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Genesis - Nursery Cryme CD (album) cover

NURSERY CRYME

Genesis

 

Symphonic Prog

4.42 | 3579 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Queen By-Tor
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Phil Collins? Didn't he do a lot of stuff for Disney?

Long before Genesis hit the 80s, and long before Phil Collins went off on his own to do... various things... Genesis recruited some new blood to perform on their third album. Most people know that their first album, From Genesis To Revelation, flopped miserably and their second album, Trespass, is considered one of progressive rock's pinnacle albums, and actually put them on the road to... making money, so this third album was going to need to be even better than their second. And it was. Playing no small part in this act is the two newest members of the band, Steve Hackett and Phil Collins, whose presence (and lack thereof) would be blamed for the later progressive shortcomings of the band. Strange that they'd joined at the same time, no?

For many people this is where Genesis really came into their classic era, and I'm one of those people. Trespass may be one of the most important prog albums in the history of the genre, but it still sound like a band searching for a sound to call their own. While that album had moments of sheer brilliance, this album simply is sheer brilliance. Every song on here is simply wonderful, and it has some of Genesis's finest moments in their discography. It may not be their absolute pinnacle, but they were nearing the peak with this release.

One of the songs that really needs noting right off the bat is the song that made many many people wonder over the years how this could possibly be the same band that released Invisible Touch. The Musical Box is a fine piece of progressive music that, at 10 minutes, can compete with any of the pomp-prog epics that would come out over the next decade. A slow start finally kicks into gear with emotional vocal work from Gabriel and soaring instruments from every angle. The story itself is highly amusing as Genesis recites the story of Old King Cole as depicted on the cover art.

The other songs on the album are also great, to different degrees. Some of the more comical (in an eggheaded way) songs serve as the other main pieces to the album. The Return of The Giant Hogweed features wonderful keyboards and incredibly serious vocals, considering the subject matter, from Gabriel. The Fountain Of Salmacis uses greek mythology and progressive rock to tell the story of Hermaphroditus and the nymph with a certain degree of humor. Harold The Barrel is the start of a long line of songs from the band attacking society, this one highly comical and yet somehow disturbing nearing the end. Fast and frantic, this is one of the better, shorter songs from the band. Harlequin is a beautiful piece with delicate melodies from every member and Gabriel's soft voice taking charge to make for a very pretty song while Seven Stones is another beautiful piece that has a very melancholic tone to it.

An excellent album, and definitely one that should be in just about every prog rock collection. Genesis had some better moments, but this is really where the classic era began for them, so if you fancy any of their masterpieces this one will appeal to you without a doubt. If you're hesitant about starting with the band this is also a fine place to start since it is quite approachable. 4.5 stones out of 5! Excellent prog rock.

Queen By-Tor | 4/5 |

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