What's the best Genesis album?

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Geir you know in your heart that Nursery Cryme rules the school.

Mr Straight Toxic (ghostface), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:39 (eighteen years ago) link

"Nursery Cryme" is somewhat underproduced. Some great songs, of course, but it lacks a bit in the sound department. Plus "Selling England..." benefits from the use of synths for the first time on a Genesis album.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 12:15 (eighteen years ago) link

"In The Air Tonight" was also in a little Tom Cruise flick called Risky Business - I think that came out in 1983 or 84? The world simply could not withstand the 1-2 punch.

I don't think "Me And Sarah Jane" was a single, but I agree its a great tune. "Like It Or Not" was another good one from Abacab. I also remember digging one of the studio tunes from 3 Sides Live - "You Might Recall" it was.

I think I have to give the album nod to the Lamb. It has the best collection of tunes for me - title track, Back in NYC, In the Cage, Grand Parade, etc. I would love to have seen that tour!

erv (Abe Froman), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 03:48 (eighteen years ago) link

the best genesis album is the live lamb concert that came with the first achives box with new overdubs. i love that shit.

howell huser (chaki), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 04:38 (eighteen years ago) link

two months pass...
Is Trick of the Tail really flatly produced? Today I've been listening to it properly for the first time in maybe 20 years, and I get the same feeling I got when I used to listen to it a lot: some of their best tunes and chord sequences, but this horrible alienating lacquer over it all that makes it sound a bit dead, somehow.

Why does the birds always shitting on me? (noodle vague), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:12 (eighteen years ago) link

OTM, Noodle. Could've been the best, but somehow isn't.

Mitya (mitya), Friday, 24 March 2006 19:57 (eighteen years ago) link

it used to be selling england by the pound but i think it is nursery cryme now. i prefer them when they are less produced. one thing i never understood is why their first album from genesis to revelation never receives any love. i quite like it. that's where they were at their most lofi.

alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:04 (eighteen years ago) link

trick of the tail sounds okay to me, wind and wuthering sounds awful though. the remastered cd sounds better than the old vinyl, but still muffled

kyle (akmonday), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:20 (eighteen years ago) link

I love the production on "Trick Of The Tail". Excellent work by David Henchel. (Same about "Wind And Wuthering")

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 24 March 2006 21:15 (eighteen years ago) link

It sounds restrained, not in a good way, and there's no room for the individual instruments. What do you like about the production, G?

Why does the birds always shitting on me? (noodle vague), Friday, 24 March 2006 22:29 (eighteen years ago) link

I haven't gone back to WaW yet, but I'm imagining it's going to sound the same way.

Why does the birds always shitting on me? (noodle vague), Friday, 24 March 2006 22:30 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm a big fan of Foxtrot.

M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 24 March 2006 22:45 (eighteen years ago) link

What do you like about the production, G?

I find it sounds more distinct, with better stereo separation and more treble, than their earlier work.

Musically, I prefer the best of the Gabriel era work, but I still think "Trick..." and "Wind...." are the ones that sound best.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 24 March 2006 23:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Hmmmm. I'll have to try it on headphones.

Why does the birds always shitting on me? (noodle vague), Friday, 24 March 2006 23:09 (eighteen years ago) link

I bought the remastered Selling England recently, buying Queen II on the same day...the former rather paled by comparison

Thomas Tallis (Tommy), Friday, 24 March 2006 23:40 (eighteen years ago) link

This has got to be a candidate:
http://www.genesismuseum.com/vinyl/sebtptaiwan200.jpg

Lotta Continua (Damian), Saturday, 25 March 2006 21:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Bah, now I'm getting a red X there... anyway, the image is at http://www.genesismuseum.com/vinyl/sebtptaiwan200.jpg

Lotta Continua (Damian), Saturday, 25 March 2006 22:19 (eighteen years ago) link

"Queen II" is an excellent and very underrated album that still pales besides "Selling England..."

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 25 March 2006 23:20 (eighteen years ago) link

I know fer damn sure that Invisible Touch is Phil Collins' best album.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 25 March 2006 23:52 (eighteen years ago) link

two months pass...
I just got that greatest hits album…man, I dig the shit out of everything Collins/Banks/Rutherford (/Thompson/Sturmer) done, until Invisible Touch, which is dirediredire.

I've never heard a whole album by the quintet, but I have a hard time accepting that anything they did could be as thrilling as Queen II. Jesus, the intro to "Ogre Battle" !!

veronica moser (veronica moser), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Nursery Cryme.
Never could get into Selling England By The Pound.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:34 (seventeen years ago) link

I've been listening to Lamb a lot lately, trying to get my head around it, but otherwise I pick Foxtrot.

Marmotdeth (marmotwolof), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Veronica apparently bought the wrong Greatest Hits album. The one to own is the 3 CD one called "Platinum Collection".

