Genesis
Trespass (Craft)
We were delighted to receive a bunch of Genesis reissues on vinyl and really spend a crazy amount of time immersing ourselves in the world of the English prog rockers. For the purposes of this column, we've split the albums into two parts -- the Peter Gabriel-era, and post-Gabriel. Part two will come next week.
All of the LPs are on deliciously weighty 180 gram vinyl, and they sound incredible. Trespass is the band's second studio album overall, and it was the last to feature drummer John Mathew before the arrival of Phil Collins.
As proggy and arty as the early Genesis albums are, the real joy lands in the folky moments, the band wallowing in myth, legend and religion on songs like "White Mountain" and "Visions of Angels." The sleeve has a very churchy vibe, and that's entirely fitting.
Genesis
Foxtrot (Craft)
1972's Foxtrot was the second album to feature Collins, as well as guitarist Steve Hackett who replaced founding member Anthony Phillips.
Legend tells that this was the cementing of the classic Genesis sound, though in actual fact some of the folky elements remained for a while to come.
According to the press release, Foxtrot "remains a landmark in prog rock and includes the epic 'Supper's Ready,' a 23-minute suite showcasing Genesis’ ambitious compositional style and lyrical depth."
Yeah, that song is a lengthy one, almost filling side 2. It's a treat to hear it this clearly though.
Genesis
Selling England by the Pound (Craft)
By 1973, they really had found themselves. "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" is as zany, colorful and brimming with bold melody as anything they'd do f0or many years.
It's "widely regarded as one of the band’s finest, combining lyrics about English life with complex, melodic instrumentation on songs like “Dancing With The Moonlit Knight” and “Firth Of Fifth” with its iconic piano introduction," they say, and they're quite right.
"The Battle of Epping Forest" is another bonafide classic, with John Burns' productions helping these superb songs to shine.
Genesis
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Craft)
Double concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Boardway was Genesis' sixth studio album, and their last with Peter Gabriel. The band would go on to reshape their sound, and we'll delve into that next week.
This album "tells the surreal story of Rael using elaborate sounds and lyrical imagery."
Rael apparently is a Puerto Rican youth who is taken on a journey of self discovery.
The album got a bit of a mixed reaction, but it's dated very well and songs such as the title track sound superb. The whole thing flows together rock opera-style, and that's to its immense benefit.
