SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND

The cracks in the finish are beginning to show through here. First of all, the songwriting isn't quite as strong as the two that preceded it. Second, Banks for the first time uses the weedy, thin-toned ARP Pro-Soloist synthesizer sound. Lots of people consider this instrument part of the "classic" Genesis sound, but to me it just sounds like an electronic mosquito. Banks' synthesizer tones would improve immesurably once he got an ARP 2600, round about the time WIND & WUTHERING came out. Rather a pity that was about the time their quality control took a nosedive.

Cheesy synth sounds aside, this is still a fine album. Any band would be proud to have songs as strong as "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" and "Cinema Show". And of course "Firth of Fifth" is one of the most iconic, and much-imitated, progressive rock numbers of all-time. Banks' solo-piano intro and Hackett's emotional guitar solo are undeniable highlights of the progressive rock era.