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41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Liquid Len and his Smashed Bottle Men, April 23, 2005
I listened to Genesis obsessively while in graduate school and this 1973 recording was always a favorite. For me, Selling England by the Pound represents everything about progressive rock that I hold near and dear: intricate ensemble work, virtuosic musicianship, cool synthesizer sounds (ARP Pro Soloist!), and "hummable" melodies. I know the "hummable" melodies thing will raise a few eyebrows, but they are nice to have around and there is no shortage of them on this recording.
There is a mixture of long and short pieces on Selling England by the Pound, which range from quiet acoustic pieces to full-blown, over the top, prog extravaganzas. The longer pieces include Dancing with the Moonlit Knight (8'03"), Firth of Fifth (9'37"), The Battle of Epping Forest (11'44"), and The Cinema Show/Aisle of Plenty (12'41"). Sandwiched in-between the longer pieces is the poppy I Know What I Like (in 1974, it reached #21 in England), More Fool Me, which is an acoustic piece with Phil Collins on vocals, and After the Ordeal, which is a short instrumental written by guitarist Steve Hackett. Each of the longer pieces are excellent examples of their highly disciplined ensemble approach to arrangements, which include pre-composed solos and display the use of a few carefully placed chords that make the transition between sections in different keys seamless. The transitional chords and mellow 12-string acoustic guitar parts, along with smooth synthesizer and guitar tones, a full Rickenbacker bass sound from Mike Rutherford, and the ability of excellent drummer Phil Collins to make even a 5/4 seem natural impart an unhurried, warm, and intimate feel to the whole recording.
Based on what I have read, writers block plagued Genesis during the recording period even though Selling England by the Pound is conceptually sound (it comments on English class structure) and it is only Firth of Fifth that suffers from a dodgy lyric. Furthermore, keyboardist Tony Banks expressed irritation with vocalist Peter Gabriel's decision to plaster lyrics over the entirety of the already busy The Battle of Epping Forest. So many lyrics in fact, that Peter reportedly ran out of breath during live performances of the song.
Although the sound quality of this 1994 remaster is not nearly as good as my old LP, it is superior to the sound quality of the version of Selling England by the Pound included in the recently reissued 1970-1975 box set.
In spite of it all, the guys in Genesis came through with a remarkable recording of progressive rock - one that I return to again and again. Very highly recommended.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Progressive rock - done right., July 10, 2002
Chances are any die-hard fan of 70s prog knows this album already and won't even need to read these comments. Genesis in their early years were one of the most outlandish and imaginative (not to mention musically talented) groups out there, and Selling England is arguably the finest representation of the band while Peter Gabriel was still in it. The whimsical lyrics and ten-minute songs that marked the genre are plentiful here, but not excessive; they're rooted in ear-pleasing melodies and arranged in an almost classical manner. (Check the wonderful piano intro to "Firth of Fifth" or the heartfelt guitar solo.) They also offer some shorter gems (the peaceful piano/flute-led "After the Ordeal," the simple strumming of "More Fool Me") that it wouldn't take a proghead to enjoy, and "I Know What I Like" was the group's first single to break onto the charts. I'd recommend this as the first early Genesis disc for those who are just learning of their life beyond Phil Collins. Incidentally, Phil's drumming is inventive, layered and well-executed over all their early albums. I wish he'd remember it sometimes.Though it's a holy grail of sorts among its cult fan base, this still isn't an album for everyone; there are lots of organs and keyboards scattered around, the music ranges from simple to dauntingly complex, and the lyrics at times can seem downright silly. I'll add that it was the record of theirs most grounded and down-to-earth; where previous efforts went through historical settings to fairy tales and futuristic landscapes, this one is distinctly English all over. It's consistent from the British slang words through "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" to the fading-out of the final track in a melange of store signs, green grocers and scrambled eggs. If the album's title seems a little sarcastic.. you'd never know it from the nicely singable melodies, but these were some of the most witty and cynical guys the rock world has ever seen. "Firth of Fifth" compares humanity to a tumor on the landscape, and to sheep refusing to free themselves. "The Battle of Epping Forest" introduces us to a colorful cast of East End thugs and robbers before gleefully killing them all. "Moonlit Knight" seems to give snapshots of the old British empire slowly falling apart due to petty squabbling and greed. Somehow, though, it never sounded so fun before. Through a variety-packed 53 minutes the boys paint pictures of their green homeland, giving everything their own distinct shades of humor, bawdiness, sadness and rustic charm. Look into Foxtrot if you like this one, then perhaps tackle the mammoth acid trip of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I can't say what's best for anyone else, but I know what I like.
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE Genesis Masterpiece, December 9, 1999
For those people who only know Peter Gabriel for his pop song "Sledgehammer", who think Genesis and Phil Collins are pop/rock musicians only, or those who don't have respect for them for being pop/rock superstars... Genesis besides being pop rock superstars, they were Art-Progressive Rock superstars in the 70's, and such albums like Foxtrot ,Nursery Cryme and the masterpiece The lamb lies down on Broadway prove it. But by far, the best record ever made by Genesis is this one, Selling England by the pound. The reason: They sound like a band, everybody has the opportunity to show their talents. Peter Gabriel's dramatic voice and a flute as dramatic as his voice. Steve Hackett, with his over the top guitar, almost Van Halenish sound, with complex and lyrical solos. Mike Rutherford showing he is great in the rhythm section with his precise bass lines. Tony Banks with his classical influenced keyboards that give the whole atmosphere to the recording and Phil Collins as the great drummer he is, with complex rhythms and a great background and lead vocalist. Along with Close to the edge by Yes, In the court of the crimson King by King Crimson, Aqualung by Jethro Tull ,Emerson Lake & Palmer's debut album, and Pink Floyd's Dark side of the Moon, this one is one of the essential recordings for those who are interested in the British Progressive Rock era. Sure, Genesis made some of the best pop songs in the 80's, but in the 70's they made their best music, and this album is a statement of that.
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