NURSERY CRYME

I've been trying really hard to 'get' into this album but I just can't see the 'masterpiece' everyone here is talking about. It is so full of over-the-top theatrical vocals by Gabriel and cheesy lyrics that I just can't take it seriously. Musically, it's good, but not impressive. Mellotron dominates the record far too much, there are some good guitar parts but nothing really imperssive. The three 'epics' here - "The Musical Box", "Return of the Giant Hogweed" and "Fountain of Salmacis" - are of course the highlights. All have some memorable moments, but none of them is up to the standard of the following albums and I mean it - "Can-Utility and the Coastliners" in my book is a much better song than the hailed 'masterpiece' "The Musical Box". The remaining 4 shorter tracks are all throwaways, though . This is a transitional album, a bit (but not much) better than "Trespass" but still much weaker than "Foxtrot". Not essential by any means.