GENESIS

Side 1 gets three stars as the two Home By the Sea tracks do remind you of Duke and their earlier works, but do not get your hopes too high , it is only hinted at with lenghty instrumental passages. It is of course a bit cruel for them to remind us if it , since the other vinyl side is not anymore worthy than Invisible Touch or Abacrap. The opening track and monster hit Mama however is completely unexpected and unlikely pleasant as is the short track That's All supposedly based on the Beatles's Rocky Rackoon.

But side 2 is just as bad as ABACAB so just one star for an average of two stars for the whole album. Potentially the most irritant Genesis track ever is Illegal aliens and its horrendous MTV videoclip.

This album is also reffered to as "Shapes"can hold some interest to fans but they would have to be confirmed fans. Progressive contents are around 15% (IMHO) but higher than any other 80's & 90's Genesis album past Duke.

Built on sand?

With this album, Genesis pulled in the reins and reverted in part to the style their traditional fan base expected. "Home by the sea" ranks as one of their best, and most progressive tracks, with superb keyboards in particular from Tony Banks. Nominally two separate tracks, the second part being "Second home by the sea", it is in reality a 10 minute track which ranks alongside the band's better known classics.

The opening track, "Mama" has a menacing feel, a bit like a darker version Phil Collin's first solo track "In the air tonight". While the track was commercial enough to become a major hit single for the band, it retains sufficient credibility to stand alongside other Genesis singles such as "I know what I like", and "Follow you follow me".

The other track which I particularly enjoy is "Silver rainbow". While it has a fairly lightweight feel to it, the structure is slightly more complex than the pop songs Genesis had moved towards, with some excellent keyboard work around the choruses.

There are certainly a number of lighter tracks with leanings towards singles, but all in all, one of the better post Gabriel and Hackett era Genesis albums.

This record is better than the previous one "Abacab". Compared to "Duke", the varied keyboards are more in the foreground and they really participate to the rythm. The guitar is very rythmic too, and there are electronic drums parts. The songs are catchy and very pop and accessible, and it is surprisingly well made. All the instruments are well balanced together and the songs are rather loaded. It is not progressive, although "Home By The See" is not a pop song. "Mama" and "That's All" were big hits in the 80's.

It's hard to begrudge the band making more commercial music when it sounds this good. GENESIS the album went triple platinum and produced some of the more memorable hits from 1983 and 1984: "Illegal Alien","That's All", "Mama", "Taking It All Too Hard". Sure, it's not far removed from Phil COLLINS' solo music (which some folks were getting sick of), but as a trio their sound is denser, richer. Credit Tony BANKS' keyboards for keeping the arrangements substantial, from the dark touches on "Mama" to the epic instrumental "Second Home By The Sea".

Personally, "Duke" is the last GENESIS album that I really connected with, but of the work that followed this is my favorite. True, "Illegal Alien" is just silly (which undermines whatever social message Phil may have had in mind) and "It's Gonna Get Better" is shallow idealism, but the band still shows some bite in "Silver Rainbow" (one of my favorite cuts on here) and "Just A Job To Do". Where "Invisible Touch" seemed bitter and "Abacab" eclectic, their eponymous album feels polished from beginning to end. With so much top-shelf material, a lovely ballad like "Taking It All Too Hard" (which recalls ".And Then There Were Three") doesn't have to carry the side, instead serving as a respite before an edgier cut like "Just A Job To Do".

Since the band had taken to crediting the whole group (all three of them) for songwriting, it's hard to know what exactly Mike RUTHEFORD contributes to the final product. His guitar work is muted on the album (as is Phil's drumming to some extent), with the vocals and BANKS' keyboards driving most of the music. This does give GENESIS a gauzier texture than "Abacab", returning to the "humid" sound of the band's first two albums as a trio. The difference here is how clean and precise the music is, which costs the album some humanity while placing it on the cutting edge of production value for its time. If any late-period GENESIS album is going to win over converts from the band's "classic" period, this is the one to do it.

Really I can't understand all the noise some fans make about Mama, it's a repetitive, boring and forgettable song. The screams at the end of this aberration are really annoying, almost as a shout from a wounded animal.

Illegal Alien is the worst piece of "music" Genesis released (well, maybe Who Dunnit? is even worst), the only decent songs are Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea, without being good or prog', this tracks are not as bad as the average of this album

The rest of the album doesn't deserve any comments, just another chance to play Phil Collins boring soft ballads with Genesis as session musicians.

If you're a prog fan, avoid it by all means if you're a die hard Genesis fan, better choose another album. I give 1 star because of the two songs previously mentioned and not 0 stars as I believe it deserves..

It's gonna get better and mama are terrific songs which negate all criticism to the contrary. I love mama, Home by the Sea, Just a Job to do and It's gonna get Better. yeah genesis went more mainstream and commercial. So frigging what? All of Collin's solo's have been worth it bar Both Sides. I think this album exposes the frail Prog Rock tendencies of aspiring fans. Wake up...Prog was dying out at the time and Genesis milked it with creative wonder. I am glad for one my hangovers endured to make my memories worthwhile. Thanks Mama!

The best songs in this album are "That`s all" and "It`s gonna get better". "Mama" and "Home by the sea/second home by the sea" are like soundtrack music for an horror movie. "Illegal alien" is offensive and it seems that it took 10 more years to Phil Collins (I don`t know if Rutherford and Banks are aware of social problems) to think about "Both Sides of the Story". "Silver Rainbow" has an interesting arrangement in the first verse only."Taking it all too hard" is a ballad, not too bad. "Just a Job to Do" has interesting drums. It seems that this album was more a contractual obligation that an album planned for real creativity. This is their worst album. They recorded a better album for 1986 ("Invisible Touch").

This is the album that most old-school fans seem to dislike the most. It seems that the Illegal Alien video was poorly received. Granted, it was a bit corny, but the album is one of their best. This album, along with Abacab, was made just after they went pop, but before the music actually went downhill. Songs like Mama, and Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea are well crafted pop, as opposed to later songs like Anything She Does or Jesus He Knows Me.

I agree that this is their most commercial album to that date, but the fact remains that this is a very good and polished album. It's definitally the last good album made in the "post Hacket" era. My distinction of the music Genesis were doing at the time is: Art- pop (or Prog-pop if u like). This means that the songs are pop songs, but they still have that "twist" that genesis allways knew how to give their songs. There are no bad songs in this album, so it comes down as the height of their "post hacket" Prog-pop era. The first side is great Prog-pop, and the second side are very good pop tunes. And now to the songs themselves:

Mama - This is, to my thinking, a great song, with a dence progressive sound to it, and great lyrics. Phil's laughter throuout the track is a spark of genuicy, and I still can listen to the track over and over without getting bored. This is definitally the best song in the album, and a must for all genesis fans.

That's All - This is one of their best pop songs ever, if not the best of them. A catchy tune, which catches your ear from second 1 and won't let go. The words are not bad, and the jam at the end is fantastic (thanks tony).

Home by the sea / Second home by the sea: The first one is a well crafted pop-song, with a horror movie theme to the lyrics. I wonder why this wasn't released as a single at the time but it's a very catchy song. The second one is a great progressive rock jam, reminder of the glory days of "Duke". All in all, this is the second best songs of the album.

Illegal Alian - At first I didn't like this song, but when u get that this is a kind of a joke realy, it catches on you. Very catchy pop tune, with nice and funny lyrics.

Taking it all too hard - A phil collins ballad, no doubt, but the tune is so good an catchy that I, for one, forgive the "cheesiness" of the lyrics.

It's going to get better - This is my favourite on the second side of the vinyl album. Basically it's a pop tune, much like the one b4 it, but the arrangement is so good, it comes of as a half Prog-pop tune. U can listen to this track over and over without getting bored. I do.

Silver rainbow - Same story as "It's going to get better". A pop song, this time with somewhat sci-fi / Fantasy lyrics, which has a prog-pop arrangement. Not as good as "It's going to get better" but still worth the while.

Just a job to do - A very slick and polished pop number. This is pure pop, not even pretending to be prog-pop. The arrangement is quite nice though, with all kind of drums and synthesizer small tricks to keep it interesting. The (half mock?) lyrics tell of a hit man going after a woman. Arguably this is the least good track of the album, but it's still enjoyable.

And there u have it: I think every Genesis fan should get this album. As I said b4, this is their last good effort after Hacket left, and it's worth the while. Listen and you will see, I hope...

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.

The peak of pop Genesis, following in the same vein as Abacab. Like Abacab, it's bright, quite poppy, starts with a bang - "Mama" is strong track that sounds unlike anything I've heard before from Genesis or any other group. "Home by the Sea" and "Second Home by the Sea" are great progressive rock tracks - the reason why I bought this album, after hearing them performed in concert. "That's All", "Taking it all too Hard", and "Just a Job to Do" are very good pop songs. "Illegal Alien" is catchy pop, but not in a good way!

This may not be a super-progressive album, but it's a wonderful album nonetheless from a band who were on a creative high. How sad that they were never to reach this peak again. The songs are without exception brilliant, although different from previous releases. The surprise is that there are a few songs that retain the essential Genesis sound. "The Silver Rainbow", "Taking It All Too Hard" and "Second Home By The Sea" are mini epics, each on their own unique way, capturing everything that was great about this great band. The other songs have a creative spark too - "Illegal Alien", clownish Collins style, the hopeful "It's Going To Get Better", the monstrous "Mama", the bitter-sweet "That's All" - pure Genesis. Call it pop, whatever - this is still Genesis.

2-and-a-half stars, if we're splitting hairs.

Beginning with a song that is alien in comparison to the rest this album, and indeed one that stands apart from any other Genesis song, 'Genesis' gets off to a bizarre start with "Mama". Dreary, mechanical, brooding and at times psychotic, "Mama" is an early climax on an album that suffers from a lack of cohesion and way too much filler. "That's All" rests on an almost country-rock bounce. It's simple and harmless, but it doesn't stick (in fact, it sucks). It's not helped by the weak synthetic drum sound, Tony Banks' feeble keyboard sounds, and the general streamlining that shaved off a lot of this once- great band's most enticing elements. Rounding off the first side is "Home By The Sea" and its coda, "Second Home By The Sea". In some ways this is classic Genesis, but only in terms of their post-'70s output. A poignant lyric is further lifted by Phil Collins' emotional delivery, and the composition is masterful. Flip the record over and you've got an uneven batch of tunes to grapple with. Up there with the worst of the worst Genesis, "Illegal Alien" is a dud, utterly awful stuff marked by tacky lyrics. It's bouncy, goofy, lighthearted, a total 180-degree turn from the frightening album opener. "Taking It All Too Hard" is the kind of stuff Genesis started coming up with all to easily, stuff that would dominate their next two albums. Throwaway FM-lite radio material, clearly nothing remarkable. Next is the infectious "Just A Job To Do". I know Genesis fans hear this one differently from person to person. I've always found it hard to dislike. There's some quality rhythmic syncopation from Collins and Michael Rutherford that helps propel this odd bit of white funk. "Silver Rainbow" is next. Its dark momentum and ghostly vocal melody meshes with the compressed synthetic '80s production to become a perplexing song at worst, and an '80s-era Genesis high point at best. Underrated and worth a reinvestigation if it didn't hit you the first time, it sadly doesn't develop as far as it should, repeating the ethereal chorus lazily until the fadeout. "It's Gonna Get Better" is an easy one to dislike, marked by dance-y momentum and new-wave-ish production ethics, but Banks' hypnotic keyboards give the desperate Genesis fan some scraps to hang onto. Interestingly, this one comes off much better live (check out the version of the 'Genesis Archives #2' box).

I wonder why they self-titled this album. It's hardly definitive Genesis, and it doesn't represent any kind of creative high-point in their career, so maybe the album title-like the poor artwork--is due to lack of imagination? As a follow-up to the promising reinvention of 'Abacab' it doesn't hold up. It's less of an "album" album and more a bunch of songs thrown together--some good, some awful. Unusual for a band who previously made huge journeys of their albums, but par-for-the-course for a band reaping commercial rewards and enjoying their newfound less-is-more approach.

When approaching this album and its predecessor, one has to realize that Genesis were looking for new directions, and were not content in basking in the glories of the past. And that's exactly where the genius of this album and Abacab is. Genesis managed to find new ways of expressing their "Genesis-ness". It was different, more punchy and lean, they took chances on the lyrics as well, but I thnk in the end, they pulled it off very well. The songs still remain very strong and even inspired, and the humor is well balanced with the darker vision of reality. There are progressive parts there as well, in Second Home By The Sea, Silver Rainbow (classic Genesis, by the way), Mama. Of all the other 80's Genesis albums, this one has the most character, and stands out as a unique work of art. A solid 4.5.

I give this album a 3-star rating, mainly because of "Mama" and "Home by the sea/Second". It really isn't a progressive album, so if you're a real progger, leave this album. But this album is indeed a great pop record, and won't be a dirty stain in your record collection. Listen before buy.

First of all let me get this clear, i'm not a particular fan of synthetic drums or drum machine, but i find it hard to picture what "second home by the sea" (my favourite track on the album) would sound like with acoustic drums, maybe it would sound better or worse i don't know, "mama" is suprisingly dark sounding for genesis, although they did this before with "the knife" on the 'trespass' album, overall the symphonic prog has desorted on this album, i would consider this album an fm style progressive pop rock album, still worth a listen, but may not impress all prog / early genesis fans, i prefer this album to 'abacab'. There are one or two weak tracks but i don't mean to say there rubbish not at all, give it a listen anyway, i feel the name "genesis" is stupid for the album title they should have called it "genesis - home by the sea", that would have sounded better.

With the exception of "Invisible Touch", I wouldn't recommend ANY Genesis albums after 1978's "And Then There Were Three." The band's self-titled 1983 album continues the decline.

There are three songs of moderate interest, with the best being the mystical-sounding "It's Going To Get Better." The atmospheric "Mama" and the upbeat "Just a Job To Do" are also worth a listen.

But the rest of this album is just listless, uninspired junk from a band that once made great music. People who think that the "Home By The Sea" tracks are profound or something need only go back further into Genesis' catalogue to find long tracks that are really passionate and great.

Certainly the low point is "Illegal Alien" - why this racist, unwitty ditty didn't end the band's career once and for all is unclear.

If you really want to discover the wonders of Genesis, go back to 70s masterpieces like "Foxtrot" or "Selling England By the Pound" or "Seconds Out". It's interesting to note that - according to Amazon sales ranks - 70s Genesis albums sell much better than their 80s albums.

A great POP album, but (of course) the reasons to buy it are the prog tracks: especially "Home By The Sea" and "Second Home By The Sea". The 2nd one reprises the first one in the end. As many above me mentioned, it sounds like a soundtrack for a horror movie... "Mama" is pretty good, but a bit too long. It's very dark, sometimes you think this mother has to be a monster :-)

"That's All" is the ditty style, but a lot better than other songs on this album.... I mean the stupid "Illegal Alien". Why did they put such crap on an album they self-titled?

"Taking It All Too Hard" and "It's Gonna Get Better" are good ballads. In Genesis songs from this period ("Abacab", "Genesis") the song introes often sound a lot better than the main themes (listen to "Another Record" from the previous one, for example. It's a silly pop filler, but the intro sounds like the intro to a progressive song.)

This and 1981's Abacab are their worst albums, but they're both not so bad. Genesis didn't do anything really bad, but if they did, those two were the worst ones.....

They died a few years before the so-called "Mama" album, not with this one but with Duke or Abacab.

Sorry for my English mistakes

the Sorcerer

1983's GENESIS is one of Genesis's weaker releases, and is in contention to be their worst album. It is plagued by uneven material. About half is good, while the rest is radio ready pop dribble, worse than their usual pop forays. It is clear, since 1981's ABACAB Collins' was taking a larger role in the song writing, as many of these songs are indistinguishable from the drummer's solo work. Oddly, this is guitarist Mike Rutherford's favorite album, showing not only Collins was to blame for this mush. One of this album's problems is it is given a shiny pop sheen by by producer David Hentschel (..Police, etc.), and this greatly weakens the better compositions, by watering them down for radio.

The album opens strongly with Mama, a very dark, haunting track, which mainly features Collins' drum machines, in a similar fashion to those he used on Peter Gabriel's SECURITY album. His maniacal vocals and laugh are also quite entertaining. This is a very good track, and at this point, it is the best fans could hope for from Genesis. Many consider Mama to be a bit repetitive, which it is, but this adds to the slowly building effect. The album goes downhill quickly from there. That's All is pure pop, and sounds nothing like Genesis. It was a major hit in both the UK and US. I detest the track but will admit it is catchy. Next we "take a trip into the other world" as Collins says on the live versions of the tracks Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea. Home by the Sea is pleasant Prog-pop with very good lyrics and mediocre music. It is executed well though. Second Home by the Sea is the scraps Genesis is throwing to their old fans, in the form of an instrumental. It simply isn't very exciting though. It sounds like a watered down version of Duke's Travels/Duke's End off of DUKE. So ends side one. Side two is much worse, featuring four bland pop numbers and one good pop number. Illegal Alien, along with Who Dunnit? From ABACAB is one of Genesis's dumbest songs. Many find its attempt at humor about illegal immigrants offensive. Taking it All To Hard is Collins' solo pop, with Genesis as studio musicians. This is the point when Genesis began crediting everyone for composition, so it is difficult to tell who wrote what, but this is pure Collins' rubbish. Just a Job to Do is also unremarkable pop, but was a moderate hit in England. Silver Rainbow is the only good track on this side, and ends much too soon. It is very dark, with heavy drums and oppressive music. The chorus is excellent, despite some annoying synthesizers. The album ends (thankfully) with It's Gonna Get Better, - more boring pop. Note: this album doesn't 'get better' with repeated listening, don't even try. This song comes off much better live, and can be found on the GENESIS ARCHIVE (Vol. II 1976-1992).

This is a boring album, and marks Genesis's complete break with progressive rock, and is their most commercial album. To be fair, this album is undeniably catchy (in an insidious way), and was the best pop of the 1980's. GENESIS is also their first platinum album, and was a #1 album in the UK and reached # 9 in the US. Genesis's creative bankruptcy is apparent in the lack of a real title for this album, calling it the eponymous GENESIS. Due to the exceptionally inconsistent material, this album earns 2.5 stars. This album is only recommended to Genesis completionists and fans of Phil Collins' solo work. (4 Stars as a 1980's pop album, 2 stars as a prog album).

Like a lot of the Genesis catalog, i have gone through phases of being obsessed and impressed to bored and uninterested. This is one of those albums, and along with "Invisible Touch", one that gets the most abuse for it's pop leanings. When i first heard the record, i was amazed, and listening again after a few years away from it, i'm hearing so many new things...i think it holds up fine!

"Mama" was powerful in 1983 and remains so today. The gated drums, the spooky synths, sparse guitar, and the way it ultimately becomes a full-out rocker...it is perhaps the most agressive song Genesis performed in their later years. "Home By the Sea/Second Home By the Sea" are ready examples of the studio magic of the band's jamming. Even lesser know/lesser respected tracks like "Silver Rainbow" and "Just a Job to Do" have elements of the Genesis of old. The Lp as a whole is very strong musically (perhaps excepting "that's all" which is a very simple melody), and some have said that Phil Collins' voice never sounded better. "Genesis" represents a successful bridging of progressive writing and early 80's new wave/pop. This is something that other bands tried their hand at (see Yes) and didn't always emerge unscathed.

