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Sell your brother back to the main page now! Smelling England By the Pound
Overall Album Score: 9.9 out of 10 The best. And I don't mean that it was the best album Genesis has ever done (even though it was), it was among the best Prog-rock albums released by anybody! This album was a major feat for Genesis. It was the fifth album that was released under the band's name and the third under the classic band line-up. Yet, it is the first altogether public friendly album! (Like it or not Prog-rock fans, this genre can be very difficult to get into.) But this album isn't really. Any given moment in it is neither boring nor overbearing. It's all very easily accessible ... there are plenty of hooks (and in moments where the hooks aren't immediately prevalent, there's something beautiful going on) ... and this is album is just very good. Indeed, this is one of the few Prog-rock records that you don't have to be weird to like. If you're looking into delving yourself into this genre, this would be the place to start. Actually ... if I recall correctly, this is where I really did start. It's certainly one of my personal favorites. To be sure, this album didn't do a whole lot to guide the whole Progressive rock movement ... but it's certainly one of the movement's defining moments. Every song on this album is so wonderful. There is not a single weak track, nor is there a single weak moment. Deviating between the fast and the slow, the songs are diverse enough to keep the experience continually interesting. Unlike many Prog-rock albums (including previous ones done by this band), the lengthy instrumental interludes are as interesting if not more interesting than the moments that are being sung. Peter Gabriel's voice is at a high. Phil Collins proves that he can REALLY drum. Tony Banks has a few beautiful moments with an actual piano. And ... well ... nice performing! And nice arranging, too! Overall Album Score: 9.9 out of 10 (Boom! A near-perfect! One of the greatest progressive rock albums of all time if it isn't *the* greatest!) Average Song Score: 9.7 (Every song here scores beyond a 9. Half of these tracks, which also happen to be among the album's lengthiest tracks, scored a perfect 10. I haven't gone through every single Prog-rock album, but I doubt I'll run across too many that have such solid songs in them) Album Tilt: 10 (Of course this is a great album! There is not a single boring moment.) Artist Tilt: 10 (Progressive rock is artistic by definition! This album has both wonderful songs in it and perfect arranging. This is the highest Genesis got to this point ... and they would never reach such heights again. Timeless.) Track Reviews Dancing With the Moonlight Knight 10/10 Boy ... I don't even feel like I can even attempt trying to spell out this song on paper. I'll do my best. It starts out fairly calm. The lyrics, right away, we can say they're serious. I'm not sure what the song's about specifically, but the lyrics are rather fun to read. Then, the song picks up more dynamics. Then, we get this excellent, quick instrumental interlude that kicks all BUTTOCKS. Then, somewhere down the line, it gets very calm with a quiet and ominous instrumental passage. The track goes on for over eight minutes and it never even seems like it's about to get boring. Utter Genesis perfection-music heaven. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 10/10 They don't let up! This four minute tracks starts with these sort of air-duct noises, but pretty soon that's over with and it turns into the most hookiest song Genesis had done to this point. The overlying synth noises even manage to kick! I really like the vocal delivery on this one. Especially where the multiple band members join in on "I know what I like, and I like what I know..." The song fizzles into a very good instrumental passage and then back to those air-duct noises. Firth of Fifth 10/10 Yet another wonderful song! It cues up with a 1-minute, exciting piano sequence (...perhaps it's Tony Bank's shining moment...) and then they start signing a very nice, dynamic, and mystic chorus. Then, a most-beautiful instrument passage starts (which is even better than the moments which are sung). The instrumental passage is split in to several parts. The first is a calm bit featuring the flute. The next is where it picks up steam with an another excellent piano sequence. Then, a loud synth takes over giving the song a more violent turn. Lastly, the track goes on and on ... at that point, I am likely to space out, but it's it great space-out music? Then the vocals pick up again. They sing the same thing, essentially, but this time they seem to have much more significance. And, the song fades away with a brief piano passage. More Fool Me 9/10 Phil Collins sings this one. It's a slow, emotional, and relatively minimal song. It's not as amazing as many of these other songs, but I couldn't dock it too many points because it does make a good listen. The Battle of Epping Forest 10/10 The song starts out with an interesting militaristic instrumental. As it starts to fade away, the singing suddenly starts up and it turns into an excellent, clever song about a major gang fight. It's full of appropriate feeling and dynamics. The instrumental passages here are excellent and were perfectly arranged. Even among the 10-scoring songs on here, this is one of the major highlights. And it's over 11 minutes, too! A feat! After the Ordeal 9.5/10 Entirely an instrumental, this is an utterly gorgeous song. While it isn't as inspired as many of these other songs (nor as inspired as any of the instrumental passages within those songs), I could not see myself giving it anything less than a 9.5. It's pure beauty! The Cinema Show 9/10 The beginning of this song is utterly gorgeous! During the first two minutes, there are these utterly enchanting jangly chords being played on an acoustic guitar and the tune is nothing but beautiful. Just before it even has the CHANCE of getting boring, it evolves into a louder, more rock-and-roll, passage. Then it goes back into a calm-state instrumental chock-full of hard-to-surpass beauty (there are moments in here, however, where it might get a little bit boring for some, but not significantly). Genesis are true masters! Perhaps it's not as good if you compare it to all the tracks that came before it ... but why would you want to compare it? It's over 11-minutes long and I like every minute of it! Aisle of Plenty 9.5/10 This is a 1:30 minute conclusion to the album that brings back the central theme of "Dancing With the Moonlight Knight." It's fine ... it just doesn't seem to add anything worthwhile to it. But, for the good of the album, this was good for a closer. Is this review well? Or does this reviw smell? Send me an e-mail here. slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received July 24, 2004 I bought SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND in 1999. It took me a while to get into it at first, but my appreciation for it has grown ever since then. "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight", "The Battle of Epping Forest" and "The Cinema Show" are great, classic Gabriel-era songs, and "After the Ordeal" is one of their best instrumentals. The album flows well, except for "More Fool Me", which I still don't like and don't think it fits in with the flow of the album at all. Song Ratings:
Don Ignacio responds: I agree with you a bit about "More Fool of Me" ... it took me ages to start appreciating it. acg3dinst@aol.com (andreas G) received April 11, 2007 I agree that this album is the pinnacle of prog - doesn't get any better. I must say that Genesis never did a 100% perfect album, though. "More Fool Me" is a dud that has not grown on me in 26 years. While I put "Battle of Epping Forest" in the "plus" column, to some extent it's a bit a noble failure - interesting idea, but weak in its execution. The vocals are too wordy. I often skip this one, honestly. Lastly, there is no mention in your review of Steve Hackett's SPECTACULAR guitar solo on "Firth of Fifth". Instead of flashy noodling and pointless wanking, it's simple, classy, and beautiful. The focus is not on impressing you with licks, but with expressiveness, and it's one of the moments that I would point to, to say THAT'S why I like Genesis, and why Steve Hackett is a great guitarist. Too bad he never got enough playing time while in Genesis. carrotkins@hotmail.com (egle) received May 23, 2007 don't tell me you don't know the meaning of dancing with the moonlit knight song?!!! it's about peter being sad, angry and sarcastic looking at what's become of england! he makes fun of people eating plastic food, thinking only about money, the physical appearance of others etc. oh, and btw, i know you hate phil (i don't really but peter always comes first and well phil to me is just another singer, unlike gabriel) but you shouldn't bash more fool me, since it's quite a great song, especially when it goes after such an epic as the moonlit knight dance. even though this album is 150+ % awesome, you didin't really manage to make the best review. i don't blame you, the music you hear on this record really takes away half of your dictionnary. |
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