ABACAB

Abacab is the most controversial Genesis album, being the "big sell-out". Genesis gave up their progressiveness and started making pop-rock music. Very little progressiveness on Abacab. After the success of Duke (the last Genesis great album IMHO) and Phil Collins's debut pop album, everything changed and not for the better. "Signs" of more accessible music had been made before (Follow You, Follow Me, Your Own Special Way, Misunderstanding, Please Don't Ask Me) but "the betrayal" was committed with Abacab. Phil Collins started to be more cofident in his abilities to write songs (pop mostly) and to sing (not for the better either). It is a very good pop-rock album but it's nothing much for the prog-rock fan. Let's have a look:

Abacab: a good opener and a prog-influenced song, one of the better ones. No Reply At All: I cannot tolerate this these days, it sounds like a Phil Collins solo song rather than a Genesis song.

Me and Sarah Jane: another proggy track, one of the best song of the album.

Keep It Dark: a simple and straightforward song, quite good and enjoyable IMHO.

Who Dunnit: an insult to any listener not to mention the Genesis fan; I can't understand what were they thinking putting this "so called song" on the album. I cannot understand why a song like Submarine did not make the album being a B-side to one of the singles on the album. Dodo/Lurker: the most progressive and interesting song of the album IMHO, sign of old Genesis can be heard here; Man on the Corner: an enjoyable ballad.

Like It or Not: I like Rutherford's guitar riff on this one; another straightforward song, not simple but not complex either, pretty enjoyable and catchy.

Another Record: the intro is really fine but then it turns into a pop song, not bad at all (as some say).

Prog purists and old Genesis fans should stay away from this one. The progressiveness is pretty much gone. Three really good songs, so 2 stars this time.