This album brings good memories for me as this was released at the same time when the ground breaking "So here I am once more .." thing by Marillion was proudly released. So what was it? Where is the connection? There was a very strong connection between this album by Genesis with Marillion's "Script for a Jester's Tear". Some people said that Marillion was heavily influenced by Genesis and people who just known Genesis only know Genesis from this latest release where they are very familiar with "Mama" or "Illegal Alien" which were radio hits at that time when I was in Bandung doing my industrial engineering study. The impact was enormous, you know. Some people who love the new album of Genesis from the radio wanted to have Marillion "Script" album as some references said that Marillion was influenced by Genesis. Some were disappointed because the two are different but some really like both for a variation. That what happened around my surroundings at that time.

Let's talk about this album. Yeah, it's not typical oldies of Genesis like "Selling England" or "Wind and Wuthering" but this album was for me as a reference whenever I wanted to promote the music of Genesis for those who never heard Genesis yet. Usually I went straight to track 3 "Home By The Sea" continued seamlessly to "Second Home By The Sea". 90% of my friends like it at first spin of my cassette (I had no CD at all at that time - too expensive for a poor student like me who went to campus by bicycle or walking). ANd after that usually I brought them to a Genesis cover band Cockpit live show at Gelora Saparua to broaden his listening experience. I then lent him a cassette of Selling England By The Pound. From this entry point, Genesis was becoming popular for my friends. Usually people love "Mama" because it has great and accessible keyboard work by Tony banks augmented with powerful drumming by Phil Collins.

I never consider this album as prog but I have to admit that this album is a very good straight forward pop rock music. My best favorite track is "Just A Job To Do". Why? I'm a workshop faciltator / trainer so whenever I run a workshop and after I give assignment by group for my audience I always play this song to energize the team. It's a very energetic music with medium-fast upbeat tempo and the lyrics are really good and suitable for work team assignment. The other track that I also like is "Home By The Sea - Second Home By The Sea" as I like Tony Banks' keyboard work as well as dazzling drum work by Phil Collins. "It's Gonna Get Better" is a pop song which has a very encouraging lyrics - and this track is another option for running workshop especially when the teams were facing stumbling block with their work / idea. "It's gonna get better ..." is a perfect lyric for the teams, really. "Illegal Alien" is also a good song with an upbeat tempo. I like it.

Definitely, this is not Genesis' best album but it's a very good one to have for a change. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

GENESIS disaster continues...!

Just because "Genesis" was slightly better than "Abacab" many rushed to pronounce the "come back" of GENESIS to their prog roots. But let's face the truth! Even if not so obviously a pop song, "Mama" is basically a recycling of the rhythm patterns from the Collins' solo singl "In the Air Tonight", which for that matter borrowed the drum sound from the phenomenal Peter Gabriel's third album of 1980. "That's All" is a nice, unpretentious song and for me probably the best pop song GENESIS ever produced and that's all! "Home by the Sea" indeed carries certain long instrumental passages reminiscent of the "good old" GENESIS, but is highly overrated especially the second part and becomes boring.

The real horror begins with "Illegal Alien" and stays till the end. Not only this song is musically awful with those terrible synthetic sounds, it is thematically quite annoying and even "politically uncorrect" if you wish. And they even dared to produce a video (where the trio acted like Mexicans in a failed "humorous" set) and hit the charts with this garbage! Like the title of one song says, the whole post-1980 GENESIS career was nothing else but "just a job to do", making easy money by producing worthless music.

Had this album stopped with "Second Home by the Sea" I would rate it 2,5 stars, alas the remaining staff urges me to caution anyone wondering what to do with "Genesis": STAY AWAY for your own mental sanity!

After GABRIEL's departure,we had two great cds("A Trick of The Tail" and "Wind&Wuthering"),two good ones("...And Then There Were Three..." and "Duke") and a bad one("Abacab"),and then we come to this album.

This 1983's album is not bad and alson not good.To get a fair rating for it,I divided the 5 possible points into the 9 songs(0.55 per each): Mama-0.35-Good one,this song made me want to know who Genesis were,as I listened to ANGRA's cover on album "Hunters And Prey" and enjoyed.Despite the QUEEN's "We Will Rock You"-like boring intro,it's an enjoyable and listenable pop song. That's All-0.35-also a good song,in which COLLINS shows well his romantism,and which has also good, adorable piano chords. Home By The Sea-0.5-this song might have given hope to many prog fans(they hoped that GENESIS came back to its prog roots),as it's not that boring pop,it's a solid prog song, one of the best sung by COLLINS in the band. Second Home By The Sea-0.5-it's a Home By The Sea-part 2,as good as its predecessor. Illegal Alien-0.0-nothing to talk about this one... Taking It All Too Hard-0.0-pop,bad,boring. Just A Job To Do-0.0-also as bad and pop as the two above. Silver Rainbow-0.3-a song between the pop and the prog,with prog mellody and pop lyrics,enjoyable.Good. It's Gonna Get Better-0.0-simply awful.Did this song's title give any hope to the prog fans who wanted Genesis to go to its prog roots?If gave to some,they had a great deception three years after... In general,we have a good side A and an awful side B,with just one good song(Silver Rainbow).The rating,after all,was 2.Low to what once Genesis was...

Department of diminishing returns. There are still saving graces here, but it's getting ever more difficult to find them through the encroaching musical crabgrass.

"Mama" is interesting in that it's pretty obviously an attempt by the band at emulating Gabriel's solo style. "Silver Rainbow" and the lovely "It's Gonna Get Better" are fine, and the main song part of "Home By The Sea" is downright excellent. But "Second Home By The Sea" is a nightmare, spoiled by plastic-sounding synths and Collins' seemingly unstoppable quest to make his drum kit sound like a drum machine. The rest of the album is the worst Genesis music yet produced, reaching its undeniable nadir with the downright idiotic "Illegal Alien".

So, um...buy it if you can get it cheap, but only after you have their earlier, better albums. And don't say I didn't warn you.

Its an excellent prog-rock commercial album in which Phil Collins did his entire life's vocal-best. The opening number Mama's vocals is outstanding by any standard or form of music. If you neutrally analyse the lyrics of this album, its not made of pop elements (well Genesis at least did not try to sing in its commercial phase something like why did you leave, baby please come back to me). What puts off prog-rock fans in this album is Genesis' shift from difficult structure to very simplistic construction with simple chords. Side A of this album is absolutely great while side 2 is not that great. Overall this is a good album to listen to.

Starts off good, ends badly, kind of like Genesis' music career.

Mama is good. It's dark, it's a little edgy, and Phil's voice is great here. Best song on the album actually. That's All is a catchy pop song, but a good one. You've heard it before, trust me. Home By The Sea isn't bad, and it's second part makes it better, although the keyboard solo is a bit too long and energetic enough to be very interesting. It's clear that they were starting to run out of that energy by this point, and their days of hard driving prog rock were pretty much over. They would continue to attempt it, and came close with Domino on their next album, but never were really able to get it back.

The second side of this album is rather awful. You get sappy love ballads, an annoying joke song called Illegal Alien, and one not so awful song called Silver Rainbow. But by the time you get to Silver Rainbow you're already tired of Tony's dated sounding synths and Phil's whispy voice.

This album does represent something of an improvement on the disappointing Abacab. It is crisper throughout and in a way strangely dominated by the menacing Mama, one of the most powerful Genesis tracks ever made. Other highlights are That's All, a good albeit poppy song and the 2 Home by the Sea tracks. Side 2 doesn't quite match up with this standard. Illegal alien is ok although far from being my favourite Genesis track. As for the rest only Silver Rainbow has real merit. However theres enough on here to make this record worthwhile owning.

Genesis doing pop. Are they good?

They are not bad. However, why would you want a pop album in a progressive rock collection?

the first side of the album is pretty good. Mama starts the album with its industrial feel, and electronic drums (which sounds powerful). The keyboard riff gives a creepy mood and its bizarre laughs going "HaHAA ... oowwww" are very interesting. That's all is a decent pop number with a catchly riff. However, the riff also sounds a bit cheesy and is overused (even on the weak keyboard solo). Down By The Sea starts as a very good pop song with great melodies, and ends with a decent instrumental. However, the instrumental is very weak by Genesis standards.

The second side is very disappointing. Songs like Illegal Alien really can make you wonder if this is the same band that composed Cinema Show. The melodies are terrible, and the instrumentation is silly. The other songs are unremarkable ballads or pop songs. The only exception is Silver Rainbow which may be the best track of the album. The song itself is not great, but its choruses are what make the song (like in Snowbound). The choruses really shine thanks to their lovely keyboard stabs and outstanding vocal harmonies. As a result, Silver Rainbow is extremely catchy!

Side 1 Summary: A mixture of pop, instrumentals, and experimentation. 2.5 stars Side 2 Summary: A great song plus 4 bad songs. 1.5 stars

Highlights: Silver Rainbow, Mama, Home By The Sea Let Downs: Illegal Alien

My Grade: D

When the magnificent Duke came out I forgave these guys for the tepid "And then there were three..." album. Unfortunately, the two albums following this mess did not vindicate them. Somewhere in the MTV revolution that was boiling over in the early 1980s a serpent invaded Genesis' Garden of Eden and its name was commercialism. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that but there's a question of integrity involved in the concept and Phil, Mike and Tony lost theirs on this one and never regained it in my ears. On first hearing, "Mama" is promising in its approach but, tragically, that mediocre offering is as good as it gets for the rest of the way through. I've read where some think "Home by the Sea" is decent prog but we're talking about Genesis here and there's no way I can consider it anything more than a song that goes absolutely nowhere for over 11 minutes. "That's All" "Illegal Alien" "Taking it all too hard" and "Just a job to do" got lots of airplay but it might as well have been Starship as far as I'm concerned. Toward the end of the milktoast "Silver Rainbow" you hear Phil singing something about not knowing if he's "coming or going" and I think that might have been a better title for this poor collection of songs. And even the cover art with its obvious lack of imagination stinks to high heaven! I dearly love Genesis but this one is a total disgrace.

By this stage Genesis had really let the pop-rock influence take over the sound. Still a good album, however, not a lot to satisfy the listening requirements of the hardened Prog fan. Mama still seems as powerful as when I first heard it pre-release on the old Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance. It is an excellent track, as is the Home By the Sea duology,which is probably the most Proggy track on the album. Phil Collins drumming is as good on this track as ever it was. Good album but not essential.

Somebody move Genesis's cheese and not so many people can follow where it goes... :-) You don't listen to this album with the same expectation as you listen to their 'old' concept in 70's when everyone is still around.

It's Collins time now, and either you change to the new Genesis, or you left behind in the past. I choose to move forward. Well, that's not really the case to be honest :-) This is my first Genesis album anyway. And I thank them for that. Without this album, I don't think I will ever know them and finally found their progressive masterpiece in Foxtrot. Hey, I start to think that it is actually what happens to people who know Genesis from Foxtrot, from there, the only way to go is down, unfortunately... :-)

But Genesis S/T is still a very good prog-pop album though. You can say Mama is just a bunch of repetitive lines, but honestly, when you listen to it, do you really 'feel' the repetition in it? That's the beauty of it. Genesis do repetition without even being boring, compose easy listening song like home by the sea and it's gonna get better without downgrade their level of skill. Well, I have to admit that that's all, taking it all too hard and illegal allien is 'not so good' but I personally found some 'not so good' song as well in their 70's album, so what's the different then.

My favorite track of course is the second home by the sea, where they 'show off' their skill and their capability to compose beautiful arrangement, as always in every album, even the 'easy' one.

rgds, Bayu

Oh my! Oh, the humanity! What were they thinking? Mama is passable. Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea are actually good, but what of the rest? Surely they must have had outtakes of previously un-released material that could have filled out this album. This CD was part two (following Abacab) of Genesis' long slide into home - a feet first slide that never quite reached the plate. In fact they stopped well short of the plate. They were tagged out 15 feet short with "We Cant Dance". I makes me wonder if all the bands exile's, Phillips, Gabriel, Hackett, saw something coming before we all did.

From 1983's 'Genesis' onwards, it becomes indefensible to label one of the ultimate bands of the 70s as progressive rock any longer. With this album the trio of Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford present little more than shallow pop (i.e. simple and one-dimensional) music not all that far removed from Collins' typical solo work, and even then it is barely listenable pop music.

The intricate textures of old prog are gone, and this is a cleaner but hollow and less friendly quality of performance and production. The recently pioneered (by Phil) 'gated' drum machine is the defining sound of the album and does occasionally add a unique dose of force, but at other times can be quite lifeless and overly artificial. Lyrically, many tracks take on the subject matter of romance and relationships, something the music world didn't really need more of, especially from musicians capable of much more - 'That's All' and 'Taking It All Too Hard' are truly unremarkable, generic songs. 'Mama', a poor attempt at an image of dark and depraved sensual hunger, is just about bearable in its consistency, that is until Phil breaks out into the upper limits of his vocal range and in trying to sing hard just sounds strained and insincere. Even worse, there is 'Illegal Alien', a pointless laugh at the status of an immigrant with Phil singing in full Mexican character - cringeworthy. 'Just A Job To Do' is clearly an effort to make a whole song out of one guitar riff Mike Rutherford had, the result being an utterly incoherent, impotent frankenstein of half-baked ideas, and no discernable meaning to the lyrics. 'It's Gonna Get Better' smacks of the same problem, and while it aims to be an observation on the homeless, the stagnant 'funky' rhythm and Phil's obnoxious falsetto offer neither sympathy nor hope - the track title is self-fulfilling, though, since Genesis could hardly sound any worse than this.

For me, 'Genesis' earns one star for the vaguely progressive leanings of 'Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea', with its creepy and almost passionate portrait of an old house haunted by memories that wish to preserve themselves, but even this attempt is flawed by the inappropriate upbeat feel and the incongruity of the dramatic instrumental section. Banks also succeeds in conjuring up some beautifully atmospheric synth sounds here and there, such as at the start of 'Silver Rainbow' and 'It's Gonna Get Better', though these moments feature only briefly before being insulted and overrun by the awful bulk of those tracks. There's precious little to redeem this album, to make it stand out at all from the sea of standard trash.

More than just bad, this is among the worst recordings made by one-time kings, which is quite a feat alongside nightmares like Yes' '90125' or Mike Oldfield's 'Earth Moving'. Their making the album title eponymous can be taken as a firm re-establishing of the direction of the band Genesis, and it is a direction they best travel alone. The good news is that the CD makes a fine coaster (the vinyl, an even better frisbee). Absolutely for collectors only.

Genesis' 1983 studio has me asking the question, are they trying to essentially restart their career? Most would think with a self-titled album that this would be the first Genesis album based on that rationale but in reality this was their eleventh studio album and their fourth as the three man lineup consisting of original members Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford and drummer/vocalist Phil Collins. Where Abacab had faults in its unispired and mediocre pieces, Genesis (the album) makes up for it with a stronger and more modern musical and lyrical sense that would take them straight into their next mega successful album in Invisible Touch. I guess it really all comes down to whether you can stand a pop album with progressive tendencies rather than a progressive album with pop tendencies.

The album opens with the harrowing and atmospheric synthesizers of the albums biggest hit, Mama. It's a pop number by and by but it's probably one of the best they did in the studio with Banks really hitting many perfect atmospheres and Collins' passionate and aggressive vocals come off nicely and despite it being hated by most Genesis fans I quite like it. That's All is another commercially oriented song (in fact, I heard it on the radio and inside a store I went to today, so it's still being played) and it takes off where songs like No Reply At All off of Abacab left all. The rather simplistic musicianship is coupled with a simple song structure but the song has an exceedingly catchy main melody courtesy of Tony Banks. Home By the Sea/Second Home By the Sea is definitely the most progressive thing on the album, with both songs being intertwined and connected through various themes. The first part starts promising with power chords hammered from Rutherford but quickly it becomes a keyboard oriented affair with minor emphasis on the guitar and bass. Collins' vocals are once again passionate and aggressive and yet they have a melodic edge as well. The second part is where things get groovy, with a sprawling instrumental work in the vein of Duke's Travels off of their 1980 album Duke. The majestic keyboards from Banks combine well with the crisp drumming from Collins and the consistent guitar work from Rutherford and blend into a masterful instrumental (although there are lyrics towards the very end) that when coupled with the first piece make a great 11 minute epic.

And that's where all the really good songs end, the rest of the album is a mixed bag of decent and mediocre pieces. Illegal Alien is often hailed as the worst Genesis song ever written along with Who Dunnit?, and I don't really see why to tell you the truth. Sure it isn't a great song but I don't think Genesis have ever written a song that I have out right hated. It's a bit of a boring piece that goes on a bit too long, but it's nothing that I can say I hate. Taking it all too Hard is a more mellow piece with some nice guitar arpeggios from Rutherford and some catchy drumming/percussion from Collins. It's the shortest piece on the album and it's not that bad actually, a nice counterpoint to the bland Illegal Alien to say the least. Just a Job to Do is a more upbeat piece musically, as there's a fast tempo and the drumming from Collins is great. Although Banks' keyboards here range from decent to almost inaudible (the guitars really come into their own on this piece), there is a sense of insistence in Collins' voice on this piece that redeems any faults. Silver Rainbow is one of my least favorite pieces on the album, don't ask me why. It's a bland piece musically that doesn't really go anywhere or really even evolve that much within it's relatively short timeframe. The same can be said about It's Gonna Get Better, which closes the album. Sure the introduction has some promise with a nice keyboard oriented melody line and the droning bass synthesizer notes, but I don't really feel it reaches any peak or climax and it meanders around the same theme for 5 minutes than show any true invention.

In the end, the self-titled Genesis album is a pretty good one. There are no songs I truly dislike, but there are some that I would have done a bit differently and don't really sit quite right with me. It's an improvement over Abacab, but I don't think it can even really compare with their previous albums. 80s Genesis is a completely different animal than 70s Genesis, so if you're willing to take a journey down this avenue of Genesis' career, along with Duke you may find some enjoyment out of this one, just beware of the many direct pop influences and references. 3/5.

The Genesis pop-rock adventure continues. I'll start by admittting that I am quite fond of this album because Mama and Home By the Sea were the first songs I'd ever heard from Genesis back in '88 and I was impressed. Well, I was a teenager then but still to this day, I enjoy these two songs a lot.

Genesis 1983 album is indeed an improvement compared to 1981 Abacab; I don't think I'm making a mistake by saying that the pop songs of Genesis sound much better than the ones on Abacab. And Genesis is a very "catchy" album. Many people called this album "clever pop"; I partially agree, but compared to other 80s pop releases, Genesis albums are far superior IMHO (that's why I call 80s Genesis albums "pop-rock").

Let's see what went well and what went wrong with Genesis 1983: the opener Mama is one of the greatest post-Duke songs, I've always liked Tony Banks keyboards on this one;That's All is a pop track but very enjoyable and catchy (both keyboards and guitar sound quite nice). Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea are the highlights of the album; one of my favourite Genesis (trio) songs - it's proggy and the instrumental part is impressive indeed (IMO). Now here comes my problem: the poppy Illegal Alien - it's the song I like least on this album, it's even worse than Invisible Touch (song). Things get a little bit better with Taking It All too Hard, an enjoyable nice ballad and Just a Job to Do - not my favourite but a good pop-rock song. Silver Rainbow is another song I like a lot - again I love the keyboards here. Same situation with the closing track It's Gonna Get Better - nice keyboards. Tony Banks has never ceased to amaze me. It's the only reason I listen to the 80s albums (and 90s) once in a while.

The 1983 Genesis album may not be essential to your prog-rock collection, but still deserves a chance because it's a great pop-rock album. Anyway, the two parts Home By the Sea song is one good reason one should give this album a try - prog-rock fans or not.

