ABACAB

There's more than one way to be progressive -- writing lengthy epics with mutli-layered guitar and keyboard solos isn't the only way for a band can go against the mainstream. To say that Abacab is along the same lines as Phil's solo output or even the subsequent Genesis albums is simply wrong. This is a one-of-a-kind Genesis album, one that combines elements of classic pop music with modern sounds, and executes it in a way that is truly -- yes I'll say it -- progressive.

Yes, "No Reply At All" has horns, and many other songs use digital synths and drum machines. So what? Is there only a limited class of instruments a prog band is "allowed" to use? And so what if this album shows a lot of Phil's Motown/R&B influence? Is that kind of music any less valid than the classical music which influenced Genesis' early style?

The key to appreciating Abacab is to stop focusing on what the album doesn't have -- Genesis's early "prog" sound -- and instead listen to what the songs DO have: very unique, creative structures, plenty of unusual sounds and ideas. "Keep It Dark" is one of the highlights here, a song which features simple riffs but mixes them together in a totally awkward way. Even the much-maligned "Whodunnit" is quite a radical experiment unlike anything they or other bands had done before, and I'd rank it above at least 40% of the band's post-Abacab material.

True, this is largely a "pop" album, but contrary to popular belief, "pop" and "progressive" are not opposites, and Abacab proves that.