GENESIS

As this was one of three albums that led me into the world of progressive rock (the other two being Abacab and 90125), this album has always had a bit of a special place in my heart. Yet, at the same time, it is definitely one of their least consistent albums ever. The only one which might beat it is WCD. But that's another story. Since this is one of the three albums which led me to progressive rock, I figured what better place to start reviewing albums than here. I give this album three stars, but that doesn't really give the whole picture. If I were only rating side one, it would get 4 stars, and I would consider it essential for any Genesis fan. If I were rating side two, the rating would probably be 1 1/2 stars. Just a little above "for completionists only." The songs are as follows:

Mama - A drum machine pattern and haunting keyboard melody starts what is to be one of Genesis' most intense songs ever, and one of their best songs, IMO. The haunting keyboard melody continues throughout the song, Collins is at his most menacing and gives an evil sounding laugh, which according to the band owes its origins to a Grandmaster Flash song. The drums kick in at just the right moment to bring the song to a stunning climax.

That's All - If you don't know this song, you either weren't alive in 1983, were in a coma, or you were living on Pluto. I think this song even reached number 4 on Mars. Yes, it's a pop song, but a fun song nonetheless. It has a jaunty piano rhythm, which to me is a little reminiscent of the song Trick of the Tail. Of course, the lyrics are a bit more straightforward, but the song to me retains a playful quality that the former song had. And it provides a break after the intensity of Mama.

Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea - The epic track on the album, and another one of the group's finer songs. It is split into two parts on the album, and they used to play the first part alone on the radio, but really this song must be heard as a whole to be fully appreciated. A tale of a thief getting caught in a haunted house is the theme for the lyrics, a bit of a return to some of their older lyrical themes, and an extended instrumental "jam" that is rocking completes the piece. Tony's keyboards are as always in fine form on this song.

Now to side two:

Illegal Alien - Um. Is this the same band that recorded side one? Maybe my album is defective and there's a different band playing on side 2. This hope was sadly dispelled once I got it on cd and it had the same songs after Home by the Sea. There isn't much I can say about this song that probably hasn't already been said. Fail.

Taking It All Too Hard - Mike's first set of lyrics on the album and it's a definite improvement over the previous dross, but is just a basic generic fm radio song. Nothing horrible, but nothing special either.

Just A Job To Do - Didn't Queen do this very same song just a few years earlier to much greater effect? Not to imply that Mssrs. Banks, Collins and Rutherford are the Vanilla Ice of the prog world, but the very first time I heard the opening to the song I thought they were doing a cover of Another One Bites the Dust. No, it's not a ripoff of the song, but it has that same feel. Not bad lyrics from Mike though about a hitman. I just wish the music had been a little more original.

Silver Rainbow - Tony Banks once said that Firth of Fifth was the worst set of lyrics he had ever been involved with. I don't think that's true, not only because I happen to like the lyrics to Firth of Fifth, but because this has to be the worst set of lyrics he ever wrote. Tony, man, you're my favorite keyboardist, a great composer, and I love most of your lyrics too. What happened here? There's just something a little disturbing about a man in his early 30's writing a song about losing your virginity. Good music though and a return to something that sounds a little more like the Genesis we all know and love. Maybe Mike or Phil should have written the lyrics though.

It's Gonna Get Better - If this was a promise that the next album would be better than side 2, sadly that promise was not kept. However, this song imo is the best of the lot on side 2. A strange theme starts off the song, courtesy of some stringed instruments played backwards through one of Tony's machines. Then a rather Motown feel permeates the song, and Phil sings with a bit of a soul flavor. Not bad. Not great, but it is head and shoulders above most of the rest of side 2.

My recommendation is to get the album if you don't have it, listen to side 1 and skip side 2, except for maybe the last song.