ABACAB

I have never seen what's to hate about bands like Genesis and Yes going pop. The music is less complex but there's still more complexity than normal pop music and it's way more pleasing to the ear than some of the earlier records because of better production. Smoothness does progressive rock wonders and with Abacab it's just a structurally hated album, there are still great tunes on it. Beside Collins sounds just like Gabriel and this era of Genesis sounds just like Gabriel's "So" which is also a great album and receives less flack than this one.

Anyway, Abacab is a great record, perhaps containing more emotionally charged tunes than the supposedly "good" Collins albums like "Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Wuthering". These tracks are enjoyable to say the least and get stuck in your head (a pleasant thing in this case) more easily than other records. This record and Duke are sadly misunderstood. Progressively, this album is really lacking but I just don't see why so many people find that to be a bad thing. Bands change sounds and if a band does that successful it's to the credit of their virtuosity. Not their big bad commercial break.

Dodo / Lurker is in my head as we speak, a real standout track. All of these tracks are very well constructed and while many progressive rock nuts will say they are not, those reviewers are misunderstood. The tracks are constructed well, just not progressively.

A real gem, regardless of such hostility towards it.