Genesis: Selling England By The Pound - 1973

 

Genesis decided to get all serious on this one, bemoaning the loss of traditional British folk culture to rampant Americanism and consumerism and produced an album that some seem to really love and others, particularly critics at the time of release, questioned. 

For me, musically, I find bits of it interesting but there is a bit of a contrived, cynical, pseudo political wryness to it that grates somewhat. It is said to embrace folk in its sound but I feel Jethro Tull did that far more effectively and more to my taste. 

Dancing With The Moonlit Knight is an impressive mix of folk, prog changes of pace and typical Gabriel lyricism. The instrumentation on it is superb, although Gabriel's delivery is a bit overwrought at times. The fast bit in the middle is particularly strong. I find myself enjoying it a lot, I have to say, despite its obvious bombast. It has some subtle folky bits that I warm to. 

I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) was an unexpected and quirky hit single that I always liked for its very oddness. I still do. I have an affection for the line "had to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure". I'm not sure why, though. Maybe because I had an old lady teacher back at infants' school called Miss Huff.

Tony Bank's Firth Of Fifth, at nine minutes in length, is a bit rambling and directionless for my liking, although its heavy bits are unsurprisingly powerful and the bass lines are superb. More Fool Me is a short Collins ballad featuring him on vocals. 

Then we get one of those big Genesis album cornerstones - the military drum introduced The Battle Of Epping Forest. When it breaks out after just over a minute it seriously rocks, big time, with a great organ sound and Collins' drumming absolutely top notch. They are rocking again and I like it. I particularly like those quirky little guitar backing bits half way through, although Gabriel's "East End" voices are a tad embarrassing, aren't they? 

After The Ordeal is a folky, Elizabethan-sounding instrumental that features some fine guitar soling at the end. The Cinema Show is another lengthy and quite appealing number with several bits that I warm to, particularly the keyboards, Collins's inspired drumming and the CSNY-inspired vocal harmonies and Aisle Of Plenty is a wry observation on the increasing proliferation of supermarkets. 

Look, I think most readers will realise by now that Genesis weren't really my thing and there is no real way that this will get too many airings but I am certainly not blind to some of its good points, however. It is like a movie that I may watch once, think is ok, acknowledge its credibility, but not watch again. As I said before, musically it may intrigue me but it doesn't move me. Next up for Genesis was the seemingly obligatory mid-seventies sprawling "concept" double album. Am I going to review that? Hmmm. Oh go on then....