Track Listing

1. Dance On A Volcano
2. Entangled
3. Squonk
4. Madman Moon
5. Robbery Assault And Battery
6. Ripples
7. Trick Of The Tail
8. Los Endos

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83678 in Music
• Released on: 1994-10-31
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
This was Genesis' first album following the departure of vocalist Peter Gabriel. After ascending the heights of conceptual progressive rock on the preceding THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY, Genesis was left between a rock and a hard place, trying to define its identity anew. With the odds against them they put in a fine showing on TRICK OF THE TAIL. The general musical mode is similar to that of LAMB--longish songs with well developed structures and arrangements and a straighter rock feel than the band's early work.
Lyrically, the band didn't attempt to equal Gabriel's conceptual mastery, choosing instead to tackle discrete subjects on each song; "Squonk" is about a mythical beast, "Entangled" centres aroundan unpleasant hospital stay. Phil Collins, technically a better vocalist than Gabriel to begin with, steps up admirablyas lead singer (he'd already sung lead on a couple of earlier Genesis tunes), but despite the popular myth he didn't take over the band. He receives co-writing credit for only twosongs on TRICK OF THE TAIL, an album that's very much a group effort.

Customer Reviews

A Masterpiece
Now isn't it strange that the music press give Genesis 3 stars. This seems to be the band that the critics love to slate. Perhaps instead of listening to untalented opinionated hacks, have a listen to some of the most sublime popular music you will ever hear. OK, it's not 'in yer face' music, if you want that go and buy some Sex Pistols. You can't bop to it because it has some really weird time sigs. You can't eat a romantic dinner to it. But you can sit down with a spare 45 minutes a good hi-fi and a bottle of red, close you eyes and really listen to it . Check out the drumming on Dance on a Volcano, the magical keys solo on Entangled, and the beautiful, dreamlike Mad Man Moon which is just gorgeous. The title track has subtle musical touches behind the bouncy theme. Los Endos drifts finally into the distance leaving one wanting it to stay. I'll finish by saying that if you haven't heard this album I am very, very jealous, because it has been so long since I have put a new record on and been utterly spellbound.

A trick of the Tail - A must own!
Despite the worrying departure of Peter Gabriel from the band after the success of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", this album goes on to demonstrate that Genesis still had one last phenomenal album to offer to their fans before they started to sell out. This album shows Genesis at their zenith of creative brilliance and musical virtuosity and is a slap in the face to anyone who thought that the band was finished after Gabriel decided to leave. Any Genesis fan must own a copy of this album.

The thundering opening track "Dance on a volcano" grabs the audience's attention immediately as Collin's goes on to graciously fill the shoes of Gabriel as lead singer, whilst continuing to demonstrate his ability as a wonderful percussionist, and is complimented by the supreme instrumental brilliance of Banks, Rutherford and Hackett. Whilst the hauntingly brilliant second track "Entangled" captures the imagination of the listener and provides them with lyrics which they will want to read again and again. After the brilliant "Squonk" comes "Mad Man Moon" which is another example of the truly amazing gift Banks posses as a song writer. This is perhaps the best song on the album. Then the brilliant and light hearted "Robbery Assault and Battery" sets the audience up for the truly beautiful "Ripples" which is about an old women looking in a mirror and seeing herself when she was young and beautiful. The title track is excellent from the start to the finish and is yet another example of Banks at his best. The album is then finished by the brilliant instrumental "Los Endos" which is a song that the audience can only marvel at and once finished, set their CD player to play track one again.

This is not only my favourite Genesis album but is also perhaps the best album I possess in my CD collection. Fans of the earlier material should own this album because it is truly the best piece of progressive rock the band have produced whilst fans of the later years will also love it's musical brilliance and perhaps slightly more commercial edge. This album shows Genesis at equilibrium between their earlier and later material and feeds off both eras to produce a piece of musical excellence. A must own!

A Trick Of The Tale?
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Time to replace some of the old albums with the CD. This album sounds even better now! The superior media compliments the extraordinary lengths that Genesis went to produce this musical and technical masterpiece……… and you don’t have to turn the record over half way through! Just sheer, luxuriant pleasure.

I know there was a terrible split in the Genesis fan base when Gabriel went off. But those that wouldn’t even listen to this album because of Phil Collins have deprived themselves of a great album for too many years. You’re grown up now, go buy the album.
From Dance On A Volcano to Los Endos, the tracks compliment each other. No other running order would work.
Banks keyboard skills and the best of the Rutherford and Hackett guitar work make this an extraordinary composition. I bet even Peter Gabriel secretly liked this album.

If you haven’t heard this before, or refused to like it 25 years ago, or have only got the old vinyl – go and buy this CD and give yourself a musical treat.