Is anyone a Genesis fan? I've always enjoyed their Collins-era material (which spawns from the fact that I've always enjoyed Collins' solo work), but I just recently got into their prog stuff, and I must say it's freakin' amazing. I'm listening to Nursery Crymes right now and loving it. I put off Gabriel-era material by the band for so long, and now I'm punching myself for it.

Any other fans of Genesis, prog era or otherwise? Give some input on your favorite work by the band.

By far, I prefer the earlier albums with Peter Gabriel. Trespass, Foxtrot, Nursery Cryme, and Selling England By the pound are favorites. Not a big fan of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

I think the Best post-Gabriel albums are A Trick of the Tail, And Then There Were Three and Wind And Wuthering. They pretty much lose me after that.
I think the later songs Home by the Sea and Mama are great though.
I dislike Phil Collin's solo work.

It's kind of amazing how even after two of their core members left, they just kept getting more popular and successful. You would think that losing Peter Gabriel, and then later, their guitarist Steve Hackett, would've set them back, but they just kept gaining ground career-wise and kept up the quality of the music with the remaining members capably taking over the duties left vacant by the departed musicians.

I've always wondered where I could start listening to this band, as I've been on a Prog rock kick lately. I'd prefer something from the Gabriel era since what I've heard of the Collins era isn't what I'm interested in.

Nursery Cryme, that's THE shit!!! So happy to see some appreciation for that album outside progarchives, whose members swear by that album anyway. I have lost count of how many times I listened to The Musical Box, Hogweed and Salmacis last two months, can't get enough of these three mini-epics at the moment. It follows that Cryme through to SEBTP is my favourite phase of the band but I love everything from Trespass to Wind and Wuthering. There's got to be either Gabs or Hackett in the lineup, after W&W, there were ONLY three and that's a big only for me.

I have to say I am not too happy about the rather lukewarm views Collins, Banks and Rutherford now have about the Gabriel phase, especially coming from Banks, it is rather ingenuous because he was always the center of songwriting contributions in the band. Then again, I see Collins go red with resentment as Gabriel kicks off a live performance of Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, elaborate costume and all, and wonder whether they were just waiting for him to go to sell out and play the pop music they always loved so much more, heart of hearts. I don't mean to offend you, seeing as you listened to their pop albums and Collins solo first. Well, whatever, I am happy that Hackett still has fond memories of that phase and pays eloquent tribute to it time and again live, should get that Once Above A Time DVD one of these days. Indeed, even for all of Gabs's charisma and passionate renderings of their songs, I wouldn't be much of a Genesis fan without Hackett's unique and mesmeric style of guitar. He doesn't need to play face melting solos, because his very tone melts my heart in a jiffy.

Start with Selling England By The Pound, their most accessible from the Gabriel era and also their best. A Trick of The Tail is an excellent Collins era album and is in fact so close to the style on the Gabriel albums that if you like one, you have to like the other.

i definitely second that last post.
the title track for Selling England is amazing, as well as I Know What I Like (In your Wardrobe).
also, my dad has huge phil collins influences. his favorite band by far.
i guess its in my blood to like good music

You mean Dancing...by the title track, I am sure. Man, I love that acappella - did I spell right? - intro. Have you seen the video of I know what I like...from around 73-74? Hilarious, Gabriel is a real character on stage.

I like the album We Can't Dance (except for the title track), but apart from that I haven't heard much of their other material.

Anyway, those of you Genesis fans who also listen to a lot of prog - that would be most of you - , what other prog rock bands do you like? As for myself, it's Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, EL&P, VDGG, Gentle Giant, Renaissance, Rush and Marillion. There's a few others but this is the stuff I repeat a lot.

Genesis is great, but I only really listen to Gabriel-era Genesis. As far as prog rock goes, I'd say Genesis and ELP are my favourites, but I dig Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull and the like.

Genesis is a fantastic band, I love all their prog rock albums. My favourite probably is Selling England which contains some of the best prog tunes I've ever heard in my life, like Firth of Fifth. Nursery Cryme is quite good too, especially because of The Musical Box, and Foxtrot is also very enjoyable. Ah, and Trick of the Tail is in fact a very underrated piece, it contains shorter but still excellent songs. I have to check out The Lamb though, I guess I'll enjoy it too.

Still, Yes > Genesis.
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Now playing: Fates Warning - Guardian

Come on, that's their worst record!

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Now playing: Fates Warning - Guardian

This. The first three on their are actually some of their best songs, especially Entangled, one of my favorites. Such amazing keyboard towards the end!



I would check it out as soon as possible! It's got some weird stuff on it and its slightly different, but it's not a collection of stupid half-song like, say, The Wall.