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:41 (seventeen years ago) link

I think the success of Abacab preceded Collins's massive solo success, didn't it? Face Value = only P.C. solo album pre-Abacab = 1 (minor) hit in "I Know There's Something Going On"

"Misunderstanding" hit top 20 before that, so the later success wasn't completely by surprise.

LOL Thomas (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 23:24 (seventeen years ago) link

True "Misunderstanding" sounds like a Phil Collins solo single.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 23:27 (seventeen years ago) link

no, in fact I purchased the one Geir mentions. its just that I'm taken with that era. I like the gabriel era, but it hasn't grabbed me so much.

perhaps one should not presume that anyone that doesn't do backflips for the era one likes the most has not heard a particular comp. one would seem condescending if one was to do so.

veronica moser (veronica moser), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 03:22 (seventeen years ago) link

no, in fact I purchased the one Geir mentions. its just that I'm taken with the first part of the trio era. I like the gabriel era, but it hasn't grabbed me so much.

perhaps one should not presume that anyone that doesn't do backflips for the artist iteration one likes the most has not heard a particular comp. one would seem condescending if one was to do so.

veronica moser (veronica moser), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 03:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Is "I Know There's Something Going On" the same song that Frida did? I remember Phil Collins being on that album somewhere, but I thought maybe he played drums on it or something.

Pangolino 2, Wednesday, 31 May 2006 04:14 (seventeen years ago) link

I have a hard time accepting that anything they did could be as thrilling as Queen II

"The Musical Box"?

LC (Damian), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 06:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Phil Collins produced the Frida album, IIRC.

Joe (Joe), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 11:11 (seventeen years ago) link

"the musical box" is great. don't like it as much as "seven Seas" "ogre Battle" "Father to Son" or any number of tunes on QII.

veronica moser (veronica moser), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 12:40 (seventeen years ago) link

"The Musical Box" is a great composition that would have sounded even better if it was on one of their better produced albums such as "Selling England By The Pound" or "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway". The production, and lack of synths, is my main problem about "Nursery Cryme".

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 14:37 (seventeen years ago) link

incidentally, said platinum collection doesn't include "man on the corner" and "No Reply at all"—disappointing! the latter is where you find Gentleman Mike Rutherford tearing it up on that big bassss. his finest moment!

his worst is his crap Keef pantomime on "I Can't Dance."

veronica moser (veronica moser), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 14:52 (seventeen years ago) link

There was only room for the singles from those 80s albums. While those two are among their best simple pop moments, I miss "Home By The Sea" and "Domino" considerably more. Two rare 80s moments of 70s greatness by Genesis.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link

the remastered/remixed songs from nursery cryme that are on the platinum collection sound much better than the last remaster of that album; not sure what is going on with releasing the full album versions of those (sounds like they are indefinitely stalled)

kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 16:20 (seventeen years ago) link

actually, "home by the sea" parts 1 and 2 are included on the Platinum Collection. watch them facts, Mr. "I know everything about majestic white people music" guy!

not one person on this Earth would rather hear "Calling All Stations" from '97 than those aforementioned orphaned tunes.

or are you going to defend that tune, GH?

veronica moser (veronica moser), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 16:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Harold the Barrel is the most terrifyingly chilling song I have ever heard, I think. In my mind I can *see* him leaping off the building in excrutiating slow motion, so, so distinctly. Songs never give me visions this rich, ever.

Couple that with Hogweed and Seven Stones, and The Musical Box without the self-conscious middle bit, and you've got a magic run of songs.

Foxtrot hurts my brain. Apocalypse 9/8 sounds like primary school kids learning how to play their instruments.

Hotman Paris Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 3 June 2006 01:32 (seventeen years ago) link

three months pass...
The middle bit is the best thing about "The Musical Box".

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 14 September 2006 12:44 (seventeen years ago) link

the best Genesis LP is Wendy & Bonnie's duh

zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 14 September 2006 12:56 (seventeen years ago) link

foxtrot

M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 14 September 2006 13:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Finally jumping on here.

The Lamb, for me. Although I should give the other albums a chance.

So, all of the post Gabriel shit: DEFEND IT! Wind & Wuthering, Trick of the Tale... I asked Genesis fans about them, and they all say they are not bad but pale in comparison to everything The Lamb and before... and one friend said that Duke was the last Genesis album he didn't want to throw against the wall.

the dow nut industrial average dead joe mama besser (donut), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 04:38 (seventeen years ago) link

"Wind & Wuthering" and "A Trick Of The Tail" are really, really, really great albums. It's more a matter of post-Hackett than post-Gabriel really (except "And Then There Were Three" and "Duke" are both excellent pop albums, with Tony Banks still at his songwriting best)

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 07:30 (seventeen years ago) link

The middle bit is the best thing about "The Musical Box".

I think it is so good, with the fluid running synth lead etc, how it sets up the really tender "play me my song" return, which in turn sets up the huge, monolithic closing. Probably my favorite Genesis song.

a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Wednesday, 20 September 2006 13:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Has anyone said "Calling All Stations" yet?

