...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE...

I think there's been a little too much "GENESIS SOLD OUT!!!" screaming reguarding this album. Yeah, the songs are getting shorter at this point... but I think that, in general, they're tighter as well. I enjoy most every Genesis CD, but I'd say my favorite "era" is from "Trick" through "self-titled," with "Duke" as probably the best of the bunch. Before that, while terriffic, they could sometimes fall into a meandering pace (for example, the last third of "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight"... or, god help me "Supper's Ready" which I always found rather forced) and yes, starting with "Touch" they maybe did get a little poppy (although We Can't Dance is a pop masterpeice).

In any event, I've never really thought that Genesis' strong point was in musical pyrotechnics... leave that to the Rushs and Dream Theaters out there. I think their biggest contribution to progressive music has been to marry it with pop music and add intelligence to the genre which I feel they really began to do on this album. "Down and Out" is probably as "rocking" as Genesis ever got and what Phil manages to do (drumming-wise) with the 5/4 time is damn near unbelievable. "Burning Rope" would have been right at home on "Wind & Wuthering," compare it to the second half of "One for the Vine." "Deep in the Motherload" combines Mike's penchant for that shuffle bass line with an explosive recurring riff and a tremendiously evocative middle section. "Undertow" is as good a power ballad as the 70s saw. And come on... "Follow You, Follow Me" doesn't move you? It's lyrically and musically beautiful and Phil sings it so ernestly... a defenite must-play at my wedding.

As far as Hackett leaving... I really don't think it changed things THAT much. I mean, he was easily the least important member of the band at this point. Let's face it, no matter what the line-up, this has always been Tony Banks' band. Listen to his solo works and then listen to what the band was doing around the time of each one. He IS the Genesis sound. The keyboards have always carried the melody, the guitar has never been more than an atmospheric shading. I'm not knocking Hackett, he's an incredibly original guitar player, but if Genesis had to lose someone at this stage, I'm glad it was him.

All in all this is probably my second or third favorite Genesis album behiend "Duke" and maybe "Wind & Wuthering."