After such a disastrous album ("Abacab") I really did not expect a lot from this one. I must honestly admit that this album is not really bad. Nothing to say that has not yet being said about "Mama". It is my fave track on this album. "That's All" is quite poppy and in line with what Genesis has produced during these days. The suite "Home by the Sea - Second Home by the Sea" is not bad to listen to although it lacks in melodious moments (like "Firth of Fifht" for instance- where are you Steve ?). It has a long intrumental section but without any feeling nor emotion. It sounds as if the band felt obliged to deliver an "epic" (but failing to do so). "Illegal Alien" & "Just a Job to Do" are the weakest tracks. What's next (from "Taking It All Too Hard" to "It's Gonna Get Better") is not interesting at all. I would only hope that the latter title would be premonitory of better things to come. But this hope won't be realized. This effort will again reach Nr. 1 in the UK (third album in a row to do so) and Nr. 9 in the US. Two stars.

You could say this album was an improvement from the previous one. Or maybe not. I mean, it has good things compared to "Abacab", like a decent instrumental section in "Second Home by the sea" (introduced by a melodic vocal counterpart, "Home by the sea", although I still prefer the second part), a somewhat strong intro song, "Mama", which is quite atmospheric and and catchy, although I'm quite bothered by the percussion used here and the simply disturbing Phil Collins' vocal performance. Another track I like is "Silver Rainbow", which quite a melodic feeling into it, and maybe "It's gonna get better" tries to evoke past times, although I'm not sure if it suceeds. However, some past mistakes are found here again. First, there is a clear abuse on the use of electronic percussion, which is something bad considering that this band has one of the best drummers of all time. Quite a pity. We have again a set of mediocre or at least insustantial songs here, like "That's ll" (maybe it was intended to sound 'funky', but that's not what I'm looking for in a Genesis album), "Taking it all too hard" or "Just a Job to do". Sincerely, even this very own album there is proof that they can do it better. But then again, they complete the set with another really stupid song, "Ilegal Allien", which, to make it worst, was a single. Songs like this are not serious, even for an amateur band. I thought that "Who dunnit'" was a terrible mistake. I simply can't believe they repeated it here. So, I think some time was needed to wait to see a certain improvement, since the next three albums would be at least more decent and serious.

This album has good moments, really. But they are messed up with other really bad ones. Just like it happened in "Abacab"

Also known as Shapes, this GENESIS' release is slightly better than Abacab, since it maintains the pop trend in a wise way, with catchy songs containing interesting melodies and ideas.

It starts with the amazing "Mama", a dark song with dramatic vocals and a very atmospheric instrumental work, with a machine-sound that follows all the lenght of the track. This song is really nice played live, as Phil makes some amusing "faces" during the "ha ha" parts, which looks pretty funny. The next track, "That's All", is very catchy and a good example of how pop music should be. But the highlight is, of course, the two parts of "Home By The Sea". This song makes you grasp for air at its ending, as it is one of the most energetic and interesting epics done by the band. That long instrumental section (part two) is mesmerizing and careful to not be so mechanical sounding, despite the electronic drums used. It is definetely the album's climax, and one of the most underrated experiments by the band. "Illegal Alien", while weaker, is somehow catchy. I once found it offensive and irritating, but the song grew on me with time and i enjoy it now. I don't like the ending part of it, looks like a "pop party" with the vocals so happy, repeating the song's title, which is a strong mistake found on pop music, but that can be forgiven. The ballad "Taking It All Too Hard" is quite beautiful and shows a good vocal work by Phil. The guy definetely works well for singing pop music, even though he sounds a bit like Gabriel here (well, both have similar voices anyway). "Just A Job To Do" is catchy and energetic. The "bang bang bang" parts are very nice, and is another good example of how pop music should be. "Silver Rainbow" is very good, it has a nice intro and it is a short progressive, maybe, number. It is surely not as commercial as the two songs that came before, and has a nice rhythm section. It looks like a sequel to "Home By The Sea". The weak point is that it gets a bit repetitive, but this little detail doesn't destroy it. The last one, "It's Gonna Get Better" has an even nicer intro, and some very soft vocals along with nice instrumental work in the background. It is quite a catchy tune, with an atmospheric keyboard sound along it, which is well done by Mr Banks.

Well, this may not be half as impressive as the albums before Duke, but it is still very good, and i don't care if it is pop, or pop with some prog moments. What matters is that the music here is well done, the guys have put some thought on it, and i hope people start giving more attention to these infamous pop albums GENESIS did on the new decade. They are enjoyable and not to be forgotten. Great work by the guys.

Great album! Still rooted in progland enough to not make me think too much about what star rating to give it. No bad songs here. The menacing "Mama", the catchy "That's All", the powerhouse "Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea", the funny (and with a complex chord change, people, listen carefully!) "Illegal Alien", the bittersweet "Taking it All too Hard", the great bassline in "Just a Job to Do", the quirky and energetic "Silver Rainbow" and the strange and hopeful "It's Gonna Get Better". Another great combination of pop and prog elements.

Avoid if you're a prog purist, obviously.

This record has the ability to take me back in time to the early eighties. A time that was not good to the prog genre but it was good for me personally. I had left home in my early twenties and found freedom for the first time. And music played such a big part of my life back then as it does now. I never did own this album, but 4 of the songs I knew quite well from the radio. I had a friend who used to listen to this album, so I heard it a few times at his place.

I used to joke (about ten years ago) that this album was magic, the way it could take me back to this great time in my life simply by putting it on and listening to it. "It's Gonna Get Better" the final track is a good example of this. Those melancholic synths just take me back. This is a hopeful and meaningful song. I always got a kick out of "Silver Rainbow" which is really about being in love. As Phil says "You won't know if your coming or going". "Just A Job To Do" is a good uptempo song. "Taking It All Too Hard" is a melancholic song with words like "Old days are gone, they are better left alone, but I still miss you, I keep it to myself". Sort of how I feel about those days sometimes. "Illegal Alien" reveals the funny side of Mr.Collins.

"Home By The Sea" has some meaningful lyrics that are so heart rending. It's about old people who go to live (die) at this home by the sea. As they remember the way it used to be "Dreaming of the time we were free so many years ago". And wanting to talk to anyone who will listen "Sit down, sit down, as we re-live our lives in what we tell you".The "Second Home By The Sea" is mostly instrumental with lyrics late. "That's All" is a light, airy tune. "Mama" is an amazing song with an almost industrial sounding beat and theatrical vocals. Great synths as well in this ominous sounding tune.

I can appreciate why GENESIS fans dislike this afterall I feel the same way about the albums that came out before this and after this in "Abacab" and "Invisible Touch".This one though is way too meaningful for me to dismiss or rate simply as good.

This self-titled 1983 album shows a dramatic shift in the Genesis sound, partly due to production and partly due to using more digital synths and electronic drums. The songwriting is more on par with the pop rock material Genesis had been experimenting with on the three previous albums. Thus, Genesis turns into a kind of radio-friendly rock band with prog tendencies.

Genesis still has its moments, although they are appearing to be rarer with each new release. Mama must be the darkest song the band had ever made under Phil Collins. It is one of the few songs where a drum machine really fits well and doesn't ruin the song (Duchess from Duke is another). Home by the Sea is a two part suite, although not complicated, shows a nod to their progressive roots. However, I find the electronic drums on part two to be nerve-wracking after repeated listens. Many of us who remember the 1980s probably thought electronic drums sounded kind of cool back then as they sounded like nothing ever heard before. Unfortunately for many us who remember them, music that used them has not aged well at all. And there's a lot of them on this album.

I used to really like this album when I was younger, but today it sounds more dated than the Genesis of the pre-Collins era. Two stars. For collectors/fans only.

Man, if only side 1 had been released as an ep and side 2 burned in an incinerator, I'd be giving this four stars. Side 1 is just excellent. "Mama" is so addicting. It's simple but Phil's voice is just incredible and I love the drum part. It's like a better version of "In the Air Tonight" and I like "In the Air Tonight". "That's All" is a good song but my least favorite of side 1. If you get a chanc,e watch the Mama Tour video for Phil's antics at the end with Mike. "Home by the Sea" especially number two is the biggest reason for listening to this album. Mike's solo is really something. And Tony is just Tony. It's really a great song. I feel bad because it sounds like I'm condemning them like everyone else, but I can't get into side 2. I just don't like it.

This album was released in 1983, the year of my birth, and it again finds Genesis trying to expand their new found 1980s bop. While I didn't find this album as interesting as "Abacab", the untitled album is still very good, and I liked a lot of the things done on it. The album is very dark, minus the closing track and the throwaway "Illegal Alien". This album also feels a bit bi-polar, but doesn't quite pull off the freshness that "Abacab" had running throughout it, but then again, it's hard to follow an album like that. I believe this is the last album where Genesis actually is trying to be innovative, hitting the mark most of the time. "Silver Rainbow" might just be one of their most underrated songs. The album cover is also interesting, leading a lot of people to refer to this album as "Shapes". 1983 was a good year.

I think this is my favorite Genesis album. While it might not be very progressive it is still a great album. The first four songs really make the album. Mama and That's All is a great way to start the album. Home and Second Home by the Sea are both great songs and Genesis' flashback to prog. The album does decline after those though. Illegal Alien is a kinda terrible song. A bit funny though. Taking it All Too Hard and Just a Job to Do are two more great songs but this is really where the album ends. Silver Rainbow is a pretty awful song. Lastly It's Gonna Get Better just isn't very memorable. Overall I would say that if you're looking for a good Genesis album and don't care if it's progressive or not this would be a great album to pick up.

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.

Although I don't really like Duke and hate Abacab, I really love this 1983 album, sometimes known as 'Mama'. A lot of great, great songs here. For example, the entirety of the first side is absolutely wonderful : Mama is dark, somewhat terrifying (Phil Collins' demonic laughs, ah-aaaaah ! ah-aaaaah ! aaaaah...)...That's All, very jazzy, nice piano lines...Home By The Sea, great !...the follower, Second Home By The Sea, greater ! Yet, there are a couple of fillers on the side B. I don't like Takin' It All Too Hard, which is too mellow. Too poppy. And the last song, It's Gonna Get Better, is pretty, but not as consistent as the others. Anyway, there is Just A Job To Do, Silver Rainbow and, in a certain way, Illegal Alien (poppy, funny, but not a great song, not Genesis's best single) which are good ones. My favorite Genesis album from their 80's era.

This is the self titled album of Genesis. Often is is called the Mama album. The tour was also called The Mama Tour. This album contains some good songs.

That's all is a very good pop song with a nice keyboard intro and good vocals by Phil Collins. Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea are very good prog songs that sound like classic Genesis and should not be missed by an fan of prog Genesis. It's Gonna Get Better is also a good prog song but not as good as Home by the Sea. silver Rainbow and Taking it all to hard are average songs. Illegal Alien and Just a job to do are below average tracks.

My favorite song on this album is Mama. It is probably the darkest song Genesis has ever wrote. It has a pretty cool drum machine intro.It even has Phil Collins do an evil laugh in the middle. It is probably one of the best pop songs Genesis has ever written. It sort of reminds me of In The Air Tonight from Phil Collins first solo album.

Maybe it was Mama in mind of Phil Collins, who've just had a divorce few years before releasing this album, for naming it as a debut name Genesis and maybe it was a plan for a new beginning, going back to mama where it all begins. Or maybe his mama was lost, because he sings I can't see you mama or maybe he was lost himself. On the other hand, mama is probably his divorced wife because he sings: ''Now I can't keep you mama'', ''So get down, down here beside me''...

Anyhow, That's Allready 12th studio album of Genesis, despite the name it has, and it was a huge success and their absolutely biggest sell-out so far. It sold for example double platinum in UK and four times platinum in US. So they actually did go back to mama, called it a new beginning and started it all over again.

Genesis was like Home by the Sea in Pop music that was their new image, a new musical way to big sales and big success. And yes, pop it is, from the very beginning to the very end, with all the drumming machines, constant, easy beats, mellow melodies, catchy and simple vocal lines, disco sounds... After this Genesis wasn't anymore separable from the numerous pop groups emerged in 80's. It was all the same radio play stuff.

In progressive circles Genesis became an Illegal Alien with their new direction that actually had already begun at their previous albums. The old faithful fans abandoned Genesis by masses - Genesis became the accursed band numer one. I cannot blame them - me myself was a teenager back in 80's and for me Genesis was a total ignorance, nothing, just another annoying airplay when you turn off the radio.

But Taking It All Too Hard would be stupid, because there's a time and place for everything - at older age it's sometimes actually nice to listen some 80's pop, to take a trip back to the youth, back to that interesting decade when all the music was the same overly mellow and sweet disco pop. And Genesis' debut is one perfect album for that purpose.

I wouldn't say Genesis had Just a Job to Do when making this album, because it's pretty good - of course considering the genre it is. There's no bad songs but every song is at least decent: Mama, a slowly developing easy beat repetition - a nice song. That's All, a mellow love song with a catchy and inventive vocal melody, Home by the Seas continuing the same thing... And the same nice stuff it it to the end - well performed pop with some inventive, catchy melodies and tricks. Maybe the best thing here is the humor, irony they've inserted in their songs somehow. But if there's no highlights, there's no Silver Rainbows either. Even if they did all they can, there's not a single hit. Only Mama succeeded decently in UK (fourth), if that's the indicator.

''It's Gonna Get Better'' they probably have said, for the next two albums of Genesis were even bigger sell-outs. For an ordinary progger it may be just the opposite... actually, who cares!

Guilty! I like this album a lot. This is good pop music with some prog overtones here and there. Besides, Home By the Sea is a very powerful song that would fit in any of their more progressive CDs. By the time it was released I was ready to accept this trio as a whole new band. Genesis always had a knack for writing good, pop oriented music, no matter how complex they were. The band never missed the melodic sense during their entire career, which I found to be a good thing after all. If they´re going to turn into a pop band, at least they did produce good pop songs. The same cannot be said of many other prog acts during the 80´s (Camel´s output of the period comes to mind, but there were many others who also failed miserably at that time).

Anyway, this is not for the hardcore proghead. But if you like simple, melodic songs, with some inventive arrangments and done by skillful players, go for it. Phill Collins singing is at his best. Although not all the songs here really work, the majority does. And, to me, Home By The Sea is worth the price of the album alone

The one Genesis album from the '80's that Prog fans should own. Whilst being succesful in chart terms it aspires to be progressive. It is the one time following the start of Collins solo career where he did not completely dominate his fellow band members. As ever in the post-Hackett era the guitar parts follow the obvious paths although Tony Banks' keyboards manage to provide a degree of substance and menace. As other contributers have mentioned Mama and That's All are excellent pop songs while Second / Home by the Sea hark back to better times. I might have given it four stars however it's no fun listening to Illegal A-lee-un!

It got better!

After the disastrous Abacab album, could Genesis bounce back? Well, they certainly didn't ever return to the lofty peaks they reached in the 70's. But this self-titled album was surely an improvement over Abacab and also a much stronger album than the subsequent Invisible Touch.

Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea is indeed an excellent and quite progressive song that quickly (and rightly) became a live favourite. Mama too is quite good and better than anything from Abacab. Silver Rainbow is enjoyable too with a nice melody and nice keyboard sounds. An album with only three very good songs might not seem like a good deal, but Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea offers 11 minutes of the most progressive music Genesis did during the 80's. Mama runs for close to seven minutes and some of the other songs are quite acceptable.

There are, however, some weak and annoying moments here too. Illegal Alien is one of them and constituted the worst of the lot. Still, this album is overall better than both the previous and the subsequent one and deserves a higher rating for the better moments.

Recommended, but not an essential release for all Prog fans

This album is really my first full on exposure to 80s pop Genesis, which wasn't quite as dreadful as some would have me believe. The only thing I had previously heard from this era were a couple songs off Invisible Touch and this album's That's All on satellite radio, back in the days when I enjoyed rock from the eighties. Since then I've heard from many proggers on this site of its less than reputable commercial quality, so I had pretty low expectations when first giving it a listen, which were somewhat met, in some senses - on others, surpassed. My parents and I actually just finally hooked up our surround sound stereo system, so I figured, why the hell not. I actually came across this album on tape rummaging through my parents' old music tapes they bought way back in the day, as they really liked (and still like) pop Genesis (in fact I'm pretty sure they hadn't even ever heard of Genesis' early progressive music, quite a shame really). Thus I popped in the tape into the old tape player, and the sound quality was less than mediocre, but definitely tolerable. So I listened to it twice through, I have overall mixed feelings regarding the album's quality. At first, it was kind of nice listening to something simple and relaxing, kind of a break from all the head-spinning prog. But it is nonetheless a pop album, with both good and bad qualities to it, and if this were any other music site I'd probably give it a three, but honestly, these aren't at all great standards for prog.

The Bad: The album overall (especially on my first listen) really wears on me after about two thirds of the way through the album; usually by the time I had gotten to Silver Rainbow (one of my least favorite tracks by the band now), I simply can't take it anymore, so much repetition in almost every instrument and melody with very little of anything on the album really grabbing my attention, and certainly not anywhere close to the throat. I found Mama to be very much that way, the same simple drum beat over and over (evident in most of the album) with very little happening even in the keyboard department, and Phil's corny laughs and noises (however much fun I'm sure he had with that) only adds to the irritation. That's All was not nearly so bad, sort of a nice little catchy song, or even Illegal Alien, which was entertaining for me, as I live in southern California and we have a pretty bad illegal alien problem here from Mexico. That was a bit of a laugh. It's no fun being an illegal alien - unless you're in California!

The Good: I was quite impressed by Home by the Sea, both parts, which I could see probably the only reason why the more prog oriented fan of the band would desire this album, along with Taking It All Too Hard. I found both tracks were quite delightful and well written, especially for pop standards. As well, in the album overall, there is some great keyboard work, supplying both rich atmosphere and (at least mildly) interesting cord progressions. The album is pop, but pretty well written pop. I've always considered the pop music written by progressive artists to be the best out there for some reason, 90125 and Asia being other good examples of this tendency. I think it's probably because if one can write relatively masterful prog music, writing good pop music would be cake (whereas writing prog would be like cooking a filling, delicious dinner with meat and potatoes - quite a bit harder). I think this album is probably another product of that theory.

Overall, the album amounts to a pretty good pop album and a pretty bad prog album, all at the same time. If your a fan of Genesis, you may very well find some good things you like about this album. Otherwise, it certainly isn't fit for any prog collection, whether your talking about symphonic prog or what's been dubbed as crossover prog, and maybe just barely for prog related. A 2.25 for this album.

It is good to hear any music again after awful Abacab.The self-titled album is good enough for listening. It contains fully electronic sound with progressive element. It is weaker than first two albums for Genesis as trio, but it's a nice step forward from the latest album - Abacab. However the situation here is not very optimistic, too. The album is an easy-earning money album with no fine musicianship and nothing special, even nothing very good and memorable moment. Most of the songs are almost clear pop music, which is a genre extremely different to my philosophy of music. Because of all that my rating is 2 stars.

"Genesis" is the eponymously titled 12th full-length studio album by UK pop/rock act Genesis. The album was released through Charima Records (UK)/Atlantic Records (US) in October 1983. It´s the successor to "Abacab" from 1981 although the two studio albums were bridged by the "Three Sides Live" live album from 1982. Unlike the previous releases, where each member of the band would enter the studio with fully developed songwriting ideas, all 9 tracks on the 45:59 minutes long album were written by all three members of the band while in the studio. It was a deliberate attempt to make all three members feel part of the process and to strengthen their identity as a unified band. All members had either successful solo careers or side-projects at this point in their careers, so it was important for them to work on this album project like a band. Hence the eponymous album title.

