Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Atco)
Shock one: Peter Gabriel in a short, 1966 style haircut, very all-American. Standing onstage dressed in turned-up blue jeans, a T-shirt and a leather motorcycle jacket.
Shock two: The previously uncluttered magnificence of Genesis' music has been turned in for a busy almost Yes-like over-worked instrumentation.
There is a reason for all this. Its their newest project. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, and if you have not heard it yet, let me tell you you're in for a lot of surprises. In order to create the sound of New York City's building traffic, Genesis have incorporated a certain level of chaos into their music. It's really hard to explain to any of you out there who've never visited New York. It's all been in the movies, but there's nothing quite like being caught on the safety island in the middle of Broadway in the middle of a massive traffic jam.
Shock Three: You are not going to instantly fall in love with this two-record set. And I have a feeling this will include all you Genesis FREAKS too. You see, this is not a collection of short intangible, surreal stories. It is a one hour-and-a-half long concept package. Nowhere is the delicious mystery of "Watcher of the Skies" or "Suppers Ready"... gone is the macabre of "The Musical Box" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed." In its place is a stranger and even more bizarre tale, one that (like "Tommy") will require your complete attention for hours. This is the kind of record that's necessary to digest as a whole package-the liner notes and all the lyrics-before you even begin to understand what it's all about.
Picture Peter Gabriel crawling through a transparent pink plastic phallus and pouring himself, like semen, through the opening slit and creeping slimily towards the edge of the stage, a mass of disfigured lumps and grotesqueries. "The Colony of The Slipperman" hints at the transformation, but it's really necessary to be there seeing it happen. Though Gabriel sings "His skin's all covered in slimy lumps/with lips that slide across each chin/His twisted limbs like rubber stumps/Are waved in welcome say 'please join in'" it is impossible to even vaguely imagine the visuals until you've witnessed them.
The day will come soon when no act will release anything as ambitious as this without visual aids (video casstettes probably). Until then, we'll have to muddle on.
Genesis continues to be one of the finest bands we have. Peter Gabriel continues to be the greatest theatrical rocker. The album? Well, I haven't gotten it all yet. I know it's not as good as the rest of the material it follows, but that sure doesn't make it bad.
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Here is a letter written into the same magazine voicing displeasure of an interview with Peter Gabriel in their December 1974 magazine. I've never been able to find it unfortunately but here's the letter. :]
Cohen Queers Gabriel Interview?
Scott Cohen's interview with Peter Gabriel of Genesis in you December issue was one of the worst I have ever come across. Mr. Cohen came up with absurd questions like "Do you remember your last year's Halloween Costume?" Cohen also had the audacity to compare Gabriel with Bowie! With respect to both Gabriel and Bowie, there is positively no comparison between the two, costume-wise, musically, or whatever. Instead of going into Gabriel's thoughts on life and the universe more deeply, Cohen lead the interview into the two topics that the populace is most tired of hearing about. Nixon and Evil Knievel!! Next time you interview someone with a high level of consciousness, try to find an interviewer who is at least close to the same level.
The Winkler, Detroit, Michigan *******************************************************
Well, 20 years ago, there wasn't an internet to interface with other people. Today, we have that advantage. If anyone knows who this Winkler is or if Mr. or Mrs. Winkler just happens to connect to this newsgroup, maybe you might have this interview and maybe you could share it with us. If not, I bet I know the answer to the question, "Hey Pete, are you ever going to go solo?" :] :] Ha ha!!
Well, take care everyone. E-mail me if ya want. I'd love to hear from ya. Oh, and one other thing. Rael has been posting articles to the paperlate mail group. Would it be redundant if posted my articles to that also because everyone who looks in alt.music.genesis belongs to paperlate? I'd really like to know!! Thanks everyone! Happy reading.
One more thing. Here's my .02. Every time Genesis finishes a tour and they go on to other things, these same rumours come around saying the band has broken up. I can show you news clippings from way back in 1979 saying the band has broken up, never to be formed again. I learned way back then that rumours are just that, rumours. Until I SEE AND HEAR it from the horses mouth, (That horse is dating a 22 year old!) I refuse to believe they've broken up. If it happens, it happens. But until then everyone, keep listening to your old Genesis albums or new Genesis albums or Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips, or even Peter Gabriel albums. This is what an album or CD is for-continuous listening. Sure the band might not get back together again but until that time, don't worry about it. Put on the CD Duke, song #7. Or just go get some sleep!! Tomorrow Never Knows(bad cliche?!) Anyway, my .02. See ya!! :] :]
Ilene