NURSERY CRYME

After Trespass the band known as Genesis went through a couple of changes in their line-up. Phil Collins took over as drummer in place of John Mayhew(the band was actually unhappy with his performance on Trespass) so they let him go. Anthony was afraid of the stage so they had to replace him with a man named Steve Hackett. The classic Genesis line-up was now in tact, it consisted of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. The album cover has a little girl with a croquet mallet with rolling heads in the background(say what!!!). On with the album right

Here is the track listing for this album:

1. The Musical Box - This piece opens with a nice guitar intro I think it's played by Mike Rutherford, then Pete comes in with the vocals it sounds rather quiet and then it explodes with Tony's organs and the blistering guitar solos from Steve Hackett(he makes his presence known on this song). This song's dynamics are fantastic "The clock, tick tock On the mantelpiece And I want And I feel And I know And I touch The wall". This song is classic Genesis one of my very favorite of theirs. This marks the beginning of Phil Collins and Steve Hackett in Genesis's music and they make their presence known immediately, listen for Hackett's two-hand tapping.A really great example of early Genesis and their jam sessions 10/10

2. For Absent Friends- This is a short and cool piece sung by Phil, it was written by both Phil and Steve and it's a nice a little ballad that is actually quite lush, just magnifico. 9/10

3. The Return Of The Giant Hogweed- The song begins with Steve's newly employed technique in the rock world known as two-hand tapping it plays along with Tony's keys(it's awesome), this is about the taking over of Hogweeds in England. "Giant Hogweed is avenged, human bodies soon will our anger, kill them with your Hogweed hairs Heracleum Mantegazziani"(ahhhh). The Hogweeds are ready to attack. I love Steve's solo on this song, it's a perfect song. A great example of early Genesis and their jam sessions. 10/10

4. Seven Stones- This is yet another great song from this album , the way Peter puts emotion into the lyrics is beautiful "Seven stones lay on the ground within a seventh house a friend was found" it's just so beautiful. I like the wordless chorus and it makes for an interesting listen, I love the drumming from Phil on this song along with the mellotron played by Tony.That mellotron that Tony plays is so chilling. Everyone is spot on here. Another perfect track. 10/10

5. Harold The Barrel- This one is just good silly fun, I like how the lyrics paint a picture in your head with Harold, his mother and everyone else in town. "Take a running jump". I like the piano at the end of the song it spells doom for the character known as Harold The Barrel.This song is just good silly fun. 9/10

6. Harlequin- I like this piece a lot it sounds so beautiful with Peter and Phil singing together(now that's a band, folks). This one is just a lovely little ballad, I love it. 10/10

7. The Fountain Of Salmacis- We now reach the final track on the album, this one is just really clever it is about the gods named Hermaphroditus and Salmacis and her giving birth(I think I don't know nor do I really care), I like how Phil and Peter respond to each other "Where are you my father, give wisdom to your son"(awesome!!!!!), this song is yet another example of a great early Genesis jam session. That organ and those bass and guitar solos, wow. Yeah, Mike has a little bass solo(really!!) and the solo to end the album from Steve is just classic, this is classic Prog Rock and classic Genesis. Perfect song. 10/10

Overall this album gets a 68/70 which out 10 is almost perfect but since it ends so memorably I will give this album 5 stars, it is one of those essential Prog Rock albums. I will give the album 5 stars, yet another great early Genesis album, this was my first Genesis album so with that it has a lot of meaning to me, and I highly recommend it as your genesis(hehe) to Genesis. Peace out!!!!!!