The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Through my parents I grew up listening to Phil Collins Genesis, which made me dislike their pop rock style. However, I find their earlier prog rock albums more interesting, and I am a big fan of Peter Gabriel’s solo work. His latest album i/o was finally released yesterday, id highly recommend it to anyone who likes his music, hopefully makes futures cuts of the 1001 list.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is one of Peter Gabriel’s last albums with Genesis, and it is a very ambitious and creative project, in my opinion his best with the group. It is a double album that tells the story of Rael, a young man who goes on a surreal adventure in New York City, facing various challenges and temptations. The album explores themes such as identity, sexuality, religion, and society, using a variety of musical genres and styles.

However, I have some issues with the album that prevent it from being a favoruite. First of all, I think the album is too long and repetitive, and it could have been edited down to a single album or a shorter double album. Some of the songs are filler and do not add much to the story or the music. For example, songs like The Waiting Room, The Light Dies Down on Broadway, and The Colony of Slippermen are boring and unnecessary, and they drag the album down.

Secondly, I think the album is too typical and clichéd of the prog rock genre. The album relies heavily on the keyboards, which sound dated and cheesy, and create a bland and monotonous atmosphere. The album also uses a lot of common tropes and devices of the genre, such as complex and obscure lyrics, long and indulgent instrumental sections, and obscure and pretentious references. I feel this sort of album just gives fans of Star Trek a big hard on.

Therefore, I would give the album a solid 3 stars out of 5, and I would say that it is an album that you should listen to before you die, but will only really enjoy if you are interested in the history and evolution of Genesis and Peter Gabriel, or if you are a fan of prog rock and concept albums. However, I prefer Peter Gabriel’s solo work.

While I quite like Genesis, this double album is overly long and got bogged down in its own surreal concepts. I liked a few of the tracks, but doubt I'd be re-listening anytime soon.

Not as bad as I feared but I'm pretty far from being able to enjoy 90 minutes of it.

Genesis' peak - PG left after this to do his own thing, and Genesis morphed into a different band. This is some serious prog, including a fanciful concept story about Rael, but musically it really works, and Gabriel' vocals are excellent - I really like the bit in the Raven where the vocal shifts from Gabriel to Phil Collins as it shifts character. Possibly one of my favorite albums of all time, though I appreciate that's colored by my teenage self's love for it.

Great album. I'm a sucker for a good concept album and this one definitely nails it. The instrumentals provide a nice contrast to the main vocal-centric tracks. Lots of super interesting music going on and I love the imagery in the lyrics.

Prefer my prog-rock to have more wizards, capes and tales from Viking mythology tbh.

If this was made into 1 album instead of a double album it would've been Genesis' best.
But to me, it just falls short to albums like Selling England By The Pound where some of the filler has disappeared.

Still, this is absolutely brilliant music.

Aburrimiento total. Nunca entendí estos discos iniciales de Genesis. Lo voy a poner como malo directamente.

A classic example of a decent double album that could have been an amazing single album. They are prog after all, and Peter Gabriel probably knew this would be his last album with the band, so I can see why he would want to go out with a big statement. This was kinda hard to find for awhile, at least in the US, and has a certain mystique to it, but it collapses under its own weight.

Genesis ei mitään lemppariprogea mut löytyy kokonaisuudesta sen verran hyviä biisejä että kyllä tälle kehtaa nelosen antaa.

A mid 70s concept album. Counting Out Time is killer. The first part is pretty unintelligible for me. As well as most of it. its really wild and worth a re-listen when i am less distracted.

Disclaimer: Huge Genesis fan here. I was listening to this in the car with my teenage son recently, as one does, right? Right?? I was surprised that he's been digging early Genesis so we went through this one. It was interesting to listen to it with him and think about how this album sounds to new ears. Album 1 is amazing and my son absolutely loved it. The opening trio of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Fly on a Windshield, and Broadway Melody of 1974 is just stunningly good. Chills every freakin' time. Back in NYC, In the Cage, and Carpet Crawlers are all great songs. Album 1 is a clear 5. Album 2...well, it has some great moments: Lilywhite Lilith. the keyboard solo in Riding the Scree...plus "It" is a great closer (both to the album and to Peter Gabriel's time with Genesis). But Album 2 also has a lot of weird moments - I was cringing a few times at how it might be coming across to him and I can imagine that a lot of people end up saying "wtf" many times during Album 2 (and maybe even occasionally on Album 1). Plus, I worried that Album 2 was dragging out too much and the story is, um, awkward to say the least (google Peter Gabriel's slipperman costume. On second thought, don't). But, as we neared the end and I told my son that we were on the second to last song, he was actually disappointing that the album was almost over. Poor kid is going to be a prog fan I guess. I want to make it crystal clear I didn't push him to listen! Anyway (as the song goes)...to give it a 4 or 5? Here's where I'm going to have to let my Genesis freak-flag fly: It's a 5 (it's also chicken, eggs, and in between your legs). Every time I hit the end of the album, I want to listen again. If that isn't a 5, I don't know what is.

Appreciate it but not for me

collins and gabriel e tals

Far too indulgent and proggy. Every now and then it threatens to have a nice melody, but soon turns back into egocentric dirge that probably seemed like a good idea at the time. And then Phil Collins starts singing about erogenous zones 🤢