...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE...

For some fans of the earlier, Gabriel-fronted Genesis the answer was "yes". Three albums into Phil Collins taking lead as vocalist and a shift was becoming clearly evident. Exit lead guitarist Steve Hackett (whose departure gave this album it's matter-of-fact title), and the progressive rock phase of Genesis's career. The shift is not so much musical, ATTW3 still sounds very much like a Genesis record, but from here on out the focus is placed on tighter arrangements and shorter songs. Only intermittently on this and future releases does the band revisit the progressive roots of it's past. ATTW3 is an uneven start for the new Genesis, yet still a worthy album for fans.

"Follow You, Follow Me", although a somewhat anti-climatic choice to close the album, is (for better or worse) ATTW3's most important track in that it clearly foreshadowed the direction of song-writing that carried the band to huge success in the 80's. Although I know I'm in the minority, but I think this is a nice song. It has a simplicity and innocence without being overbearingly sappy. Other ballads abound on the album as well ("Undertow","Snowbound", "Many Too Many"), that are stronger and more memorable. More energetic songs provide highlights elsewhere on this album. "The Lady Lies" is lyrically intriguing with it's fairy-tale setting backed by great musical interplay by the three musicians. "Deep In the Motherlode" has a nice driving rhythm to accompany it's tale of west-ward expansion.

The recently re-mastered CD/DVD combination is the one to get. The new mixes are particularly revelatory as older mixes of this album always sounded muddy to my ears. The DVD features a lengthy documentary on what it's like to put a Genesis show on tour, but the focus is more on the behind the scenes crew that make it possible than on the band and their music. An informative interview with the band does shed some light onto the songs. There are also promotional videos to watch and tour booklets to view on screen.

(text copied from my Amazon review)

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