# Genesis / Peter Gabriel Fan Looking for Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876 "2009-10-23T16:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sir\_John\_de\_Pebble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Sir\_John\_de\_Pebble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_John_de_Pebble)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/21 "2009-10-23T20:20:35Z")
I should note that I’m not looking for prog rock exclusively, though it’s obviously a good place to start. Rush sounds like it could be interesting. **palindromemordilap** : My last foray into Gabriel sound-alikes wasn’t prog either, but that doesn’t bother me. Matt Pond PA is on my list. **lissener** and **Equipoise** : Thanks for the links; I’ll give Kate a listen. **Shoeless** : I will check them out! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/22 "2009-10-23T20:34:23Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Anderson sang on _all_ of _Union_, except the two instrumental tracks, which total about three minutes in length. I stand corrected…been too long since I listened to that one. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/23 "2009-10-23T20:55:15Z")
The thing to remember about King Crimson is that the band DRAMATICALLY changed it’s sound several times (there have been many arguements about how many times, I say 6). As far as Rush IN MY OPINION (I had to put that in to keep the Fanboy’s at bay) they put out about 5 excellent records and fell off the face of the Earth, the first 5 or 6 records were (are) fantastic and the rest of the albums never happened. Here is what I did, I would hear something that I liked and would check where the Musicians came from, where they went and who else they worked with. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/24 "2009-10-23T23:11:02Z")
What about this? (I don’t know much about this band, but that sounds a lot like Peter Gabriel to me.) [promo for new CD by **Agents Of Mercy**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHnaIL9_-IE) There are several [Genesis tribute albums](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=genesis+tribute&x=0&y=0). You may find something you like on one of them. I’ll add these to your growing list of bands to check out (not necessarily **Genesis** - like): **The Flower Kings** **Transatlantic** **The Tangent** **Magic Pie** **Enchant** **Gordian Knot** There’s a lot of progressive music out there, it just doesn’t get much attention. If you like (or dislike) any of the bands in this thread, come back and let us know. I think we can find something to make you smile. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/25 "2009-10-23T23:46:12Z")
I like Italian progressive rock from the 70’s, as well as (old) Genesis so perhaps you might like the Italians too. PFM [or Premiata Forneria Marconi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premiata_Forneria_Marconi) is pretty much the best…their first 2 albums especially. [Banco del Mutuo Soccorso](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banco_del_Mutuo_Soccorso) is also very great. Also [La Locanda delle Fate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Locanda_delle_Fate). You don’t have to understand Italian to rock out to this great prog. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/26 "2009-10-24T01:12:58Z")
> [@Oregon\_sunshine](#): > > PFM [or Premiata Forneria Marconi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premiata_Forneria_Marconi) is pretty much the best…their first 2 albums especially. Their album _Chocolate Kings_ would also be of interest, as it introduced a new singer, Bernardo Lanzetti, who sounded like a cross between Peter Gabriel and Family’s Roger Chapman. For that matter, Family might be another recommendation, starting with their excellent _Fearless_. (Roger Chapman himself sounds like a cross between Peter Gabriel and a goat. 😉 ) What, no one likes my Ange suggestion? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/27 "2009-10-24T01:58:30Z")
If you like the Peter Gabriel era Genesis, I think the King Crimson album you’d be most likely to enjoy would be one that many Crimson fans aren’t all that keen on: _ **Islands** _, the 1971 album with Boz Burrell on vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/28 "2009-10-24T02:46:56Z")
Kate Bush, definitely. Run, don’t walk, and grab some of her stuff right now. Genesis are fairly unique, even in prog circles. King Crimson, Gentle Giant and Spock’s Beard are all good suggestions, however. Have you heard _Exposure_ by Robert Fripp or _Sacred Songs_ by Daryl Hall? These were recorded alongside Gabriel’s second solo album and they all sound very similar, especially Hall’s album, believe it or not. All three were produced by Fripp. Another left-field suggestion: Alice Cooper’s _Welcome to My Nightmare_ seems to exist in some grey area between Gabriel’s first solo album and Pink Floyd’s _The Wall_, with an extra dose of vaudeville camp. Producer Bob Ezrin is the common thread here. Next suggestion: _My Life in the Bush of Ghosts_ by Brian Eno and David Byrne. Closer to Talking Heads circa _Remain in Light_, but still reminiscent of Gabriel’s more experimental soundtrack work. Midnight Oil’s _10-1_ is pretty much a direct descendant of Gabriel’s third solo album and so has that “In the Air Tonight”/“Mama” atmosphere pervading it. Stewart Copeland’s solo output, such as _The Rhythmatist_, is also highly recommended. He’s the drummer from The Police, and he’s worked with Gabriel on occasion. Think worldbeat. And if you’re choosy, Sting can be excellent, too. Finally, it may be worth looking into Steven Wilson. It’s not exactly Gabriel or Genesis, but he is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, among others. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/29 "2009-10-24T06:24:48Z")
