TRESPASS

I was skeptical when I first heard that Genesis was one of the major prog bands. Listening to this did not convince me. But after listening to the rest of their material they became one of my favorite bands. Looking back on it now, there is much to appreciate. The public school boys have stopped mimicking the Bee-Gees, and now they mimic King Crimson. The beauty and romanticism expected of Genesis is all here, but the batter needs a little more mixing. Tony Banks, while still great, hasn't quite reached his full potential yet. But if you are a fan of Genesis' guitar sound, this is an album for you. The interplay between Phillips and Rutherford is excellent, every bit as good as Hackett. Definitely check out "The Geese and the Ghost"! Gabriel has found his voice on this album, and his lyrics are beginning to have that special charm. It's a bit bizarre hearing the Collins-less backing vocals. Speaking of, the drums are the only real weak link, musicianship wise.

Looking for Someone" is a good opening but something feels lacking. The lyrics are probably the most straightforward rock lyrics that Gabriel ever did in the classic years. Reminds me a bit of Barclay James Harvest. "White Mountain" is a more typical Genesis song, both in lyrics and melody. Here we really get our first look at Gabriel the storyteller. The lyrics, a fantasy story about wolves, feel like something out of a YA novel, but in a good way (if you're into that sort of thing). The music really conveys the feeling of a wolf running up a snowy mountain. Next up is "Visions of Angels", a leftover and the only hint that this is the same band who made From Genesis to Revelation. Despite their attempt to spruce it up, it still sticks out as the worst track. I still have it in my head every so often. Luckily the best track, "Stagnation", is the one that follows. Whereas all the rest are simply good, this one is a masterpiece that contends the best from their other albums. It's an epic tale of a journey in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. This is early Genesis at its finest, lush and romantic with beautiful twinkling guitars and flute. That also applies to "Dusk", a song that makes me feel like wandering through the woods at twilight and pondering life's mysteries. We are jolted into the finish with "The Knife", a very punchy (perhaps even proto-punk) song and the first of a career's worth of political songs for Gabriel. It is really good, but it's a shame this seems to be the only one here that sticks with people.

Overall, a very uneven album, but certainly better than anything I could do at that age! Anthony Phillips was still a teenager at the time! If this were any other band, this might be their best album. But for Genesis, the best was yet to come. Lots of hidden gems here. Not quite a masterpiece, but well worth having!

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