courant de l'avancée de ce dossier.
Progressive rock. Experimental/adventurous. Sometimes a little funky/psychedelic. Nice percussion. Mellow. Good to read or work to. Would listen to again.
Proggy, pre Phil the Thrill Genesis - sign me up!! Fav tracks: Land of Confusion, Mama.....oh wait.... where are the standouts? This album kinda blends together - maybe their pop stuff is more my style.
Wasn't wild about this. I much prefer their later work.
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.
Médium
I want to be into Genesis because there's so much of it and there are so many people who revere them. There's some really good songwriting here, I think. And the Battle of Epping Forest was so 1973 that I couldn't help liking it. But there's nothing here I'd put on a playlist.
Much of this washed over me, but in a very pleasant way. There are some wonderful standouts such as 'I Know What I Like' and 'Firth of Fifth', the latter especially containing some wonderful textures. Listen closely and there's often something interesting happening - problem is, I wasn't compelled to zoom in enough
"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'm angry I listened to this.
A different side of Genesis that I wasn’t aware of, but I liked it a lot!
God I wish I still did drugs
Some great songs like "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" and "Firth of Fifth" (god damn, that guitar solo is so good). "The Battle Of Epping Forest" is whatever. I liked the synthesizer sounds but the lyrics are just kind of too wacky for me and it's too long for what it is. Nothing against long songs, Supper's Ready is one of my favorite songs of all time. Speaking of Supper's Ready, it's sad that there's no Foxtrot on this list.
I hate prog rock
So fucking weird, I love it. I listen to a lot of terrible music like grind core, where you listen to a minute of complete shitty noise just for a five second riff that makes it all worth it. Genesis is similar, you listen to six minutes of wacky shit for one minute of a badass sequence and its totally worth it.
A progressive rock classic. Long incredible solos. Genesis took the fusion of folk and psychedelia to the extreme. (6/10) FT: Firth of Fifth
it was okayish
Je ne mets pas 5 par respect pour Paul McCartney
Bien vu.
qui aurait cru que Phil Collins avait fait ça avant la BO de Tarzan
Good not my favorite genesis album
Rock progresivo.
4 stars
Moments ot brilliance. Gotta love Peter G. 3 1/2 / 5
Doesn't sound anything like Phil Collins after he left Genesis. Wasn't but, just not what I was expecting.
Peter Gabriel was much improved by breaking out solo. Genesis was made even worse by making Phil Collins their lead singer.
Plenty of over complication as is the want of this style from the period. Never took to Genesis in either format, despite having a great singer, drummer and guitar player. Wasn't taken with the album when I heard it about the time it came out. That has not changed. However it is a good piece of work. The three elements I picked out are prominent here and provide the better moments. The guitar fills are wonderful. It is maybe too clever but somewhat dull.
Solid 3, beautiful melodies and lyricism, so tempted for a 4, fuck it 4, too good
Young man says you are What you eat eat well old man Says you’re what you wear 7/10
Not my thing, but can't say it's bad. Awesome instrumental, actually. Liked After The Ordeal the most.
It's a strange one. I enjoy listening to this record, as a piece of music - stellar musicianship and some great stuff going on. As for my personal enjoyment - I can't see myself saying "Cor I really fancy listening to Selling England by the Pound", there's a lot going on, it's very erratic, it's not easily digestible. There are a couple of songs I don't really care for as well.
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.
Some decent prog upon first listen, will give another go certainly
I can appreciate the musicianship and production but its not for me.
Not sure why I had to listen to this one
This is definitely something. I appreciate it, it's very interesting and I could imaging it growing on you.
No really for me
Very reminiscent of early Split Enz - it outstays it welcome but has some pleasant moments.
Classic rock. Good gems.
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”
very long songs
9/10 great prog, would love to hear more Genesis
Wasn't a fan of the first 2 songs on the album. But then thought "Firth of Fifth" and "More Fool Me" were brilliant, then after that a mixed bag, but still enjoyable overall.
Like Phil Collin’s, didn’t enjoy this album
Good, early Genesis, although I prefer the later incarnation of the group. Some good songs on this disc.
I don't really love that old folk rock sound, but Peter Gabriel's voice is amazing.
No. This was weird. I didn't like it at all.
Always loved early Gabriel solo stuff as I came of age. stopped listening. nice to hear with Phil and the other dudes.
