GENESIS

This "classic" album from 1983 by BCR (Banks-Collins-Rutherford, as they were now known by prog fans) shouldn't be listed on a prog site, but since it's here, it's filed under Genesis. I think it would be right for me to write a review. This one just kind of came at me. The cover is kind of cool since it shows some little yellow plastic shapes. That's not a cover, however, you'd find on a prog album and I suspect that the shapes might be a message that this is plain music, so prog fans step aside. But since I like Phil Collins, I find no reason to dislike this album. Now I shall discuss the tracks.

Beginning with some thick, dense and frightening drum machine, "Mama" sounds just like a track out of a cheesy horror flick. With some maniacal laughs supplied by Phil Collins and some creepy lyrics, this track is not for every taste. I suppose Ivan Melgar Morey and Guillermo are not horror film fans, and to be honest, I've never thought of "Mama" as one of my favourite G songs. It runs a tad too long and sounds a bit dated in this day and age.

The brighter, happier follow-up song "That's All" is definitely my favourite on this album. Everytime I hear it, I can't help but get my feet a-tappin' and my fingers snappin' to this bouncy, happy song. The lyrics aren't very imaginative (there is even a part where Phil Collins almost plagerizes The Beatles' "Hello Goodbye") but they are kind of amusing. The music alone is well-structured (there's even a good carousel organ solo by Tony Banks in the middle) and qualifies as a tried-and-tested pop song. Whenever this songs is on the radio or on the public speakers at the supermarket, I turned it up and I feel happy. Certainly one of their best 80's songs ever written!

Some Def Leppard-like guitars fuel "Home By The Sea." An aural track about homesickness, this is a track with clever lyrics and a good steady rhythm.

The track fades into an instrumental follow-up titled "Second Home By The Sea" (kind of like that title!). This is the same song, but without vocals (except near the end) and with a slower tempo. The keyboards are the main ingredient in this version and they are more upfront and aural. Mike Rutherford also plays some good surf guitar.

The most silly song that probably tops many Genesis fans' lists (including mine) is "Illegal Alien." Voted as one of the Top 50 Worst Songs of All Time ("We Built This City" by Starship was #1), "Illegal Alien" had definitely had to be a last minute idea. The promo photo of the guys in the group shows them as Mexican immigrants (what's up with THAT?). The melody is rather hokey, the sound effects (not to mention the multi-lingual bridge) are irritating, and the three-part harmonies (the only harmonies sing simultaneously by Phil, Tony and Mike) are very unprofessional. This is about the only track I ever skip on when I listen to this album.

The damage is repaired by the lovely ballad "Taking It All Too Hard." Augmented by a smooth semi-acoustic guitar line and some electronic percussion, Phil Collins sings with great emotion and tries hard to make a ballad that prog fans should like. Listening to this song annihilates bad music and bad thoughts.

The powerful follow-up "Just A Job To Do" is perhaps the only Genesis/Phil Collins track aimed at yuppies. It would be superfluous to explain the track, other than to say it has some great percussion, a good rhythm guitar and some great keyboard trumpet fills!

"Silver Rainbow" has to be one of the most underrated Genesis cuts. I can't understand why so many people (even those who like Phil Collins) dislike it. The intro doesn't have much to offer, but it improves. With some heavy drums, heavenly keyboard fills and some great harmonies, this has to be the most cheery track on the album. The chorus alone is worth the listen.

The album suddenly falls flat with the last track, "It's Gonna Get Better." It's a slow, almost depressing track about how...well, I think you know! It's a good track, but not one of the best.

I'd give this album 4 stars, but the legend says it's great for a prog collection. And since this is an exclusive prog site, this album doesn't qualify. So my only other option is to give 3 stars.