My first impression of The Lamb from the early 90s still holds true: brilliant & exciting at times, but clearly rushed. Even as a highschool kid, The Lamb seemed to deliver less than half of what it promised; it just didn't draw me in for repeated listens like some other Genesis albums.
Side 1 is the only stretch that really works, IMO. There are some great moments on the other 3 sides, but it pales in comparison to the impact I received (and still receive) from Selling England or Duke, for example.
I can list the various reasons why I feel that's true, but at the end of the day it falls on each listener. I get the same gut reaction to say, "Anyway" or "In The Rapids," as I do to the band's "lighter fare" like "Man on the Corner" or "Silent Sun." Too much exposition lyrically & too much repetition musically to compare favorably with their greatest work.
Seeing The Musical Box perform The Lamb in NYC several years ago had an unexpected effect on me: I got bored by the time "The Lamia" arrived, just as when I listen to the album!
Should've been a single LP, should've been set anywhere but NYC, and yes, I still love parts of it!
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