Genesis overrated?

Now before you proggies get offended by my comments regarding the oh so lovely Genesis (oops, sarcasm already - my bad!) I think it's important you understand I have given a great deal of time listening to Gabriel-era Genesis, in particular Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound.

Is there something I'm missing? Cause i've listened to a lot of prog and, sure, Genesis shows the elements of the music I love but it really seems to go nowhere. I think the problem is largely Phil Collins' fault, there's only so much high-hat and no ride I can bear with drumming in prog. Very bland indeed. Secondly, and feel free to offer a different thought on this, I find Gabriel's voice to be almost...cringeworthy. Sorry, but it's really unpleasant to listen to. Furthermore, I think I can safely say that a band that can't keep an 8 minute song interesting should never venture out to the territory of the 20+ minute epic - you all know what song i'm talking about, that really dull one that fails to lift the ground. Mellotrons are great for creating emotion in music, but after hearing Genesis use one it makes me feel the anger like i've just tried mowing my boring lawn with a majestic chair and subsequently failed. Lastly, although unrelated to the Gabriel-era, Genesis facilitated the rise of disco. One can only hope they look back at that with shame.

this is gonna be interesting, im just gonna sitt in my stool and watch this show, and eat some popcorn .

Snow Dog wrote: Don't listen to them if you don't like. That's what I do with bands i don't like.

sarge wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Don't listen to them if you don't like. That's what I do with bands i don't like.   I know, but for the sake of keeping my sanity (it's actually getting to that point), I feel as though I need to find out what people actually get out of listening to Genesis - particularly after seeing their immense popularity on this site cause, as demonstrated by my reasons, I sure aint feeling the same way.

Revan wrote: I don't even know what to say to you

 

Is this Baggs redivivus?

Firstly, this thread should have a "toxic" symbol attached to it.  LOL

Only you can decide. Just because many people on here think that Genesis are fantastic, it doesn't make you any less a prog fan.
Personally, I love Genesis but I prefer the post Gabriel / pre-Duke albums, 'Trick', 'Wind' and 'Three'. This is not a popular point of view but it doesn't make my opinion any less valid.
I also think ELP are awful. Unlistenable. Heads up their own arses. However, loads of people on here think they are fantastic. I don't question my own opinion based on what the masses say. If this were the case, we'd all end up listening to Lady Ga Ga!

Love to all for 2011 - Phil

Seems their musical ideas just don't appeal to you. Try to look at the band from a different point of view; maybe from the point of view of technical skills? I, for one, have a hard time listening through Yes's albums issued before Fragile and after Relayer (with some notable exceptions), but I do appreciate their abilities. For instance, under every layer of Yes's impalpable chord progressions there's Squire bass saving the day.

 Every band has a way to join their "musical hooks" together - Gilmour does guitar noodling, Yes drums out chord progressions by the dozen, King  Crimson makes your ears bleed and Roger Waters plays the G major chord (I mean seriously, there's a G chord in almost every of his songs). Genesis consists of 5 at least moderately skilled guys. Unlike many other bands, all Genesis' members are more or less at the same level technically. The thing is that everyone does their part instead of letting one or the other shine from time to time. Perhaps  that sort of music-making does not appeal to you, perhaps you'd prefer a grand parade of technical mastery instead of mutual leveling? I'm not saying that to offend you - Dream Theater employs that good kind of showing off (that's why I don't really like them - they pay too much attention to being good and often overlook making awe-striking music).

As for Gabriel's voice, I really cannot persuade you - I love his hoarse voice, he's go a decent range and the ability to both scream persuasively and whisper charmingly. Plus he's does not sound generic. That does it for me. On the other hand I can't stand each and every generic exerting "rockstar" voice like Ray Wilson or Tony Banks' vocalists; I can barely stand Mark Bonilla. And so on... so that's definitely a matter of sheer taste.

Hope you find something interesting in Genesis.

Well obviously, I am a Gabriel fanboy. Some of the music he made both with Genesis and alone affect me as deeply as any music ever made. There is a depth to their artistry that just connects with me.