Music Reviews - G

Genesis - Trespass

★★★★

Although they have their de jure debut, From Genesis to Revelation, this is where Genesis truly began in the eyes of many, mine included. The band definitely hasn't hit their groove quite yet, and the production can be kind of muddy, especially on the original mix. However, even if it potentially pales in comparison to their litany of later masterworks, do not ignore Trespass. It is a sincere and beautiful album, blessed with Anthony Phillip's gentle touch in the acoustic guitar parts. Peter Gabriel's voice was beautiful from the start, and John Mayhew is a rock solid drummer (no Phil Collins, yeah, but no one can beat Phil). The album's got a slow and serene mood to it, interlaced with occasional moments of action (present on White Mountain and especially The Knife, the fan favorite track). Trespass never feels like it's wasting your time, though, since its slow pace gives way to melodic and deep passages that shine even through the rough production. I reiterate that this album should not be ignored! It is a sign of great things to come, and is great in its own right.

Genesis - Nursery Cryme

★★★★★

With Nursery Cryme, Genesis finally settled into a stable and iconic lineup. Their music only got better from there, starting out with the stupendous Musical Box, an epic going almost proto-metal in places through Steve Hackett's weighted guitar sound and Gabriel's powerful singing. They haven't shed an ounce of their more graceful side too, evident within the harmonies of Seven Stones. The Fountain of Salamacis was a track I initially disliked, before one day, I was struck by the incredible synergy between Rutherford and Collins in the middle section. The miniature tracks like For Absent Friends are pleasant as well and fit into the album's sound quite nicely. This is Genesis' first masterwork, just one out of many, and it forever holds a special place in my heart for making me love the band.

Genesis - Foxtrot

★★★★★

It's difficult to decide which is better between Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot because they're both so immensely good. However, it's understandable why Foxtrot is a straight improvement for many due to its improved production and clear direction, delivering an excellent set of songs on side 1. Although it's not easy to pick out a favorite, Get 'em Out By Friday has always had a strong impression on me, featuring one of Peter Gabriel's most interesting "stories" told through song and great hooks. Can-Utility and the Coastliners features winding composition and a great keyboard solo. And then there's side 2, featuring the instant classic Supper's Ready, preceded by the pleasant Hackett piece Horizons, which I felt was worth mentioning because it's a really nice piece. Mike Rutherford's bass work is again fantastic in this album, probably the best it ever was with the band. This is an undeniable classic of prog rock, and everyone must hear it at least once.

Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

★★★★

I would say Selling England By the Pound is a slightly more difficult listen than it predecessors, lingering on sections for longer and the production has always felt slightly muted in comparison as well. That's not to say it isn't extremely good, though. It also contains Phil Collins' finest drumming with the band, evident in a near-superhuman performance on the opening track Dancing With the Moonlit Knight. The lyrics are of particular note of well, being even quirkier and full of wordplay than Genesis' past works. A surprise highlight of the album is More Fool Me, an acoustic piece with a stunning vocal by Phil Collins; this may actually be my favorite track on the album. The Cinema Show is also incredible for completely different reasons, being a bombastic epic featuring one of the finest keyboard solos of all time. My hot take is that this is not the best introduction to Genesis, but it's a great album for sure.

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

★★★★★★

Suddenly, from the unique paradise of Peter Gabriel's mind, a masterpiece emerged called The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. A 94-minute monster with a story many found illegibly insane, as well as a more modern sound and aesthetic than their past works, this album took quite a bit of getting used to. But it's so rewarding. I would go as far to say not a single second is unnecessary and not a single lyric is without meaning. Peter Gabriel's artistry is at its apex here, telling the grand and fantastical story of the album concept's protagonist Rael, running through political, social, and philosophical themes in every song. On top of that features absolutely fantastic instrumental work from the band, from Banks' keyboards on In the Cage to the beautiful guitar solo at the end of The Lamia. There's so much to unpack in each track yet it never feels bloated or overdone; it's dense and purely brilliant. Side 4 features an absolutely stunning and emotional climax whose effect is only amplified by listening to the rest of the album, going the whole journey. I can do it again and again, and it only gets better. This is one of the greatest albums of all time without question.

Genesis - A Trick of the Tail

★★★★★★

Now, how do you follow up an album as good as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway? Especially after the great mind behind it, Peter Gabriel, leaves the band? Somehow, Genesis managed to do it with A Trick of the Tail. Phil Collins fits the role of vocalist very well without sacrificing any of his drumming prowess, and right from the opening track Dance on a Volcano you know it's going to be good. This also marks the start of an era of Genesis where they went even harder on the synths, to great effect. Every track sounds absolutely tremendous and is backed up by glorious melodies. Not a single track slacks in this album, but my favorite has to be the incredible Mad Man Moon, as well as the similar track Ripples on side 2. Every second of this album sounds beyond amazing, I don't know how they did it. Is it better than The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway? I genuinely don't know. That's how good it is. And if it's not, it's still the second best Genesis albums and a crown jewel of music as a whole.

Genesis - Wind & Wuthering

★★★★★

A worthy successor to A Trick of the Tail, Wind & Wuthering takes the "proto-neo-prog" sound established and continues to knock it out of the park, with emotional melodies and oh-so-many keyboards. It's unfortunate that the development of this sound eventually ended with Steve Hackett leaving the band, but his solo material is wonderful as well, and he still has plenty of contributions on this album, notably arguably the finest track of them all, Blood on the Rooftops. With an acoustic guitar prelude giving way to a dark and beautiful chorus, it's one of the most striking and memorable tracks in the band's whole career. All of the other songs are similarly great, except for Your Own Special Way, which I find distinctly uninteresting and tend to skip. Still, one middling song in a sea of highlights like One For The Vine is hardly worth docking points for, and this is still one of Genesis' finest albums full of incredible material to sink your teeth into.

All album cover images are either from Wikipedia or Progarchives.