Solid album that lands somewhere between Pink Floyd and Rush
Nah
Twas only ok
I don't think I've heard much Peter Gabriel era Genesis so far, but I digged it. It sounds like it may have influenced quite a few of the later prog metal and rock bands I'm into. Pretty highbrow prog rock, very artful, Perhaps a bit too much for its own good though. Could definitely be more accessible with less intentional dissonance.
Classic/10
Second Listen. I am a fan of Genesis, but this has been an album I hadn't heard much of until this list. I knew a few of the songs before listening. This is one of those albums that will take a while to really get into. A very strong 3/5 for now.
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.
Rebosa creativitat i mostra la banda en un estat de forma increïble. Es pot escoltar tantes vegades com dies té l'any, i cada una d'elles provocarà una experiència diferent a l'anterior. Per arribar a ser perfecta, li manca un toc més melòdic, però molt a prop hi queda
lyssnade igenom första gången för typ ett år sen och kom ihåg att man blev ganska trött och paff och oj första gången man lyssnade. men nu! nu! Epping forest är wohooo och moonlit knight ojojoj. Lite dippar i kortlåtarna ibland och är inte heeeelt övertygad av cinema show, MEN
Ett av världens bästa progg-album, känns nästan som de uppfinner något ny blandgenre? Har många olika inslag, det tillsammans med den lite lätt humoristiska lyriken, insprängda runk-solon och en rätt lättsmält längd, gör det till ett väldigt roligt album att plöja i en sittning. Släpptes 1973 men känns så himla i framkant, måste ha varit extremt banbrytande för sin tid. Produktionen är extremt jämn och utstrålar professionalitet men lämnar heller inga riktiga 'nuggets' som hade jammat rätt bra med den 'levnadsglada' musiken. Allt annat än en femma är tjänstefel men det kittlar inte i pungen som det gör för vissa andra tidlösa klassiker? Inte samma Eurekaupplevelse som när jag lyssnade på The Wall, ett annat album jag varvar hundratals gånger? Men däremot faller allt på plats utan den minsta glipa eller opolerad skavank. Skulle nog säga 4.8, upprundat till en femma. Don't get me wrong, ÄLSKAR SKITEN
Genesis har betytt så mycket för mig sen tonåren, så jag ser såklart det här albumet genom en rosig lins, men i mina ögon är det här kanske fortfarande världens bästa platta. Vilken jävla RESA det är, från den trevande öppningen av Dancing with the Moonlit Knight till det bombastiska avslutet på The Cinema Show, via Firth of Fifth och The Battle of Epping Forest. Det enda jag önskar är att jag inte kunde albumet not för not redan utan fick uppleva det som nytt igen. Skulle dela ut 6 stjärnor om jag kunde.
det var ett bra album.
Trippy late-60s Pink Floyd-ie feel. I had no idea this band was ever anything more than 80s mainstream!
I was surprised to have liked it as much as I did.
Genesis is an interesting case for me. There are loads of songs that I really enjoy, both from the Gabriel and the Collins eras, and I pretty much grew up with their music. I admire their musicianship, and I think they're an extremely important band in music history, especially for prog rock. Even so, they've always been more of a pick and mix and a Best Of band for me. I rarely have what it takes to listen to an album in its entirety. Maybe especially with their earlier material. Even so, this is solid 70's Genesis.
Rating: 9,3/10 What is this immediate awesomeness? "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" evolves into something akin to Rush. This whole album is just so good! The prog-rock and Rush-like elements are amazing. "Firth Of Fifth" is an amazing track, but so are all the other songs! "The Battle Of Epping Forest" is a long epic melodic treat, filled with shifting time signatures, awesome synth sounds and great drumming!
Epic. Love this album. Firth of fifth is simply a phenomenal track.
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.
Fine album. Nothing special. 3 stars.
This is a pretty decent album with a fantastic first half and an enjoyable but patchy second half. I loved Firth of Fifth before listening to this and like I Know What You Like, even if the latter remains more as a recurring presence and joke in Top Gear. I also enjoyed More Fool Me a fair bit and Isle of Plenty a fair bit as nice side closers. Although I quite enjoy long songs, some on this were just not interesting for me. Epping Forest was a bit too long and was waiting for The Cinema Show to be over as it was one too many. It's good but not my favourite Prog Rock album.
Genesis - always cool!
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.
Very progressive.
Folksy minstrel music. I never want to listen to this again.
