Artist: Genesis
Album: A Trick of the Tail
Released: February 20, 1976
This is my first blog post on Genesis, and I plan on writing several more in the future. My take on Genesis will probably be different from that of the majority of fans. The British band has enjoyed a long run of success, and while it might be a bit of a generalization, their music can more or less be divided into three eras: the Peter Gabriel era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, in which the band was known for their progressive, non-traditional rock, characterized by longer tracks, quasi-intellectual lyrics, and lack of hooks and memorable riffs; the period from roughly 1976 to 1985, when Phil Collins replaced Gabriel as lead singer and the band began a very slow, complicated movement towards mainstream pop/rock; and the era from 1986 forward, when that transition was complete.
While a lot of Genesis fans like music from their entire career, most fans seem to strongly prefer either the first or the third era. I seem to be one of the few people whose favorite is the second era, as their music from around this time seems to either be frowned upon or forgotten altogether. Fans of the older stuff often don't like that they were moving away from their progressive sound, while fans of the newer stuff often can't quite get into it. What I like about that transitional era is that it tends to combine elements of both the first and third eras, and while the band at times sounded lost or confused about their direction, it nonetheless made for some good and interesting music.
A Trick of the Tail, the first Genesis album with Phil Collins in the lead, is a great example of what late 1970s & early 1980s Genesis was all about. The songs are still longer and well-developed; only one of the eight tracks is shorter than 5:52. If fans were wondering what post-Gabriel Genesis would be like, the answer came quickly with the first track, "Dance on a Volcano", which also happens to be my favorite. It beautifully combines catchy riffs with several changes in tone, thus creating a six-minute song that isn't at all repetitive. These same characteristics are also found in "Squonk", which is a close second on my list of favorites, though overall it's a little slower-paced and not quite as intense. Some fans have claimed that they sound a lot like Led Zeppelin on this track, and I would have to agree. At the same time, the song retains the whimsical nature of past Genesis tracks, as it's about a mythical creature from Pennsylvania.
Though the album starts off with a bang with "Dance on a Volcano", that song is not representative of everything else on the album. There certainly is variety, as the band moves back and forth between their older and their newer sound, sometimes in the same track. "A Trick of the Tail" is a catchy song, while "Entangled" is an interesting yet somewhat solemn track. I also like the instrumental "Los Endos", which features a reprisal of the riffs from both "Dance on a Volcano" and "Squonk". "Robbery, Assault and Battery" is a more light-hearted, almost comical, song that is fun to listen to and provides a nice break from some of the other tracks, though it is a little drawn out and at times comes close to slipping into disco. The old Genesis sound is most apparent in "Mad Man Moon" and "Ripples". The latter is probably my least favorite track, as it isn't quite clear what type of sound they are going for here. "Mad Man Moon" is a little more interesting, especially as it transitions a few different times; I certainly like the instrumental middle part.
If you are a brand new listener to Genesis, I wouldn't necessarily advise against listening to this album first, though it's probably going to sound a little confusing. If you're a mainstream music fan, I'd recommend Invisible Touch or Genesis first. You might even find some of their early stuff to be interesting. In any case, though they are clearly in transition and searching for direction at this time, A Trick of the Tail is a really solid first effort by the Phil Collins-led Genesis, and over time I have come to appreciate it all the more.
Track #, Name of Song, Duration, My Rating
1. Dance on a Volcano (5:58) - 10/10
2. Entangled (6:27) - 9/10
3. Squonk (6:30) - 10/10
4. Mad Man Moon (7:35) - 8/10
5. Robbery, Assault and Battery (6:18) - 8/10
6. Ripples (8:05) - 7/10
7. A Trick of the Tail (4:35) - 9/10
8. Los Endos (5:52) - 9/10
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