Delightful to see such a thread. Genesis is actually one of my favorite bands ever. In these past few days, I have had tunes from "Selling England By The Pound" (particularily "Fifth of Fifth") and "Wind and Wuthering" (particularily "Blood on the Rooftops") playing in my head for the majority of the time. That second song I mentioned, "Blood on the Rooftops" just evokes such an amazing atmosphere that wasn't conveyed by Genesis in the past or any band for that matter. It reminds me of bed time stories with a fantasy kind of outline in the background, but giving a very 'hazy' feel to it.

However, my favorite Genesis album has to be "Foxtrot" hands down. "Supper's Ready" is just an excellent 25 minute epic and various parts come to me at various times, but always stays with you since it has so much meat to it. One of the most rememberable parts of the song would be the Willow Farm movement, particularily the short little section following the guy yelling "ALL CHANGE!". Another great song on that album would have to be the opening track, "Watcher of the Skies". The mellotron is just FANTASTIC and it exploits how effective mellotrons can be used if they are used properly and boy, are they used properly here! "Get 'Em Out By Friday" is another song worthy of mentioning on Foxtrot just seeing how the story is behind it, and the personalities of each character are shown through the moods of the music.

Having said that, the Gabriel era is definately the era but when Phil Collins took over as the lead vocalist, the first 2 albums of that era were pretty good (being "Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Wuthering" which I have already expressed my love for). While I have listened to Nursery Crimes a few times now, something didn't really click with me as Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound did, but I still really enjoy the song called "The Musical Box". I haven't heard "The Lamb That Lies Down on Boradway", but I heard it was pretty pale in comparison to the prior albums. That will be next on my agenda though.

Great to see such a love for good progressive rock here. You guys are awesome.

Great list! Those are some of my favorite bands, especially Genesis, Gentle Giant, and VDGG. Its good to see other people on this forum like prog as much as I do.

Has anyone else seen 'The Musical Box' preform? They're a gabriel-era genesis cover band. I saw them recently during their Selling England by the Pound tour, and I must say they are absolutely incredible. They played supper's ready, the entire SEBTP album, as well as several tracks from the musical box and the knife. Definitely go see them if you're at all interested in Genesis, they are fantastic.

'Foxtrot' is my favorite album, I think. Unbelievable band though.

I don't think I will ever get to see Musical Box and I am not at all interested in a Genesis concert without Hackett or Gabriel, particularly Hackett. I can tell you this though: I had once seen a video of Firth of the Fifth from the Gabriel days and was surprised to see Banks playing that piano intro - I believe it was taken off from live performances after Banks messed it up live a few times or something. Anyway that video was incomplete - they had snipped out the guitar solo - and two days back I looked for some Firth videos again and stumbled on the same one. This time, I read the caption correctly, "Musical Box plays Firth of The Fifth". They really have the get up, mannerisms, everything down pat and it's very easy to mistake them for Genesis, which I did.

My problem with those - Trick and W&W - albums is that Collins tries to sing like Gabriel as much as possible. This was initially an attraction for me but I soon realized that it robs the albums of personality which the Gabs albums had in spades. I have come to like his singing much better in Squonk, the title track of Trick and Eleventh Earl of Mar though they are not really my favourite songs from these albums, except the last one. Again, Squonk reminds me of I Know What I Like and Eleventh Earl is a more elaborate, proto-neo Watcher of The Skies but at least he's trying, I give him that.

Do give Cryme and Lamb more chances, I actually like Cryme more than Foxtrot much as I love Supper's Ready. And Lamb is anything but pale, the title cut, Fly On A Windshield and In The Cage kick serious arse while Chamber of 32 doors and Lamia are creations of divine beauty. If anything, it is marred by the amount of instrumental noodling to fill in between songs, sort of like The Wall.

No way, but who cares, Yes is so awesome too, especially Fragile and CTTE. And I found that Going For The One and Drama are heaps than PA would have us believe, esp Going for..., worth four stars for the beautiful Awaken alone.

By the way, saintinhell, do you still consider Camel an average prog band or you changed your mind?

Really haven't changed my mind at all, except that I have found to my dismay that that brand of smooth prog was much sought after in Continental Europe, denting my enthusiasm for exploring European - as in French/Spanish - prog considerably. I believe there was a Renaissance v/s Camel poll once on PA and predictably the majority voted for Camel. Well, I can only go at that. Latimer's wonderful solos beget respect and adoration, other than that, nothing. I have nothing against smooth prog, except that I personally don't want smooth prog and don't find it at all interesting. Bombast, give me prog with truckloads of bombast and I am happy.

I just got Nursery Cryme, which is my first Genesis album. I'm warming up to it, but it didn't immediately click with me like Yes, Tull, Rush, or ELP did. Collins is a very entertaining drummer, especially on "Return Of The Giant Hogweed", and Tony Banks is all over the place (in a good way), but Gabriel is a little meh.

