NURSERY CRYME

To compare "Nursery Cryme" to the next album "Foxtrot" is very embarrassing, because "Foxtrot" is just simply PERFECT! Well, one thing is sure, I won't give 5 stars for "Nursery Cryme". Nevertheless, fer sure the album deserves a high rate!

The record is full of majestic mellow moments, followed with darker aggressive parts, full of fast drums and incisive guitars. This record is not very shiny, and the sound is rather gross and coarse. The weakest point is IMO Collins' unrefined drums and exaggerated cymbals strokes. I noticed that HACKETT's electric guitar has many strange effects; plus, the keyboards are rather dark. I like the omnipresent delicate acoustic guitars. GABRIEL's voice is very simple, and sometimes he seems to directly sing in your ears! "For Absent Friends" and "Harlequin", featuring Collins' excellent vocals, are strong points of this album: the miscellaneous melodic acoustic guitars sound like the beginning of "Supper's Ready", and the overall sound is less dark, more shiny.

"The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" sounds interesting when the piano begins and when the electric guitar sounds like a violin! I like the early CRIMSON-esque "Seven Stones": WOW! The flute, the floating intense mellotron: the song is VERY catchy! "Harold The Barrel" is the only joyful moment of the record: funny and very rythmic! The only epic track which I really like from beginning to the end is the very air changing "Fountain of Salmacis", despite it is still rather dark and coarse. The bass sounds very bottom and like carton paper at the end (2 consecutive notes). The contemplating backing vocals at the end are excellent.

Rating: 4.5/5