THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

I think this is Genesis' best work ever, and it's taken time to realize it. What I love about it is how edgy & urban their sound is here. Some do not give enough credit to the 4 non-costume wearing musicans who contributed to this recording. Granted, Gabriel is nothing short of brilliant here, but if you really listen to this masterpiece you realize the work of Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, & Collins is just sublime and they are at the top of their game here. I often wonder what their next album would have sounded like had Gabriel not left the band.

The best track on the album to me is "Back in NYC". I saw The Musical Box perform this in LA last year and it made my socks roll up & down!!! There are so many other great tracks like "Hairless Heart", "Carpet Crawlers", and "The Chamber of 32 Doors". Some say that sides 1 and 2 are stronger than sides 3 & 4. I get what they are saying in that if I could only choose one album, I would take the first one. But I think on sides 3 & 4 the band really push themselves musically like never before (or after). When I saw The Musical Box perform "The Waiting Room" for example, the audience was really freaked out! It felt like being inside a carnival fun house, a little creepy & spooky but really interesting & cool as well.

This album has so many layers, textures, & moods that are wonderful. Overall, it's strength is in it's ecclectic quality. I wouldn't call it their "St. Pepper" but rather their "White Album".