Why does everyone hate The Battle Of Epping Forest

I love More Fool Me. For a long time I vastly preferred it to Epping Forest. And I do think it can fit to the lyrical and musical concept of the record in that it sounds like a Medieval madrigal of sorts, Phil and Mike are just passing minstrels in the English countryside playing a sweet little love song for anyone who cares to hear. That's the sort of thing that would disappear with the Americanisation of England. It's also got really lovely guitar work in its own right, and Phil's voice was never sweeter (and brilliant harmonies too). At any rate, it certainly doesn't stick out as much as Whodunnit from Abacab. A little acoustic balladry is always welcome in my book.

I have nothing against "More Fool Me". It's no masterpiece, but it's nice enough. Plus, in the overall picture it's a nice break from the more complex songs. It adds some balance to the album I guess.

Sean Trane wrote: The Dark Elf wrote: dougmcauliffe wrote: I just dont get what's so offensively bad about More Fool Me It is short and soon over, which is its saving grace. The same cannot be said for Epping Forest which drags on 5 or 6 minutes longer than its expiration date, hence its stench. Not short enough, IMHO. 1- Even at the same length as (the much-better) For Absent Friends (1'30") it would still overstay its welcome by its entire duration. 2- MFM is totally out of context of the album's concept, which is about the collapse of the British Empire and the decadence of the English model. 3- musically, it's completely dire and dry (downright poor, I should be tempted to write), even when compared to the other less complex tracks (Wardrobe and Ordeal) 4- I'm not even sure Collins would find a spot for this MFM track on his 80's solo albums, however poor & suckish they would be.

The Dark Elf wrote: dougmcauliffe wrote: I just dont get what's so offensively bad about More Fool Me It is short and soon over, which is its saving grace. The same cannot be said for Epping Forest which drags on 5 or 6 minutes longer than its expiration date, hence its stench.

I just dont get what's so offensively bad about More Fool Me

^ More Fool Me is a quaint little ditty. Sweet and innocent. How could you refer to it as a ‘Collins sung abortion’ ?? Bit harsh methinks.
And After the Ordeal is quite a lovely instrumental. I’d never ditch anything on SEBTP.

richardh wrote: Dellinger wrote: cstack3 wrote: Don't feel badly, I quite enjoy "Time Table" on Foxtrot, which earns me great malice amongst Genesis fans!  "Epping Forest" is decent, but not a masterpiece.  Tony Banks does some great synth leads on that one. I never knew people were supposed to not like Time Table, I do find it rather beautiful.   that is indeed a beautiful song. Foxtrot is an album I don't find any fault with although Watcher Of The Skies tends to be the slightly controversial track for some reason.

The song is a bit wordy, but still a great piece of Prog. I’ve never met any Genesis fan that dislikes it though.
P.S. - I love Rutherford’s Bass tone - just a great, almost glassy Rickenbacker sound - Squire never got this tone.

Sacro_Porgo wrote: Not a Star Wars fan I take it? And sorry if that emoji is offensive. It was the first one I saw that accurately conveyed my confusion at someone saying Siberian Khatru is disco.

essexboyinwales wrote: essexboyinwales wrote: Sacro_Porgo wrote: essexboyinwales wrote: Don't hate it, but don't like it much either.  For me, Genesis had several albums where they felt they had to have a "silly" song (or silly-sounding song), and this is one of them... SEBTP-TBOEF+SR=GAOAT? How do you subtract Epping Forest and add Supper's Ready? SR is more than twice as long, and Epping Forest is already 11 minutes. Not to mention early Genesis albums are always in the 50+ minute range at the absolute capacity for vinyl records. Who said anything about vinyl?! I'm just playing fantasy album mash-up.  SEBTP is one of my all time favourite albums, but it isn't perfect due to TBOEF.  So it can't compete with (e.g.) The Human Equation, Weather Systems, Misplaced Childhood, The Road Of Bones, Images And Words... (for the same reason that Money spoils DSOTM) But, if SEBTP had included Supper's Ready, and not TBOEF, then (in IMHO) it would probably be the best of the whole lot... Oh, and surely TBOEF is more like 19 minutes, not 11?  It sure as hell feels like it....