FOXTROT

Foxtrot is a masterpiece, an epic of prog, avant-garde in complexity of this that and the other, etc... Not too much else to be added on top of the other reviews. Interestingly Foxtrot took me longer than any other Genesis album to get into (although I still haven't come fully into Trepass and post A Trick of the Tail).

The album is largely driven by the regal composition that is "Supper's Ready." And so I begin my discussion here. Moving through seven movements it is a veritable briefcase of styles and exploration. Peter Gabriel's vocals resonate more monumentally in this piece than any other Genesis song. (Well, maybe 'Musical Box' or 'DWTMK'). Parts of the song that I look particularly look forward to include part (ii)The Guarenteed Eternal Sancutary Man, the flute segueing into orchestral movement leading up to part (vi) The Apcalypse in 9/8, and finally ,the reprise of part (ii) where Gabriel sings "Lord of Lords, Kings of Kings... Jerusalem." (but permit me to regress briefly: what other music sounds anything like part (v) 'Willow Farm' when Genesis sings 'mum to mud to mad to dad' and the like)

'Watcher of the Skies' is a strong intro tune with easily agreeable riffs. 'Time Table' breaks into a softer more melody driven song. On a whole I think these two and 'Horizons' are the less noteworthy tracks although still strong.

'Get 'Em Out by Friday' is one of the first songs that I recognize as showcasing Gabriel's vocal ability. The variety of voices used during the song - including the theatrical - all stand out in my mind. In ways I feel some of the styles incorporated in 'Get 'Em' were later used in 'The Battle of Epping Forest,' which also indulge Gabriel. The dynamics contrasts are also timely and well executed.

'Can-Utility and the Coastliners' offers a lot in under 6:00 minutes. Some of my favorite Banks keyboards are featured near the end of this song. But one of my all-time favorite Genesis moments occures at time 1:08 of this song when Gabriel sings 'far from the north overcast ranks advance...' The vocal melody here strikes such a chord in me that I feel nostalgic and reminiscent for a past time - a mythical age somewhere in England emboldened by ramblers and wanderlust. And that is a bit odd considering I'm a university-aged American.

At the end of the day, Foxtrot is a masterpiece, an epic of prog, avant-garde in complexity and sophistication.