October 6, 1972 - Foxtrot

Just under a year since "Nursery Cryme", Genesis have finally retained the same line-up for two albums in a row when they released their fourth album "Foxtrot" on October 6, 1972. The band had started to gain some success with their last album, but had still yet to chart in either the U.S. or U.K....until this album. They moved on from their previous producer due to personal differences and tried 3 others before settling on producer Dave Hitchcock. Genesis also join the club of bands that have made a song over 20 minutes long, with several interconnected sections. Although it doesn't quite take up the whole side of the record, this makes Genesis the last of the Big 6 Progressive Rock (the others being Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Jethro Tull and Yes) bands to join this special club. Let's check it out!

Side one kicks off with "Watcher Of The Skies" which opens with a slow Mellotron intro by Tony Banks that sounds very haunting indeed. The rest of the band finally joins in and Peter Gabriel sings very quickly along with the music. Cool guitar and bass by Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford respectively carries this part. Banks plays various different keyboards throughout the song, and it sounds very epic for sure. The next song is titled "Time Table" and has Banks leading with a cool piano riff. I think Gabriel's singing is great with this style, but that the slow piano solo by Banks is just alright. This song is good but never really demands your attention, like the next song "Get 'Em Out By Friday" does.
Banks plays more cool keyboards in the opening and the lyrics are based on an actual dispute Gabriel had with his landlord. He does different voices for different characters, starting as the angry landlord wanting to kick people out. He then does his worker, as well as the poor tenants being evicted. Hackett plays some cool guitar throughout the song as does Rutherford with some great bass. A syntheziser solo by Banks is pretty good, as he continues playing lots of great keyboards. It moves tona quiet part with flutes by Gabriel backed by more cool bass. More new voices as well, as we hear an expert and a director as Gabriel definitely seems like he's having fun with all these different voices. The cool flutes continue, and we hear one more verse from the landlord, followed by a cool ending. The final track on this side is called "Can-Utility And The Coastliners" and Hackett plays a really nice guitar riff, with Mellotron as well. Gabriel's singing is really good once again, and Hackett starts a new riff that takes off with some epic keyboards by Banks. It's an awesome instrumental bit that has short solos on bass, keyboards and guitar! A pretty solid finish to this side.

Side two begins with a short song called "Horizons" and it's a beautiful true guitar solo by Hackett. It sounds really good for just over a minute-and-a-half, and this is a cool little Hackett solo show. The rest of the side is taken up by the 23-minute epic "Supper's Ready", which is broken into seven parts, but like any good progressive song, Genesis do a great job of connecting the different parts. Hackett's nice guitar continues in the opening and Gabriel sings beautifully to fit the mood. Mellotron and flute store over in a slow instrumental bit, then a new part starts with Banks on synthesizer now. A cool guitar riff leads the way and we hear some more awesome keyboards. Banks is playing lots of great stuff so far and Hackett goes off for great guitar bit as well. Even more amazing keyboards! Synths and Mellotron together I think, but it's hard to tell with Banks playing so many different keyboards. Whatever it is it's great. It becomes very quiet for a new part and Gabriel sings over some drone-y organ. This part ends with Gabriel's final lyric "A flower?" And BAM we're into a cool new part! Gabriel references "The Musical Box" from their previous album and does more weird voices, as well as some great yells. His vocal range is everywhere for sure, just a great singer. Banks is on piano now and cues a new upbeat riff with more weird singing. Gabriel plays some great sounding flute with guitar and Mellotron backing and this segues into a new march-like riff. The keyboard solo by Banks is phenomenal! Just keeps going with great stuff up and down and all over the place! Words don't do justice! Gabriel does some more great singing in a slow rock part and he's been really sharp all song. Great drums by Phil Collins and even more crazy keyboards by Banks close out this epic as it slowly fades out. I thought it was really well done, with Tony Banks playing A LOT of great stuff throughout. What a way to end the album!

That is the end of "Foxtrot" and I thought that it was a really good album. "Supper's Ready" is incredible, and all the other songs are pretty good too. With the other two 7-plus minute songs on side one, Genesis is really showing that they can contend with the progressive heavyweights and it's no wonder this album was their breakthrough. But how does it compare to the other albums I have? I think Genesis just keep getting better and better, with "Trespass" being very solid, "Nursery Cryme" being really good, and now "Foxtrot" being excellent. I think it's their best album yet, and with Genesis on this upward trajectory, will it continue on their next album? I hope so!