SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

It should have been impossible for Genesis to successfully follow up Foxtrot and yet with Selling England By The Pound they actually truimph over it. While overall typically British songs like opener Dancing With The Moonlit Knight or The Cinema Show cross over effortlessly into fairy tale territory. There is nothing quite as pounding as Watcher Of The Skies here but intricate arrangements of guitar and keyboards guarantee it is not missed. All of the members have their moment here whether it be the rare self- indulgent guitar solo from Steve Hackett on Firth Of Fifth, the Tony Banks orchestrated outro of The Cinema Show or of course frontman extraordinaire Peter Gabriel and his wonderfully humorous narration on The Battle Of Epping Forest. Some bad puns on Aisle Of Plenty make for a less than perfect finish to the album but more focused shorter pieces like the infectiously melodic I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) or acoustic ballad More Fool Me, featuring lead vocals from Phil Collins, more than compensate. While others come close Selling England remains the ultimate Peter Gabriel fronted Genesis album.