THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

After Genesis released Selling England By The Pound they became quite a sensation and favorites among Prog Rock Aficionados it was their best, most ambitious and strongest effort yet. By 1974, there was tension among Peter Gabriel and the rest of the guys in the band. Peter much preferred to be with his family to take care of his ailing newborn daughter instead of being in the band which eventually led him to leave Genesis and later to focus on a solo career. He also felt that he did all he could so he left after The Lamb tour. Anyways the last album with Peter was one for the ages in my opinion. It is about a young man named Rael a Puerto Rican hoodlum who lives in New York who comes across Carpet Crawlers, Lamias, Slippermen, Big Black Ravens, etc. I will talk about what I like and didn't like about this album. I like the imagery that the album portrays but some of its lyrics are rather meh!!. On with the album right. Time to go, get out!!

Here is the track listing for this double concept album known as The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway released in 1974.

Disc 1 clocks in at 45:34 and it begins with the title track:

1. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway-This one opens up with a quick and very exciting piano intro from Senor Tony Banks(el es De La Oficina de Pasaportes with that sweet mustache, that's another story I'm getting carried away!!, haha) . It has a great rhythm section Mike and Phil work very well on this piece, they practically drive it along with Peter's charismatic persona and his interpretation of our young hero named Rael. At this point in the concept album Rael is on his way to see a show on Broadway but he soon falls asleep which lead to. 5/5

2. Fly on a Windshield-This song is one of the most cinematic songs ever by Genesis(listen to that Mellotron) it hits you right in the face. I really love how they depict New Yorkers as if nobody really cares about anything which I'm sure is true(I know, I know it's sad!!). Good Guitar work from Steve on this song. I really like it a lot 5/5

3. Broadway Melody of 1974-Very short sweet guitar piece from Steve Hackett. 5/5

4. Cuckoo Cocoon- This one is really underrated, I never hear anyone like this one and I don't know why. At this point in the story our young hero is stuck in a Cocoon. Great flute solo from Peter. I don't know why no one ever talks about it!! 5/5

5. In the Cage- This is one of the most intense Genesis songs that there ever was from the band. Our hero Rael doesn't know yet but he is calling out for himself outside the cage, he calls himself Brother John but what he doesn't know is that he is looking at himself. I love Tony's work on this song(his solos are so cool!!!). Overall, I think it is one of Genesis's best ever!!!. It really is a trip to a fantasy land. This is one of their most intense songs. Overall this album has a very dark feel to it and this song contributes to it, it is not like any other Genesis album before it!!!. I like this one a lot. Listen to Mike's bass, Phil's drumming and Tony's key works. 5/5

6. The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging- This one is really quirky and odd but I love it so much "Brother John is No.9" . It's one of the most aggressive songs Peter had ever sung with Genesis. Grand Parade, Grand Parade. I have this image in my head of people acting like sheep or for a better visual think of the kids from Pink Floyd's movie of The Wall. This one is very odd but that's what I like about it. 5/5

7. Back in N.Y.C.- In this one we get to see Rael and more of his background as Peter so accurately portrays " I' m a pitcher in a chain gang and we don't believe in pain" and "they call me the Trailblazer, Rael Electric razor". Rael is apparently a Gangster who likes to cause havoc upon the streets of New York. As far as the visuals go it's tremendous but the concept seems to lose it itself(it doesn't make much sense here, unless it's a dream about his life or something, I don't know nor do I really care, hehe). This one is musically complex and really good. The music is enough to give you chills. I like it!! 5/5

8. Hairless Heart- This one is really relaxing instrumental after the aggressiveness and violence of the past 3 songs. It features great keyboard work from Tony Banks and great guitar work from Steve Hackett(Steve was somewhat restrained on this album which I really didn't like) but he still brings about really good performances.This is just very relaxing and it leads to the next song.5/5

9. Counting Out Time- Our hero finds a girl that he "wanted to date", this song is practically about sex(hehe). It's a really good song though, it reminds me of The Beatles(the later years). I really liked Steve Hackett's guitar riffs on this song. It's just really funny and fun too. Peter don't leave, don't please. This one reminds of me the days of Pete so it really sounds poignant to me even though the song is about sex. They had great chemistry didn't they. 5/5

10. The Carpet Crawlers- Tony Banks really didn't like this song but who cares what he has to say I love it, it's one of those songs that gets even though it's straight forward and rather repetitive(how do they do that). I really don't like repetitive songs but this one is an exception(Oh my!!) what a piece. Just lovely 5/5

Disc 1 ends with the eerie Chamber of 32 Doors which I will be talking about right now:

11. The Chamber of 32 Doors- Like I said, this song is very eerie with some haunting power behind it. It practically talks about how certain people are looking for Rael. This song gives me mad chills(try listening to it while you take a walk down the alleyways of New York City(woah!!) or if you don't live in New York try to picture it in your head. Genesis with Peter and without were always great song writers and this song is a perfect example of that. 5/5

INTERMISSION, INTERMISSION, INTERMISSION, INTERMISSION, EVERYONE!!!

