NURSERY CRYME

Nursery crime marks the beginning of the true Genesis sound. The folk of Trespass is still present, but the band has incorporated more of the style and technique representative of their core period, as well as the influence of Hackett and Collins. The album, like Trespass, suffers from some pretty bad production, but the songs more than make up for this.

The album begins with which is easily one of the band's most admired songs, 'The Musical Box.' (10/10) The Musical Box is perhaps the band's most structurally and emotionally diverse song in their catalogue. It has loud parts, soft parts, folky parts, and full on prog parts. Peter Gabriel is at his best here as well, exploring the whole emotional spectrum with some really amazing vocals.

'For Absent Friends' (4/10) is a short song written by Hackett with Collins on vocals. I view this song as kind of a good welcoming to these two integral band members, though the music is rather simple.

'Return of the Giant Hogweed' (10/10) is the "rocker" of the album. It showcases Hackett's guitar abilities especially in the tapping intro. But everyone else is just as instrumentally proficient.

'Seven Stones, (5/10) 'Harrold the Barrel' (5/10) and Harlequin (5/10) aren't terribly interesting, but are nonetheless fully bathed in the new Genesis sound. 'The Fountain of Salmacis' (9/10) concludes this album in an epic fashion. The beautiful crescendos and abundant Mellotron really make this song, as does Collin's crazy drumming throughout.

Overall, this is a very good album to stat off a new Genesis period. Unfortunately, there are some weaker songs on here, and the production doesn't do justice to the stronger songs.

8/10