NURSERY CRYME

Well let me say this. While this album is good, it is a bit disapointing after Foxtrot and Trespass (my first Genesis albums.) Perhaps I expected too much- since many people said that Trespass was not that good, and I was blown away by it, I must have had it in my head that Gabriel-Genesis could do no wrong. Although, I think I like Trespass better because it had more fantasy themes, and maybe because Gabriel didn't do any of those goofy voices he became fond of later. Maybe Genesis lacked identity or something on Trespass. But I'm not reviewing Trespass (which is awesome by the way). I'm reviewing Nursery Cryme.

It starts off with one of the best Genesis songs I've heard, the Musical Box. I've heard all the tracks on here, along with everything on Trespass and Foxtrot. The only Genesis song that surpasses this one IMO is Supper's Ready. So this song features many awesome and emotional melodies, and a couple of very heavy interludes in which new members Hackett and Collins get to shine. It all flows quite nicely, and the lyrics are very cool (albiet the story is a bit weird). But anyway, if you have listened to this song on this site, its the best song on the album. 10/10 awesome song.

For Absent Friends is a short little acoustic number sung by Phil Collins, which is not bad. It's pleasant, but short and forgettable and really not necessary.

The Return of the Giant Hogweed is where the problems with this album really started for me. I expected, after all the reviews said so, that it would be awesome. Let me say, it has grown on me a little, its just not my cup of tea. It is very heavy, which I usually like, but it lacks really good melodies. It reminds me sort of of a less good Get 'Em Out by Friday, but I don't know. Some might like it. However I believe this may be the first Genesis song to feature a goofy voice from Gabriel. Although the section doesn't last long, it is not very good. But the instrumental breaks in this song, especially the outro, are for the most part awesome.

Seven Stones is an underrated little gem, with many nice melodies, and a fairly relaxed feel about. It has some great keyboards and vocals. The mellotron at the end is awesome as well.

I found Harold the Barrel surprisingly good. When I read that it was supposed to be a goofy little song, I expected a goofy throwaway ala ELP's joke songs. However, this song features some good melodies, and it isn't that goofy, although Gabriel does his voices, they are all pretty good here.

Harlequin is another acoustic ditty like For Absent Friends, and it is not all that great. It is pleasant and relaxing, but the melodies aren't that great. It also really reminds me of a less good Lover's Leap (The beginning of Supper's Ready) so its pleasant enough, just a little boring and not very memorable.

Fountain of Salmacis is an awesome song I think. Second best on the album after Musical Box. The mellotron intro is awesome. It features good melodies, both dark and pleasant, along with good lyrics and an interesting story about how Hermaphrodites first came into being. A little weird, but it retains some of the fantasy themed characteristics of Trespass. So all in all an awesome song.

So this album is pretty good, I think. Its not as good as either Trespass or Foxtrot, but the Musical Box is almost the best song by Genesis that I have heard. The fountain of salmacis and Seven Stones are good as well. But For Absent Friends and Harlequin are two pleasant, though unneeded and boring acoustic songs. The return of the Giant Hogweed is an OK rocker that lacks good melody, and Harold the Barrel is a slightly goofy song that features good melodies and an interesting story. So, if you like other Gabriel Genesis then I suggest you get this, as it has some great songs, but get either Foxtrot or Trespass first.