...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE...

Being a Genesis fan since 1973, I stopped the purchase of their albums after 1977 (Wind & Wuthering) for a very long period of time. It is only in 1996, that I entered their later repertoire. I must admit that I was quite astonished with "And Then There Were Three". I could find here a lot of fine moments which reminded me of "the good old days". There are virtually no weak tracks on this album. But there isn't either a great, fantastic nor epic moment. "Down and Out" is a good opener : good rythtm with heavy keys but weak melody. "Undertow" and "Snowbound" are in line with "Ripples" or even "Blood on the Rooftops": nice & poppy melody. Side one also contains a quite rocky song "Ballad of Big" which is very nice to listen to. "Burning Rope", the longest track on the album could have been the epic we all expected but that we won't get. It is a bit like "One for the Vine" but instrumental part is not on par. It is still one of my fave here.

The balance between rocking numbers ("Deep in the Motherlode", "Scenes from a Night's Dream") with more melodic ones ("Many Too Many", "Say It's Alright Joe") goes on. "The Lady Lies" being a mix of both. The closing number "Follow You, Follow Me" will be a hit single and does not bother me at all (reminds me of "I Know What I Like"). It will reach number 7 in the UK (23 in the US). Globally, I believe that there is a lack in intrumental passages and that is a pity. So, one feels quite disappointing that some tracks are not developped a bit more. IMO this will also be the last good studio album till "Calling all Stations" about twenty years later. But at the time of release, this not not known yet ...

Globally a good album (no highlights but no blunder à la "More Fool Me") and a good surprise for me. The album will peak at Nr. 3 in the UK charts and Nr. 14 in the US. It is their most successful record so far (even if "Selling" and "Trick" will also reach the third spot in the UK (but they won't get as high in the US). Three stars.