Stick Figure Neighbourhood

Stick Figure Neighbourhood was partly inspired by the band's interest in progressive rock, where an emphasis is placed on creating atmospheres as opposed to rhythms. Another inspiration was the show The Prisoner, where songs such as "Dropped Dishes" and "Capitol Hill" reflect situations the show's protagonist No.6 would go through.[4]

"After the Institution" (b/w "My Job") from 1980 was an early song from the group that was left off the album due to the feeling that it was "too new wave". Regardless of the decision, the album still manages to be full of synthesizers, "raunchy" guitars, and pounding drums, all while being held together by Horne's bass.[4]

The track "Ice Age" was originally called "Elephant's Graveyard" but was changed due to the Boomtown Rats' song of the same name. Deppe states that the imagery of "glaciers moving along" are present in both songs. He goes on to explain that – after reading the story on the back cover of Genesis Live – he got the inspiration for "Stick Figure Neighbourhood". The image on the album cover reflects this idea, along with the notion of a typical suburb.[4]

Despite the album's lack of singles and placement on any mainstream chart, Stick Figure Neighbourhood was well-received by the media. Journalists wrote how the album was "one of the most imaginative debut discs to appear in a long time"[5] and that the band had achieved "an exhilarating blend of textural...melodies, brittle bass lines, rhythmic guitar riffs, and consistent percussion".[1] Many already began to believe that this album was the beginning of the band's bright career.