"I know what I like, and I like what I know," Peter Gabriel sings on the second cut. This could be Genesis' problem. If American audiences are not willing to make the effort to decode the British English in which the lyrics are written, this album will not receive the attention it deserves.

Selling England merits some recognition because it contains a few good tracks which are pieces more than conventional songs. One number, "The Battle of Epping Forest," contains 13 stanzas, is constructed more artfully than a Top 40 tune, and uses military and sports terminology as metaphors for gang warfare. The opening selection, "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight," is an epic commentary on contemporary England that employs references to English staples like Wimpey hamburgers and Green Shield stamps.

Genesis are doing unusual things, but that does not automatically place them in the major leagues. Some of the instrumental tracks on "Dancing" are intriguing, and some of the lyrical imagery sprinkled throughout is appealing. But some of the lines are as absurd as they are obsucre. "Me, I'm just a lawnmower," Gabriel professes at one point, "you can tell me by the way I walk." Eh? "I do my double show quick!" said Nick the Prick, fresh out the nick," carries rhyming into the realm of the silly.

There are other defects. One instrumental passage sounds like a monotonous film soundtrack and a spoken introduction resembles the voice of the perturbed rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. The passion for puns occasionally has regrettable manifestations like, "He employed me as a karmacanic."

For all these faults the LP has its moments, and "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" should be at least heard if not purchased. Genesis may well be the most wordy of today's pop groups, and their facility for the language is admirable. Musically their artiness is, in small doses, engaging. And a band that is trying to do something different is a stagnant pop scene deserves some encouragement.

- Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 3/14/74.

Bonus Reviews!

This popular English band's first for its new label showcases their pretty vocals and word pictures about life in England. Pretty piano playing, which leads into a crescendo on organ with rippling guitar runs, highlights the interesting instrumental "Firth Of Fifth."

- Billboard, 1974.

The best rock jolts folk-art virtues -- directness, utility, natural audience -- into the present with shots of modern technology and modernist dissociation; the typical "progressive" project attemts to raise the music to classical grandeur or avant-garde status. Since "raise" is usually code for "delegitimize," I'm impressed that on half of this Peter Gabriel makes the idea work: his mock-mythologized gangland epic and menacing ocean pastorale have a complexity that's pretty rare in any kind of art. Even more amazing, given past performances, organist Tony Banks defines music to match, schlocky and graceful and dignified all at once -- when he's got it going, which is nowhere near often enough. As for the rest, it sounds as snooty as usual. B

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

Further reading on Super Seventies RockSite!: Album Review: Foxtrot Album Review: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Album Review: A Trick of the Tail Album Review: Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (1977) Genesis Lyrics

The summit of Peter Gabriel's obscurantist and theatrical phase. Gabriel's Quixotic lyrics, jousting at somewhat stationary targets like supermarkets, full of puns, allusions and essentially English matters, read like Ray Davies on acid. Whatever Selling England... had, it had in plenty, pushing one of the few "progressive rock" singles, "I Know What I Like," up the UK charts. The album became prey for every DJ and pub philosopher to "explain" the lyrics.

At last the album can be heard right on Compact Disc though without spitching and distortion. Contemporary LP pressings were among the worst going. Fade ups and snatched edits have become audible however and there are patches of dullness in both sound and songs.

- David Prakel, Rock 'n' Roll on Compact Disc, 1987.

One of the best examples of '70s British art-rock, this album incorporates a variety of styles, showcasing the musical dexterity of the players as well as the lyrics to story-songs like "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)," the first Genesis British hit. * * * * *

- William Ruhlmann, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

The politically pointed Selling England by the Pound refines many of Foxtrot's virtues but without the same sense of drama. * * * *

- Gary Graff, Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, 1996.

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