THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

By 1975 Genesis had acquired a bit of an underground band status in Australia but generally none of my peers could hear what I could hear, but then the closest thing to prog for them would have been Pink Floyd which had saturation air play with Dark Side of the Moon. Reading that The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was about be released I put in a pre-order to ensure that I would get my copy on day one (not realising that Genesis were not particularly popular and therefore the albums weren't going to be sold out).

Like the earlier releases, Genesis offered a complete package. There is enormous detail in the cover that relates to the album, there are stories to go with the songs as well as the lyrics which are also a narrative and full of word plays and references to history, literature and the like.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is no different and any many ways is arguably the most complex of any Genesis work .

Again, there have been many reviews of this album and it seems pointless to repeat what has already gone before. So only a few brief points.

The Lamb represents a change in direction for Genesis with the music generally as shorter, darker pieces. Surprisingly a number of tracks are dominated by piano and therefore the closest comparison for style is actually "From Genesis to Revelation" but as is should have been played/made.

This album represents Genesis at their creative peak, bursting with ideas. This is a double album of generally shorter songs. Many of these songs explore several music themes. I think they only just managed to get all the ideas onto a double album and really had they stretched some of the songs like on previous albums this could have been a triple.

Because this is a true concept album in which a story is being told it really has to be heard in order from start to finish to put the songs in context. This is very demanding since the Lamb demands to be listened to rather than be heard in the background.

Although there are some very accessible songs, much of it is complex and difficult for those without an interest in prog to appreciate. This means listening on your own or with head phones. But this also allows a better appreciation of the intricacies of the music.

In fact this is one of the few albums from the 70s that hasn't dated, so inventive was Genesis. As I said this album is packed with so many ideas that it also means that not everyone will like all the offerings that also include experiments in ambience (Silent Sorrow is one of the best examples of mellotron of all time), free form (Waiting Room), etc.

It may take a few listens but once the connection is made there is no better example of a prog concept album.

Overall rating: 5 Stars.