FOXTROT

this is a true progressive rock album! 6 tracks, one most epic of epics, and plenty of imaginative lyrics. Mellotron is the first thing you'll hear when you put this one on, a good sign indeed! A masterpiece of progressive rock awaits, a pure and solid genesis album.

'watcher of the skies' is quite a catchy track. Prog isn't always catchy, but this one sure is! It begins with some mellotron sounds setting the stage for the entire album. It sounds quite romantic, a bit otherworldly. The melody in this song is rather simple, but it is this simplicity that makes it prog. sounds paradoxical I know, but really it isn't. The simple, repetitive melody of this song sounds quite fresh and original, sounding different than anything you've heard before. You know it's a prog song because it sounds so dreamy and out there! The lyrics help too. It's about the watcher of the skies. It's very enigmatic. It makes me think of staring at the evening sky looking for something, but you're not sure what you're looking for. It's an attractive, solid opener.

'time table' is the weakest track on the album, but that's not to say it is weak. It is difficult for most songs to stand up to the rest of this album. The only problem with this song is that it lacks a strong melody. The music, lyrics, and everything else are just fine, but this track is simply overshadowed by the towering tracks around it, one of them towering above the entire album...this one never displeases though. I think it is quite cleverly placed in the album though. It is sandwiched between the opener and the next track, which happens to be one of my top three favourite genesis tracks. As an opener it may have failed, but as the second track it holds up just fine. In no way does it detract from the album, but it just doesn't stick out at you like the other songs do. It's somewhat of a transition track.

'get 'em out by friday' is a genuine masterpiece! It has a strong instrumental hook and some excellent lyrics and vocals. It is also quite lengthy, containing all the theatrics and quirkyness of genesis, but this time delivered in a very dark way. It's about genetically altering people so that they may be no more than 4 feet tall, so housing can be made smaller to fit more people in one building. It shows how greedy landlords can be. This is really quite a deep and meaningful track, pure genius I say. This is prog at its finest! I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this song. It is heavy, beautiful, complex and simple all in one track. this track alone makes this a must have album, but even greater things are to come...

'can-utility and the coastliners' is is a very emotional track, still maintaining the heaviness of the previous track and adding a classical touch to the mix, something that is a genesis trademark. It opens with some of hackett's trademark 12 string guitar and some chimes. its has lyrics that seem to be religious, pertaining to the underlying theme of the album. it soon becomes quite epic sounding with some powerful bass and mellotron sounds to really get things going. The keyboards pretty much steal the show for the rest of the song, but that's a good thing in my book! Hackett also lays down some of his patented solo work that adds one of many special touches to genesis' overall sound. an excellent track indeed, if only it were longer!

'horizons' is a short classical guitar solo piece by hackett. It's a nice track to give you a breather before the monster epic that comes next. enjoyable and well placed, this one serves as a perfect transition track. It adds to the album in that it further establishes the classical influence on hackett, as well as the rest of genesis. somehow, fits perfectly.

'supper's ready' is one of prog's most widely recognized epics. This song always leaves me feeling amazed at how theatrical genesis is. It's more like some sort of epic story, or film than a song. there is some stunning musical imagery to be found here! The theme is good versus evil, a perfect set up for an epic. It is also the perfect song to close the album. It sums up all that is genesis and all that is foxtrot. This is simply a prog staple! several distinct movements, all with their own distinctive themes and melodies, all perfectly interwoven to create prog heaven! Chills run down my spine when I hear the epic conclusion to this musically journey! It is magic! This song itself could practically stand up as an album! Everything else is just like a wonderful bonus! This album is sooo absolutely essential! I could almost give it a 6, but no such rating exists. You see, it is off the scale! extraordinary! Thank you genesis for giving us one of the greatest prog albums of all time!!! 5/5+