THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

This is one of the few concept albums in the running for the label of "definitive". Not only do the music and lyrics tell a seamless tale, start to finish; the packaging comes into play as well, with the folks at Hipgnosis doing their usual stellar job. This is a unique album in the Genesis pantheon, owing to many factors: shorter songs, cohesive story line, a matured band, and music developed out of jam sessions held by the band at a pub while Peter Gabriel tended to his sick daughter. Adding further sonic interest, Brian Eno was involved in the production of the album, putting his distinctive sonic stamp on the recording. Eno's influence did wonders on "de-murking" the previously dense keyboard sound on Genesis albums. The result is a much more open and spacious sounding recording, with some truly lovely passages - particularly Ravine and Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats, both on disc 2. This is easily the peak of the band, and an essential album in any self-respecting prog-head's collection.