SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

Selling Enlgand by the Pound is the album that really got me listening to Genesis. This album sucks you in right from the start with Peter singing a cappella. Dancing With the Moonlit Knight is an amazing song that moves from a more classical sound to hard rock and ends with a haunting passage that sounds like a harp (maybe it is) among other instruments. Also, the lyrics grab your attention with lines like "Chewing on your wimpy dreams..." I don't know the exact meaning of this song (I've heard that it has something to do with the economic state of England at the time) but it seems in general to deal with materialism. The next song I Know What I Like is short, but just as good as the first song. This sounds more like a pop song, but still has a prog edge to it. The second time the chorus is sung, there is an instrument in the background that sounds amazing to me. I'm not sure what it is (sounds like a percussion that plays different tones). Firth of Fifth is without a doubt one of the best Genesis songs of all time. It starts out with Tony playing some powerful piano and moves into a sort of hard rock sound that is slower, almost regal sounding. Then there is a mind-blowing instrumental section starting out soft and building to one of the greatest guitar solos of all time by Steve. The song ends by reprising the first part and then fading out with the same piano. Beautiful.

Now, I think that More Fool Me is where the album becomes a little weak. Compared to the first three songs, this one is kind of a let down. Next is The Battle of Epping Forest which is good but not my cup of tea. I don't care for all of the character voices that Peter does here. It is too over the top and doesn't work here as it did in Return of the Giant Hogweed. Plus, it seems that the instruments are not featured as well as they are in other songs on the album. So, I would say, skip past More Fool Me and Battle of Epping Forest.

The instrumental track After the Ordeal is my favorite instrumental of all time. It is beautiful, moving, and uplifting. It features some great guitar work from Steve, who implements both classical guitar in the first part and electric guitar in the second part. Next is another astounding track, The Cinema Show. The first part of the song has lyrics, while the second part is just instruments. I can't really explain what makes this a great song, just listen to it. Last is Aisle of Plenty that is a reprise of Dancing with the Moonlit Knight. This caps off the album and gives it a sense of closure. The album ends with prices for various goods being called out by overlapping voices like in a market square. Again, I think this has to do with the theme of Dancing which has to do with England's economy at the time.

In closing, this is an amazing album that is without a doubt an essential album of progressive rock, even with the weaker tracks More Fool Me and Battle of Epping Forest. To me, the rest of the music is top-notch with strong lyrics and great performances from all band members. If you have never listened to this album, go get it NOW.