Have you heard _Exposure_ by Robert Fripp or _Sacred Songs_ by Daryl Hall? These were recorded alongside Gabriel’s second solo album and they all sound very similar, especially Hall’s album, believe it or not. All three were produced by Fripp. There were 3 albums done as a “trilogy” (I think it was a benefit for WOMAD) Exposure Sacred Songs Peter Gabriel “scratch” (I’m pretty sure it was Scratch, anyway). and all 3 artists worked on all 3 records. Next suggestion: _My Life in the Bush of Ghosts_ by Brian Eno and David Byrne. Closer to Talking Heads circa _Remain in Light_, but still reminiscent of Gabriel’s more experimental soundtrack work. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts is one of my favorite records ever. My copy is autographed, Byrne showed up at a radio station I used to work at. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/30 "2009-10-24T06:42:26Z")
> [@unclviny](#): > > There were 3 albums done as a “trilogy” (I think it was a benefit for WOMAD) > Exposure > Sacred Songs > Peter Gabriel “scratch” (I’m pretty sure it was Scratch, anyway). > and all 3 artists worked on all 3 records. All three worked on _Exposure_, as well as Phil Collins, Brian Eno, etc. The three albums form Fripp’s MOR trilogy, though Fripp and Hall got screwed over by industry politics: most of Hall’s vocals had to be removed from _Exposure_ and _Sacred Songs_ was delayed by three years. The deluxe edition of _Exposure_ is revelatory, restoring Hall’s vocals. It’s a treat hearing Hall singing a Fripp/Gabriel composition (“Exposure”), even if it is just one word repeated. IIRC, Blondie was also on the album originally, but that track is still MIA. This all pre-dated WOMAD by several years, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/31 "2009-10-24T12:55:26Z")
**Van Der Graaf Generator** got namechecked with _Killer_ a few posts ago; maybe not the track I would have suggested, but the right sort of period. Their singer, **Peter Hammill** sounds a bit like Gabriel at times (they started off on the same label and their bands toured with each other) and he also sang on a couple of tracks on _Exposure_, so maybe that’s a good place to start… He’s still going today, and VDGG have been revived, but if you do fancy hearing more, I’d check out his earlier band stuff first, then his early solo releases… [His site](http://www.sofasound.com/discog2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/32 "2009-10-24T22:32:38Z")
Genesis is one of my top three favorite rock groups of all time. I haven’t found anyone who really recreates their sound (and wouldn’t especially want to), but one other group you might want to check out is Stackridge. They semi-flourished in the early to mid-70\*s, started having reunions in the late '90s and have appeared at concerts and turned out albums since then (one this past summer). They have been described as progressive rock with elements of pop, folk and jazz. From Wikipedia: _“The group has claimed a wide range of influences including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Frank Zappa, Syd Barrett, Robin Williamson, The Marx Brothers, Flanders and Swann, Bing Crosby, Tom Lehrer, Gilbert & Sullivan, Frederick Delius, J.S. Bach and Igor Stravinsky.”_ The vocal numbers are more Beatle-ish than Genesis-like, but you might like instrumentals such as Purple Spaceships Over Yatton, God Speed The Plough and Who’s That Up There With Bill Stokes? \*two band alums had greater success as The Korgis. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/33 "2009-10-25T15:36:50Z")
I’m going to go outside the progressive rock world and recommend [Robbie Robertson’s self-titled album from 1987](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Robertson_(album)). It has the same producer as “So” (Daniel Lanois); Peter Gabriel helped produce it as well; and their influences are obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/34 "2009-10-27T02:13:58Z")
As was mentioned, **Genesis** really is unique even within the genre, so I’m not sure how likely it is that you’ll find an equivalent. Kate Bush, who I like very much, has been suggested a number of times but I think she has more in common with Peter Gabriel’s style as a solo artist (more static harmony, textural complexity, more song-like), then with his Genesis years (tonal chord progressions and melodies, changing meters, big synth sounds and complex synth solos, energy of rock). (Happy Rhoads too). All the big prog names I would’ve suggested have already been mentioned. But to go a little outside that box I’d mention first some of the big fusion guys of the 70’s which always seemed to me to sorta be doing something similar to what the prog guys were doing but approaching it from a jazz instead of a rock tradition. If it’s the PG voice, lyrics, and epic Genesis stories you’re interested in, this isn’t the best place to go (and maybe the worst since it’s instrumental). But if it’s the complex meters, synth sounds, general bigness of sound, awesome drumming, etc. check out [Return to Forever](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1tcmWt_x7s&feature=related). This is a link to the first track on the “Romantic Warrior” album, their album that most crosses over into prog territory. Also Chick Corea’s solo stuff from that period - [El Bozo, Part 2 and 3](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQWEK8oOOF8&feature=related). Weather Report’s a little proggy but not as much as RTF. The “Apocalypse Album” by [Mahavishnu Orchestra](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFWRbXFZvvY&feature=quicklist) (complete with actual London Symphony Orchestra, and produced by none other than George Martin) is also huge with lots of odd meters. Back to the world of rock - The [Dixie Dregs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdK1ESw3KL0) are very prog, and very good. Steve Morse is truly a wonderful guitar player and composer, but they often get overlooked for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/35 "2009-10-27T14:05:21Z")
