...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE...

Maybe the GENESIS trio was tired of Progressive Music. Maybe they were pressured by their labels in the U.K. and in the U.S. to record more simple songs. Maybe it was a combination of both things. But this album is very good, and it also was their first record that I bought after reading a review in a Rock magazine, and after listening to "Nursery Cryme" in early 1979. Also this album is very special to me because it brings me good memories from that year. I think that the decision of recording some shorter "commercial" songs like the criticized "Follow you, follow me" was a responsibility taken as a whole band, not only influenced by Phil Collins, who in those years still wasn`t a main composer in the band and he still didn`t record a solo album. The songs are shorter, but they are still interesting and with some Progressive Rock elements. "Down and out" is considered as GENESIS`s explanation of the change to shorter and "commercial" songs. The drums are interesting, and Banks` keyboards are very good, particularly the solo. "Undertow" has a very good electric piano. "Ballad of Big" has some good atmospheres. "Snowbound" is one of my favourite songs, with acoustic guitar, very good keyboards and Collins`sensitive vocals (which are present in all the songs of this album). "Burning Rope" has a lead guitar by Rutherford and very good drums. "Deep in the Motherlode" has distorted guitars by Rutherford. "Many too many" is one of those songs composed about being bored and tired of being a musician all the time due to contractual obligations. "Scenes from a Night`s Dream" has the first lyrics only written by Collins with GENESIS. "Say it`s alright, Joe" is the story of a lonely drunk man. "The Lady Lies" is a song about a "bad lady", which has very good keyboards, including a synths solo. "Follow You, Follow Me" is a very good ballad, and it was a hit for GENESIS.