Disc 1 of this epic double-sided album gets a perfect score for me(woah!!!) 55/55

We need to take a break here don't we from analyzing the music and the songs before we get back to it. We can recap the story of Rael. We have seen him go to a show and fall asleep(The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway), he has been stuck inside a Cocoon and Cage(Cuckoo Cocoon, In The Cage), he has been part of the Parade of Lifeless Packaging, we have seen more of who he is and his background(Back In N.Y.C), he has had sex(Counting Out Time) and locked inside a Chamber of so many doors(Chamber of 32 Doors). As we can see the concept is not really great when it comes to a storyline or a plot but I feel it is deeper than that, it's about a young man who is trying to find himself. Many have said that this album is Peter Gabriel's finest moment ever!! as a member of Genesis and as a solo artist. I have to agree with that. Anyway we have to get back to the album review(don't we, damn I never realized I could write so many words, hehe).

Disc 2 of this epic double concept album is really overlooked in my opinion but I feel it offers some really strong moments(if not stronger that Disc 1). It clocks in at 48:49. Here we go again. To quote Peter again: "Here I go"

1. Lillywhite Lilith- Disc 2 opens up with this bone-chilling song(it actually appeared in one of my dreams where I saw a ghost(ahh!!!!)). It really is one of those bone-chilling songs, listen to those keys played by Tony Banks(wow!!!), it's a really dark sounding song(hehe). It's about a blind woman named Lillywhite Lilith helping Rael outside the Chamber of 32 Doors. What a bone-chilling piece( I keep saying that but it is!!!). 5/5

2. The Waiting Room- I guess Genesis decided to take a page out of King Crimson's book with a rather pointless experimental instrumental piece, it sounds like people or whatever the hell it is creating a mess in a room, anyway I like this piece just not really keen on it. I find it rather pointless, really. It's nothing special. This is the first piece on the album that really isn't that great, it takes a while to get going, it's a meh!! piece, that I could live without. 3/5

3. Anyway- In this one we get some of Tony Banks finest playing(listen to that piano!!), it really is another great one, it strikes you like lightning, the dynamics are fantastic!!!! , I love Steve's solo on it. A really dynamic piece. Magnificent!!! 5/5

4. The Supernatural Anaesthetist- This song's lyrics are really silly and don't really make much sense when it comes to the concept of the album but the song is a real Prog Rocker that I just love, it has great work from just about everyone from Phil to Tony to Steve. It's just a fun piece. 5/5

5. The Lamia- Now we get to The Lamia(my goodness!!!!) is this one beautiful. It has beautiful piano melodies and Peter sings with so much emotion(one of my favorites from Genesis, period!!!!!). I feel that this is the song that they have been trying to nail down(I mean I feel this is the song that Tony always wanted to nail down, hehe I'm joking I love the guy,hehe!!!). It really is one of the most luscious pieces of music ever constructed by a Rock Band!!!.At this point in the story we get to see our hero have sex with Lamias and later eat their flesh(wtf???). The song's lyrics are atrocious and even down right embarrassing but Steve's solo saves us all!!!!.Oh my that solo(wow!!!). I have cried listening to that solo of his(one of his very best!!!). The music is great. 5/5

6. Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats- This is just a relaxing instrumental piece with lush heavenly keyboards from Tony Banks. I really didn't like it at first but it has caught on.I like it 4/5

7. Colony of Slippermen- This one takes a while to get started but it's an interesting intro in my opinion. When it gets going, it is yet again another one of Genesis's greatest works of the 1970's. Our hero has his tube(his penis, I think I might be wrong, I know I know it's a WTF?? moment) stolen by a big Black Raven. He spends the song trying to get it back from him, along the way he also comes across a Colony of Slippermen, they want to take him apart or something(I don't know nor do I really care,haha). Musically and vocally one of the bands best songs not just with Peter on vocals but of all-time. It is yet another song that I consider to be Classic Genesis."You're in the Colony of Slippemen", now that's a money shot(wink, wink!!) 5/5

8. Ravine- This one is an interesting instrumental but not as soothing as Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats. I picture Zombies walking(like the Walking Dead). It is a rather eerie piece. Short and Eerie. I like it.3.5./5

9. The Light Dies Down on Broadway- This one sounds like the son or daughter(I hope I don't sound sexist) of The Lamia and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. If those two songs were to have a baby it would be this song. I love the mournful feel to it. Rael is going back home(I think, not sure though???) I know some of you are tired of this album by now and some think that the song sounds tired by now but I'm not I'm still enthralled and awe-inspired by the album. This album presented to me a load of musical ideas I thought would never be possible. Anyways, back to the song. I love it. 5/5

10. Riding the Scree- This one is just fun and funny at the same time. I love Tony's synth work on it. It's just a fun and short song 4/5

11. In the Rapids- With this song Rael starts to realize and find that the person he has been looking for this whole time has been himself"Something's changed that's not your face it's mine, it's mine!!". I know the concept is flawed but still an interesting place to get lost in. Good song but short, it builds up in intensity and it leads to It 4/5

12. It- I love this song because of the guitar riff from Steve Hackett and Peter's emotional vocals. This would be Peter's last song sung in a Genesis album(No!!!!!!). Yes it's only knock and know all but I like it". I love this song one of my very favorites from the album 5/5

With this album Peter Gabriel would leave Genesis and to date he has never returned. His albums with the band to me were truly some of Prog Rock's best and finest. This one a really really great album.

Disc 1 received a 55/55 Disc 2 gets a 53.5/60

The double concept album overall gets a108.5 out of 115 from me. I'm sure that's a very high rating. Hell I'm giving the album 5 stars for the great memories we all had with Peter Gabriel. Damn this review took long, haha. Peace Out!!!