Genesis, Nursery Cryme and their critics

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   I think it’s because RS is very much a US magazine, and Genesis are very much an English band. Yes, the other bands you mention that RS did appreciate are also English - but they don’t sound so English. Genesis epitomises Englishness. They are subtle, polite and pastoral. ELP, King Crimson and Yes (as mentioned in the OP), on the other hand, regardless of how layered and nuanced their sound might be, are rather more direct and in your face.
I don’t think it’s quite the case now, but certainly in the past a lot of English media simply went over the heads of US audiences. Many people over the years have commented about how UK comedy would be subtle and ironic, while US comedy was more slapstick and simple. That’s not a criticism of either, by the way. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. But I do think this could be a rather big reason why Genesis were not appreciated at the time by RS, when other prog bands from the UK were…

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nick_h_nz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Prog Metal / Heavy Prog Team Joined: March 01 2013 Location: Suffolk, UK Status: Offline Points: 6737	Post Options Post Reply Quote nick_h_nz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 14 2021 at 02:24
	I think it’s because RS is very much a US magazine, and Genesis are very much an English band. Yes, the other bands you mention that RS did appreciate are also English - but they don’t sound so English. Genesis epitomises Englishness. They are subtle, polite and pastoral. ELP, King Crimson and Yes (as mentioned in the OP), on the other hand, regardless of how layered and nuanced their sound might be, are rather more direct and in your face. I don’t think it’s quite the case now, but certainly in the past a lot of English media simply went over the heads of US audiences. Many people over the years have commented about how UK comedy would be subtle and ironic, while US comedy was more slapstick and simple. That’s not a criticism of either, by the way. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. But I do think this could be a rather big reason why Genesis were not appreciated at the time by RS, when other prog bands from the UK were…
	Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect

dr prog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: September 25 2010 Location: Melbourne Status: Offline Points: 2511	Post Options Post Reply Quote dr prog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 14 2021 at 02:13
	Rolling Stones sucks. I don’t really like Nursery much though apart from Hogweed
	All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.

omphaloskepsis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 19 2011 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 6349	Post Options Post Reply Quote omphaloskepsis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 13 2021 at 16:02
	I don't care what Rolling Stone Magazine says. Rolling Stone Mag is the Woody Hayes of rock critics. Three cords and a cloud of dust. Love punk/Hate prog. Nursery Crime is my favorite Genesis album. It was a masterpiece then and it's a masterpiece now. Edited by omphaloskepsis - November 14 2021 at 12:07

Philchem8 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 12 2021 Location: Ottawa Status: Offline Points: 231	Post Options Post Reply Quote Philchem8 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 13 2021 at 15:08
	On November 11, Rolling Stone magazine posted an interesting article celebrating the 50th anniversary of Genesis' Nursery Cryme, ironically an album that received a mediocre review from Rolling Stones when it was released. The article's author acknowledges this rather negative review, yet attempts to justify or make excuses for it, rather than just admit Rolling Stones was wrong. No serious attempt is made to reassess the album though he recognizes The Musical Box is masterpiece. In fact, Nursery Cryme is of course seen as a milestone in progressive rock, notably ranking #13 on this web site among the top 100 albums and was voted #40 of progrock albums by readers of Prog magazine. The negative reception by "professional critics" of early Genesis was not limited to Rolling Stone or Nursery Cryme. Tresspass was of course even more dismissed by music critics both at the time and retrospectively. Only by the time of Foxtrot did critics start become more favourable to Genesis, but even then, Rolling Stone rated Selling England By the Pound 2/5 stars. So question is, why were early Genesis albums now considered classics relatively under-appreciated by critics? This was not necessarily a lack of appreciation for prog-rock itself as early prog albums by ELP, King Crimson and Yes were generally well received by critics. But when it came to Genesis, it seems the critical establishment had a blind spot. Such blind spots are of course not limited to Nursery Cryme or Genesis, but I thought this would be a good way to frame this discussion.