"Genesis" is an eclectic album which displays both the accessible pop sensitive side of Genesis and the more sophisticated/playful pop/rock side of the band. Examples of the latter style are found in "Mama", "Home by the Sea", and "Second Home by the Sea", while tracks like "Taking It All Too Hard" and "It's Gonna Get Better" represent the former style. Common for all tracks featured on the 8 track, 45:59 minutes long album are that they are well written and catchy. Even the humourous and quite silly "Illegal Alien", is a well written song.

The album features a professional, clear, and detailed sound production, which suits the material perfectly. While "Abacab (1981)" was a bit rough around the edges considering it was an 80s release, the sound production on this album takes Genesis fully into the 80s. Smooth, powerful, and successfully combining the organic with the more digital sounding 80s synths, it´s a sound which works really well.

Genesis sound like they are inspired and in great shape, and while it´s no surprise at this point in their career, it still deserves to be told, that they are brilliant musicians and composers. Phil Collins vocal performance on "Mama" ranks among his strongest and the vocal melody on "Home by the Sea" is exceptionally well written and performed (one of those iconic music moments which immediately transports me back to the 80s), just to mention a few of the standout moments on the album. So upon conclusion "Genesis" is a very well crafted pop/rock album with a sense for sophistication and creative ideas. A combination which Genesis master well. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

Genesis Self-Titled - 1983 - artistic or commercial ??? Same as asking the question 'to be or not to be ??' This release isn't half bad, nor is it an exceptional expression of early 80's Progressive music. What our Symphonic friends have displayed here is the fact that they can keep up with the demands of the music bizz and contemporary trends by sacrificing inspiration over aspiration. Collins and Co. seem to be catering for their newly established Pop-Rock fan-base (of which there were many to compliment their sales demographics), rather than pleasing ' ye olde faithfuls' (of which there were few by this stage ... the cash-cow would've turned into a bull....) Sure it's something of a winner on the charts, with mega- hits 'That's All', 'Illegal Alien' and 'Mama', of which only the semi-lengthy 'Mama' has any vague link to their past, with the slow build-up and haunting Keyboard work that is truly (Tony) Banksian. The track is actually a quality piece of music - quite the cut above most radio oriented drek at the time. Collins really puts on a chillingly powerful vocal, some of his best singing ever IMO. 'That's All' is a focused and simple tune, which, at least, features an organ sounding synth solo followed by a guitar solo. Pure Pop, but not a tune one is likely to forget, thanks to the highly melodic and catchy nature of the piece. 'Illegal Alien' has Phil putting on the accent of someone of Mexican decent, quite a daggy idea, to be honest. A slightly ethereal interlude is all the interest the song can muster. Elsewhere, most Proggers respect the 'Home By The Sea' suite, with its instrumental consideration and unusual lyric subject - apparently about ghosts - Collins letting loose on his Electric Drum-Kit, crunching guitars and Fretless Bass from Mike Rutherford, and varied, atmospheric Keys from Banks. A definate high-point of the album. Three 'take-it- or-leave-it' tracks in 'Taking It All Too Hard' (almost M.O.R. Collins solo material), 'Just A Job To Do' (pure commercial Pop music) and Silver Rainbow (a somewhat unusual track which I just don't appreciate) and the album closer 'It's Gonna Get Better', which again puts Banks in the fore-front with his tasteful Keyboard work and features some cleverly arranged rhythms. I must admit that this is one of the first Genesis albums I heard back in '86, courtesy of my sister, and it bought to my attention the existence of their vast back- catalogue, therefore I feel a generous score of 3 is justly deserved, good, but far from an essential purchase....... what ?? ....... of course Nursery Cryme is better !!!

As readers of my Genesis LP reviews will know, I am generally quite sympathetic to Collins era Genesis, and I have given five stars to some, especially Duke which I still think is a masterpiece. However, I can honestly only award two stars to this, my least favourite Genesis album, and it pains me to do so.

Banks once said that the second side was the band's weakest moment, and he is absolutely right, because if I were reviewing the first side only, I would award five stars without any hesitation.

Mama is a great single, with some genuinely dark moments backed by menacing keyboards and a thundering drum intro to the beginning of the final sequence. It has obvious Exorcist connotations, and continued the fine sequence of progressive pop singles the band were making.

Home by the Sea, and the Second.... are simply stunning prog pieces. The atmosphere created by Banks' swirling keyboards and then his main solo in the middle backed by Rutherford playing tightly with Collins huge drum machine sequence are a joy to listen to. There is not a dull moment on this first side, and listening to it for the first time, I was convinced that we had a major progressive landmark in the still relatively new decade.

Then they spoiled it by recording side two, quite the worst listening experience of my life.

I don't mind commercial music, as long as it's good commercial music, but Illegal Alien is absolutely dreadful, almost as bad as Whodunnit on the previous LP. It deserves the removal of two stars in itself, a pointless piece of whimsey dressed up as social comment - it was neither, of course.

The rest of the side, I find just rather bland. Silver Rainbow has some very pleasant moments with progressive elements, and It's gonna Get Better is a good pop song, if rather unremarkable. The damage, however, had been well and truly done by the time you got to this stage. I don't think I have listened to the second side for about ten years before putting it on tonight ahead of this review - it will be at least another ten years before I bother again.

They undoubtedly alienated many people with this LP. I am rather surprised that it gains more stars than its predecessor in the reviews thus far.

They had a lot of ground to make up with the next one.

Side A of this release is decent enough with the two hits "Mama" and "That's All". Also there's "Home By the Sea" where especially the second part is quite nice. It will not stand a comparison with GENESIS 70s grandeur though.

Side B, on the other hand, is forgettable, starting with the awful "Illegal Alien". The rest of the tracks may be OK but far from the best GENESIS have done (VERY far from the best). The ending track, "It's Gonna Get Better" sounds a bit like their later "Throwing It All Away" and that's what this album is if you're not a complete fan, a throwaway. It's NOT gonna get better.

Genesis, s/t, 1983

The self-titled revival of Genesis in the 80s features something a bit surprising - Phil Collins as an assertive vocalist (well, 81's In The Air Tonight sort of had that, but here, it's on a whole new level). He's aggressive, biting, rounded and capable of a range of surprisingly vicious vocals. Complementing this is a lot of great writing, some kicking drum machine programming (I mean, Home By The Sea, Mama... it's great stuff if you're happy to drop the must-be-a-drummer-behind-the-kit attitude), Tony Banks taking a more tasteful, understated part on the synths, as well as more than adequate guitar and bass support from Mike Rutherford. Yes, you must admit, it's not a 70s Genesis record, but it's not meant to be - it's a damn good art rock/art pop album, and much more daring than it's given credit for.

Just take the opening Mama, a moody drum machine repeating the same manic line as some bleak, despondent keys from Banks bring out the atmosphere, then suddenly, the new Collins comes in with a desperate, pleading, and furious vocal and Mike (Rutherford seems too formal for the jaunting guitar coming along with this one) kicks in. Maddened, sickly laughs, the thunderous entrance of the gated drums, the slowly developed (well, one-sided) dialogue, are all done perfectly and Collins manages to bring out negativity in a sympathetic way with the force. Can you really call anything this dark, serious and visceral 'pop'? I wouldn't say so.

That's All features a catchy, clear piano part comparable to Time Table or Harold The Barrel, followed by a slightly funky bass and guitar and a killer vocal from Collins, with the characteristic edge on his voice, now, as well as some very rounded and memorable clean phrases. He seems to be back on the kit for lots of this one, pulling out some killer fills in all the right places, and the general vibe is just on. I really like this one, but hey... (and the lyrics are, in my opinion, some of the truest put to paper).

Home By The Sea (first part of a sneaky ten minute suite) opens with the low, sharp guitar thrum before the drums kick in and a mechanical 'home by the sea' opens the song, before Banks pulls out on a vibraphone-like keyboard sound some melodies as clear and pretty as anything off A Trick Of The Tail. It's well-structured, with the memorable vocal hooks coming up several times, includes some very curious drum sounds and a story which wouldn't have been out of place on England or Nursery Cryme, again bringing out the moral ambiguity which has been a characteristic and long-standing feature of Genesis lyrics, and, all-in-all, is a hugely successful merging of the progressive rock which Genesis were coming out of and the melodic pop they were going into.

Second Home By The Sea is more of an instrumental jam piece, reminiscent in some ways of the instrumental numbers off Wind And Wuthering, albeit a bit more structured, and with some fiendishly catchy guitar work and the general feel of story-telling, never losing my interest, and with one of my favourite ever bits of Banks playing (when he brings up the vocal melody again with that scrailing sound in the background), as well as a clean and suave guitar solo. Again, fantastic stuff.

Illegal Alien needs to be listened to with the right spirit. The social message of it is somewhat overshadowed by the generally hilarious 'gringo' vocals and what-political-correctness? attitude. Consequently, first time I heard it, I was filled with rage and hate, after that, I calmed down, listened to the music, and really¸ it's alright. Trite pop chorus, which I'm sure you'll all balk at, a curious-sounding string-synth, a fairly cool talky interlude thing under a descending brass-synth and a bit of cool Collins drumming as well as a sort of steel-drum-like (my intuition says that's a keyboard's effort at a tymp, maybe, or alternatively my keyboard's just crazy?) sound floating around in the mix somewhere, as well as the neat backing-less take of the chorus. Those are perhaps the best bits, and, I have to say, though it's not my favourite song ever, now I've given it a bit of time to listen properly, it's a well-constructed pop song and I like it a bit if I'm in the right mood.

Taking It All Too Hard is maybe the least distinctive thing on here, though it's not at all bad. A nice Collins vocal, a clean, effective drum part and some bleak, minimal keys, but it feels simply resentful and sad, and comes off as a bit light in comparison with the psychological trip of Mama or the I-AM-TRULY-PISSED fire of In The Air Tonight. The little sha-la-la thing at the end of the vocal lines is very nice. It's not a bad song at all, it's just not stunning.

Just A Job To Do is another surprise, upbeat, thumping and brimming with energy, taking on the perspective of a hitman in a fairly bland style. A killer riff from Rutherford fires the piece with general energy, and a combination of Collins yelling BANG BANG BANG (sounds really cheesy in theory, comes across alright, but my cheese sense is sketchy these days) with an accompanying thud-thud-thud on the drums works more or less right. The brass synth effect is maybe more a gimmick than a really necessary thing, but it does make the song distinctive, and it's very impressively played, and neatly follows the grooving bass build-up before the last verse. Except for the slightly bland guitar solo, great stuff.

The awkward sexual advances of Silver Rainbow, are somewhat matched by the not-quite-yet rhythm section (Mike is on especially good form, here), with the entertaining synth part, and another solid Collins vocal. It's generally a good song, though it goes on a bit longer than it needs to, but (and I get too excited about these) it ends with a bass solo, so I'm happy. It's Gonna Get Better is a calmer number, with a more quiet and yet neat Collins vocal (along the lines of the stuff on Peter Gabriel II or Face Value - their voices are quite similar when they're singing more softly), as well as a whirling atmosphere contributed by Banks, some carefully disguised melodies, a nice opportunity for Mike's bass-work to shine, and a calm conclusion to the album.

I have to admit, this is my first real venture into post-Hackett Genesis, and I like it. The first four numbers are fantastic, with a lot of the trademarks of 70s Genesis (morally ambiguous lyrics, both edgy and accessible music, great melodies) while being in an entirely new style, and the succeeding lot all have noticeable up points and are generally decent, listenable tunes, Collins sounds superb on this one, the drum programming is used in an interesting way, and it's possibly better structured and better produced than any of their classics. Maybe not something for the purists, but nonetheless, a great album. Four stars from me. Oh, and thanks to the excellent Spotify for indulging my curiosity when I wasn't quite ready to part with cash for an album - this the first review I've written solely from it. A hard copy should be coming up on my next amazon-binge.

Rating: Four Stars Favourite Song: probably Home By The Sea just clinching it over Mama

Edit: dropped to a three with harsher ratings... acknowledging really that the second side is a step down on the first, which'd be the sort of stuff I'd rate as comfortable 4-star material, by and large... so, 3 seemed more right.

This is an indulgent pop album, but what can one expect from a record that's artwork consists of the shapes of a popular toddler's toy as well as being the self-titled album?

"Mama" Not only do the electronic drums wear on, and is the instrumentation bare, but Phil Collins's dark laughing and growling is almost unbearable. His singing is good, and is what anybody can expect from him, but this track is almost an embarrassment to even listen to.

"That's All" This is a popular Collins-era Genesis song with a fun pop-melody. It scored some radio airplay (and continues to do so), but is nothing great.

"Home by the Sea" At last, there's some fuller music, but overall, Collins dominates his band mates (this is a pop album, after all). It's a somewhat better track than "Mama," though.

"Second Home by the Sea" The previous track flows right into this one, which features heavier drumming and some good keyboards. This is as progressive as this album gets, as this relatively lengthy song does have some decent instrumental moments.

"Illegal Alien" After some silly electronic noises come even sillier sounds. Collins's accent in this song is not just terrible, it's fairly insulting.

"Taking it All Too Hard" Here's another somewhat tropical-sounding song (as was the previous ridiculous track), but it's a bit darker.

"Just a Job to Do" A fast-paced one with some lame lyrics, this is another radio hit. It's upbeat, and somewhat enjoyable, but nothing really interesting.

"Silver Rainbow" Here is a song that doesn't know if it's coming or going. It's utterly forgettable.

"It's Gonna Get Better" Well, it hasn't yet. This is a soft pop song with Collins's falsetto vocals that should demonstrate that Genesis became very poor very quickly at the onset of the 1980s.

Through a pop can, darkly.

The floodgates for Genesis pop had been opened, and we get one of their strongest pop era albums, not that this means it is essential, by any means. I could very well say that it is a bare album, even for pop, and the best moments are of lush complexity, which pop up way too often.

Mama is a fine opener, I suppose. The dark and simplistic synth pumping almost dance feel is supplemented with Collins' fine vocals. That blank laughing at the middle, though. That's all is radio clear pop rock, with a clear hook feel, and a somewhat nice beat. Another disappointment, in the grand scheme, but the music is at least tolerable. Kind of catchy, even. I prefer this over Mama, mainly because it doesn't have banal laughing, the lyrics take a blow, though.

Moving on from a somewhat disappointing beginning, we have the main reason for this record's existence. Home By The Sea is easily the album's high water mark. Dark and post punk atmosphere, poetic lyrics and impassioned vocals, with more progressive leanings. It is haunting, and makes every other song on the album seem unnecessary and weak. Just listen to the album up to here, and go listen to Selling England...

To be fair, there are still some average and moderately mediocre melodies and sounds to be found in the rest. Second Home By The Sea is epic keyboard pop. Illegal Alien sucks. Sorry, this song is boring and uneventful, not to mention the main theme is about as solid as a bag of mush. Still, it doesn't sound absolutely terrible.

Taking It All Too Hard is more restrained "adult contemporary" style pop, and feels the same as almost every other track to be found, here. It doesn't offend, but look elsewhere for amazement. Just A Job To Do sounds even more forced and radio processed than Illegal Alien, not to mention it is generic as ever. I've heard this same sound too many times, and that wonky keyboard run makes me gag. One of the worst pieces, although somewhat redeemed by Phil's fine vocal delivery.

Silver Rainbow tries to be a bit darker, but it doesn't come off so well. The composition is lackluster, and the lyrics could be far better. Weak and generic pop rock with a thick and danceable beat. I kind of like it, though. True, most everything here could easily be enjoyed in the right context, but none of it really grabs you or gives you any sort of emotional sway, save for a certain track or two. It's Gonna Get Better is another pop ballad, and only redeemed by having a cohesive atmosphere, and Collin's fine singing, that high register is a bit weak, though.

In all, the songs are high quality pop, and the atmospheres present, while not that deep, are somewhat enjoyable. Oh, and Home By The Sea is superb. Still proof that Genesis, no matter what genre they were hopping into (or limping) they were doing it with at least the feel of hard work, which is why I have decided to give this album three stars. High quality pop, with a couple throwaway songs, and a couple positive highlights.

Best Song - Home By The Sea

Worst Song - Illegal Alien

*** Weak Stars

The first half of GENESIS actually is a fair collection of art-pop tunes with only ''That's All'' being lame. The two ''Home By the Sea'' parts are interesting pop based tunes, but ''Second Home By the Sea'' is a thing of pop beauty as it actually is quite mesmerizing despite the tacky sounding synths of the 80's. Reminds of unused music from the Sonic the Hedgehog games of the mid 90's. ''Mama'' is strangely demented yet the climbing factor helps make it enjoyable despite Phil's near-wretched vocals at the end.

But, there's another half to the album, and it's all forgettable pop music. ''It's Gonna Get Better'' might be the most ironic track name as the album never did that, nor will the follow-up INVISIBLE TOUCH. Lame ballads and cheap 80's pop tunes that sound like filler encompass this half. Fails to capitalise on what could've been a decent artsy pop album with a little bit of prog thrown in.

'Genesis' - Genesis (2/10)

Having given this a few half-hearted listens, I really wonder why people give such flak to Genesis' suceeding album 'Invisible Touch.' That album - while not truly being progressive - still had some catchy, intelligently written tracks, experimental instrumental work ('The Brazillian') and an epic of sorts to boot ('Domino.') I can listen to 'Invisible Touch' and appreciate it. This album, despite apparently being more tolerable by general consensus, is far worse, and possibly one of the worst albums I own in my collection.

Firstly on a positive note, it's not as if this album is totally without merit, it's just not meritable enough to be worth a listen. It's clear that there are points on the album that the band really tried to climb to heights of past glory (like the 10 minute track 'Home By The Sea') but unlike the epic on 'Invisible Touch' (which I consider a fantastic track) 'Home By The Sea' fails to generate any real interest for me. It's very bland, although unfortunately enough, it's one of the most musically sincere, non-offensive moments of the album.

'That's All' is probably the most well-known track on this album. The style of production on the album really seems to get to me here, as the mixing on the drums seems as if it's trying to drown out everything else out. The songwriting itself for this particular track is not bad at all, but it's not a song I would really give more than a few listens, besides the occasional absent-minded listen on the radio.

'Mama' also seems a bit interesting at the beginning, but it drags on far too long, without enough musical meat to keep it's engine running smoothly.

Onto the 'worse' side of things, we have a whole multitude of mediocrity. In fact, there's only one 'bad' song that I'm even going to bother mentioning. Genesis stands as being one of the greatest prog rock bands of all time, and there is one song on this album that has to be one of the worst songs I've ever heard in my life, but also terribly memorable and catchy, if only for it's awful pallour.

That song is 'Illegal Alien.'

As well as being infectiously catchy, it's one of the most horrid, offensive pop songs ever written. In essence, in the span of a few minutes, Phil Collins manages to insult the Mexican/Latino race in every way imaginable. He takes the stereotype of the 'lazy mexican' to heart, and writes a song about it, going as far as including in his lyrics; an offer for a 'sexual favour' from the narrator's sister, to help him across the border. To top things off, Phil Collins coats this offense with a fake Mexican accent; as if the lyrics weren't enough.

There's alot of mediocrity on this album, but if only for 'Illegal Alien,' it has to be one of the most horrid albums I've ever listened to.

