FOXTROT

Ahh, the incredible Foxtrot album. Here, we have another great album in the early Genesis canon. After acquiring their 2 virtuosos on the last album, the band went on to create this: some consider it their masterpiece, and others (such as myself) consider it one of many great works the band would produce.

The album opens with the menacing "Watcher of the Skies", with its characteristic mellotron intro. This is certainly a fan favourite (and it would open many Genesis concerts). With such a captivating opening, the band demands the listener's attention. The track is almost totally dominated by TB's keyboards!

Next, we have the somewhat weaker piano piece, "Time Table". I feel it doesn't hold up in the same way the other songs do, but it's still passable at least. There is some more than able keywork here, and PG's vocals complement these quite nicely. The song is relatively short, clocking in at just under 5 minutes.

The next track, "Get 'Em Out by Friday" bears the mark of PG's eccentricity (bizarre subject) and once again works as a vehicle for his theatrics. It has quite a grabbing beginning, with a juxtaposition of guitar and keyboards, and it moves on to a slower tempo (temporarily..hahaha!).

The next song, I believe, is a great underrated Genesis masterpiece: "Can-Utility and the Coastliners" starts off with gentle acoustic guitars accompanied by PG's vocals, but just before 2 minutes in, the tempo changes (to an almost urgent level), and the guitar is backed by some great drumming and mellotron. One could say, and I'm sure some have, that it's almost a condensed Genesis epic.

"Horizons" is a short interlude which ends the Side 1 and showcases SH's great acoustic guitar playing. One could easily compare it to Steve Howe's "Mood For a Day", except, while I enjoy Steve Howe's playing, "Horizons" seems more pleasant and relaxed. It also acts as a short buffer between the 2 sides, for what a side we have to come...

"Supper's Ready"! That 23 minute epic beloved by Genesis fans young and old. Very little is wrong with this track - the band plays as one; PG delivers some great vocals, backed by PC who also gives his best on the drums, TB's keyboards are present and compliment the others but don't intrude, MR's bass provides a stable foundation, and what I think really makes the track shine, SH's guitar...oooh. The song is almost a working definition for prog rock - gentle interludes, angry guitar, tinkly keyboards, folky flutes, evolving musical themes and tempos...it has it all. To top it all off, PG used to dress as a flower on stage!

Foxtrot represents some of the best of Genesis' early work. The band is obviously very confident, and the compositions are tighter than ever. I would recommend this to almost anyone.