WIND & WUTHERING

Genesis had already proved they could persevere without The Gabe with A Trick of the Tail, and the only questions that remained was "How much longer can they go?" the answer is rightly, "As long as Hackett sticks with them!" which would turn out to be only one more album: this one. Enjoy it, for this is truthfully the very last great Genesis album.

The very first trace of that pop-like sound to Phil's voice is here. We also get a taste of the tight, high toms, which will become a very distinct feature of future Genesis, and Phil Collins solo material. That doesn't stop this album from being good, though. In fact, it's quite a nice little album, with high highs, and very low lows. Drumming is slowly beginning to be washed out, as the longer Phil remains a singer, the worse he becomes at drumming. At Abacab his drumming is banal and lackluster, but here, it's still quite good. The melodies, the keyboard dominance, along with the really phenomenal acoustic guitar sections, all make this a great album. Unfortunately, some songs are much weaker, without any real substance. Your Own Special Way, the melancholic acoustic number is arguably the weakest Genesis song to date. Afterglow, another simple, emotional pop song, doesn't contain anything genuinely interesting.

A real overlooked Genesis classic is the acoustic Blood on the Rooftops: a hugely atmospheric ride. The piano-heavy One For the Vine remains a Genesis classic, and In That Quiet Earth is a real energetic ride. There are some very memorable moments throughout this album, but unfortunately, because some songs are really weak, this isn't a must own for anyone other than Genesis die-hards. However, it is a good buy for all proggers (just not a run-don't-walk-to-get-this-one one).