Before it became synonymous with insipid 1980s synth-pop music, Genesis was one of the best English rock bands of the '70s. Six years after Genesis' formation, the band - comprised of Peter Gabriel on vocals, Steve Hackett on guitar, Michael Rutherford on bass, Tony Banks on keyboards, and Phil Collins on drums - reached its creative peak with its fifth album, 1973's Selling England By The Pound.
On Selling England, Genesis' trademark mix of classical music, English folk, jazz, and rock is seamlessly blended with Gabriel's elaborate, theatrical lyrics. Alternating between long compositions and shorter songs, Selling England is a well-paced album whose songs range from witty pop ("I Know What I Like") to poignant ballads ("More Fool Me") and breathtaking epics ("The Cinema Show").
"Dancing With The Moonlit Knight," the first track, sets the tone for the rest of the album. Addressing social decline in 1970's England, the song begins with a slow, mournful vocal sung by Gabriel that is quietly accompanied by the rest of the band. The song continues to build until it climaxes with a fast-paced, powerful instrumental section accentuated by Collins' virtuoso drumming, Rutherford's disciplined bass work, Bank's symphonic organ tones, and Hackett's intense guitar solos. Few bands can portray such extremes in dynamics in a convincing manner. However, Genesis handles the complex changes masterfully within the epic song.
The album continues with "I Know What I Like," a humorous pop song that tells the story of a daft lawnmower. With witty lyrics and a sublime melody, the song perfectly captures the mood of the album's cover painting.
Selling England's next song, "Firth Of Fifth," displays the band's strong classical influences. Opening with a baroque-styled piano solo, the song features excellent ensemble interplay throughout its many sections. It also features an aching, melancholy solo from Hackett. Arguably the musician's greatest solo, it makes one realize that Hackett is one of rock's most underrated guitarists.
"More Fool Me," the album's fourth track, is a stripped-down, intimate ballad whose vocals are only accompanied by a 12-string guitar. The first song to prominently feature Phil Collins singing lead vocals, "More Fool Me" foreshadows the band's later, simpler songs.
The album's longest track, "The Battle Of Epping Forest," is a convoluted tale about two rival gangs fighting for East-End protection rights in London. Throughout the song, Gabriel is the star of the show as he describes the scene with an absurdist British humor reminiscent of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus." He sings, "Along the Forest Road, there's hundreds of cars/luxury cars/Each has got its load of convertible bars, cutlery cars/superscars!"
"After The Ordeal" serves as a kind of instrumental postlude to Gabriel's theatrical story. Though a short piece, it displays the band's penchant for mixing British folk instrumentation with the power of rock music.
Ending the album is the moving "Cinema Show," whose lyrics are based on the words to T.S. Elliot's famous poem, "The Wasteland." One of the greatest songs the band has ever recorded, "The Cinema Show" contains all the best traits of Genesis in the 1970s: lush melodies, tight ensemble playing, beautiful solos, sophisticated lyrics, and excellent juxtaposition of dynamics. The song begins quietly with a delicate 12-string guitar pattern and Peter Gabriel's plaintive vocals. It eventually develops into a driving instrumental section, similar to that of "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight." Here, the band demonstrates its mastery of structured ensemble-oriented solos as Banks leads the band through a synthesizer solo that culminates in "Aisle Of Plenty," a reprise of the main theme of "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight."
On Selling England By The Pound, Genesis reached an artistic peak equaled by few other rock bands. The album is a groundbreaking example of how rock can transcend stylistic boundaries. As such, Selling England remains a classic to this day and should be a vital part of any rock fan's music collection. Forget what you heard in American Psycho. Without question, Selling England by the Pound is Genesis' masterpiece.