I’ve never heard of IQ, but I am a fan of Genesis, and the posters above piqued my curiosity. I just listened to a few snippets of ‘The Seventh House’ and ‘Subterranea’ and it sounds as if they pirated a good deal of their sound from Genesis’ bag of tricks unaltered, from Gabriel era to their 80’s/90’s output. Sounds like IQ’s worth checking out, but a little unsettling how much they sound like Genesis. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/36 "2009-10-27T14:59:10Z")
There’s a French artist named Eric Serra who is most famous for doing film soundtracks (Nikita, The Fifth Element), but he also did a rock album called RXRA that is, to my ears, very similar to Peter Gabriel stuff. Even right down to the vocals, which are eerily similar. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_John\_de\_Pebble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Sir\_John\_de\_Pebble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_John_de_Pebble)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/37 "2009-10-27T16:44:59Z")
About time for me to check in again–I’ve been listening to as much as I can, though not as much as I’d like! Camel’s _Mirage_ and Spock’s Beard’s \*Day for Night \*were both pretty interesting, and I intend to listen to both bands more. They each had snippets of what I was looking for, which is more than I’ve been able to find elsewhere. I must say that Camel sounded a LOT like what would have happened if Return to Forever were English, which leads me to **Moe** ’s comment–I’ve listened to and enjoyed several fusion groups, and have some RTF and Weather Report albums. Excellent spotting there! And **Moe** is dead right about how I feel about Kate Bush; she sounds incredibly like Peter Gabriel in the 80s. That’s an interesting twist on what I was looking for, so I will definitely have to listen to some more of her stuff. I confess that I might skip the music videos, though–holy catfish, those were weird. Ahhh, the 80s. IQ is my next target, and **born too late** ’s opinion is only piquing my curiousity. Once again, I thank you all for your input–if I don’t post frequently from here on in, it’s because I’m trying to cram as much listening into my schedule as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/38 "2009-10-27T17:19:48Z")
Maybe I’ll get blasted for this as a philistine but I’d suggest: Electric Light Orchestra, especially the albums _Face the Music, Eldorado, A New World Record_ and _Out of the Blue_. The Alan Parsons Project, especially the albums _Tales of Mystery and Imagination, I Robot, Eve_ and _The Turn of a Friendly Card_. Not identical to Genesis or Gabriel, by any means, but… complimentary. If you like G&G, I’ll bet you’ll like these. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/39 "2009-10-27T17:31:08Z")
> [@Sir\_John\_de\_Pebble](#): > > Camel’s _Mirage_ and Spock’s Beard’s \*Day for Night \*were both pretty interesting, and I intend to listen to both bands more. They each had snippets of what I was looking for, which is more than I’ve been able to find elsewhere. Of the six albums with Neal Morse, I’d rank _Day For Night_ at #6. Not that I think it’s bad, it a great album; the other five are even better. 🙂 I’d check out _Beware of Darkness_ or _The Kindness of Strangers_ next. And speaking of Neal Morse, some of his solo stuff is worth checking out, but beware: he left Spock’s Beard because he became a born-again Christian and “God told him too.” Ever since, his lyrics have all been about what a great guy God is. If you can get past that, _One_ is probably one (heh) of the best albums released this decade. And then there’s Transatlantic’s _Bridge Across Forever_ - I can’t believe I forgot that one. :smack: That album _is_ the best album of the decade, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876/40 "2009-10-27T18:06:12Z")
> [@Sir\_John\_de\_Pebble](#): > > which leads me to **Moe** ’s comment–I’ve listened to and enjoyed several fusion groups, and have some RTF and Weather Report albums. Well, since we’ve broached the topic of fusion in a Genesis thread I’m guessing I hardly need mention BrandX. 😉 Oh BTW, the Bruford Levin Upper Extremities recordings (I know of the one studio recording and the 2CD live release) I really like. And (perhaps even a bit further from what you were asking for in the OP) check out [Trilok Gurtu](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM26r3cEAVY), the best percussionist ever in the universe (IMHO) who brings his Indian background into the fusion fold. The drum solo at the end of the linked video (beginning at 6:50) is one of my favorite moments in percussion history. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-peter-gabriel-fan-looking-for-recommendations/514876.md?page=3)