THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY

For the longest time, the wall was my favorite double disc prog album, but than I heard this unique album. Now its not perfect and in some ways it has bad similarities to The Wall. The bad being that Peter Gabriel is a bit Rodger Waters, but actually this album came out first, I believe, so Waters is a bit Gabriel. Yet I heard the wall first so to me I compare the bad in this to the bad in the wall. Like Waters after him Peter Gabreil insist on writing all the lyrics. Now like the wall the lyrical content on The Lamb is good. There are some really strong lyrics and a few bad ones. Yet like the Wall I can't help but imagine what The Lamb would be like if the other genius band members contributed lyrics. the second thing that relates thos two albums is how the keyboard is treated. I love Selling England by The Pound and I love Wish you Were Here. A big part of the reason why I love those albums is because of the great keyboard and synth work. Tony Banks and Richard Wright both shined on there respective albums, yet on The Lamb and The Wall they're held back some.

Now the comparisons end there, and in my mind The Lamb only has one other weakness, yet its not a completely band thing and I find that I always change my position on this issue. That issue is concept. The Wall is a lot more clear and easier to grasp than The Lamb. Sometimes I am frustrated by the fact that The Lamb is never completely clear, yet it is an album that is deep. The lyrics are full of poetic, cultural, religious, and philosophical references. Other times I enjoy the fact that is is not so clear. It is definetly an album that takes multiple listens to grasp, and each time i understand more but never completely.

Well now for the good. Over all the songs are great both in lyrical content and instrumentation. the album has great time changes, atmospheres and singing. The fact that the first half is cryptic prog rock tunes and the second half is more instrumental is something that I find very cool, unique and enjoyable.

This album is so close to a five. Some say it is overdone, to cryptic, to grandose, silly. Well I find that such has been the case with many prog albums and thats part of the reason why I've gotten into prog. Not everything in this great genre will fit with everyone, but it will strike people in different ways. The Lamb is one of those albums, really good but not for everyone.