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
This is really stunningly well-done album, just beautiful. I mean really, can you imagine anyone today pulling off something this marvelous? The musical prowess of Genesis is undeniable here, and I absolutely love Peter Gabriel’s vocals. Elegant, poetic lyrics, that will come off as opaque or too clever by half to a lot of listeners – including me at times! If you have to go to Genius to figure out what the heck a song is talking about, you lose a bit of its impact. The album has some truly lovely, moving arrangements, with everyone playing at top form. It’s also a nice reminder that Phil Collins is a remarkable drummer, better than he ever was as a singer. This album was a real pleasure to listen to, but a little goes a long way here. It’s also a little self-indulgent, which I have limited patience for. Not quite a 5, but a solid 4. Fave Songs: I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe), Aisle of Plenty, The Cinema Show, Firth of Fifth
Signature Genesis sound without any that made me go 'oooooh'
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. 🧊
I like the one where the big monkey plays the drums in exchange for chocolate, why isn't that on here Phil? This is vastly superior to the other prog we've had on this list, although that is a pretty low bar really. I've said it before, and I am sure I will say it again before we get to the end of these 1,001 albums, but thank the Rock Gods that punk happened.
Never really listened to Genesis outside of the hits until my uncle passed last year. This was one of his favorite albums. I think I appreciate a lot of prog rock more than I like it, but there’s some cool shit going on here. Phil Collins is a monster drummer.
I like prog but never really got into Genesis. This didn't swing it for me. Good playing but the song writing was average. On the plus side it makes punk make so much more sense.
Really feels quite self indulgent, maybe a few more listens and I'd find some stuff I like but not really for me
So. Very. Proggy. One day isn't really enough to get my head around this, there's so much to unpack. On paper it could easily be terrible but I think I actually quite like it. It's ambitious and cinematic and quirky, and there are sections of music I really got into for a moment... before the album took yet another left-turn into a 4 minute instrumental bridge or folk interlude. Also, shout-out to Philip Collins for the best drumming performance on the list so far.
Really liked this one. Particularly when they were going all traditional English folk style. Some lovely tinkely instruments throughout
I hated almost every second, all the medieval rubbish especially. A complete mess
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.
just doesn't stand out as much as it thinks it does. 3.4
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.
Io sono cresciuto ascoltando un sacco di progressive. Ma i Genesis sono uno di quei gruppi con cui non ho mai legato. Soprattutto quelli con Phil Collins alla voce (quindi non in questo caso). Avendoli dovuti ascoltare, devo dire che, pur non avendo cambiato idea, ho riconosciuto un'immensa bravura. Alcune cose mi sono anche piaciute, ma non abbastanza da dargli un voto alto.
Vabbè, penso sia inutile che dica che stavo aspettando questo gruppo al varco. Era nella mia top 10 del varco. L'ultima volta che ho sentito i Genesis sarà stato a 14/15 anni nella mia fase progressive rock e non mi avevano convinto. Devo dire che oggi, un po' a malincuore pure, sono rimasto abbastanza stupito. Questo disco, rispetto per dire ad Aqualung che è praticamente contemporaneo, suona veramente su un altro livello. I musicisti, pluriacclamati, sono bravi davvero e non solo per fama e la composizione c'ha un livello di raffinatezza che comunque è notevole, su delle cose ha un sound che ho trovato stranamente affine e moderno, a tratti ho pensato "ma sto sentendo un disco di adesso?". I pezzi sono vari e ben caratterizzati. La pecca, che per me non lo fa arrivare al 5, è forse una questione di gusto personale, che il prog rock per quanto lo puoi fare un po' punk e del popolo comunque suona sempre un po' pretenziosetto. In questo disco i Genesis riescono a minimizzarne gli effetti, però si sente uguale. Per me è 4 pieno, sicuramente richiederà qualche altro ascolto.
081021 18:08 2.5
A load of proggy old bollocks
you know what prog and rap have in common their àbums are TOO LONG. still this one has a special place in my heart. Genesis and me in high school were going steady for s while. This album is among ny favorites of this period. 4 ⭐️
I like Genesis. A lot. But they have never had an album for me that is solid throughout. Here, the last song kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A lot of the songs I heard the live “Seconds Out” version before. So they always hold up, except “Firth of Fifth.” What a masterpiece. “Cinema Show:” the studio version can’t compare to hearing Collins and Bruford going all out. So yeah, this is a good one, but not a GREAT one.
