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Genesis - A Trick of the Tail CD (album) cover

A TRICK OF THE TAIL

Genesis

 

Symphonic Prog

4.28 | 2947 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
5 stars It was around 1978 when I was over visiting a friend of a friend when he pulls this LP out of it's sleeve and says "You guys should hear this". Well, after listening a while I looked at my friend and we kind of smiled respectfully at each other about what we were hearing. The longer I listened the more I liked it. "It" was "A Trick Of The Tail" by GENESIS and this was my first experience with GENESIS. I sort of forgot about this record until they released the single "Follow You, Follow Me" and when I heard that GENESIS song on the radio I was reminded of that experience. It wouldn't be until "Duke" came out in 1980 that I would buy my first GENESIS record.

"Dance On A Volcano" is such a good song ! Can these guys create a melody or what.The intro is fantasic and the mellotron during the verses is heavenly. I really like the line "So you better start doing it right". Hackett and Banks really shine on this song. "Entangled" has gentle vocals and acoustic guitars to start. The sound becomes fuller and the vocals sound double tracked as the guitar is strummed. Haunting synths,12 string guitar and mellotron to close it out. "Squonk" is another good one with pulsating keys as the drums pound. The vocal melody 2 minutes in is a highlight. "Mad Man Moon" is a ballad with fragile vocals, piano and floods of mellotron. The piano melody recalls "Firth Of Fifth". The tempo picks up 5 minutes in before it settles back down with mellotron.

"Robbery, Assault & Battery" has theatrical vocals while the chorus just doesn't do it for me. The best part of the song is 4 1/2 minutes in as Banks shines.This song is not one of my favourites. "Ripples" is my favourite. It's a song about getting old and it's so beautiful. Acoustic guitar, piano and vocals lead the way. The chorus is so uplifting. The synths to close out the album are great. "A Trick Of The Tail" is somewhat catchy but far from being the best track. "Los Endos" is an instrumental that gives each member an opportunity to show off their talents. The mellotron that rolls in 3 1/2 minutes is very haunting. There is a reprise of a passage of "Squonk" late in the song.

These guys didn't miss a beat when Gabriel left. These are some of the most amazing songs that i've ever heard.

Mellotron Storm | 5/5 |

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