FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

Can't say that I've really wanted to explore Genesis albums. Some months back I checked out "Prog" magazine's reader poll on the greatest prog albums of all time and noticed that Genesis were very prominent in that. In the past I've tended to avoid prog music, but recently I've been exploring it a little. Thought I'd start with Genesis at their start.

Bought the 2005 release of this, which has a bonus disc and Peter Gabriel's original liner notes. The sound quality is very good. Sometimes you get that faux stereo soundscape which albums at this time had, but it's not as annoying as in earlier Beatles albums. Both speakers do fill out. My bonus disc doesn't have the interviews on it which this particular version has, I think.

Musically, the songs are pleasant and pretty. Occasionally they're a little more rock. You get proggy instruments like violins and horns as well as brass instruments, piano and acoustic guitar. Thought I may have brought a new observation to the discussion of this album, but it's already been said...you can hear a Bee Gees influence on some of the tracks here. The other liner notes on the album acknowledge this fact (i.e. not the Peter Gabriel notes). The album itself is of the "concept" variety...biblical references etc. Not being a huge one for pouring over the lyrics and mythology of albums, I can't say how strong the concept is, but you do notice thematic coherence.

Initially I was planning on giving this album 4/5, but on second listen I marked down many songs which I liked...ones that hadn't really seemed particularly noteworthy on first listen. In other words, the album grew on me second time around, and I'd say it definitely has repeat listen value.

The best song (on second listen):

Am I very wrong? - piano and harpsichord intro, followed by pleasant singing. Nice and cool piano melody at the start. Acoustic guitar, nice horn and backing singing. Some 'sticky' percussion, if I can read my notes properly here.

Next best songs (on second listen):

In the wilderness - piano, violins, cello (?), pretty melody/chorus. Gets more rock with the drum later. Piano outro.

One day - acoustic guitar, violins, then gets stronger. A hooky, melodic song, in a Broadway musical kind of way (uplifting chorus etc.). Piano, nice brass, cello and backing vocals.

Window - piano, acoustic guitar, pretty horn, pleasant singing and a nice chorus. Pretty violins, backing vocals. A pretty, pleasant song.

Best of the rest (on second listen):

In the beginning - spacey synthesiser intro, then bassy track (double bass?) with acoustic guitar. Piano, poetic lyrics, electric lead guitar, wide stereo type vocals which are catchy.

The serpent - instrumental preamble (bongos, acoustic guitar then electric guitar) then a theologically 'interesting' story covering, in part, how women are "the vessel of Satan's hold". 'Sticky' percussion, backing vocals.

In hiding - nice acoustic guitar strumming and singing. Piano, pleasant singing and violins. Backing vocals have that touch of the Bee Gees I mentioned earlier. Pleasant chorus.

The rest:

Where the sour turns to sweet - found the lyrics to the album opener sappy but parts of it are pretty enough. Simple intro - a vocal invitation (found that lyric daggy), finger clicks, brass, piano, then strings (violins) and choral singing.

Fireside song - prelude, then pleasant music. Acoustic guitar, violins, nice vocals but more sappy lyrics. Harmonies.

The conquerer - the intro carries the melody from the previous track ("In the wilderness") goes into something new. Piano...a little bit funky and rock. Acoustic guitar. Tambourine, nce backing vocals.

In limbo - harpsichord and piano at the start, then the piano becomes stronger. Good horn, acoustic guitar note plucking, tambourine. Backing vocals, hand claps.

Silent sun - piano, sort of 1960s pop harmonising a la the Bee Gees. Violins, acoustic guitar.

A place to call my own - quiet piano and vocal song. Violins, horns, backing vocals.

Selected bonus tracks:

A winters tale - nice track...touch of the Righteous Brothers to it.

She is beautiful - another nice track.

Patricia - an instrumental version of "Am I very wrong?"

One-eyed hound - has Hendrix type licks on it. Cool backing vocals. Good song.

Recommendations from around this time:

Cream - Wheels of fire Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention - Freak out! The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground Bee Gees - (I don't know any of their studio albums...try something from before this Genesis release).

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