WIND & WUTHERING

What an album! One of the five best of Genesis, in my opinion. Dominated by the Tony Banks songwriting, and with the biggest Hackett contribution since Selling England?, W&W is just a masterpiece. Composed by Banks, One for the vine, is the best song of the album and maybe one of the best of the Genesis history. The song has all the ingredients that I would expect from a progressive piece. Tells a story (a great story that represents in ten minutes the authoritarian tendencies of the human being), has a complex piano work, a great melody line and of course many instrumental parts. The section after the protagonist talks with the water and the vine, and then takes his decision is superb. Eleven Earl of Mar is another great progressive track. Here the shared effort between Banks, Hackett and Rutherford brings a great result. I think that Hackett's contribution in this track is very important. The lyrics and the guitar work (specially in the acoustic parts) are fantastic. Collins voice sounds really powerfull in this song, and he makes a great drum job. Afterglow is another highlight, a song which became an anthem in Genesis gigs until the present. The first Genesis love song, but not in the conventional way, maybe a love song in a progressive way, in a dramatic way. Written by Banks, we have much feeling and power in only five minutes, with a great ending, which sounds much better in the live versions. Blood on the rooftops, is another highlight, composed by Hackett and Collins. Hackett brings the fantastic guitar intro and the verse, and Collins brings the chorus. The rest are really good too. Your own special way is a good ballad by Rutherford. All in a mousses night is another melodic prog track with the best in the ending instrumental full of keyboards. In that quiet earth is a true band effort, with electric guitar and keyboard solos with a great rhythm guitar supporting by Rutherford. Maybe the first Genesis track with a true guitar riff. Wot Gorila is maybe the weak part of the album, a simple instrumental based on drums and keyboards, but still very good for me. Five stars.