Genesis - Nursery Cryme
1971, Atlantic
1. The Musical Box
2. For Absent Friends
3. The Return of the Giant Hogweed
4. Seven Stones
5. Harold the Barrel
6. Harlequin
7. The Fountain of Salmacis
Way back in the day I worked at a hospital cancer center. I
made molds and helped inpatients. I had my own little room and my own little
space. I had the benefit of following a complete numbskull so all I had to do
was show up and do my job. Everyone thought I was like Superman or something.
It was nice. That was one of the best jobs I ever had. What’s the point of all
that you ask? Well, hang on and I’ll tell you. You’re awful impatient aren’t you?
Just relax. Anyway, the point was next to my little “office” was the dosimetrist’s
office. I had no idea what a dosimetrist was or what he did (still don’t), but he
was a pretty cool guy. We were both music lovers and we’d occasionally trade
music back and forth. One day he gave me Nursery
Cryme and I listened to the whole thing in one sitting…because I had a job
that allowed me to do that. Did I mention that was my favorite job? That was
totally my favorite job.
I would love to say that listening to Nursery Cryme that day was a revelation. That it really moved me on
a deep, fundamental level. That I had gained a new appreciation for the craft
of music. Ha ha! No. It wasn’t. I just
remember thinking it was really, really weird and not my type of music at all.
I was not a progressive rock fan back then. My little mind just could not wrap
itself around what was going on. This guy also gave me one of King’s Crimson’s
albums and I was similarly unimpressed. You’ll have to forgive my ignorance. I
was dumb. My eyes were closed to the wonder.
My experience with Nursery
Cryme was much different this time. I’m a bonna-fide progressive rock fan
now. I’m used to ten-minute songs and weirdness. I like ten minute songs and weirdness (to an extent). I’ve also been
marinating in Genesis all year so I came fully prepared for what I might find.
This being a Peter Gabriel era album, I braced myself for that emotional
disconnect I had experienced with Foxtrot.
I mean, just look at the song titles – “Return of the Giant Hogweed,”
“Harold the Barrel,” “The Fountain of Salmacis.” I could just picture Peter
Gabriel’s painted visage hovering next to me screaming, “IDEAS! CONCEPTS! PAY
ATTENTION YOUNG MAN!”
Young man? Who does he think he’s talking to?
I don’t know whether I’m just used to Genesis by now or what,
but I really enjoyed my time with Nursery
Cryme. I was more engaged than I was with Foxtrot. The emotional disconnect remained, but it wasn’t as bad. I
loved the little guitar parts in “The Musical Box” that compliment Gabriel’s
vocals. Eventually the track builds into a maelstrom of progressive bombast.
That’s a good thing, by the way, at least for me. Also, “For Absent Friends”
(the very first Genesis song to feature Phil Collins on vocals) and “Seven
Stones” had a bit more heart that I was expecting. I especially enjoyed the
jaunty “Harold the Barrel” – speaking of weirdness – a song about a restaurant
owner who cut off his toes and served them for tea. The man then escapes and
tries to commit suicide, while the authorities (and his mother) try to stop him
in the most inept and hilariously British way possible. The only track I didn’t
care for was “Return of the Giant Hogweed” mostly because it didn’t really seem
to stand out for me.
One thing I noticed about this album that seems to be unique
is the copious use of fuzz distortion on the guitars. I know they’ve done that
on other albums but there seems to be a lot more here than on any album I’ve
listened to yet. Some parts sound just shy of heavy metal because of it –
giving off sort of a Black Sabbath vibe.
According to what I’ve read, Nursery Cryme wasn’t as well received and reviewed as the albums
that came after. Even now it seems to occupy the “good, but not great” spot on
the spectrum. I’d have to agree with that assessment. I enjoyed it, but there
was no danger of it overtaking Selling
England or Trick of the Tail as
my favorite Genesis platter. I can see myself taking it out for a spin every
now and then but it’s not something that’s going to stay in heavy rotation. Mostly
I just want to revisit Foxtrot and
see if my opinion might change. Unfortunately, I must tread ever onward…
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5
Useless Fact: Apparently, “Harold the Barrel” was replaced
in live shows by “Get ‘Em Out By Friday” and wasn’t really played after that.
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