Loooooongs songs...

For some reason I've been getting into some long music today. Last week I bought the Genesis album Foxtrot, famed for his epic finale Supper's Ready (23m 6s), which, from what I can tell, is basically about a married couple making their way through a biblical apocalypse, to join the Lord in Heaven at the finale. Before I heard of Foxtrot and Supper's Ready, all I knew of Genesis was that Phil Collins sang in it and they had a hit in the early 90s with "I Can't Dance". And I thought PEter Gabriel was just the "Sledgehammer" guy. But Supper's Ready is really fascinating to me, just for the music, which has complex rhythms and melodies strung together by vivid imagery through Peter Gabriel's lyrics. Also, it has a bit where Peter Gariel danced around wearing a flower on his head during the live performances, so that's always good.

The other long song I've been recently listening to is "Art of Life" by X Japan (29m 1s), which was originally released as it's own CD. Seriously, a CD with just one 20 minute song on it. It's the basic tale of a man who sees no value in his life and wants to end it all, only to renounce his suicidal tendencies to start a new life at the end. But the musical accomplishment more than makes up for it. Blazing guitar lines, piano, orchestral accompaniment... This song is basically the band throwing in everything they can think of as long as it sounded good. And against all odds, I really liked it!

Next, I think I'll get a copy of In The Court of the Crimson King when I get the money.