Of all the Peter Gabriel-era Genesis records, "Selling England by the Pound" is without a doubt the most accomplished. It's not surprising that this album has inherited all the qualities of its three glorious predecessors.
The incredible maturity of the members of the group was molded into an album composed collectively. The vaporous depth of "Trespass" is found in the delicate arpeggios of 'Cinema Show' and from the first notes of the record, in the intro of 'Dancing with the Moonlit Knight'. The gothic and disquieting force of 'Nursery Cryme' returns in 'The Battle of Epping Forest', which tells of a pitched battle between townspeople in the London suburbs (the most tasty passage recounts the first sexual romp of a bishop). The sonic depth and majestic narrative of "Foxtrot" are echoed in "Firth of Fifth" (still the best Genesis song for many). In short, all of the band's hard-won experience is brought to bear on 'Selling England by the Pound'.
What will also remain of this record is its incredible theme cover. The moving melody of 'Dancing with the Moonlit Knight' is found at the end of 'Cinema Show' after a dizzying fugue improvised by Banks on the synth. And it all comes together on the last track, 'Aisle of Plenty', which adds a verse to the first song of unbelievable emotion.
To add to this, let's add 'I know What I Like' and its playful rhythm, 'After the Ordeal', an instrumental by Steve Hackett that surpasses in power anything he could have written for the band. Finally, let's add a ballad sung by Phil Collins, 'More Fool Me', a pleasant and touching comma within an album with a perfect balance and unique sounds. In short, "Selling England by the Pound" is simply THE Genesis record to own.