FOXTROT

Well, this is quite a highly reguarded album, and after many listens, I can tell you that it easily ranks up there with the best prog albums. Also, other than the tracks on this website, this was my first forray into the wonderful world of Genesis.

The album opens up with the lush, beautiful mellotron riffing of Tony Banks on the rousing opener, Watcher of the Skies. This song features some heavier parts, and some quiet parts, and lots of upbeat melodies and lyrics about the end of the world or something. Also, while the keyboards dominate the mix here, they are not overused like in *ahem* ELP. (Don't get me wrong, I love ELP.) A great opener which sets the tone for the album.

Time Table is pretty much a forgettable song, although it features good melodies and lyrics, and some good piano, and the chorus is very good and catchy. This song reminds me of the Beatles in a way. A good song, but overshadowed by the sheer awesomeness of the rest of the album.

Get 'Em out by Friday is awesome. It features some heavy organ rokcing parts that remind me of Uriah Heep, and some beautiful emotional melodies reminiscent of King Crimson on their first couple of albums. Great flute in the long instrumental interludes. Gabriel is at his most theatrical here, employing many different voices for the different characters, but it is not goofy at all like it might seem. A great song.

Can-Utility and the Coastliners is another awesome one, which goes through many little sections to form what some call a mini epic. It starts off kind of folky, and after a while goes into a moody instrumental interlude featuring lots of acoustic guitar, mellotron, and organ. It ends after some upbeat, rocking emotional melodies, all sung with great power by Gabriel. A great song. Also, everyone always says this is overlooked and underrated (on this site anyway), but it seems to me that every single Genesis fan on here likes this.

Horizons is pointless maybe, but it is nice and relaxing. Just Hackett playing some nice classical-esque melodies on his classical guitar. Short and not drawn out as well. A good little song, but the weakest on the album.

Supper's Ready is the song you will be buying the album for (although the rest of it is really awesome too). It features the most emotional and beautiful melodies and the best playing from all the members, and it has great lyrics. It starts off hypnotic with Lover's Leap (with the best chorus ever) with lots of overdubbed acoustic guitar. Then comes the soaring synth and mellotron riffing of the Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man, which is short and really good, really spacy. This segues into Iknhaton and Itsacon and their Band of Merry Men, which tells of a great battle. This section is really upbeat and happy sounding, despite the grim subject matter. It also features a great guitar solo from Steve Hackett. How can I be so Beautiful follows, with only Hackett and his volume pedal guitar and Gabriel singing some weird lyrics. The worst part of the song, but still good. It leads into the Willow Farm, one of the most interesting passages ever. It has some darker melodies and lighter melodies, and Gabriel is once again very theatrical. This is very catchy stuff. This goes into Apocalypse in 9/8, which has some awesome lyrics, along with a reprise of the excellent chorus from Lover's Leap and one great organ solo. Awesome. This leads into As sure as Eggs is Eggs, a reprise of the sanctuary man, with some lyrics about how the lord of lords will lead his children to the new Jerusalem. Very spacy and soaring, and emotional, and powerful all at the same time.

SO this is a great album, from the beginning to the end. If you like any symphonic prog at all, you will probably love this. Very moving melodies all the way through.