Genesis proposes us a very commercial album, very far from the big albums of Genesis. He(It) ets clearly that Genesis needs money(silver), Phil Collins took leader's place(square) of the group and nobody makes a mistake there. ' Home by the sea ' is really very successful, the hit ' mama ' is not bad whole, but the rest of the album is very disappointing this album can agree that has fans of genesis, offer an album of Genesis by proposing that has is a pure error, am really anoint to like the period failed Collins of the last albums of the group. Genesis did not get(touch) the bottom with this album, but he is not really far from the abyss, has his feet I think. The very commercial appropriate(clean) sound ets tres, many of synthetiseur without magic, the banks disappoints very also, the downright ridiculous title " Illegal Alien ". Rutherford also disappoints, I think that the group could part apres this album.

In My Not So Humble Opinion:

Genesis' eponymous album isn't the proggiest of albums but it's a solid album and works well as a gateway drug.

So the year is nineteen ninety three and I was visiting my Dad. Dad asked me if I wanted to go see a laser show. Well shoot, what eleven year old kid wouldn't want to go see a laser show with their Dad, especially the 'cool musician Dad'? We went to see Laser Genesis and I was mesmerized. To this day I remember the feeling of dread and awe that I had when the giant laser head started laughing along with Phil Collins in Mama. I was hooked from that instant. Within a week, I bought the vinyl album with my hard earned paper route money. This is significant in that it was the first album that I had ever purchased with my own money. Up until that point in life, my money had gone to baseball cards. Soon after, with enough pestering, my Dad bought me my first keyboard (an Arp String Ensemble for those that care) and my passion for music had begun.

Twenty-six years later (holy heck, where did the time go?) this album still has a soft spot in my heart, though it's lost a little of it's luster because, well, let's face it; many of Genesis' albums are much better. Even so, I've purchased this album a total of four times now, the vinyl album, the cassette, the original CD and of course the extra extended remastered version released last year. As much as we give Genesis grief for going pop at this point in their career, "Mama" starts this album off the album with a stunning display of crossover worthy of Gazpacho. The drama begins with the slow gated drums and Tony Banks' ominous chords. Slowly Phil Collins builds the tension until the fateful scream, "But it's getting so hard." If that didn't leave a mark, the laughing immediately following give me a sense of drama worthy of Mr. Gabriel.

"That's All" is your basic blues tune, significant only as it was the song that I drug into my piano teacher in ninth grade as the song I wanted to learn.

"Home By the Sea" is a fantastic song; surprisingly enough, this and it's successor received a surprising amount of airplay on the local Pittsburgh rock station. The first half is a rocking song about a haunted house, a home by the sea if you will. "Second Home By the Sea" is a long form solo by Mr. Banks for the first half of the song. Pop or not, Mr. Banks can still construct a solo in which every note is in the right place; every patch is perfect for the song. At about the four minute mark, the song truly becomes spinetingling. The rhythm pounded out by Mr. Collins is augmented by a wire screeching sound effect by Mr. Banks that brings a full wall of sound bearing down on the listener like a chaotic freight train hurtling straight at you. In the midst of this, Mike Rutherford plays, what I think, are his most beautiful notes as he begins to pull the band out of the chaos and into the outro. Best song on the album. My only complaint is the drum sounds. I really prefer the sound of real drums over the cutting edge electronics of the eighties.

Admittedly, the second side of the album drops down a little from the first side. "Illegal Alien" is one of the more despised songs of Genesis' discography, up there with "whodunit" in some polls. Personally, I don't think it's all that bad. It's a poppy single, appropriate for the times. The humor in this song is a precursor for future releases.

"Taking It All Too Hard" is one of their more palatable ballads. "Just a Job to Do" is a light hearted rocker about assassination, complete with a nice, but repetitive bass line by Mr. Rutherford.

"Silver Rainbow" is a pretty good song though it suffers from the same drum sound as "Second Home By the Sea." Oh, and the lyrics leave a little to be desired at times, . . . "If you're sitting there beside her, and a bear comes in the room," yeah, cause that happens a lot. Just the other day, I was sitting there, talking to my wife, and in fact, a bear did come into the room. It was stuffed and being carried by my two year old. Come on guys, you couldn't come up with anything better than 'a bear walks in the room'? At least go with a horse, you should be able to get a joke out of that?a horse walks into the room and the bartender asks him, 'Why the long face?' Bears! Ok, I'm done now.

"It's Gonna Get Better" is a pretty good ballad, and ends the album nicely . . . without any bears.

All in all, Genesis' self titled album was an amazing album to an eleven year old kid that didn't understand sex, drugs and adopting your musical style to become popular and actually make enough money to retire comfortably. Now I at least understand two of the three (never got into drugs) and appreciate the album for what it is. Nostalgia brings this album up to three bears . . . I mean stars.

Genesis was already pretty far from their prog heydays (Gabriel era), so this album isn't really progressive at all. It's a pop record/Phil Collins solo work. If you like Phil Collins, you'll for certain like this album. If you're a nothing but Gabriel era Genesis fan, then you more than likely will not be fond of this album. The albums songs are ALL listenable, most of them are actually really pretty good. I like the entire record. This was the first Genesis album I ever heard, so maybe I attach a little more weight to it than is worthy, but nothing I change about that now, I like this album. Just for the record, I do love Gabriel era Genesis, much more than Duke and so on....But this isn't bad music at all. I very rarely define music/songs as "catchy", but it fits here. This is actually a great record for the car, great driving music. My favorite song has always been It's Gonna Get Better, the last track. From the first time I heard it, I loved the opening bass line and then throughout, very solid, lyrics are kind of cheesy but it's not a big deal.

Could they have put less thought into the cover art?

This is bad album. Not that I'm zealous fan of their classic period and hate everything that came later, but with expectations to have Mama as their biggest hit (only variation comes in 3:20 and lasts towards the end) from this album, it fails. Mentioned latter half is good, but not so good. Drum machine is really not my cup of tea and by my opinion, it kills music. Time will come when we'll have vocal-machines and we all will be doomed. Then, we'll lay praises on "only" drum machines, but till that time, I'll stay in refuse position towards it. I can continue through this album to its bitter end, but I won't, as it's useless for both you and me.

2(+), few scattered good ideas, big deal of pop (and even worse, 80's pop), nothing especially ugly for my taste, so I'll hold worst rating. Phil Collins still reminds me Peter Gabriel to some extent (and I liked him), so I like Phil's voice too. He's not bad singer, but it still can't save this album.

You May Go Crying to Mama After Hearing This Disaster!

Unfortunately, the downfall of Genesis continues with this 1983, self-titled disaster. At this point, the only inspiration that the band had left was the large cash-ins they would get for making this commercial and uninspired pop music. Genesis (often nicknamed Mama) is possibly the worst album that Genesis has ever created, although some of the other 3-man albums are pretty close. I will never be able to comprehend how Genesis went from creating some of the finest albums on the face of the earth to creating an irritating failure like this.

Abacab gave us a taste of disaster, but Genesis gives us entire meal of disastrous and trivial pop music. Even the best songs (Home By The Sea and Second Home By The Sea) are very weak. It's such a shame that this album is so terrible, because I do immensely enjoy And Then There Were Three and Duke. I'm afraid to say that any Genesis albums after that severely miss the mark.

If you're unfamiliar with what Genesis sounds like at this point, it's simply 80's pop music and nothing more. There are occasional prog leanings, but they are scarce and unsatisfactory. I can always respect a good pop album from The Beatles, Boston, or U2, but Genesis is far from reaching that level of high-quality pop music. This is just a trivial and boring album with no variation, along with terrible 80's production qualities. The production isn't a big deal, though. I'm sure I wouldn't like this album even if it sounded professionally produced.

This album consists of 9 songs, all of which are very weak. The Home By The Sea suite is decent, but it's nothing worthwhile. Songs like Mama, Illegal Alien, and That's All make me want to puke after the first few seconds. It amazes me that this is the same band that made Cinema Show and Supper's Ready! All of the songs are simple verse-chorus-verse structures, with little to no variation. There are a few exceptions, but this is about as simple as pop music can get.

The musicianship, like everything else, is a disappointment. Tony Banks plays the lead instrument on most of this album, yet he does nothing special throughout the entire course of the playing time. Phil Collins' drumming is far too simple and predictable. His vocals can be good at times, but they are too overproduced and the melodies are too straightforward. Mike Rutherford doesn't do anything noteworthy either.

Conclusion:

Genesis is a terrible album, and just shows what a tough decade the 80's were for any prog fan. I don't give out 1 star reviews out often, but I couldn't give this album any more than that. I basically save my 1 star reviews for albums like this! This album is best avoided, unless you're an 80's pop fanatic. This is probably the worst Genesis album.

1 star.

After the relatively lackluster 'Duke', Genesis hit back with "Abacab" and "Genesis", a pair of great albums made in the early 80's that balanced the new and old sounds perfectly, before they went too far. Also, this album rectifies a few of the problems of "Abacab", namely the production, and Phil's drumming isn't so 'robotic' this time around. Actually, Phil's drumming on this release is superb.

All the songs on this album are well crafted and expertly performed, the band sounding very tight indeed!. The band find plenty of inspiration and innovation within the dense 80's sound that they are working with. Even if this isn't a progressive rock album per se, it still tries to innovate within it's realm, as there are many well chosen keyboard textures and some very original songs.

Tracks like "Just a job to do" and "Home by the sea" are so well executed and have interesting sleuth lyrics. The ballad "taking it all too hard" has a great melody, and plenty of vocal. enthusiasm from Phil Collins, while the closing pair of "Silver Rainbow" and "It's gonna get better". The former is supremely catchy and has some nice keyboard touches, while the latter has a great bass-line and some swirling synths.

There aren't any bad songs, all are enjoyable, but this album is a little below their best in the 70's, but then only a little, and most releases aren't able to come anywhere close to Genesis at their best. A wonderful 4.5 stars.

If I were writing this review on Amazon, I would give 5 STARS to this album without doubts. Here in a Progressive rock context, I must give it 4 STARS. For me one of the best moments of Genesis in all their history. The epic Home by the sea (two sections became one unique track with the time), is a masterpiece of modern progrock. And because this track I think this album is an excellent addition for any progressive rock collection. Of course we have Mama, one of the best Genesis songs ever. Agressive, powerfull, hard, etc... This track combines in a perfect way the best Collins voice with a ghostly keyboard and a fantastic rythm guitar. The interlude is superb and goes from a melodic tune to a really heavy section. Then the verse returns but with all the power and supported by a monstrous and metallic drum sound. At the end the Collins voice over the Rutherford guitar solo is outstanding. The other highlight is It's gonna get better. A nice combination of organ, bass and a progressive drum work. With a great melody at the end, this track close a great album.

The album includes three high quality pop tracks. That's all is a non conventional pop song with a not simple keyboard piano base. Illegal Alien is an original track combining drum, bass and Keyboards and a superb work of Collins in voice. Taking it all too hard is a good ballad, but is the weakest of the album.

Finally there are two more tracks, which are not pop not prog, but really goods. Just a job to do with an anthologic fade out and Silver Rainbow with a superb keyboard work by Tony Banks.

4 STARS

By now everyone should have figured out that this is not a prog album. Genesis, from ATTW3 forward, always threw the prog fans a song or two per album that at least had a proggish feel but that is about it. Not that these albums are bad, they just are not progressive. So I'm not going to review it on its almost nonexistant progreesive merits.

The first side, with Mama, Thats All, Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea is excellent. Mama has Genesis in dark, sinister mode to it created by drum machine and keyboards. Collins vocal delivery fits the song perfectly. This song could be considered a cousin to PC's in the Air Tonight.

That's All is a pop song that anyone who has ever been in a relationship can relate to. A catchy song that sticks with you.

Home by the Sea / Second Home by The Sea is where good lyrics, fine keyboards and some fine drumming converge. Second Home is a powerful instrumental that all will enjoy unless the 80's drum sound gets you.

Side Two, unfortunately is weak. Illegal Alien is offensive, pop crap. Taking It All Too Hard is a servicable ballad, no more, no less. Just a Job to Do is seviceable pop/rock. Silver Rainbow has a good drum pattern played by Collins but the lyrics will win no prizes. The last song, It's Gonna Get Better, I like quite a lot. The bass(keyboards?) is very good and there is also a keys based atmosphere that will catch the ear.

When I made a tape of this back in the day, I had the entire side 1 and It's Gonna Get Better.

The 3 best tracks (Mama and the 2 HBtS) are even better live.

If I was just giving marks for side 1, it would be a 4 or 4.5. If I was just giving marks for side 2, it would be a 2.

That makes this album a strong 3.

This is his self-titled album in 1983, and is an impressive improvement over the disastrous "Abacab. " In an attempt to mend fences with the fans of the seventh year, they tried to go back to basics with the mini-epic "Home by the Sea / second home by the sea" and even the hit "Mama ", but it was too late pop spirit was already widespread and they would never return to how earlier.The clear that they do not have to complain because their millions dollars come from that stage, but it is difficult for a hardcore fan of the 70 accept it.I ,however, no problems with this material.

This is my favorite Genesis album post-Steve HACKETT. Phil and Tony are really clicking throughout this album with their experiments with computer and keyboard technologies, and Mike's guitar work is finally fitting and effective.

The industrial sound of the percussion loop in the opening song, "Mama" (6:37) (9/10), coupled with Tony's eerie synth and Phil's crazed vocal are amazing. Amazing. I even bought and played to death the 12" EP version.

2. "That's All" (4:26) (8/10) is catchy old-fashioned feel pop with Phil at his vocal best. (Great lyrics, too.)

3. "Home by the Sea" (5:07) (8/10) has an awesome ominous feel musically and a wonderful vocal melody throughout. But it is also a tease--for the best is yet to come--in the form of the next song,

4. "Second Home by the Sea" (6:07) (9/10) is a fairly plodding instrumental with some great performances and melodic solos by Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford--and of course, capped off by the great return vocal of Phil Collins.

5. "Illegal Alien" (5:15) (4/10) I hope to never hear again for the rest of my life.

6. "Taking It All Too Hard" (3:58) (7/10) has some truly gorgeous keyboard work--and Phil, too, when he's doing his soft, delicate voice.

7. "Just a Job to Do" (4:48) (6/10) I didn't even remember the existence of this song. As I listen to it now, I understand why.

8. "Silver Rainbow" (4:30) (8/10) has an awesome beginning and then it kicks into a pounding straight time with some nice guitar and bass work from Rutherford. The chorus is the final disappointment.

9. "It's Gonna Get Better" (5:14) (8/10) is a pretty soul-imitative pop song--except for the "reverse" solo at 3:00. The chorus that follows immediately after the weird solo is pretty good, too. Great keyboard chord progressions from there out.

An album in which I was finally able to let go of my expectations for the "old" Genesis and allow them to move into the techno-pop 80s. While not an "excellent addition to a PROG rock music collection" it is a pretty darn good album. 3.5 stars rated down for loss of progginess.

Thanks to Spotify I can now finally listen to all these late-Genesis albums without having to buy them. The first post-Wind And Wuthering pick for me was the self-titled 1983 release basically because I've already heard both Mama and Home By The Sea and considered them to be great Genesis tunes. Still, nothing could prepare me for the journey in front of me!

The two (or three, depending on how you count it) tracks I did know already didn't disappoint me. Mama was actually just as good as the live performances that I've heard up to this point, while Home By The Sea was good but not on par with the live versions. Unfortunately it was pretty much a downhill slide from here on since I found many of the remaining tracks quite hideous.

I've previous seen the Illegal Alien video and although the combination of terrible video and music actually makes it so bad that it's good, the audio-only version doesn't work at all! I have previously been warned that the second part of this album is no where near the first and that was a very true statement. The only track that I managed to enjoy there was Silver Rainbow, but even that track takes quite some time to get going.

I have no idea why the band decided to release a self-titled album this far into their career since it was far from a reboot of any sort. Well at least I'm only paying my Spotify-premium fee and don't have to shell out hard earned cash on this mediocre release.

***** star songs: Mama (7:25)

**** star songs: That's All (4:23) Home By The Sea (4:52) Second Home By The Sea (6:20) Silver Rainbow (4:28)

*** star songs: Taking It All Too Hard (3:55) It's Gonna Get Better (6:25)

** star songs: Just A Job To Do (4:45)

* star songs: Illegal Alien (5:13)

The opening track Mama (6:49) from this eponymous Genesis album, also known as "shapes", had moderate air play in Australia, which was unusual for what is a longer song. The progressions are quite interesting to listen to. 4 stars

That's All. 3 stars. Good but not particularly interesting.

Home by The Sea / Second Home by the Sea (11:15). This double track is excellent and harks back to days when there were four (or perhaps even when there were five). Lyrically and instrumentally ambitious with great keyboard solos and interesting guitar. 5 stars

Illegal Alien. Works okay as a MTV video but should have been kept as a non-album single. 2 stars

Taking it all Too Hard is a typically pedestrian Collins/Mechanics effort. OK but not really for Genesis 2 stars

Just a Job to Do. The lyrical theme has already been used too many times (Battle of Epping Forest, Robbery Assault and Battery, Ballad of Big). 2.5 stars maybe 3 stars with different lyrics.

Silver Rainbow. This song leaves the listener wanting more. It has all the bits for a great song but requires further development. Has some nice keyboards and weird lyrics (What is it with the Bear?). This track is only 4:30 and feels as if has been deliberately cut short. Perhaps another case of Tony being out-voted again and told to keep it short? If this was properly developed could have been 5 stars but as we hear it 4 stars.

It's Gonna Get Better. Like Silver Rainbow this has the potential for a good song with a bit more development (and better lyrics). 3 stars

Overall 3.4 Stars. Good, but non-essential.

I like most things Genesis have done, except most of Abacab (especially Who Dunnit, which I hated so much I have created a CD which omits that track).

That being said, my take on Genesis (or Shapes), is that it's a very good record, it's just not what some people wanted. It may be part of their departure from prog, but if you just take it for what it is there are some very strong tracks and the album is genuinely enjoyable to listen to as a whole. My favourite era is Trick/Wind, I'm also very partial to Nursery Cryme, but I still find myself coming back to this one time and time again.

Even the much hated Illegal Alien is simply better than if other groups had written the same thing. It's a silly, shallow pop song - any meaning it may have had is lost due to the borderline embarassing stereotyped voice. At the same time, the key changes and the slight delay in them compared to the vocals are simply something other bands wouldn't or couldn't have done.

Mama has a menacing and desolate sound - again it's no Supper's Ready, but even as a 'pop' song it has real quality. Of course to put things in context, people need to remember that mainstream pop sounded nothing like this, and rather more like Nik Kershaw. A lot of people seem to forget that when they use the 'pop' label at things.

Finally, the Home By The Sea pair of tracks are fantastic. It's not the old Genesis, don't expect it to be, listen to it on it's own merits and you find a song with a story to tell and some great music to back it up.

I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't have an axe to grind over their change in musical direction, but avoid the smileyface EQ / loudness war remasters, and avoid the awful sounding Vertigo/Target release. The original masterings are spot on (Nimbus and EMI which is a level shifted Nimbus). The ATCOs aren't bad if that's what you can easily find.

Despite the fact that I do love this album, I'm going to give it 3 stars because it's not a pure prog release, or even half way there. I'd give it 4.5 if genre was unimportant.

Since the last few albums, Genesis have decided that their modern sound mostly appealed to the pop crowd, which they seemed to be okay with. This self-titled album is still entirely pop music, but shows a slight strengthening in songwriting ability, which is something that the previously had lost. "Mama" was a big hit, and is only progressive in that it gradually gets louder throughout. The album cover and the music within always gave me a slightly goth-pop feel, and some of the music here is slightly darker than their previous albums. There is really nothing here in the way of progressive rock, and I would only suggest this to fans of pop-rock with heavy synth properties.

