GENESIS REVISITED

I guess that only an ex-Genesis band member could have released this album and to be honest, anyone else would have been hammered by doing such a work of which two tracks haven't been recorded by the band : the mighty and mysterious "Valley of the Kings" ("a dream of Steve's about the building of Great Pyramids")as well as "Déjà Vu" even if this one was started by Gabriel during the "Selling England" recordings.

Let's face the truth, the mellow mood is quite explicit why it didn't go further than a demo in those days (even if Steve is distilling a great guitar work in this song).

The other nine parts of this album is a mix of excellent ("Watcher" and "Firth" being two of my three preferred ones) and some less great songs from this wonderful band. Once you get used to John Wetton's voice during "Watcher" it is OK. But the instrumental parts are really shining. I am not as positive about the rendition of "Firth".

The intro from the symphonic orchestra is a big and useless joke. What a poor counterpart of the genuine and great piano opening from Tony. And I can't really bear this middle part, just after the flute passage. These orchestral sounds are IMO totally out of purpose. I am not use to say the following, but frankly to tell that this version is a good one is just nonsense. What a treat for this jewel.

As I'm talking of some "mistakes" here, the version of "Dance On A Vulcano" features a weak intro, non existing in the original and appears to me as a "Vanilla Fudge" cover. By this, I mean that they often created an intro for each of their great cover songs. But it is probably not really necessary for this one. And the "vocals" from Steve here is absolutely awful. I'm sorry, there are no other words.

If ever you would like to get my opinion about a track as "For Absent Friends", I would recommend you my original review for "Nursery Cryme". Whoever might sing. And unlike many reviewers, I liked the original version of "Your Own Special Way" but this syrupy cover, is rather difficult to admit. Press next.

You know, I discovered "Genesis" while I was fourteen. I saw them live while they were five (once), and twice while they were four. This band was my sun each day from the late 1973 to the late 1976. and I mean it. I guess that I am rather an orthodox fan. If you deviate too much from the great original, there is nothing to do. My sentence won't be diplomatically.

Just as for "Dance", there is a short "original" intro for "Salmacis". And just as in "Dance" there are AWFUL vocals featured. Oh boy! How is it possible! Such a great song being massacred! OK, most of this gigantic piece of music is well rendered after this extremely poor start. But still. My perception of this version is that it is waaaaaaaay behind the original (even if the sound quality is better here).

The weakest track from The Lamb is featured on this work :Waiting Room Only is just as weak as the irginal. The only bearable version is the one available on the the live "The Lamb". Press next to this one.

When I heard "I Know What I Like" at the time of release, I immediately liked it (though lots of fans thought that it was too commercial). But to listen to such a poor and reggae-ish version is beyond my capabilities. The grotesque and circus oriented finale is another of the "curiosity". Press next. Fast.

And as far as I'm concerned the fastest we can get to end this torture, the better. And "Los Endos" is another one of the very few acceptable renditions here. It even features some notes of "Dancing Out" and even it is not on par with the original, it is one of the best moment of this strange album.

This work is such a disappointment. I have never understood how Steve could cope with such a tributealbum. If anyone else had signed this album, the zero star rating would have been the majority I guess. I am fully in line with the reiview from Chopper. There is no version superior to the original one. Far from it. Since Steve did it, I will be VERY generous. Two stars.

From an absolute and unbiased HUGE fan of their early work. I can't cope with this one. No way. What have you done to my songs?????

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