Posts by Henry Hamilton-Smythe

Quote from thewatcher

Funny short description of the Lamb on loudersound.com :

"The mother, father, brother and second cousin of all album concepts is the simple tale of a New York kid who is turned into a fly on a car windscreen (novel beginning), then heads off on an epic journey during which his best day includes getting a topless massage from a trio of snake-babes (who he later eats).

His worst involves being castrated (without an anaesthetic) and being forced to join a colony of ‘slippermen’ who carry their balls around their necks in plastic tubes. Definitely not one for The Bumper Book Of Bedtime Stories. The music, by the way, is brilliant."

Obviously, the writer for Loudersound.com is unfamiliar with metaphor. At no time is Rael turned into a fly.

Finally got around to listening to this.

Boredom and almost annoyance was the primary listening experience.

Overarranged and overproduced. Roger King might be a good keyboard player, but I absolutely hate his arrangements.

Drumming sounds more mechanical than human.

The saxophone during the intro to one of the songs was far more annoying than amusing.

I’ve got every album Steve has recorded, and he’s released some amazing stuff over the years. But the last 4-5 albums have all been a total snooze fest….other than the acoustic one, that one was actually pretty good.

I’m sure I’ll still buy the next one.

Tony's just a very quiet person, very focused. In many interviews I've seen over the years, he's very friendly, but just a man of few words.

Quote from Dr. John

As mentioned above, Steve Hackett contributed the most albums by far.

I'm guessing that Anthony Phillips has almost as many studio releases as Hackett does, maybe even more. I've got at least 25-30 CDs by AP

Quote from FeelItComing

I can never work out if this is my favourite or second favourite album. I alternate it with We Can't Dance. If you took the best tracks from this & combined it with the best of We Can't Dance you would have an unqualifed masterpiece

Different strokes for different folks.

For me, if you took the best tracks from Abacab and the best from We Can't Dance, you'd have..........the Abacab album.

Quote from FeelItComing

Well, that was OK. No more, no less.

Exactly. I'm not overwhelmed by any of the three tracks so far.

But, I know I'll still buy the CD. Probably listen to it once, place it on the shelf, and forget all about it.

Another song released on Youtube, called 'Natalia'

You can hear just a little bit of the opening track 'The Obliterati' in this video here

Meh.

The guitar playing is good, the song is not. Sounds very 80s. The rhythm section lets this down. All of his recent stuff seems to be in the same vain rhythmically, and I'm not a fan.

Quote from thewatcher

I agree it's a great track but I think the vocal jump-start in Looking For Someone is even better. Especially considering what their experience to that point had been.

I would echo your surprise but with regards Musical Box instead.

I know I'm the one who brought up Moonlit Knight, but I would also have to go with Musical Box as my favorite opening song....possibly my favorite Genesis song of all.

But, Dancing with the Moonlit Knight would be in my top 10 Genesis songs as well.

Never could totally get into Down & Out....I think there's something about the odd rhythm that I could just never wrap my head around.

I'm surprised by the lack of love for Dancing with the Moonlit Knight. Sure, it's overshadowed on the album by Firth of Fifth and Cinema Show, but it's stunning it's own right.

The a capella opening just grabs the listener.

Some great musical interplay throughout the whole song, and Steve Hackett's playing is superb.

Geese & the Ghost, Sides, and Slow Dance are my three favorites.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Trick of the Tail

Selling England by the Pound

Foxtrot

Wind and Wuthering

Trespass

Nursery Cryme

From Genesis to Revelation

And Then There Were Three

Duke

Calling All Stations

Abacab

Invisible Touch

Genesis

We Can't Dance

Quote from Nanunami

It's a grower. I have problems with Another murder of a day, bit AIITD ist really a great "late career" track Tony did. People who like this one probably also like One man's fool a lot.

I love Another Murder of a Day.

Not sure which song you're referring to when you say "People who like this one probably also like One Man's Fool a lot". By "this one", do you mean Island in the Darkness or Another Murder of a Day?

FWIW, I don't care much for One Man's Fool, either. I don't dislike it, it's just kind of 'meh'

I don't get 'An Island in the Darkness'. I'm a huge Tony Banks fan and own all his solo work.

Pretty much all my favorite Genesis songs are the one's that Tony wrote.

But "An Island In the Darkness" does absolutely nothing for me. What am I missing? Sure, it's long. It's somewhat "proggy", but there's nothing interesting about it. IMHO.

I'll be damned. I just pulled out my vinyl version (gatefold sleeve) and it's exactly that way on mine, too.

I'm 100% with you....Apocalypse ends at "in blood, he's writing the lyrics to a brand new tune".....at least, that's the way I've always assumed it was.

Quote from Liquid Len

Hey Guys, just curious having never seen Steve in concert, what songs are considered fan favorites from his solo work that he plays at his concerts?

Every Day

Ace of Wands

Spectral Mornings

Clocks

For me, it's all the songs on Side 1. There's nothing on Side 2 that I'd add to my play list. I don't hate the songs, but I've got 25,000-30,000 songs, and not all of them can make the list.

I know a lot of people seem to really like 'It's Gonna Get Better', but the song does absolutely nothing for me. I remember hearing it before the album came out (flip side of the 'Mama' single). I was intrigued by the introduction, but once the song itself started, it completely lost me. I've certainly tried, but just can't get into it all. I'd rather listen to Who Dunnit.

Maybe it will grow on me, but not impressed with "Wingbeats" on first listen

Solsbury Hill, Humdrum, Modern Love.

Down the Dolce Vita was a very close 4th place. Also love Here Comes the Flood