GENESIS LIVE

Genesis Live is the first live album from symphonic progressive rock band Genesis, and is also the only live album with lead singer Peter Gabriel. I find it to be a masterpiece where every song is worthy of five stars, played perfectly, Gabriel sings excellently, and their isn't a single flaw on here. So why am I giving this 4 stars?

The reason why I'm giving this incredible live album four stars is not because of what it has. Everything that's here is perfect. I'm giving it four stars because of what it doesn't have. Everything here is absolutely essential listening, but this isn't any different than the studio versions. Also, this isn't the definitive live album from Genesis because of reasons they could have prevented and reasons beyond their control.

First of all, this is far less superior than Seconds Out simply because this came before Selling England By The Pound, The Lamb, A Trick of the Tail, and Wind and Wuthering, therefore making Seconds Out have a better overall setlist. Obviously, there is nothing Genesis could have done about that (assuming they can't time travel). However, they could have made this a double album including Supper's Ready and some other songs from their first four albums. The cover even has a picture of them performing Supper's Ready with Peter Gabriel's famous "magog" mask!

While this could have some more songs, and isn't the best live Genesis album, it is an incredible live album that should be owned by any prog fan. If this was 1973, and Seconds Out didn't yet exist this would be worth 5 stars definitely. But it is now 2009, and there is a better Genesis live album. However, this is still a highly recommended live album for any prog fan.

4/5 stars