I knew that Genesis had changed their style throughout the years but I didn't realize how much they were prog rock early on. Gabriel's lyrics are strange (they always are) but refreshing - they force you to listen and think. The musical arrangements are at times sweet and serene and then other times heavy and pulsating (maybe too electro piano/synth heavy). I enjoyed Dancing with the Moonlit Knight but I didn't get the popularity of Firth of Fifth - it's a fine song and I enjoyed the piano and flute work, beyond that I wasn't all that fired up. Of the long songs, I liked the Battle of Epping Forest a lot more (weird and wonderful). And I loved the Cinema Show - just a unique, magical 10+ minute musical journey. More Fool Me isn't bad but feels like it belongs on a different album (start of it blends nicely into Firth of Fifth then lyrics and music go a slightly different direction). It doesn't have the same seamless fit as After the Ordeal and Aisle of Plenty, and I realize the former wasn't wanted on the album at first. I think that says something about the former (it is beautiful). Prog rock isn't my scene but this album is quite good. I wonder what it was like listening to it on a good acid trip.
There are a lot of progressive rock fans that hail the Lamb as the high point of the early era of Genesis but I think this album is. I love side one so much that for years I never gave side 2 a proper listen. This was dumb on my part. Side 2 has Cinema Show which might be the best song on the album after Firth of Fifth. Battle of Epping forest is a funny song about 2 rival gangs with some great lyrical wordplay. After the Ordeal is a beautiful instrumental written by Steve Hackett (which both bank Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel didn't want on the album). It was the first time Hackett played a nylon string guitar on a Genesis album and it strongly hints at the sound and style that his future solo albums would have. Aisle of Plenty closes side two and repeats the melody of the album's opening track. A great way to close a great album.
This is a tough one for me. Not the rating - that's a five, easy. It's tough because I'm trying to listen to this the same way I'm listening to the other 1001 albums, even though I'm a huge fan and I've listened to this album easily 100 times. But, when I think back to my original impressions, I found early Genesis difficult to get into, unlike other early prog bands like King Crimson and Yes. There always seemed to be something a little "off" about early Genesis. They'd mix a surprisingly hard edge with songs that referred to things like "unifauns" and "lily fair." Or, some of the sounds are dated: Hackett's guitar often sounds muffled to me and some of the synth sounds are dated. But their music is the proverbial onion...peel it back and you find layer upon layer (it doesn't make me cry, but there are moments like the middle of Steve Hackett's solo in Firth of Fifth that always give me chills. Their album Foxtrot is not in the 1001 albums or I'd be saying the same about the end of Supper's Ready. Heck, I'd be writing a book about Supper's Ready). What's more is this music is many times better live than recorded. I've seen latter day Genesis play the instrumental parts of Firth of Fifth and Cinema Show. I've seen Steve Hackett and his band play many of these songs. Both are amazing. For a more "historic" version, go see the cover band "The Musical Box" who play an amazing version of the early band that even the band members acknowledge is authentic. So, my listen of this album is colored by my knowledge of just how good it CAN sound. The fact is: this music is amazing. Firth of Fifth is a rock symphony with one of my favorite melodic guitar solos of all time. Dancing with the Moonlit Knight starts with Peter Gabriel a capella and turns into a musical tour de force around 2:25 (listen for Steve Hackett's tapping solo, something he was doing years before Eddie Van Halen made it famous). Listen to Phil Collins' drumming throughout the album - while most people know him from the 80s (with most thinking of the gated reverb fill from In the Air Tonight), this album showcases why he was one of the most in demand session drummers of the 70s and 80s. The man is doing 50 things at once and if you've ever seen video of him playing, you know he looks relaxed as can be. Mike Rutherford lays down backing guitars and excellent driving bass lines throughout much of the album. And then there's Tony Banks, the man who later sticks to "happy chords" and "sad chords" droning over simple hit songs. Listen to his keyboard playing on this album and other early Genesis albums. His solo at the end of The Cinema Show mixes the best of melody and speed and shows he belongs in the conversation of "who is the best prog keyboardist?" Other great examples - everything he plays on Firth of Fifth, the keyboards in Supper's Ready and Watcher of the Skies (sorry, annoyed that Foxtrot isn't in the 1001). For me, the main weak spot on this album is The Battle of Epping Forest. Even after all those listens it still doesn't do much for me, plus it's too long (I don't have a problem with long songs...again, I wish I could write about Supper's Ready!). Bottom line, this is an outstanding band at its best. After one more album, they lose Peter Gabriel. Two more albums after that, they lose Steve Hackett. Then the band starts to become the Genesis most people know. Don't get me wrong - I like that Genesis also. But this Genesis was a prog giant. To those listening to this for the first time, keep listening and unpeel this onion. It's worth it.