(That's a joke, son.)

Eazy-Esteban Buttez (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 13:12 (seventeen years ago) link

"Calling All Stations" was a huge leap in the right direction from "We Can't Dance", and it might have been quite good with a decent vocalist.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 13:16 (seventeen years ago) link

>Foxtrot hurts my brain. Apocalypse 9/8 sounds like primary
>school kids learning how to play their instruments.

This sounds like praise!


Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 23:42 (seventeen years ago) link

That one that Geir Hongo likes.

M. V. (M.V.), Thursday, 21 September 2006 00:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Wind & Wuthering, Trick of the Tale... I asked Genesis fans about them, and they all say they are not bad but pale in comparison to everything The Lamb and before...

W&W and Trick of the Tail are both pretty badass albums with few weak spots and are more 'economic' with regards to having none of Gabriel's penchant for running amuck lyrically (at the time), no impenetrable concepts and over-elaborate costumes...just solid writing and performances. Also, dare I say, Collins does a fantastic job as both drummer and vocalist.

Joe (Joe), Thursday, 21 September 2006 00:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, dare I say, Collins does a fantastic job as both drummer and vocalist.

He usually does. And Genesis would have been a lasting quality band had he stuck to that, and kept himself away from involving too much in the songwriting.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 21 September 2006 00:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Gabriel sorely needed an editor in the early days. He got better.

Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Thursday, 21 September 2006 03:17 (seventeen years ago) link

*again=ages ago.

The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Saturday, 15 July 2017 00:32 (six years ago) link

Yes Turrucan it was definitely the.... Genesis faithful...that were belaboring the point

Universal LULU Nation (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 15 July 2017 00:46 (six years ago) link

we're just like the stevie nicks coven that keeps ruining he fleetwood mac threads

ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Saturday, 15 July 2017 00:56 (six years ago) link

Haha

Tim F, Saturday, 15 July 2017 01:00 (six years ago) link

To be fair Brad, suggesting that music doesn't necessarily resolve into a rigid hierarchy of objective greatness is pretty ruinous.

Tim F, Saturday, 15 July 2017 01:16 (six years ago) link

Ok, the moment that none of you have been waiting for..

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Abacab
Genesis
Foxtrot
Duke
Selling England By The Pound
Trick Of The Trail
Wind & Wuthering

(bit of a drop in quality here)

Trespass
Nursery Crime
Then There Were Three
Invisible Touch
We Can't Dance

I haven't heard the first and last albums yet but nothing I've read has convinced me I should give them a shot.

A big thank you to the posters on here who've made me listen to the Collins era with an open mind. I was missing out on some really great music (especially Abacab).

kitchen person, Sunday, 16 July 2017 02:40 (six years ago) link

I haven't heard the first and last albums yet but nothing I've read has convinced me I should give them a shot.

― kitchen person

the first album is really good if you're into '60s-era bee gees!

The Saga of Rodney Stooksbury (rushomancy), Sunday, 16 July 2017 03:56 (six years ago) link

Stopped reading that list after the third entry, tbh.

The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Sunday, 16 July 2017 10:03 (six years ago) link

Glad you found some new titles to enjoy. Turrican is toxic; pay him no mind -- i called him the new "Gier" but that's too good for his foul, over-bloated ego. Call him Turdican, or just Turd for short.

bodacious ignoramus, Sunday, 16 July 2017 13:22 (six years ago) link

Ha!

The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Sunday, 16 July 2017 16:01 (six years ago) link

this is so the most metal non-metal song evah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTuJQL8GBqY

Neanderthal, Sunday, 16 July 2017 16:25 (six years ago) link

Yeah, I fucking love that track - both musically and lyrically. In fact, if we were to poll this band, all three of the Nursery Cryme epics would make it onto my ballot without hesitation.

The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Sunday, 16 July 2017 16:28 (six years ago) link

I haven't heard it in many years but there are so many great parts I forgot about, listening to it now.

Neanderthal, Sunday, 16 July 2017 16:31 (six years ago) link

The swelling mellotron on the intro to 'The Fountain of Salmacis' is one of my favourite moments in a Genesis song ever, as well as the rocking out sections in 'The Musical Box' etc. etc. As much as I find Nursery Cryme, in a way, to be a bit of a dry run for Foxtrot, it's got some stunning moments on it. With a better production job it could have even been one of their best ever.

The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Sunday, 16 July 2017 16:33 (six years ago) link

The early epics rock hardest on Genesis Live. Plus that album cover is one of my favourite rock images.

dinnerboat, Sunday, 16 July 2017 18:41 (six years ago) link

The shredding guitar solo bits on "Musical Box" feel a bit proto-Maiden to me.

No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Sunday, 16 July 2017 20:32 (six years ago) link

something something two-handed tapping something

The Saga of Rodney Stooksbury (rushomancy), Monday, 17 July 2017 01:27 (six years ago) link


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