The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Iowa

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

Atco Records, 1974

http://www.genesis-music.com

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/23/1997

If you ever want to start a fistfight with a diehard Genesisfan, bring up the subject of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, ask them if they think it'sa work of genius or the last act of a deranged frontman -- and thendefend the opposite stand they have.

You never knew what to expect from this British art-rock band -lead singer Peter Gabriel was known to take the stage dressed up asa flower. Often the liner notes to their albums had rambling nonsequitur stories that you probably could understand while on theinfluence of drugs. Obviously, this was a much different band thanthe '80s popsters they became.

But in 1974, Gabriel and crew did seem like they went over thetop with The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - an album that would havebeen great if it had been a single release. The first half isindeed a masterpiece,but the story line... would someone explain to me what the fuck this story is supposedto be about?

I swear, I tried extra hard on this one, but I just couldn'tplow through the liner notes on this one. I think I'd rather readCharles Dickens -- and I hated Great Expectations when I was in high school -- than try tore-read the inside album cover again!