When I think of atmosphere, one of the first songs that comes to mind is "Mama." Imagine Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" with even an even more dramatic build and a more mechanical and complex drum machine pattern, and of course Tony Banks' characteristic keyboard sounds, with Mike Rutherford's very emotionally conveyant guitar soloing, and even more urgently passionate vocals from Phil Collins. The way that drum machine starts with the low organ drone and the synths fading in slowly is one of the most unique and convicingly eerie intros they've ever done, and when everything drops out to leave Phil laughing maniacally, there is a huge hole in the musical universe filled. The last two choruses, where Phil screams "It's hot/too hot for me Mama/" is almost shocking to hear, and is even likely to grab the attention of even fervent haters of their music. A lot of the album is less varied and simplistic than Abacab, but there's plenty of creativity throughout. "Silver Rainbow' contains some of the most original keyboard sounds Tony Banks has used, the closing "It's Gonna Get Better" puts hopeful, universalist lyrics to an r'n'b bass line that's in an odd meter, accompanied by backwards synth chords. On the well known hit, "That's All", Phil Collins shows that you don't have to abandon your skill when you switch to electric drums with some very nice fills, and "Illegal Alien", while the lyrics have never actually made me laugh once, carries on in the vein of "No Reply At All" with a middle section that rivals that track in terms of tightly interlocking band interplay. "Home By the Sea" carries on the dark atmoshpere with lyrics that remind me a little of a "Hotel California"-type theme - of course, I could be wrong about that, but the song is very catchy and melodic either way, and Phil is singing at perhaps the height of his vocal career here. I never considered "Second Home By the Sea" to be their most interesing jamming/soloing, but the layers of keyboards close to the end are very convincing, and it does wrap up nicely with a reprise of the first part. "Just a Job To Do" isn't quite as convicing, as it always struck me as trying a little too hard to be dark lyrically, and being somewhat of a clumsy retread of "No Reply At All" musically. But the middle section is actually VERY convincing, and I like the way they exit the song. Perhaps the most succesful track is the ballad "Taking It All Too Hard", where the mood is lightened just a tad, while the keyboards stay dark and moody, the verses and choruses alternate bewtween being pessimistic and comforting, and the melody stays top notch, as is typical for the album. A very worthwhile recording.

The "Shapes" album as some fans call it (because of the front cover artwork) is a very strong one. Genesis' 80's evolution was in full swing here, opening with the powerful "Mama". The drum machine creates a great atmosphere with some eerie keyboard sounds and very powerful vocals. It's an odd one for some fans being about a young boy's obsession with a prostitute but I've always enjoyed it. This was something very fresh and startling, paving a new way for the group's songwriting. This sophisticated music still sounds pretty good today. "That's All", "Home by the Sea" and "Taking It All Too Hard" are further favourites. Check it out. It's clever and creative as a lot of 80's music actually was if found in the right places. A well deserved three and a half stars.

I hate when people complain about Genesis making pop music. You try making pop music, ain't so easy and probably a bunch of fans discovered them through the pop years and went back like me. This is one of my favorite Genesis albums top to bottom great pop great prog and has a lot of artsy creativity on it and really works.

Mama: Great opener that really creates an atmosphere. You could say it's Genesis In the Air Tonight because of the similar structure but this one has a better lyric, instrumentation and Phil is singing so much better on this album one of his best performances. With a memorable drum machine, sparse keyboards and guitars it really puts you in a strong dark mood.

That's All: Great pop song with a nice chuggy beat to it. Similar to Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles which Tony said was an influence on the sound of this one. It kinda sounds like a 80s electronic Beatle song which isn't bad. Very memorable and me and my friend sing it all the time at school.

Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea: I'm combing both because I can. It starts with a nice guitar riff and has a popness to it as it begins but slowly gets more prog as it goes and surges into Second with that amazing Simmons drum kit sound and they just go with a great instrumental which then makes this my favorite Genesis song of all time

Illegal Alien: I don't see how people make fun and hate on this song. How can you take a song where Phil is singing with a Hispanic accent about being an immigrant seriously? It's just a short quirky song and I have a soft spot for it.

Taking It All Too Hard: Typical Rutherford ballad that I don't care for. Never interests me and usually skip

Just a Job to Do: Interesting rock song that keeps going with an interesting riff on it with a great chorus.

Silver Rainbow: A great song with great lyrics and instrumentation. It has a mood to it and I relate to the lyrics and should be more recognized as one of Genesis best

It's Gonna Get Better: A great song with backwards keyboards on it with some inspirational lyrics that have helped me in life before.

Overall, a great prog pop record that I always go back too. 5 Stars. Highlights: Mama, That's All, Home by the Sea, Second Home by the Sea, Just a Job to Do, Silver Rainbow and It's Gonna Get Better

I enjoy reading reviews on this website primarily because I like studying the writing styles of others regarding progressive music, and it brings together an unusually large amount of people and egos and styles and tastes and likes and dislikes to the same arena. Without a doubt, reading the thousands of reviews and opinions contained within the Genesis portion of the archive is interesting and stimulating stuff.

The "Shapes" album reviews are particularily fun to browse. Some old school Genesis fans detest this lineup and dismiss the songs and some like the melodies and the pop structures. Some reviewers are lukewarm and others have warmed up to their updated sound. In any capacity the divisions are staggering, therefore I find them interesting.

Now, instead of reviewing the site I'll review the record---

I find the progressive and pop collisions enjoyable on Genesis' self titled 1983 release. My favorite songs, Taking It All Too Hard, Just A Job To Do, and That's All fit the pop mold, and accent the progressive elements contained within the album, specifically both Home By The Seas and Mama. In my eyes, Illegal Alien gets a bum rap from prog reviewers, although I respect the viewpoint and understand why. It's almost R and B pumping through your speakers when that song comes on. Personally, I enjoy it, I think it's a good party fun time song.

At any rate, of course it doesn't hit the highs of the Genesis glory period, but I like some 80's pop once in a while and it can't be argued that these men are as accomplished as musicians come. I'd rather listen to this Genesis album over just about any new wave or synth pop album that came out of 1983. According to these rating guidelines, I'll give it 3 because it really isn't even close to an excellent addition in any prog music collection. I think it's good, but non-essential for prog aficionados. I'll give it a low four in my own rankings, for me it's 40+ minutes well spent

Moulded into mainstream commercialism sap.

Genesis release another pop ballad album with some detestable songs to coincide with the 'Invisible Crutch' and 'Abacrap' albums. On this offering you are looking down the barrel of syrupy pop excess where the musos are nothing more than session musicians and Collins annoys like nothing else particularly on the infectious and horrible Illegal Alien. The songs were designed to lock into your skull and force you to go out and buy the single to make the band rich and the management. This it did of course and the radio was saturated with Collins voice and it drove nails into the prog history; all but dumped only to be replaced by inane trash such as Taking It All Too Hard, Just A Job To Do, and It's Gonna Get Better.

Illegal Alien deserves a place as one of the most detestable Genesis tracks complete with a pathetic attempt at humour with Collins' racist Mexican accent and equally offensive lyrics. The filmclip is memorable for all the wrong reasons, as is the melody. It is so annoying but the melody will stick to you like stink on a skunk; you cannot wash it off but you will be dying to do so.

There is one redeeming moment in the form of Home By The Sea that segues immediately into the powerful melodies of Second Home By The Sea with some incredible dark tones and a wonderful structure. That's All is okay or perhaps I have been desensitised to it as it has permeated the radio waves as much as Invisible Touch forcing my brain to put up with the synth-soaked horn sound and electronic drums that spews 80s mediocrity. I don't mind Mama either, as it has some chilling atmospheres similar to In The Air Tonite, the best of Collin's solo career, but it doesn't save the album from yet another 2 star rating during this turbulent 80s era.

The front cover, by the way, is a picture of a toy sold door to door from the Avon lady, shaped numbered blocks that toddlers poked into similar shaped holes in a ball. Perhaps this is ironic because Genesis were simply going by the numbers, poking music into moulded holes to appease the masses; they were no longer out of the box musically, they were being moulded and shaped into just another throwaway sound ? and what a waste of talent!

Now a full-blown hit-making machine thanks to the success of 1980's 'Duke' and it's rush-released follow-up 'Abacab', Genesis' eleventh studio effort finds the group inching even further away from their progressive rock roots. Instead, we have slick, bright, technologically-enhanced pop-rock from the remaining trio of Tony Banks(keyboards, vocals), Mike Rutherford(guitar, bass) and Phil Collins(drums, vocals). However, even though 1981's 'Abacab' proved something of a damp squibdespite the presence of a clutch of fine pop pieces - 'Keep It Dark', 'Man On The Corner' and the lengthy title-track spring to mind - this self-titled effort is actually something of an improvement. Featuring the trio's heaviest track so far in the shape of the pulsating, highly-charged and frankly rather mysterious opening gambit 'Mama', this is a surprisingly dark album peppered with occasional lighter moments. Utilising the same gated-drum reverb effect that was cunningly employed on both the creepy Peter Gabriel track 'Intruder' and Collins own 1981 mega-hit 'In The Air Tonight' after the duo stumbled across the effect during the sessions for Gabriel's third self-titled album from 1980(otherwise known by fans as 'Melt' or '3') 'Mama' is a truly intense six-minute opus that sounds quite unlike anything else the three-man version of Genesis have ever produced. What the song is actually about lyrics-wise is anyone's guess - some reckon the 'Mama' of the title is a prostitute(?) - but somehow it doesn't matter, such is the dynamic tone of the six-minute piece. The same ominous tone, albeit in a pacier guise, is also used to less enthralling effect on the still strangely enigmatic two-part suite 'Home By The Sea', a composition which hints ever so slightly back to their prog roots, but sadly mainstream-courting pop convention seems to conquer during the albums weaker and softer second side. Closing track 'It's Gonna Get Better' strains hard to give us a upbeat finale, with Rutherford's catchy guitar flexing an attractive melody, yet it isn't too long before Banks glutinous keyboards quickly coat everything in a glowing, sentimental mush, turning a catchy song about redemption into a pass-the-sickbag slice of sentimental gloop. The corking 'Mama' aside, this is very much a mainstream rock album featuring top-notch production values, but little soul. Enjoyable then, and after 'Duke' probably the defining statement from the three-man line-up, but in truth this is hardly essential unless you're a proper Genesis nut. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012

Genesis continues the pop disaster but this album is in the right way.

After the disaster that was Abacab, they released this which was pop but had more memorable songs. This prouves that even in their pop times, they can release a decent pop album. But there is a main problem. The best songs are on side one, and the worst are in side two.

Mama is a creepy classic that deserves it's length. With the great vocal performance by Phil Collins and the great background, it deserves a mention.

That's All is a great radio friendly song with a good melody.

Home By The Sea and Second Home By The Sea are great songs that represent well the 80's. They are still memorable.

Illegal Alien is where the downfall begins. With the awful spanish accent that tries to be funny, it is the worst song of the album.

The next three songs are not memorable by any means.

It's Gonna Get Better is where the album gets better. A great little song.

Except for the cover that is great for a toodler, the side one is a real gem of the Phil Collins era and is worth a listen. But the other side is dragging the album down. So it is a mixed opinion for me and it is the best Genesis album of the 80's.

Genesis: Deliver only hints of Prog on this release. 

So the question you may be asking yourself, is this album a major disappointment? My answer is 'not entirely.' As we know, Genesis have adopted an entirely new approach to their overall sound as a band by really stressing pop influences with, what is now, a slight dash of prog. Not many are very happy about this, but if their is a band that can pull this off where pop and prog marry each other, GENESIS can make it work. Personally, I do not mind this album cause I can handle 'Pop master Phil' to some extent but not fully. Anyway, some of the great moments on the album start with the opening track MAMA, which is actually a pretty dark piece of music that also creates a very dark atmosphere. I have to hand it to GENESIS, they are pretty good when they get moody and dark. The electronic drum beat with the eerie keys from Banks certainly create quite a mood indeed. Even Phil Collins shows off with his famous Grand Master Flash evil chant 'HAHA HA HA HA HA AHHHH!!' something to get into indeed. Another highlight is the track THATS ALL. it has kind of a blues like sound to it that is reminiscent to the Beatles Rocky Racoon. Overall it is a very catchy song and Banks sounds great with a grand piano sound to his credit, while Rutherford offers a nice deep bass to round out the tune. Lastly, we have HOME BY THE SEA/SECOND HOME BY THE SEA. This is indeed the best track on the album and the last track worth mentioning on this album as a whole. HOME BY THE SEA offers up a solid rhythm with Phil's electronic drum presets filling up the background that actually works nicely. Banks decides to finally kick it up a few octanes  by the 2nd half of the song with some fine catchy and deep synth work. Rutherford even flashes the 12 string guitar at times which is so nice to hear, but so little on the album overall. HOME BY THE SEA has it all from GENESIS in the 11min timeframe of the song. Has some good transitions as well as a lively atmosphere. As for the rest of tracks on the album, SILVER RAINBOW, JUST A JOB TO DO, TAKING IT ALL TO HARD and IT'S GONNA GET BETTER (it really doesn't) are really not prog at all and won't be of value to most because of the Popi nature they carry. I found SILVER RAINBOW to have some nice moments on it. But that's it. ILLEGAL ALIEN is the biggest joke of all. It's humor based and it doesn't work for me at all. Bad track. 

All in all. I can only give this album a 3/5. It's not mediocre, but it's not great either.  Don't expect anything more from this album and same goes for ABACAB, INVISIBLE TOUCH and truly the last GENESIS album 'WE CAN'T DANCE'. All of these albums, including this one are systematically the same in terms of style and composition. BEWARE!  

Selftitled album from 1983 is to my ears a mediocre album and is the most unintresting and boring album Genesis ever done, weaker then Abacab and weaker then Invisible touch or We can't dance. This is almost a pop album with mediocre song writting and not a trace what they were doing few years back. The best from here is for sure Home by the sea/second home by the sea, is a fairly decent piece(s) where we find that they still make good music, but the rest is forgettable at best, including Mama, that every one praise here, to me is a total waste. So, 2 stars maybe 2.5 because of the mentioned Home by the sea, the rest is no more Genesis is some ordinary band that try to survive in those times.

I gave "Abacab" four stars because I truthfully feel that the contempt leveled at it is somewhat unfounded. I don't hate the "shapes" album either, but it's just not as good. "Abacab" truthfully probably deserved three stars, so you can see where I'm going with this.

The major problem for me on this disc is that the "masterpiece" at the center of it, "Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea", does *nothing* for me. Having to hear it as part of every tour going forward was not exactly a pleasant experience for me either. The first part is an unremarkable pop/rock tune, the second a wash of synthesizer noodlings over a repetitive beat. And the bass - the bass is played right on top of the electronic drums, adding no counterpoint or variety at all to the proceedings. The lack of interest Mike Rutherford seemed to have in the bass on the post-"Abacab" material left me almost as cold as the overuse of drum machines. And this song as a whole is just nothing that interesting - even if it's trying to be progressive, it's not memorable or enjoyable.

"Illegal Alien" has been rightfully excoriated by many on here. I'll only say this - the prevailing social climate in the '80's made many of us somewhat insensitive. I'm sure the band as a whole wishes that one had stayed safely in a can in a vault (dunno why a live version appeared on "Archive Vol. 2" while "Say It's Alright Joe" or "Down and Out" stayed omitted).

As for the rest of the album - not necessarily bad. "Mama" has a menacing tone, but the end suffers from the same bass problems as "Second Home by the Sea" (though for a much shorter period). "That's All" is a catchy pop song and is quite honestly the first Genesis track I remember hearing (being old enough at that point to be able to identify musicians and their songs). "Taking It All too Hard" is a better troubled ballad than "Throwing It All Away" or "Never a Time", "Just a Job to Do" churns along as a decent rock song (good bass playing, too), and "Silver Rainbow", though marred (again) by some pedestrian bass playing, has a nice savage tone. The real standout for me is the closer, "It's Gonna Get Better", with a thoroughly catchy bass line (good effort at redemption, Rutherford!) and some fine drumming from Phil Collins.

So, that all sounds pretty good. Why two stars? Because while the remainder of the album, outside those three tracks I mention as not caring for, is pleasant enough on a song-by-song basis, it just doesn't hold up as a whole. There's little of the new wave distinctiveness "Abacab" frequently showed - just a fairly good collection of pop/rock songs which sound pretty good by themselves but end up wearing thin when strung together. Add in the horror of "Illegal Alien" and the failed attempt of the "Home by the Sea" suite, and the album seems fragmentary and somewhat unsubstantial. I can't give 2.5 stars (probably the truest reflection of my feelings), and I can't rate it as highly as "Abacab's" "true" rating for me (which is really closer to three stars), so it gets two stars.

A better effort than the previous album to my view.

"Mama" - I love this track - it is a very powerful piece of music that speaks out against abortion to my mind.

"That's All" - very Beatle-esque pop track. This is just ok.

"Home by the Sea" - I like this track. It steers away from the simple pop music that Genesis had grown fond of by this time.

"Second Home by the Sea"- really an instumental (for the main part) musical follow on from the previous track. I do find the beat machine a little monotonous here.

"Illegal Alien" - Happy pop fare with a Jamaican kind of flavor.

"Taking it all too Hard" - Phil Collin's crooning. An innocuous number.

"Just a Job to Do" - the way Genesis was at this point in time to the main - rock / pop - nothing special.

"Silver Rainbow" - By this point in the album I was really quite tired of it - standard fare.

"It's gonna get Better" - I kind of hoped the title of the track referred to the music in future. Standard Collins with his backing band.

I loved "Mama" and I liked "Home by the Sea" on this album - the rest is essentially pop crooner territory. A 3 star album for me - better than the previous effort but nothing great or nearing great other than for "Mama".

My wife and children and I are members of a church, and we are believers. We teach Sunday school and serve Communion. However, I would not be surprised to be called a heretic. I firmly believe that Genesis is just as good without Gabriel as with him! I also think this album has a lot of good material, and I give it 3 and 1/2 stars. One of the things I like about Genesis is that they've never completely abandoned prog on each of their albums. I would call them prog-related after Gabriel left; other reviewers have made the same point. On Genesis, "Home/Second By The Sea" is the most obvious example. It's a terrific track. Other favorites are "Just A Job To Do" and the beautiful "Taking It All Too Hard". Being accessible is not a sin, and being "progressive" doesn't guarantee being good. I think Emerson, Lake and Palmer have demonstrated that. I can do without "Illegal Alien", which is just absurd, and "It's Gonna Get Better", which just puts me to sleep. I do miss not hearing Steve Hackett on these later albums, but Tony Banks and Phil Collins, drumming and singing, are terrific. I wouldn't give any Genesis album more than 4 stars, and I don't think Genesis (the album} is their best, but I think it deserves 3 and 1/2 stars.

The eagle soars over the heads of the citizens below. They exclaim in surprise, pointing at it with awe. It unfolds it's wings to take a majestic dive. A gunshot rattles through the sounds of the day, and the eagle nose dives to the ground. The man wielding the gun walks over to the now dead bird and looks down. It's feathers are black and yellow, and have outlines of several different geometric shapes down it's body. The man removes his glasses, frowning, and states one thing:

"Phil Collins."

Story-ship aside, I feel this album is butchered far too much by the prog community. Sure, it's Phil Collins' sixth effort for the once symphonic prog band Genesis instead of the beloved Gabriel, but who honestly cares? I've never been a huge fan of Collins' music up to this point, only having listened to We Can't Dance and Acabab, both pretty lackluster releases. I've also listened to Face Value (not bad but not great) and Hello, I Must Be Going (good). This made it hard for me to appreciate the pop-master's handiwork in a prog environment. Let me explain how I feel.