I love everything from Foxtrot to Duke, not so familiar with stuff outside that period. Mind, I think Genesis' brand of pop wipes the floor with most other forms. Some of their acting in the 80s videos is cringeworthy though.

Well, they aren't - contrary to some prog purists painting them as too melodic or whatever - really the most accessible proggers out there and Nursery Cryme is an uphill ride first up, probably the most intricate of their albums. I'd suggest you to try Selling England By The Pound instead, if the Firth of The Fifth guitar solo can't get you to like Genesis, nothing else will.

So I went on a gigantic Genesis listening escapade earlier this morning. I listened to Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, and Selling England by the Pound and enjoyed all of them thoroughly.

Right now, I think that Nursery Cryme is my favorite, although Foxtrot was epic on its own merit for "Supper's Ready." The other albums will probably take some more time to sink in, but I love all three of the albums. It will definitely take some more concentrated listening to really appreciate it all, but I can't believe I missed out on the band's early stuff for so long.

You bet, you are going to be on one long Genesis trip now, once you break the ice, their songs have astonishing repeat value. Probably not a day in the last few months has gone by for me without a Genesis song.

I too joyously emerge from the woodwork as a gigantic prog rock fan. Genesis are a great band, though as of yet they're not one of my favourites. That's not saying much though; I love prog. In my usual style I only have one album of theirs, "Selling England by the Pound", and it's a recent purchase (I always tend to go at things rather haphazardly) so it's on my playlist and will undoubtedly grow on me. Actually, I'm putting it on now...

On the matter of other prog, I enjoy Yes, Gryphon, Caravan, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Marillion and Eloy most of all at the moment.

Actually, this Genesis album is fucking brilliant! The thread has won.

He he, get yourself some more Genesis, you have started with the right album though, has to be said! Marillion - Fish or Hogarth era? Haven't heard anything from the Hogarth era, love all the Fish era albums but first one was the best, followed by Misplaced Childhood.

Fish for me as well, the emotion and intensity of his vocals I think really nicely complements the music. As with you I have't heard the Hogarth stuff but I don't really feel the need to really either. Marillion without Fish?! Somehow that just seems wrong to me...

So I'm up to "The Battle of Epping Forest" and loving it so far. I think this album has clicked... "Firth of Fifth" was totally spectacular.

Torwilligous, glad to see you've mentioned Gryphon, they are simply awesome really. "Red Queen..." is one of my favourite prog rock albums, bearing lots of similarities with classical music which is a plus. It's a shame they are so damn underrated. And yeah, Eloy rules! I've only heard one of their albums though, the one with Poseidon (I think it's him) in the artwork, can't exactly remember the name of the record now and I'm too lazy to search for it. Eloy's singer has a rather funny accent though.

About Battle of Epping Forest, well, in fact that's my least favourite song out of Selling England (barring I know what I Like ). Firth of Fifth and Cinema Show are both spectacular though. And Aisle of Plenty too. Ah, and Dancing with... is also awesome, great drumming, Phil! In fact there's a section on that song that surprisingly sounds like Iron Maiden to me.

About Marillion, I've only heard Misplaced Childhood and I didn't like it that much.

You can’t go wrong with any Gabriel era Genesis, but the Collins era has a lot of good material too. The later albums get more pop oriented, but those albums still have some great deep cuts. "Domino" owns left, right, and center and is one of my favorite songs from the band.

I saw them on their tour last year and they were great live. I had to laugh because songs like “Invisible Touch” and “We Can’t Dance” were big with the crowd, but they didn’t translate live well. “The Music Box” kicked serious ass though, and even “Home by the Sea” sounded great. They can’t be to down on their older material to much since they featured a number of Gabriel era songs and even ended the show on “Carpet Crawlers”.

Yet to look up Gryphon and Eloy, I don't know why I am so busy trying to break into Italian prog. Hey, I love Epping and I know What I like, especially since I saw the video of the latter, but well, I am a Gabs freak. Dancing is my favourite too, Phil and Hackett touching and even surpassing their Musical Box heights. If you are interested in jazz fusion, you should look up Brand X. What Abominatrix said to me, I will say to you, you haven't heard Phil till you've heard Brand X. Nuclear Burn. As for Marillion, try Script..Misplaced Childhood is a concept album and all concept albums are dodgy.