Holy prog.
Picnic!
It's no secret that I love Gabriel era Genesis. While this album contains a lot of my favorite of their tunes, Battle of Epping Forest is a disaster and The Cinema Show deteriorates halfway through into a 5 minute grating keyboard solo. So, it's far from perfect, but this album was really important to me and helped frame how I think about music.
Another predictable choice for this list--SEBTP is the most direct, least eccentric, and least complex release of Genesis' classic period that started with Nursery Cryme and ended with The Lamb Lies On Broadway. Either Nursery Cryme or Foxtrot would have been better choices (The Lamb Lies On Broadway is in fact on the list). Which is not really a knock on SEBTP--it's still a very good album. Genesis' mastery of extended song forms is still evident if not as obvious as on the other albums. Even at their strangest, the members of Genesis seem incapable of penning a melody that isn't hummable, and one flows into the next with an enviable inevitability. Considering the amount of whimsy and sophistication here, the music rocks really hard in places, quite the accomplishment. Then there is the sound, which is incredibly expansive--credit goes to all the musicians, but the MVP here is clearly Tony Banks, with his--ahem--banks of keyboards, including piano, organ, a Mellotron, and an ARP Pro Soloist synthesizer. Banks is one of the unsung master synth programmers of the 70s. His synths never sound cheap or thin. And the arrangements from the band are intricate and emotive. As usual, Peter Gabriel sings his heart out--he's one of the all-time great angsty singers. And I haven't even gotten into the lyrics, which are unusually literate, thoughtful and witty. Still, although Dancing With The Moonlit Knight probably comes close, there aren't any indisputable knockouts like Watcher of the Skies from Foxtrot or Seven Stories from Nursery Cryme.
I love me some 70s prog. This album has some high highs and some low lows. Not my favorite Genesis album but when it hits it hits hard
Fun, elated, driven by their success with Foxtrot.
Hierbei hätte ich fast einen schweren Fehler gemacht, hab die Platte nur bis zum 3. Song geschafft und fand sie langweilig und hatte danach zu viel um die Ohren, daher diese Nachbeurteilung mehr als 1 Monat später: ab The Battle of Epping Forest wird sie richtig, richtig geil.
Some moments of brilliance, but overall just too proggy for me.
In the beginning, God created this album. It was shit.
Silly but some brilliant stuff on here. Drumming is as good as I’ve heard during the album club.
Weight for it
Phil Collins steals the show with his drumming and writing/singing the best song on the album. Gabriel's stuff isn't bad either!
Recognised one song and like it, but not won over by the rest of the prog-ness. Not awful, might try again. Difficult to get past Flight of the Conchords send-up (Lord of the rings song).
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 een sucker voor prog. Dit stemde mij positief.
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.
Typisch dat Peter gabriel op dezelfde manier zingt als phil collins.
What musicianship! This is prog rock and a level of sophistication I haven’t heard yet, while incorporating sounds far ahead of their time. Great album!
Great prog rock album with some folky/medival sounding melodies
It’s fun!!!!!!
I think this is the first Genesis album I've properly listened to - not sure if this is a good entry point into their back catalogue, but yeah, enjoyed it! Prog with the folkiness dialed up, and without going too twee. Fave track - "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight", perhaps, or "The Battle of Epping Forest". I definitely think more listens will be rewarded...
Too artsy for me
Self-indulgent shite
N/A
So here's the thing... After about 2 minutes of the opening track, I was convinced this would be a 1. It was so annoying and pompous and self-important, and this did continue throughout the album. But, despite Peter Gabriel doing my head in for the full hour, everything else was admittedly pretty damn good. The drums were interesting, there's lot going on instrumentally and dynamically, and the songs move through various interesting and versatile sections. I feel anything below a 2 or lower would be unfair on that side of things, but to be honest, the lyrics and posturing annoyed me enough that this 3 feels generous in some respect. Still, props to the rest of the band for pulling it out of the bag - there is some genuinely great stuff here. It's just a shame it's so oversaturated
This was very odd, but I loved it. Only really familiar with the poppy "We Can't Dance" or "Invisible Touch" type Genesis. I was definitely not prepared for a psychedelic romp through the English countryside. It was a well-appreciated detour!