FOXTROT

This was the 2nd Genesis album that I had gotten( "Genesis to Revelation" being the first one), and I was really impressed by how much better the band sounded. Actually there is no comparison. The recording of "Fox Trot" is light years beyond their first release. It is funny that when a band makes an album, for the most part they are not trying to make history.They just want to express their talent musically and hopefully enough people will be interested in buying the fruits of their labor. Genesis, like so many other bands in the past, were not trying to father any type of music. It is us who have put Genesis, or any other band for that matter up there with God, so to speak. We go ahead and analyze what is done and who it influences and then we cannonize or villianize whoever because of the band's music. I have to ask why?

Anyway, to the music. Fox Trot is wonderful from the first frantic tones of "Watcher," to the last graceful fading verse of "Supper's Ready." There is at least one weak song, music wise, but the words are so powerful that you should enjoy the song anyway. "Time Table" doesn't sound that hard to play, but there is one line that I will never forget and always cherish. "Why, why oh why, must we suffer each race to believe that no race has been grander?" Pure genius! I have forgotten the title before, but I will never forget that one line. It says a great deal about how vain the human race is. Peter Gabriel's voice is simply superb and genuine.

"Get Em' Out by Friday" clearly reveals just how greedy our governments are capable of becoming if we let them. Very visual and compelling to hear.

"Can-Utility and the Coastliners made me think of some 50's vocal band, until I heard it. The song is magestic and captivating. It provokes feelings of admiration, at least in me. It keeps your attention throughout.

Steve Hackett thrills with his first, and thankfully not the last, original classical piece, called "Horizons." It is still amazing to this day.

The last tune is the looooooong one, entitled appropriately, "Supper's Ready," giving the impression that all that went before were just appitizers. That would be consistant with Peter Gabriel's sense of humor. And what a feast it is! I might as well say it is a real prog event to be sure. Warning, one should listen to it a few times to begin to get the full effect. It gets better with use.

All in all, the only song that doesn't have too much going on is "Time Table," but even at that the listener will not go away disappointed if they get this one. For myself, I give "Fox Trot" 4.75 stars, which nets it 5 stars for the archives.