SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

Their best album, to be sure. And what a perfect summary of everything that is prog? In some sense, they redo much of what they achieved on previous albums, but they do it with more precision and, ironically, brevity. "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" is a retread of "The Musical Box," but they get to the good (read: heavy) parts quicker, and the quiet parts are even better, and "The Battle of Epping Forest" should remind you of "Get 'Em Out by Friday" with Gabriel's manic and charismatic vocal work, only this time he's written more verses than there are pages in the bible. "Firth of Fifth" gives Tony Banks his showcase the same way "Watcher of the Skies" did on the previous album, and they close with the wonderful "Cinema Show." I would have no problem with someone who said GENESIS was the best prog band of all time. Really, do you need more evidence than this album? You do? Oh. Well, then listen to all of their other albums, too. You'll be better for it. I promise.