I have an equal love for Metal and Prog. I have mentioned a couple of times, here on MA, that I'm a huge prog rock fan. Of course I have a love and deep respect for Gabriel-era Genesis, being one of the first prog bands I got into. My favorites are Foxtrot and Selling England. Trespass is great, so is Nursery Cryme and The Lamb (hard to get into but gets better with each listen). Trick of the Tail is pretty good and Wind & Wuthering is the last worthy album for me. I recently acquired the 1970-1975 box set which features Trespass to The Lamb in remixed and remastered versions. The new mixes bring out clarity of the individual instruments, especially on the drums and vocals. Most of it is really good although purists should stick with the original LPs (or the '95 definitive editions on CD). The box set also features all the albums in a new 5.1 surround mix (Supper's Ready in 5.1 is divine!:bow:) as well as live videos, most of which have only been released as bootlegs. Any of you guys heard those new remixes? What do you think of it?

As for other prog rock bands, I'm a huge (HUGE!:D) Gentle Giant fan. I also like many bands and styles such as VDGG, PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Area, Arti e Mestieri, Bubu, Circus(Switzerland), Comus, Harmonium, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Maneige, Museo Rosenbach, Quella Vecchia Locanda, Rush, Spaced Out, Talisma.
I made quite a few recommandations in a thread about a year ago called Obscure prog. Check it out.

^^^^^^

Just listened to Banco's third album - my first of Banco - yesterday night. Beautiful stuff, perhaps the best piano I have heard in prog! PFM was okay, a bit too smooth for my taste, got a long way to go yet, I have liked prog for sometime but it was only last year that I finally gave it a wholehearted embrace and decided I should chuck everything else for sometime if I don't want to deny myself the pleasure of such wonderful music. I am like you, I like both metal and prog but somehow the marriage of both - prog metal - proves uncomfortable to behold!

EDIT: I am also a huge, huge Gentle Giant fan. If not SEBTP, it would be In a Glass House from 1973 from me! Same with Octopus and Foxtrot, though there's CTTE to reckon with too.

Went through that thread, nice recommendations, familiar with some of them. Of that list, Bacamarte and the two Italian Bs were the ones I liked most, as you mentioned, superb guitarwork on that Bacamarte album. Would like some more recommendations from the French and Spanish scene and also from the German scene ( other than Krautrock). The only French band I have heard so far was Atoll (Araignee Mall album), liked it a lot. Likewise, my only taste of German prog is Novalis's s/t, eh, alright, wasn't too highly impressed.

Indeed! Io Sono Nato Libero is one hell of an album! Darwin is pretty good too.
What album did you listen to? L'isola di Niente (their 3rd) is a bit heavier, maybe you should check it out.
Well I really like both and that includes prog metal, but I prefer really heavy prog metal to that "on the fence" rock/metal/prog. Among my favorites Edge of Sanity-Crimson, Spiral Architect, Psychotic Waltz, Opeth, Voivod-Dimension Hatross/Nothingface.


Also forgot to mention my latest discovery in my previous post:
Anglagard. Great swedish band from the early 90s, with a great vibe a la Wetton/Bruford-era King Crimson. Great dynamics, like really soft and really loud sections, and a truly killer mellotron make it sound like vintage 70's prog with a slight modern feel. Their albums sell for a high price on eBay, good luck finding them.

Per Un Amico.



Me too, I like what passes for tech/extreme prog on PA much better than the melodic prog metal stuff.





Anglagard was alright, didn't live up to expectations, thank God I didn't order it and downloaded as I usually do. Man, my aunt comes over next week, had given her a list of the more popular prog classics, hopefully she's got one at least out of them. Fragile is the only classic Yes album I have ever seen in stores in India, the tragedy of living in a place where even hard rock is an elite taste. Oh well, can't have the best of everything in one lifetime!

Yeah, same here, I've checked them out a while ago and they weren't that good, I was expecting a much better band, especially after reading all those reviews on progarchives.
Aaaah, glad to see Bacamarte mentioned, it's a shame they've only released one record, because it just kicks ass! Beautiful, really!

I've heard my first Gentle Giant record two days ago, it was The Power and The Glory, can't say I've enjoyed it that much, even though there were a couple of songs that sounded really good. I also got In a Glass House yesterday, so I'll give it a try. And regarding italian prog, I really have to check out Premiata Forneria Marconi, since they are coming here next year (together with Focus and THE TANGENT ). As for Banco, I really like Darwin, especially that first song, it's catchy.
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Now playing: Genesis - The Musical Box

"I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. Sussudio, a great, great song, is a personal favorite."

Actually even I can't really get Power and The Glory, their usual energy is missing on this one. I hope the very intro to Runaway will get you hooked to In A Glass House. Experience, In A Glass House, Way of Life are all awesome songs too, they are really unlike any other prog band, at least speaking of the British biggies.

its about 8 am here i just smoked a bowl and was seriously about to come in here and make some obscure sega reference...jesus im a retard sometimes...