The secret of some of Genesis's best pieces?

Often Genesis songs have short typical minor/major pop chords sequences (albeit played folky) that get interrupted by untypical placed chords, that would otherwise be more likely to appear in a jazz piece. Like in jazz-pieces the off-scale chord sequences are constructed so that they do eventually lead to the root chords in a pleasing way. The unexpected chord often adds to the majestic feel, whereas the poppy parts work to engage the listener emotionally.

Songs often shuffle between imminent/darker parts in minor to mellow major parts.

Genesis is one of my fav bands because they groove--so does Yes---I can take prog bands that don't of course but my fav ones always do---and genesis is on top of the list...

Rick Beato's talked about this several times.

The secret? It's just good music.

^ Hmm. One of those rare cases where the music makes up for the production?

Sean Trane wrote: SteveG wrote: The secret? It's just good music.   Yup, but too bad the recording (production) of these albums are so imperfect. It's always a bit cringe-inducung putting Cryme, Foxtrot and SEBTP on after a Floyd or Supertramp album.  I mean sonically they're so awkward.  Does anyone else feel that way?

Try and get your hands on the 'Remixed' versions from the Box set. HUGE difference in fidelity. One of the few remix packages that elevates the music to a whole new level.

Look at how innovative they were. The solo on Dancing with the Moonlit Knight featured not one, but two innovative guitar techniques that really moved rock music forward. The first is two handed tapping, later popularized by Van Halen, Jeff Watson and others, and the other is sweep picking, developed most notably by Yngwie Malmsteen / Steve Vai / Tony Macalpine and then later by people like Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet, and Vinnie Moore. Now it should be pointed out that jazz guitarists used these techniques before this, but Steve Hackett was among the first to apply them to rock. To have both in one solo at that point in time was highly creative.

Genesis were one of the most democratic of bands both in their compositional credits and their instrumental writing. This is abundantly illustrated on something like Cinema Show where no single individual dominates as the 'spotlight soloist' over the rest. All the band are employed in the creation of a multi layered and ever changing dynamic 'whole' and this set them apart from so many of their contemporaries. The overriding priority here is always melodic whether in statement or enhancement and of all the Prog giants it was perhaps Genesis who were least guilty of virtuosity as a end in itself.

(You mean they don't disappear up their own backsides on the solos?) Yep.

Frenetic Zetetic wrote: Tony Banks.

Yep - Banks is their weapon. And I do prefer Genesis over Yes....