TRESPASS

The first true Genesis album "Trespass" is an awesome one. If you had asked me a few years ago what the worst Genesis album was, I probably would have said this after their debut. After listening to it in depth and understanding it, I realized it is by no means a bad album and in fact one of their most important. After acquiring new drummer John Mayhew, Genesis became a professional band and began playing live shows. They headed to Trident Studios in 1970 and recorded the album. This album set them apart immediately from other rock acts, as a band that was willing to push the boundaries and progress the current state of music.

Right from the opener "Looking for Someone," the band proves its progressive virtuosity while showcasing its ability to seamlessly enter and perfectly execute peaceful sections. Anthony Phillip's guitar work and Peter Gabriel's iconic beginning vocals dominate the track. An excellent opener to an excellent album. "White Mountain" is a more folksy tune, that I really enjoy. It has great 12-string guitar work from Phillips and organ work from Tony Banks. Also amazing vocals from Gabriel on this track. As much as I love the slower guitar sections I feel like they should have included more of the faster tempo organ passages that sound so great.

High reverb piano keys open "Visions of Angels," a beautiful song that was originally written by Phillips for their debut but was re-recorded for Trespass. It is the most simple song on the album, featuring far less complex ideas compared to the rest of the album. The middle section of the song goes through a really nice chord progression over a choir. The end of the song is like all of the harder parts of "Looking for Someone" and "White Mountain" but stops less for acoustic sections, even adding some Mellotron. Definitely an underrated highlight. "Stagnation" is a full band workout, contributed to by all the band members. As one of the longer tracks on here, it goes through many movements, and ironically enough it was originally titled "Movement." It includes a very interesting pitch-shifting organ solo from Banks just before picking up the best part of the song dominated by some great Tony Banks organ works, which goes into a soft Gabriel passage. Although it is a bit long-winded, it's still a beautiful song.

"Dusk" is the softest song on the album and serves as a mild prelude to "The Knife" which closes the album. Although it is by no means a bad song, compared to the other cuts it is a little weaker, and is probably the worst song on the album. "The Knife" closes the album in dramatic fashion. This is my favorite song of the album and that's the case for most listeners of this album as well. Filled with amazing distorted Gabriel vocals, an insane Phillips guitar solo, and awesome keys from Banks, the song was written by the entire band. The song is based on the Kent State shootings where protestors chanting freedom were fired upon by police. "The Knife" quickly became a fan favorite, and it was the last song the band ever played together at their "6 of the best" reunion.

A truly wonderful album, and also the album that turned Genesis into Genesis. Although the drumming of Mayhew is nowhere near the drumming of Phill Collins in the future, Anthony Phillip's guitar is almost indiscernible from Hackett's playing on the later albums. Phillips would eventually develop stage fright and quit the band, going on to produce his own solo albums, and Mayhew was fired by the band. One of the most essential albums by Genesis, and it brought them to the next level which we all know and love.