A TRICK OF THE TAIL

I came into this album a bit begrudgingly, being a great Peter Gabriel fan and sincerely loving both Selling England By The Pound and Foxtrot. I had given Wind & Wuthering a spin and I didn't like how the progressiveness seemed to have been tuned down in favor for a more radio friendly sound. But as I gave A Trick of the Tail some time and enough listens I realized I had been in the wrong for doubting both the voice of Collins and Genesis's ability to carry on without their previous front man.

It might be worth mentioning here that I was in no way raised with Genesis and it wasn't until a few years ago that a friend recommended them to me.

The album is truly a Genesis album, the symphonic and bombastic feel of the older records shines through from the first notes with "Dance on a Volcano" and the fact that they open the album in 7/4 just made me all the more delighted; progressiveness was to be had!

Going through the songs one by one is pointless, I think records should be enjoyed as wholes and nothing else. What I especially like so much about this album is how each track really stands out from the others, yet does so in such a fashion that it never feels disconnected.

I had a pretty interesting experience when a friend visited a while ago. He was playing some video game and I was by the computer listening to the album. He is the kind of guy who listens to hardcore and electronic music of all sorts, not the type of guy who'd lurk around on this site. He looked up from the TV and asked me what band it was, saying he loved the song that was playing(Entangled). I think this just goes to show how Genesis stretch over musical borders, bringing a lot of great things together for everyone to enjoy, no matter what musical background.

Edit: Sometimes I am too stingy with reviews and want to avoid giving too many 5-star reviews. I wanted to be as "objective" as I possible, but coming back to this record time and time again only to love it more makes me realise that 'A Trick of the Tail' is a masterpiece and so deserving of a 5 star rating I ought to slap my own face. That is all.

A masterpiece. 5/5