Let's say we have another well known pop artist that gained heavy popularity during the eighties. Pull a name out of a hat: Elton John. Yeah, I know, you'd hate it if he took over Genesis, right? Most likely you do. But is there a huge difference between him and Collins? Well, they were both extremely popular, especially during the early to mid 80's. But a large difference is that Collins has had experience in Genesis as their drummer since their comeuppance. This leads to the skill that I like most about Collins- he can distinguish when he's crafting a Genesis record or a solo-effort. In the case with their 1983 self titled, he definitely knew his boundaries. The effect therefore was overall more pleasing than Duke or Acabab, where he pushed his luck more than he should have. By the time this album was in the works, he was ready.

As many would assume, if it's Collins, then the album will have large LARGE pop elements. In this case, surprisingly, no. 'Mama', the opening track (and incidentally the most popular next to 'That's All' from the release), is an awesome, oddly dark piece. It features some really cool laughing (and slightly disturbing) effects from Collins and some cool ambient echoes from Banks. In the mix of pop-influenced prog, there is a hidden two part prog-epic titled 'Home By The Sea' (Second Home by the Sea for part two). This is probably the song that single-handedly gave me full hope in Collins to carry such a weight as Genesis. It is so exquisite from his vocals to Rutherford's superb guitar/bass work. The second part is more instrumental, showing off less vocals and more focus on the band member's playing skill. Justly so. Probably my least favorite from the album is 'Illegal Alien', which is a simply stupid ditty that was made by Collins maybe just for filler, or just as spite. It's annoying, and his 'accent' I can't even identify in the wake of it's terrible-ness. 'Just a Job to Do' is an almost Rush-like song, with some lines like "BANG BANG BANG" making up for a song about an assassin. It's nice and heart-thumping with every listen. Almost like a story within a song, which isn't anything new, but from Collins era Genesis it is something quite special. 'Taking it All Too Hard' and 'It's Gonna Get Better' are rather boring pop ballads, the former probably better than the latter. I would not suggest for anyone who is still sour over this era and expects something better from this release. 'Silver Rainbow' is another cool prog song, with some influences from 'Home by the Sea'. Probably not nearly as good, but it's still standable.

Overall, not a bad work from three guys playing to an audience who feels distinguished hate at them. I give them kudos for the awesome work and living up to my expectations with a healthy 4 star rating.

Go give it a listen.

"Let us relive our lives in what we tell you"

Looking over many of the scathing reviews by our fine den of distinguished progressive music sages, it was John Mellotron Storm's review that resonated with me. So I'm going to briefly wax nostalgic as well. As with John this largely loathed collection by Genesis zaps me instantly back to the fall of 1983, wandering the institutional hallways of the brick fortress where they tried to fill my head with academic tripe. For the most part it was social survival, clock watching, D and D, and trying to balance days of great fun with hours of frightening anxieties. The security of home life was quickly giving way to a world I didn't really want to enter and one that I find more appalling every day. But back then there were many cute girls, few of them interested in my social circle naturally, and yet so much laughter. Despite our social fears, despite being bullied before "bullying" was a thing, we had the last laugh in terms of our friendships and our time. We caught the very tail end of the world when it was still pretty cool and made the most of it.

Anyway, as mentioned by the Doctor, unless you were in a coma that fall you were hearing "That's All" on the radio. The album never much appealed to me at the time as I was mostly into hard rock then. It's been decades since I've heard the album with any regularity and I find now it is a joy to hear again. While we ridiculed it then, though not to the level of being a parking-lot album, I now love the strong pop melodies throughout and find them nicely shaded with Genesis art rock window dressing. I think it is one of the stronger 80s releases to come from the 70s prog biggies. Consistent, colorful, and with some standout tracks. Side one is really good and side two is good enough, my personal fave being the beautifully detailed "Home by the Sea" duo. Listen to the moving lyrics about the end of life, the urgency to pass on something, reflection. Obviously the dated percussion can ruffle "prog" feathers but I enjoy this as much as than anything they did post "Wind and Wuthering". "Mama" kills as well with great atmospherics by Tony and a biting guitar solo which fades much too soon.

I think what made this release is that they were writing as a group again rather than coming in with finished songs. This approach in this case led to an album that overall feels "fresh" while achieving the new kind of success they were chasing. Every song is engaging and pleasing despite the fact we are all required to take a pledge to hate 80s Genesis while activating membership at PA. There's a sense of optimism in the Shapes album and it feels like an earnest effort. The cover art is perfect for the album as well, attention to detail throughout. It's easy to be cynical about 80s Genesis but this album goes down much easier all these years later, an easy listen, quality pop craftsmanship, and for me stoking hazy memories of suburban kids in a Mr. S's history class. I can judge pop albums pretty easily by how I feel when I contemplate playing them--some I know will bore me to tears, some I get excited to hear again. This one falls into the latter camp. It's not quite 4 stars straight up but its better than 3, and like John I feel compelled to round up on this one.

From the word of Tony Banks himself, in this period of time, the band was running out of ideas. The first cut "Mama" was a song from Mike and an improvisation developed by all the members where you can hear Phil being inspired by the band Grandmaster Flash for his scary voice part, It's an effective debut and one of the most popular songs of the band at that time. "Home by the Sea" is the progressive rock track of the album, the most interesting song. "That's All" as some Beatles influence and is a big step back from the 2 songs mentioned above. For the rest album, the band continues to explore some electronic drum effect started with the album "Duke" on songs that are not memorable at all while "Silver Rainbow" has its moments. So it "doesn't get any better"... in the second part of the album just like the band had "Just a job to do..." If it wasn't for the surround sound of Nick Davies and for the extra features of 1 hour of rehearsal footage I wouldn't buy this album. Only for the biggest Genesis fan.

#6 Review Originally done in 11/9/2017 Completely re-done in 9/8/2020

The tour was called "Mama", the album? Just "Genesis", after all, why would you call an album "Mama" but at the same time, what other name could've given you to this album? That speaks a lot for this album already. What's up with the cover then? Have you seen a less inspired cover than this one aside from the one on the previous album? and even then that one had something in mind, this album cover is one of the things the band recognizes as something they would change if they could go back, yes, that bad.

So, after that, let's hear the songs:

1.- Mama 5/10 From just the beginning of the album you can feel that something is different with the band. This song compared to the rest of the catalogue has a more stripped out approach, yet it builds so much tension, its the better "In The Air Tonight", or should i say the "Genesisided" version of that song, with all those powerful chords and... that. I can't appreciate much of what Mike is doing since he just seems to be following what Tony did, yet i think it was a group effort, he is probably responsible for keeping Tony in check. Also, Phil gives his all here, its incredible, he even laughs for some reason wich adds to the tension i think. Whatever, after all this that i have said, i just can't hear this song in its entirety, i like most of what's done here but it's just a song that takes time to listen and that i don't want to listen most of the times, it bores me now, the first listen is excelent but after that you probably won't come back again until you forget because it really drags out, you just have to like the pulsating drum machine sound A LOT to really enjoy the song, not even hearing it live (on a bootleg) does the trick for me. Sounds kind of ironic, most prog songs take time to get at first, but this one isn't a song that you'll like more in multiple listens, completely on the contrary, i can tell you that i've tried.

2.- That's All 6/10 This is "easy" and addictive to listen and to play on the piano, but aside from that, it repeats a ton, the simplicity of it doesn't hold the song for much and when it reaches the release... it's just boring, i think that's because the piano is playing the notes of what Phil sings. Ok, there's more good here than you'd think, this song has a very small piano solo, a kind of long guitar solo to end the song and in the "boring release part" the drums try to get you interested. Everything is quality, but it's not something that i really want in its entirety, yet for the time that this song lasts, yeah, sure give me all, this pop song is excelent and more complex than you might think, just those parts mess with my patience and are something that i just don't care to hear again and again. With all that said, i can listen more to this song than Mama, that's not saying much though.

3/4.- Home By The Sea 10/10 At first i was very bored, i couldn't believe that prog-rockers where recommending me this song, but as with many prog-rock pieces, the song clicks after a few listens, and it did! I sat down and i started relieving my life on what this song was telling me, the atmosphere, this song can be so simple yet so complex and competent, its incredible. The song was asking me to sitdown and hear, a song where the voice is excelently delivered, yet it feels as if the keys talk more to me than his voice. The second part is an instrumental, so simple yet so addictive, its amazing to hear where this guys go with every tool they have and yet without overusing them, the way all 3 compliment each other musically, and have done since the very early days is something to behold. It's hard to give a song like this a 10, it's not overly complicated, it doesn't exploit every single musical technique or every instrument to its fullest, i don't think that this is the way that we should evaluate everything, Genesis is concerned about feel, this song jumps the rope with that word. A masterpiece that somehow is even better live, so i suggest for you to listen to this album version first and the live versions later, specially the ones from 1987, enjoy.

5.- Illegal Alien 5/10 The joke song on the album, has funny lyrics, funny sounds, sick bass line, nice chords, dumb sounding voice, too much repetitive drum fills. I don't know how they did it to make this song both so annoying and so catchy, the actual piece on a piano is actually a joy to play, this would've been so much better with a simple more stripped down version, yet they went all out with the technology, reutilizing sounds from "I Don't Care Anymore" by Phil, wich is kind of ironic. Yet this song isn't such a surprise, Genesis has like atleast one joke song by album session, what's surprising for many is the topic that was chosen, for me? Not at all, it's a well made joke song that's good fun and very funny as well. Aside from being repetitive, having boring drum fills and a ridiculous voice, i think that this also has too much sound effects, now that those sounds aren't novelty anymore, Nick should release a mix of this song without those sounds.

6.- Taking It All Too Hard 5/10 Why is this so relaxing sounding while Phil screams? When Phil stops screaming, this reminds me a little of "Another Murder of a Day" by Tony Banks, wich is good. I have to say that this song is still kind of boring, most of what sounds gets repeated as much as the pulsating sound in the first song, yet there's something on those keys that keep bringing me back. I really don't know what they where trying to do with this song. The structure is just boring, this was probably part of something else, yet this was a single for some weird reason, defintely something more going on here, i just don't know, maybe i'm taking it all too hard.

7.- Just a Job To Do 6/10 What a slapper, not only are the lyrics good, but the feel of what they're portraying is precise, its not something that sounds very Genesis at first, but the structure and chords, the signature Genesis stuff is still present here. I'm just happy to hear Mike shredding the bass this hard after some time. The biggest downside of this song for me are the brass trumpets, whatever, i think that they don't sound great, the other thing is the parts that are repeated are repeated a little too much and that section where the bass kind of goes away is a little lame, specially because i absolutely dislike rhymes that overuse the "-ing" part, so lazy.

8.- Silver Rainbow 7/10 That beginning is excelent, i really want more of that. I like the sense of urgency that this song does in its length, probably the first song that i truly liked from this album and that i still do. The lyrics are a little weird, yet i prefer the alternative lyrics of this track. The weird chords here have taken a whole new meaning, aside from the forced "hump, hump" through out the song, i would say that this piece is excelent. The instrumental could be named "Badass Bass and Chords + the exquisite Drum Fills". The chorus is so weird, i love it.

9.- It's Gonna Get Better 5/10 I was so dissapointed when i learnt that this track has sampled audio, i was kind of proud that Genesis never sampled anything, yet it was all a lie. At the same time, not only was that dissapointing but after all this time has passed, this song has gotten pretty stale for me, its too chill, the lyrics and inflexions done by Phil are annoying. Its a curious song for me, most of the melody done by bass, guitar riffs and the voice, i really miss Tony here, even though what keeps me listening to this are his own chords, well, if those chords are his anyway.

So, overall, this album grew less for me, over time, Abacab started growing on me more, Invisible Touch and We Can't Dance too, but this one, for me right now is the weakest album, i listen to atleast one song from each album everyday, and this album is the one i always skip. 2/5 Stars.

As with anything post-Abacab, you shouldn't really come here expecting lush symphonic prog of the sort Genesis turned out in their golden era - but at this stage their new pop approach was still very much coloured by art rock textures. The duo of Home By the Sea and Second Home By the Sea is not only the sort of song which the material on Duke tended to point to, but is also flat out creepy; sure, maybe they were selling out at this point, but they're selling out in a decidedly odd fashion! I can do without the comedy accents on Illegal Alien but otherwise this is a solid art- pop album which should be approached with that in mind.

If you like 1980s pop rock, it's a decent album - if you're just here for the prog, though, you should pass this up and tackle Marillion's Script For a Jester's Tear instead, seeing how it came out in the same year and was much more committed to keeping the prog flame alive than Genesis were at this point.

'Genesis' is the twelfth studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released on 3 October 1983. The band decided on its title as each of the album's nine tracks were written as a group.

The first side of the album is pretty good. 'Mama' starts the album with its industrial feel.The keyboard riff gives a creepy mood. 'That's All' is a decent pop number with a catchy riff. However, the riff is also overused. 'Home by the Sea / Second Home by the Sea' is the epic track on the album, and another one of the group's finer songs. It is split into two parts on the album, but really this song must be heard as a whole to be fully appreciated. The second side is very disappointing. 'Illegal Alien' really can make you wonder if this is the same band that composed Cinema Show. The melodies are terrible, and the instrumentation is silly. Worst track in Genesis history. 'Taking It All Too Hard' after the previous song, any mediocre track would sound like a masterpiece.Taking it all too hard is a melodic tune that won't appeal to hardcore-prog rock lovers but as a pop song it's decent enough. 'Just A Job To Do' is a decent song, nothing extraordinaire but enjoyable none the less. 'Silver Rainbow' Here is a song that doesn't know if it's coming or going. It's utterly forgettable. 'It's Gonna Get Better' A good closer for the album. Not bad. Not great, but it is head and shoulders above most of the rest of the second side.

In the end, the self-titled Genesis album is a decent album. There are no songs I truly dislike, but there are some that don't really sit quite right with me.

1. Mama yes the famous drum machine the Linn LM1 drum machine by Mike, yes the synth that starts from afar; yes this sound that will horrify some... Ah this tune that will be played on the airwaves, MTV we love you, and that will make new fans of these popular sounds happy but not only... ah the heat, ah the holiday atmosphere with this title with a millimeter crescendo; ah ahahahah, damn he steals my word too; ah the synth that gets into it clear, danceable, airy, progressive yes I write it; GENESIS is dead, but reborn in another format whether we like it or not we have to... progress! Well this finale that cleans everything in its path, this crazy hit from Phil and Mike's guitar that does the job, phew a little guitar 2. That's All for the ballad of Abacab, the sound is well anchored; consensual with a tune from Tony's keyboard and the striking of the typical pads; it is to be enjoyed without moderation, and to listen to in the car on the radio; boom boom goes the drums and that's it 3. Home by the Sea for the heavy riff boasting a velvety keyboard as not possible, Liebig surely; this synth that looks more new-wave than prog, ah yes prog was well and truly over anyway; well a little prog latency in the middle just to cast doubt again, hovering and Phil who adds another layer with his metronomic voice, even more than the percussive pad, yes I repeat myself. The finale ah prog too and latent ambient, I am troubled and the sequence with 4. Second Home by the Sea amplifies this feeling that the prog 80 will survive the wave; a keyboard, a tune to the future soundtracks of John CARPENTER, easy but heady as if synths could produce beautiful things. Out with the drum pad sound, out with the voice, in with the prog-resist derivation, yes that of the Belgian magazines too; the easy solo but the guitar solo feels good, introducing Phil for the outro of this progressive intro, yes GENESIS dared

5. Illegal Alien with the second part, yes the CD also avoids turning the cassette over. The TV also broadcasts clips, this plus of the 80s so listen to the clip and watch the air just to certify that there will be only three of them; a pop rock sound, Phil's prog trumpet that reminds us that BRAND X exists, trumpet that will give an idea to BIG BIG TRAIN and that XTC had already used, the piece that is worth watching even if it is ... consensual; well the purist will have already skipped 6. Taking It All Too Hard for the synth-voice ballad that brings nothing new and that falls into the mawkish, slowly but surely; no insult, we feel somewhere ballads from some previous albums but it's a bit short 7. Just a Job to Do as a hit B-side for the heady synth; to pass and to move on to something else because it sounds too much like a rehash of another title from the... side A, yes I had the cassette at the beginning 8. Silver Rainbow for the monolithic, melodic ballad and the anguish of seeing his favorite group plunge into a sound too superficial, lacking progressive corners 9. It's Gonna Get Better nice intro and Phil who plays groovy; fresh with the rhythm guitar, cottony with the synth, we would say we are in a soft new-wave album; well by opening the musical chakras well we feel a whiff of the 70s of GENESIS with four, yes but really far away and too disparate.

If you make your starting point for the history of the band Genesis, "And Then There Were Three", discounting Duke which is a bit of an anomaly in the Genesis catalogue, there is a line of progression to the album, Genesis.

ATTWT is a loose collection of mediocre songs with too many synths and minimal contribution from Phil Collins.

Abacab sets a course with a brilliant title track and a great Phil Collins piece, Man On The Corner, but disappoints with the misfiring Dodo/ Lurker and some of the worst compositions the band ever wrote.

Genesis, the album, is a culmination of the talents of the Collins- Rutherford- Banks as a songwriting trio, featuring nine out of nine great tracks. It doesn't get any better for them as a three piece and sadly goes all downhill after this. Highlight of this album is the 11 minute epic Home By The Sea which has a long instrumental passage and some incredible drumming by Phil Collins. If you want to know the difference between Phil Collins as a solo act and 80's Genesis , it's that Collins is breezy and brassy while the best of Genesis is dark and more musically expressive. The title track Mama is typically Genesis 80's dark but with a tinge of fun at the same time. Illegal Alien has a fantastic beat. Taking It All Too Hard is one of the best songs Genesis wrote in the 1980's while Silver Rainbow has a progressive edge to it with some great Tony Banks keys.

It really doesn't get any better than this for Genesis and it's unfortunate that the band decided to drag on artistically until Phil Collins decided to pull the plug. There is not a weak track on the album. Four out of five stars for me.

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Posted Sunday, April 19, 2020 | Review Permalink

Do you know this phenomena, or how to call it, that when listening to a particular song you remember what you were doing or where you were or just the atmosphere of the occasion you listened to that particular song for the first time? I just love music for the capacity to bring me back to my childhood and teenage years. For me, it is like going through old family pictures.

If there is a reason to listen to Genesis, it is because of Peter Gabriel, but if you asked me what Genesis is, I would say that THIS is Genesis. When I was little I knew that my father used to listen to Genesis or Phil Collins, but I didn't like much his voice. Only when I was teenager, I gave Genesis a try with Wembley concert from 1986 and just after that I learned about Peter Gabriel era. And every time I listen to the first half of this album I have a feeling that that's exactly what my father used to listen to when I was a toddler - Mama and Home By the Sea.

IMO, in the 70's, Prog and Genesis as well based their music on the skills or musicianship and the proper sound holding together throughout the whole album. It used to be constructed as cathedrals. In the 80, the depth mostly disappeared and was replaced with the stress on the sound. Each song was different, different atmospere, different drumming or synthesizers. For me, it was about bringing the right and unprecedented sound as a base for a song. I think that the best example is 90125 by Yes and the ABWH album - 90125 is very colourful, each song is different, different idea, different sound, whereas ABWH is like a cathedral, prog created in 80's, with the 80's sound, but no stress whatsoever on the sound, the style, the coolness. I don't want to say which one was better way to go on in the 80', for me it is a personal choice and here I just like those little experiments; and unlike with Abacab, they hold nicely together in one piece.

