FOXTROT

This is a favourite of many and I can see why; it has just about everything Genesis is renowned for. The big issue I have with this album, though, and it may have to do with the production, who knows, is that it's simply not as interesting as the two albums that bookend it, Nursery Cryme and Selling England By The Pound. The first three songs just put me to sleep completely, the instrumental accompaniments sounding dull and uninspired and Peter Gabriel's alright singing not really helping. Can-Utility picks up the energy a bit, but even then it still pales in comparison to the material off of the albums before it.

Side two is considerably better than the first. "Horizons" is pleasant but little more, like "Harlequin" off of Nursery Cryme. It does serve its purpose as an interlude quite effectively, though. Following it is the reason that many consider this album to be a masterpiece, and certainly the reason why I've raised its rating from 2 to 3 stars: "Supper's Ready".

Initially I had my reservations about this song, feeling that it went on for too long and that some of the sillier sections could have easily been cut out. In all, I didn't appreciate it as I didn't find it "serious" enough to be a prog epic. But if one considers it in a more lighthearted fashion, it becomes quite an enjoyable experience. In a sense it can be likened to the "Bohemian Rhapsody" of classic prog, something not to be taken seriously, but respectable, and definitely enjoyable, nonetheless. While sections like "Willow Farm" are more or less silly head-bobbing music to sing along to goofily, the "Apocalypse in 9/8" section does feature some technically tight performances and segues very well into the over-the-top (in a good way) ending "As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs", which pulls out all the stops to include every ballad epic finale cliche in the book. But it works really well. Every time Peter Gabriel sings "to get back HOOOOooooOOOME!" on the resolving chord and Tony Banks gives those sumptuous keyboard sweeps, you can't help but rock along. After a disappointing start, the ending definitely compensates.

Ultimately this is a good album, if not exclusively for "Supper's Ready". However, I wouldn't consider this to be an essential Genesis release, or a starting point for discovering their discography. The roles of Genesis 101 would lie in either "Selling England By The Pound" or "Nursery Cryme" in my opinion, but this is definitely one to move onto once you've worn those two out and are starving for more.

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