SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

"Can you tell me where my country lies?" -Peter Gabriel (Opening Song)

"Selling England..." has album art almost as uninspired as "Tresspass" and the later "Duke". Almost. But making up for that, is quality music, arguably their best.

The opening track is epic. The opening section features some of the beautiful work of both Tony Banks, and Steve Hackett, and the song sets the atmosphere and the sound for the album. The Guitar work at around 2:30 shows a heavier, louder, rougher side of Genesis, which woudl never really be revealed again.

Then the hit single "I Know What I Like", which is really their first pop song, and does a fairly good job of it (although Richard Hammond seems to disagree). It serves fair, being fairly catchy itself, but when compared to later hits (Invisible Touch), it's commercial appeal is limited. A the third track, Firth of Fith. Tony Banks truly shines on this one, oh yes he does, the opening is some of his best work. And I musn't forget, Peter Gabriel on flute is brilliantly done (He's nowhere near Ian Anderson though) , fitting in well with the sound of the album. And stayong on "Firth..", There is also amazing drumming from Phil Collins, and generally a richness that isn't replicated again in the album. But alas, I must move on. The final track on Side A is "More Fool Me", a track I Wouldn't mention if it wasn't for the importance it had being it Phil Collins second lead for a genesis track ( The Forst being the track "For Absent Friends" on Nursery Cryme), and is often said, even by the band, to be the worst song on the album. But I really like it, and it serves as a costume change for Peter. In fact, I'll go as far to say that it's one of my favourites, alongside the two tracks it stands alongside, and I'll also say, it's teh best vocals on the entire album.

Okay, onto side two.

Being a song about two gangs fighting over land is "The Battle of Epping Forest" and it's an epic track. Need I say much more? I will anyways. The opening section is rather simple and repetitive, but it finishes at the right time, so I wouldn't be to critical. The next segment is the heaviest (No it isn't HEAVY, it's the HEAVIEST) part of the album, and is melodic and rhythmic.

Then the instrumental "After the Ordeal" (Another costume change?) written by Steve Hackett. "I wanted to kick of After the Ordeal, which I actually think is the worst song we've ever recorded" - Tony Banks (from "Opening the musical box : a Genesis chronicle" by author Alan Hewitt). For me, After the Ordeal is by far the weakest link on the album. That doesn't make it bad by any means, and by no way is it the worst Genesis song ever recorded (Just look at the debut album, or the waiting room on Lamb).After the Ordeal serves as a very nice little instrumental, and it nicely moves into the electronic section, which would otherwise not fit very well into the album. It's also supposedly the first time Hackett used a nylon guitar for Genesis, which doesn't matter at all, just an interesting little fact.

Then the Cinema Show. Out of the four long tracks, this is the worst. Now, now, don't get ahead of yourself, it's not a bad song whatsoever, I just wouldn't compare it to the first song on Side 2. Finally, the aisle of plenty. It's alright, the music being a throwback to the beginning of teh album, and the final lyrics comedically are a shopping list.

"Selling England..." shows the most involvment that Steve Hackett had in a genesis album, writing tracks like After the Ordeal, and significant contributions to tracks such as "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight". And it's magnificient. A magnificient album by a magnificient band. The Greatest Album In Prog History?