Genesis - Genesis

Things that go to make up a life, a life, a life, a life

Not since Then There Were Three did the 3-man version of Genesis sound so confident, full of ideas, on the cutting edge. A lot of people accuse this album of being a sellout, but that isn't so. Every song is a marvel of creativity and tasteful playing, the omnipresent synthesisers carefully chosen for each song rather than the standard mess-o-keyboards that a lot of bands fell into during the 80s. There is more poppish music than before, but even the blatantly commercial "That's All" and "Taking It All Too Hard" benefit from good songwriting and plain catchiness. "Mama" and in particular "Home By The Sea" show where the group's strengths still were, swirly, atmospheric, classical, and dense with echoes. Listen to the simple electric drum start up for Mama, building up to the thundering, gated drum kit sound at the end, and you'll realize "In The Air Tonight" was just a warmup. "Home By The Sea" is one of their best studio jams, with a good mix of electric and acoustic drums, symphonic keyboards, understated guitar parts by Rutherford, and some fine vocals from Phil, recalling the older style of music from Genesis. "Illegal Alien" is meant to be funny, it certainly isn't a work of music or philosophic art. Think of it as their equivalent of 'Industrial Disease'. A lot of people whine about its supposed racism, but no matter what they had said in that song, SOMEONE would have been hurt I guess. And how come LEGAL aliens don't get a song? I'm sure their lives are not all peaches and cream too. But I digress.. Just a Job and Silver Rainbow are good songs, not quite as strong as the other stuff, but each with their own interesting twists. Gonna Get Better is one song I just don't have any use for, it's just wispy and tuneless, but the beautiful keyboard sounds redeem it somewhat.
May 25, 2008

Genesis CD - wonderful buy, wonderful service!

I bought this for my husband, and he was thrilled with it. I was thrilled with the price, and the service! Thank you! April 6, 2008

Genesis' superb follow up to Abacab still resonates years later!

English art rockers Genesis released their self-titled 15th album in October of 1983.
The album was the band's first new studio effort since the monster selling 1981 album Abacab and first all around relase since 1982's Three Sides Live album.
Singer/drummer Phil Collins, guitarist/bass player Mike Rutherford and keyboard player Tony Banks in the interim between Abacab and Genesis released their second solo albums Hello I Must Be Going, Acting Very Strange and The Fugitive respectively. In the spring of 1983, Banks, Rutherford and Collins went back to their own studio dubbed The Farm in Surrey, England with co-producer Hugh Padgham to work on another album. Would the final result be another winner or a loser, read on and find out (as I did in September of 1997 when I first bought the album on cassette and then on CD two months later).
We begin the album with the album's biggest hit in the UK and a rock radio staple here in the US called "Mama". The music is haunting and revolved around a drum machine and the lyrics tell of one's desire for a prostitute or a mother-like figure. The guitars and keyboards are haunting but superb. Also, the maniacal laugh is amazing and it was inspired by Grandmaster Flash's The Message where it had a maniacal laugh so rap did influence Genesis. great number. Next is the album's biggest hit here in the US called "That's All" which reached #6. This piano-driven number is a great song and its video was humorous depicting the lads as homeless hobos was a lighthearted look at the homeless problem. The lyrics are quite superb and the melody is very catchy. We end the album's first half with the two part epic "Home By The Sea" and "Second Home By The Sea". The former is a ghost story with a great melody and then segues into the latter which is keyboard and guitar soloing with electronic drums that manages to not get boring. The drama of the piece increases towards the end as Phil repeats the final lines of 'Home By The Sea' in an extremely emotive way.
The album's second half starts with "Illegal Alien" which is a light hearted poke at illegal immigration! This song (and its video) is extremely fun especially with Phil's failed attempt at a Mexican accent. The three Genesis men looking like Mexicans was hysterical, especially when Phil took his fake wig off in the video while getting his green card (LOL!). Nest is the ballad "Taking It All Too Hard" which is a great number. Next is the rocker "Just A Job To Do" which is a great rocker. The song was used as a theme song to a short live US ABC series and is a cop-and-robber chase song but a great one. "Silver Rainbow" follows and musically sounds like The Beatles circa 1967-1968 psychedelia only with synthesizers and electric drums replacing orchestras and regular drums. While it sounds dated today to many, it's a great song! We end the album with "It's Gonna Get Better" which is a great piece of music with lyrics providing optimism to maybe a disheartened listener after being alone and/or in despair.
The self-titled Genesis album reached #9 on the Billboard album chart and has sold 4 million copies to date in the US.
In 2007, the album was re-released in a re-mixed/re-mastered version with bonus tracks and a bonus DVD.
Recommended! December 24, 2007

Genesis Album To Start With

It is hard to believe that GENESIS now more known by superstar vocalist Phil Collins started as a progressive rock band. Their 1983 album is overall pop album just as 80's rock fans know by Phil Collins solos during 80s and 90s.

Yet their progressive roots can dimly be found by HOME BY THE SEA and SECOND HOME BY THE SEA. HOME BY THE SEA itself seems ordinary pop song but with the combination of second addition it is really a work of art. It is indeed incredible that mostly instrumental second part suddenly joined by Phil Collins vocal. It is like master tile works piecing together different segments. SILVER RAINBOW also has psychedellic chorus which is so aesthetic. Overall it is a master work of GENESIS coated with pop songs but with dramatic surprises. In that sense it more represents the band a lot more than all-pop INVISIBLE TOUCH album that follows. In pop side MAMA, THAT'S ALL, ILLEGAL ALIAN, TAKING IT ALL TOO HARD are excellent songs and it is hard to believe that only huge hit from the album is #6 hit THAT'S ALL.

Verdict: Genesis album to start with
Rating: 97 out of 100
Recommended for: Phil Collins and Genesis fans and wide range of 80s pop rock fans. August 23, 2007

The Pre-lude to "Invisible Touch" and a great sequel to "Abacab"

Between Genesis' self-titled disc, the band released "Abacab" and "Invisible Touch," while Phil Collins released his second and third solo albums, "Hello, I Must Be Going" and "No Jacket Required." GENESIS (1983) sounds a lot like the past few Genesis/Phil Collins albums, with the exception of a much more polished sound quality, thanks to Hugh Padgham, who had recently produced the last disc by "The Police."

With hits like "That's All" - "Mama" - "Illegal Alien" - "Home by the
Sea" and "Taking it All too Hard" as well as the album cuts "Silver Rainbow" and "Just a Job To Do" Genesis with assistance from Phil Collins
was truly starting to sound a lot like the Phil Collins band, but that's (only) because Phil Collins' solo career was also starting to become very popular during this time.

I still enjoy "Abacab" and "Invisible Touch" much more than this one,
but it still deserves 5 stars, due to the fact that it was a new beginning for the sound of Genesis in the studio and on stage.

Also during this time, Phil Collins produced the solo single "Against All
Odds" (Take a Look at Me Now) and his third solo disc, "No Jacket."
After a 2 year break from recording with Genesis, Phil Collins would return to record "Invisible Touch," which would feature five number one
singles in the UK and the states. However, "GENESIS" seems to have aged
pretty well in the 25 years since it's creation, with the exception of
maybe the silly "Illegal Alien."




July 30, 2007

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