Mama, Home By the Sea, Silver Rainbow, It's Gonna Get Better and That's All, they are just good imaginative songs and that's it.

This is the album that drove me away. How good or bad is it, really?

I'm listening, I mean really listening, to Genesis (the band's eponymous yellow album of 1983) for the first time. Back in the day, it was the album I didn't buy, the first one I let get away from me.

See, I became a Genesis fan because of Duke, then bought and devotedly listened to Abacab and Three Sides Live. I was hooked. But I jumped ship when the yellow Genesis album came out. I've never owned a copy of the yellow album (or its successors) and until now have not listened to it closely.

By the time the yellow album came out late in 1983, I knew a good bit of early Genesis as well as Phil Collins' first two solo albums (the first terrific, the second less so). I had just gone to college and was in the habit of nerding out on serious, often obscure, prog. I certainly was aware of the yellow album, and I bet I thought about buying it, but somehow it didn't seem for me. I mistrusted the band's poppy new direction, and recognized the album's eponymous title as a bid for reinvention. That's when I gave up on new Genesis -- it was as if the band was giving me a convenient jumping-off point. (When subsequent Genesis albums came out, I wasn't even aware of them.)

Of course, I could count on hearing songs from the yellow album on the radio back in 1983, and even now I hear songs from it at, say, the supermarket. So, listening to it now is not quite a new experience. "That's All," "Taking It All Too Hard," and "Just a Job to Do" still get plenty of airplay. In fact, I think I've heard most of the tracks on this album over and over. It's just that I've never bothered to listen to the album as such. It's interesting to go back (via Apple Music) now and listen to an album I rejected by a band I once followed religiously.

So, what do I think of this album that I spurned so long ago? Well, honestly, I don't think I missed very much, but I've tried to give it a fair listen. My take: this is an ingratiating pop album with some bright moments, the work of gifted, self-aware musicians, consummate professionals working at the top of their craft. It turns out that their results of their work are not that interesting. I will say that the yellow album beats out a lot of tired prog from the early eighties (the genre was limping along then IMO), but that's hardly praise.

A good part of the album is musically insipid. Shockingly, long stretches of it are rhythmically unexciting -- an odd thing for Collins. His famous gated drum sound (with the huge reverb) is mostly gone, replaced by Linn drum machines and quiet, fluid drumming, some of it on a Simmons electric kit (the SDS-5). This album offers some of Collins' least surprising, most discreet and self-effacing playing. More than any Genesis or Collins album before it, it seems determined to showcase Phil the singer, not Phil the drummer -- certainly not the inventive prog or fusion drummer. There are grooves aplenty, of course, from the rubbery swing of "That's All" to the hyped-up funk of "Just a Job to Do." Much of the record is danceable, if not exactly infectious, but the drumwork does not startle or delight. For me, that's a big letdown -- not just by Genesis standards, but in comparison to previous Collins numbers like "It Don't Matter to Me" or his version of "Behind the Lines," which are enlivened by terrific drumming.

Sadly, the album's would-be epic, consisting of "Home by the Sea" and the mostly instrumental sequel "Second Home by the Sea," is a damp squib. The long instrumental section is tuneless, lacking the inventiveness of Genesis's earlier instrumental workouts and, most damningly, any variation in the drumming. Against a sparse and unyielding Simmons drum pattern by Collins and some chanking by Rutherford, Banks and Rutherford take turns noodling on top of the groove. At about the minute-and-a-half mark, Banks brings on a fanfaric synth theme, the highlight, which recurs around 3:40; then, just after the four-minute mark, Rutherford starts playing harder, dirtier guitar that (around 4:30) gathers into a short, piercing solo. The background is grungy and discordant, fattened up with what sounds like a pick-scraping noise (maybe reproduced on Banks' digital Emulator?). The groove is dull, until Collins launches into a vocal recap and conclusion. As with the album's opening track, "Mama," Collins seems determined to lay back here and keep the drumming spare, and the track suffers from a lack of dynamism.

"Second Home by the Sea" reminds me a bit of the second half of the earlier song "Abacab" (from about the 3:30 mark), where the singing stops and the band shifts into minimal, airy soloing against a forceful 4/4 rock groove. There too the tuneful or hooky moments are just that: brief moments, like floor-sweepings, scraps. But I like the astringent minimalism of "Abacab"; it's punchy, caustic, and exhilarating, with a big gated sound -- so the scraps, as they weave in and out, are gripping and easy to remember. Plus, "Abacab" has great drumming, full of chokes and accents and little touches despite the driving 4/4. Not so here, where the groove just grinds along serviceably. I'd say that "Second Home by the Sea," unfortunately, foreshadows the tunelessness of later Genesis epics like "Driving the Last Spike": unhummable slow epics that are damned hard to remember (I have to admit, I think the later Genesis is actually better at concise, four-minute pop songs than epics).

Now, there is some good songwriting on this album, and even wimpy tracks like "That's All" are full of surprising chords. Dig the bridge on that song, a good example of what Tony Banks has called "tak[ing] the chords places where they weren't supposed to go." Speaking of which, I quite like "Taking It All Too Hard," because the song's chord shape (again, from Banks?) appeals to me. Few pop songs are as quirky while seeming so emotionally straightforward.

The other songs are a mixed bag. "Mama," the moody opener, is a slow-burn study in obsession: a creepy persona song comparable to Collins' "Through These Walls" or Peter Gabriel's "Intruder," all tense and theatrical. Musically, it's a matter of dark atmospherics floating over a ticking rhythm track, punctuated by Collins' notorious mad laugh. I suppose I should be grateful that the song doesn't explode into a gated drum fill at the three-minute mark, along the lines of "In the Air Tonight." On the other hand, I kind of wish there were more musical explosions in the song. While the music builds, and Collins' vocal certainly does, the track doesn't so much bust out as slowly boil over (eventually, yes, there are booming, gated drums, against the familiar sound of Collins screaming into a wash of echo). Basically, "Mama" signals the groove-oriented nature of the whole album -- it's a fair warning that there won't be any tricky shifts in meter or sudden dynamic lunges, just a lot of simmering. Me, I prefer the tricky stuff.

"Illegal Alien," oi, is a persona song gone wrong: a misguided exercise in racial ventriloquism. This one, which belongs in the "what were they thinking?" category, is one of the few Genesis numbers I'd erase from memory (though naturally, it's catchy). "Just a Job to Do," with its frantic chanking and bubbling bass, is better, one of the album's few rhythmically thrilling tracks. I don't dig the lyrics (it's a bit "Danger Money," isn't it?) but it cooks musically. Subliminally, it channels "Get Ready" by the Temptations (where Eddie Kendricks sings, "fee-fi-fo-fum," Collins sings "bang, bang, bang" -- yes?). And is there not an echo of Spirit's "I Got a Line on You" as well? I'm always hearing other people's music through Phil Collins -- he's a sort of nonstop human jukebox.

In sum, musically, Genesis is a jumble, and not in an exciting way. One thing is clear: it's not a Phil Collins solo album in disguise. Sure, Collins' solo stardom triggered the band's turn toward pop. But the sound of Genesis is the sound of three skilled players who had worked out a unique way of workshopping songs among themselves, based on jamming together but also building up tracks piecemeal by overdubbing on the resulting grooves. Take for example the inescapable earworm "That's All": reportedly, that one came about when Banks sampled a guitar lick by Rutherford, then slowed down and tweaked it, after which Collins laid down in a Ringo-esque shuffle on the drums, taking things in an unexpected direction. Banks, Collins, and Rutherford got used to working this way, to the point that, I gather, they would rule out bringing any prewritten solo material into their Genesis sessions. Sometimes the results were remarkable ("Taking It All Too Hard" is quite a song to have discovered through such an odd process), and then again sometimes the results were flat. But the popification of Genesis was willed by all three members. I gather they enjoyed workshopping together, fiddling around in their studio/lab.

In the end, I do think I made the right choice when I passed on this album almost forty years ago. Mind you, it's not a terrible pop album, and I try not to fall into the cliched role of the aggrieved prog fan who mourns the moment when their favorite band "sold out" -- could there be anything more cliched? The righteous fury of the ex- fan who imagines that things were somehow pure before the big sellout; the sense of betrayal because a beloved cult act decided that they wanted bigger crowds to dance and hum along to and enjoy their music -- those are such well-worn complaints. But I have to admit that, for me, Genesis becomes less interesting musically from this point forward. There just isn't as much to engage me. The craft is there, but the horizons are small, the music more ordinary. I sense, from interviews, that Banks, Collins, and Rutherford, all of them, were tired of playing esoteric music and wanted to reach the mainstream, and I detect a sense of pride in their craftsmanship when they finally did reach that multi-platinum audience. My guess is that they took sales as affirmation of their ability to connect with more people. In any case, all three members were bound and determined to produce more streamlined and accessible pop, both on their own and with Genesis. They did it smartly. Of course they did; they were gifted writers and players. To me, though, Genesis seemed to succumb to formula, and the Banks/Collins/Rutherford workshop approach became a bit chummy and self-satisfied. That's why I bailed.

This album gets dumped on a lot, but actually, I really like this album and consider it a great comeback after the dismal Abacab. Sure, it is not in the same league as the 'classics', but overall is still a solid album. Great sound throughout and a return to a more suitable and familiar Genesis style, mixing pop and rock with progressive flourishes throughout. The standout tracks include the 'Home by the Sea'-'Second Home' combo, 'Silver Rainbow', and 'It's Gonna Get Better' (all proudly showing at least some remnants of their prog elements). And the singles are mostly good, with 'That's All' a wonderfully fun pop ditty and 'Taking it All Too Hard' a beautiful love ballad. Only the regrettable 'Illegal Alien' and the irritatingly creepy 'Mama' keep this from being a really great album. Still a darn good one.

An old (very old) friend recently gave me his vinyl collection, which included all the Genesis albums, so I took the opportunity to listen to all those albums after Wind and Wuthering which I don't own. Looking at the reviews on here, I wasn't expecting perfection, but hey - this is Genesis, the band that made a run of 7 albums from Trespass onwards which are all at least very good and, in some cases truly excellent. And 3 of the 5 core members who made most of those albums are still there. And they self-titled it, which you wouldn't think of doing if the album was a turkey, would you? So I didn't expect it to be that bad. Well it is that bad. In fact, it's pretty dreadful. Mama is a nasty discordant mess, with Phil Collins doing his angry shouty style of vocals - indeed he does this on most tracks and it's wearing. That's All is just twee and completely forgettable. The whole second side is just awful: there's not a track which I can remember much about or would bother to listen to again; Illegal Alien may have been a big hit but it's just irritating. The last track is ironic - It's Going To Get Better: well it did indeed; the album ended and that the run out groove is probably the best bit. The drum sound throughout is horrible sounding synthesised The only redeeming features are Home by the Sea and Second Home by the Sea, which give just an inkling as to what Genesis were once capable of, being more extended, more interesting and far more carefully composed than the rest. Those 2 tracks save it from the ignominy of getting the 1 star the rest of the album deserves. That this went multi-platinum and hit no1 on the UK charts when their earlier masterpieces didn't is baffling. Avoid like the plague.

Its always hard when you love a band, know their material off by heart, and are personally invested to write an objective review of their material. Very few can do that, its either love (because its Genesis 'at' that time) or loathe, because they'd completely sold out. But how does it hang as an album in its own right? I remember when it was released, waiting in trepidation as I hated (and still do) Duke, and wasn't that keen on its follow up, Abacab, although rather bizarrely, as its widely disliked by Genesis fans, I preferred it to Duke. So, what did I think of this when it hit the turntable mat? If I'm honest, absolute rubbish. Cheesy poppy, synth playing, overuse of the boring drum machine, weedy 1980's recessed guitar work, and awful poptastic lyrics made it a tedious listen. It hasn't got better over time. Mama, the most beloved single of the coffee table set Genesis fans, sounds like an early Collins solo 'belter', lots of noise, not a lot of do. And it goes downhill from there.. Some people talk of a 'prog' edge. But where? There is stretching it, and then there's really stretching it to hear any even vaguely prog tinge to what is essentially classic 1980's pop. What's interesting is people's 'so what' if Genesis have gone overboard with the commercial aspect of the music. Interesting because they seem to casually forget what Genesis are capable of, and yet chose to serve up this, 'any band' 1980's dross. How can a band go from such majestic heights as Suppers Ready, Squonk, Afterglow, firth of fifth, cinema show, to turgid rubbish like 'that's all', 'Illegal Alien' ('shudder'..), 'just a job to do' and so on? Alas, this wasn't even the nadir, worse, in the form of 'Invisible Touch' and 'We can't dance' was yet to come.

'GENESIS' is probably the most disjointed and inconsistent Genesis album. The first side of the album is near-perfect, while the second side of the album is patchy. Phil Collins oversings more on this album than he does on its predecessor, 'Abacab,' due to increased confidence as a frontman. At this point, Phil Collins was also very successful as a solo artist, making him one of the most eminent pop stars of the 80s. Out of all the post-Duke albums, 'GENESIS' is probably the Genesis album I return to the most frequently, as it contains some of my favorite Genesis songs of this period.

"Mama," in my opinion, is the best Genesis opener since "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight," which was released ten years prior. I know that that is quite a statement, but I genuinely adore this song. "Mama" is experimental and proved that Genesis always had prog elements, even at the height of their mainstream success. This is also, in my opinion, one of the darkest Genesis songs. No band can create an atmosphere like Genesis. A drum machine provides the rhythmic foundation of the song. Phil Collins oversings at times, but I think it works in this context as it is one of his best vocal performances, in my opinion. "Mama" contains the iconic laugh bit which is followed by a crescendo into the climax, which is pure prog. "That's All" is a catchy pop song with a melodic Mike Rutherford guitar solo at the end. "Home By the Sea" is an eerie rock song which bleeds right into "Second Home By the Sea" which is mostly instrumental and is an excellent jam filled with interesting melodic ideas. Mike Rutherford plays a guitar riff that utilizes quintal harmony and an impressive guitar solo that leads into a reprise of "Home By the Sea."

The second side opens with one of the worst Genesis songs, "Illegal Alien." Phil Collins sings with a faux Mexican accent, which exacerbates the incredibly insensitive lyrics. The music itself is equally irritating. The difference between this song and a song like "Who Dunnit?" is at least I can understand the humor behind "Who Dunnit?" With "Illegal Alien," I find the song to be downright distasteful. "Taking It All Too Hard" is a pleasant ballad. Phil Collins oversings a bit during the chorus. "Just a Job to Do" is an underrated Genesis song. I like when Phil Collins yells "bang bang bang" which is followed by two snare hits, forming a 3-2 clave. "Silver Rainbow" is a interesting song with a unique chorus. "It's Gonna Get Better" starts with an interesting bassline. The second half sounds hopeful, but overall makes for a very strange, half-baked song and end to the album.

In conclusion, the quality of music on 'GENESIS' ranges from really great to really bad, and there are some mediocre songs. Though there are better moments on this album than on 'Abacab,' I have to give it the same rating as the great moments are weighed down by the poor tracks. 5/10

Review Nº 792

Genesis is probably, with Pink Floyd, the best known former prog band, among the classic English bands, between the usual listeners of music that aren't linked with the prog rock music. Who doesn't know songs like "Invisible Touch" or "I Can't Dance", if only from the radio? But, has we know, this is only and not even half of the truth. So, who is the band that has been indispensable in the music scene for more than 30 years and is even considered by many the father of the Neo-prog? Of course, this can only be a gross overview but it isn't as far from the true as it seems at a first glance.

"Genesis" is the twelfth studio album of Genesis and was released in 1983. It was so named "Genesis" due to the three band's members have composed together, every songs. It has also been referred as the "Shapes" or "Yellow Shapes" album, because of the front cover. The shapes are taken from "Shape O Toy Ball". As we know, the toy consists of a blue and red hollow ball with different shaped holes cut into the surface, into which the shaped pieces can be inserted.

"Genesis" has nine tracks and all songs were written by Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. The first track "Mama" was the first single from this Genesis' self-titled album. It remains the band's most successful single in UK. It's easy recognizable for its harsh drum machine introduction which leads into synthesizer musical lines and finally it follows to the Phil Collins' leaden voice. This is an excellent song that retains sufficient quality and credibility, for me, to stands in one of the highlights of the album. The second track "That's All" was the second single taken from this album. This is clearly a Phil Collins' song with all the ingredients to be a successful pop song. The song was written to be a very simple song with a very simple melody. This is a song with a catchy tune and that remains very nice to hear from the beginning to its ending. The third track "Home By The Sea" and the fourth track "Second Home By The Sea" is, in reality, a music suite of two songs. Lyrically, the song is about a burglar who breaks into a house only to find it is a haunted prison. The burglar is captured by the ghosts who forced him to listen to their stories for the rest of his life. Musically, it represents the most progressive musical effort on the album. This is another song in the same line of "Duke's Travels" and "Duke's End" of "Duke" and "Dodo/Lurker" of "Abacab". It confirms the path started by them with their two previous studio albums "Duke" and "Abacab", from the progressive rock to a more commercial pop style approach. Still, these are the best two tracks on the album and the only with some prog lines. The fifth track "Illegal Alien" was also a song released as a single. Lyrically, it represents apparently a lighter humorous song depicting the frustrations of the faces of the illegal immigrants. Musically, this is a very weak song, written in the reggae musical style. In reality, we are in presence of one of the worst and silly songs ever released by the band. This is, without any doubt, with "Who Dunnit?" of "Abacab", the two worst songs of Genesis. The sixth track "Taking It All Too Hard" was another song to be released as a single, this time was the B side of their second single "That's All". It was also released as a single in USA in 1984. This is a very good ballad, clearly with the Phil Collins' mark. It has a nice acoustic guitar and electronic percussion performance, and Phil Collins sings on it with a great emotion. The seventh track "Just A Job To Do" tells the story of a private investigator chasing down his subject. Musically, it's a very good and powerful song with great percussion, good rhythm guitar performance and a nice keyboard work. The eighth track "Silver Rainbow" represents the song released as the B side of their USA single "Taking It All Too Hard". This is another song that confirms the good quality of the album. It's a song with great harmony, nice keyboard lines and a very interesting drum work. The chorus work is also very interesting and nice. This is a song that sometimes reminds me the sound of R.E.M. The ninth and last track "It's Gonna Get Better" was the song chosen to be released as the B side of their first single of the album "Mama". This is a good song, but sincerely, it doesn't represent one of its best musical moments. This is a song that represents a soft, calm and nice way to close this album, but it doesn't represents nothing more than that.

Conclusion: In a certain way, "Genesis" is an album very close to "Abacab". It represents and confirms definitely, with "Duke" and "Abacab", one more step in Genesis' music, from the progressive rock to the pop/rock music. It's true that we can say that it's probably better than "Abacab" is. However, it maintains the same musical formula of it. It has three great songs "Mama" and especially "Home By The Sea" and "Second Home By The Sea", three good songs "Taking It All Too Hard", "Just A Job To Do" and "Silver Rainbow", two less good songs "That's All" and "It's Gonna Get Better" and a bad song "Illegal Alien". I can't see on "Genesis" a much better album than "Abacab" is, or a much worst album than "Duke" is. Sincerely, I can't see on it many of the progressive lines, which it should have. In a certain way, I think they are all very close, musically. All are good albums but with very few progressive lines. It's also a pop/rock album with some old-time splashes of color. So, I'm going to rate "Genesis" with the same 3 stars of the other two albums.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)