Track Listing

1. Musical Box
2. For Absent Friends
3. Return of the Giant Hogweed
4. Seven Stones
5. Harold the Barrel
6. Harlequin
7. Fountain of Salmacis

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5700 in Music
• Released on: 1994-12-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

This album rocks hard
After hearing Tresspass, I didnt have very high hopes for NC. So I skipped it and got into Selling England, The Lamb and so on. Boy was I the fool. The production quality of this album really gives Genesis a distinguished sound. Also, with the appearance of Phil Collins, it makes the album that much better. The album begins with a really incredible 10 min song named The Musical Box(probably the best tune on the album). The drumming is truly intense, which keeps up with the furious guitar work. Gabriel really lets loose on this tune vocally, and helps Collins out with his old beat up bass drum. Rutherford, truly underated as a member, gives his all in this tune as for Banks who makes the tune, with his incredible talent. As for the rest of the album it can make you go from the sadest of moods with songs like, for absent friends and seven stones, to really angry moods like the freakin amazing, return of the giant hogweed, with a really heavy incredibly kicking ending. The rest cannot go unnoticed, no matter how hard you try. Its just too amazing. Especially the vocals on Harold the Barrel and the lyrically and musically beautiful, fountain of salmacis.

The First Genesis Essential
Opening with the band's first bonafide classic, "The Musical Box",this album marks the culmination of Genesis' rise from school-chum obscurity to true music scene players(even if it was the Italian music scene).With the addition of Phil Collins on the traps,this was the world's first chance to hear the line-up that would produce the bands' most memorable and adventurous work,and all the elements that they would perfect on subsequent recordings are present:the baroque,searching set-pieces("The Return Of The Giant Hogweed","The Fountain Of Salmacis"),charming acoustic tunes("For Absent Friends"),and eccentric,twisted pop confections("Seven Stones","Harold The Barrel").All the players are strong on this album,but it's arguably guitarist Steve Hackett's show.Also a new addition to the group,his skill and innovative style are especially evident in the harsh,dissonant leads he performs on "The Musical Box" and his elagent,swooping lines on "The Fountain of Salmicis".The band's flawless ensamble playing makes "Hogweed" surprisingly kinetic and driving(Never know much for "rocking out",the band occasionally displays a rousing dynamicism,especially live,that may surprise those unfamiliar with thier early work).The only flaw with this album-and it's a major one-is the atrocious production:muddy,flat and utterly uninspired,it keeps this record from being truly indispensable;but,despite that,"Nursury Cryme" should be in any true genesis fan's collection.

A strong effort
Nursery Cryme was the third Genesis album of their early period (1967-1975) and even better then Trespass though thats a four star album too. Phil Collins and Steve Hackett were good additions to the band and the playing all around is quite good. The only drawback is the short throwaway songs For Absent Friends and Harlequin in the absence of a good long song. The 3 long songs on the album are very good as are the fun Harold The Barrel and the more dramatic Seven Stones.