THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

And the lamb ... lies down ... on broadway. This was an easy 5 star rating for me. After much thinking, it has occurred to me that The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway might be my favourite album. It may not be the best Genesis album but there's just something about it. Maybe it's the fact that they never sounded so theatrical before AND after this. With the classic line-up of the band it was as if they were building up their cinematic quality with each album, and they reached their apex on The Lamb.

Now, what makes it so great? Is it the story? The Music? The answer is in whatever you're looking for. If you are looking for an album with great songs, you will get it. If you're looking for a surreal story that is very open to interpretation, you will be pleased. The story is complicated and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it is intriguing. It's about a Puerto Rican street gang member, named Rael, who is living in New York City. He gets pulled into a series of nightmares while chasing after and trying to save his brother John, who, in the end, turns out to be himself; sort of like a split personality.

But the story isn't what makes this album as good as it is, it's the music. The music is very structured and at times gorgeous. Individual songs may not be as impressive, but together it creates a song cycle that is sure to impress. The title track, "In The Cage", "Back In NYC", "Carpet Crawlers", "The Lamia", and "The Colony Of Slippermen" are all highlights. There is no filler anywhere on the record. Every song serves its purpose.

Being a double album and lasting 94 minutes in length makes it a challenging listen, but it's worth it. The perfect concept album in my opinion. *****