Three Sides Live Review

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(More customer reviews)There are two versions of Genesis' 1982 mostly-or-fully live release, "Three Sides Live." The *original US release* of this double-album is, indeed, 3/4 live recordings taken from the band's 1981 tour for "Abacab," with the fourth quarter comprising of five studio leftovers from the "Duke" & "Abacab" sessions (including the Top 40 hit, "Paperlate"). Europe, however, got the five studio tracks released on a separate EP (also called "Paperlate"), with THEIR fourth quarter of "Three Sides Live" filled with more live stuff taken from the "Duke" and "Trick Of The Tail" tours. Got it? Good.If you're a diehard Genesis fan, then both versions of "Three Sides Live" are worth having in your collection. The first 3/4's live that *everybody* gets is an excellent document of the band in 1981, and shows just how powerfully Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and live co-horts Daryl Stuermer & Chester Thompson can rock in concert, and how commanding a singer & frontman Collins certainly is. GREAT performances are everywhere of Genesis favorites such as "Turn It On Again," "Abacab," "Dodo/Lurker," "Follow You Follow Me," "Misunderstanding," and the Peter Gabriel-era classic "In The Cage." If you buy the original US version, then the five studio songs comprising the last quarter of the album will greatly impress: "Paperlate," "You Might Recall," "Me & Virgil," "Evidence Of Autumn" & "Open Door" are all fantastic Genesis songs. These are no inferior outtakes, and they were only left off the original "Duke" & "Abacab" albums simply because there wasn't room for them. If you buy the European version of the album, then the fourth quarter has brilliant, barnburning concert performances of the Genesis prog-rock classics "One For The Vine," "Fountain Of Salmacis," and a glorious two-in-one rendition of "It" & "Watcher Of The Skies" (closing section). So, for the devoted Genesis fan, "Three Sides Live" is a can't-lose purchase either way.Sadly, "Three Sides Live" appears to be temporarily out-of-print (and I DO hope it's only temporary). Still, there are some used copies of both versions that are still available and floating about. Happy hunting, and long live Genesis.

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Japanese Version featuring a LP Style Slipcase for Initial Pressing--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Abacab Review

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(More customer reviews)Genesis did not "stab their fans in the back" with Abacab. The "fans" who felt this way (like trickoftail and all the rude boo-ers from the Abacab tour) were never really Genesis fans in the first place. They were just progressive rock fans who liked Yes/ELP/Rush etc. and some of the longer epic pieces and concept albums that Genesis did.
Yes, Abacab doesn't sound like early Genesis or other early prog bands...so what? It's still a great album full of fresh, creative ideas. Progressive rock isn't the only good style of music on the planet. To say that this is on the same level as Backstreet Boys or N'Sync is just plain ignorant, just as it is to say that it sounds just like Phil Collins' solo material. The only songs that sound anything like Phil solo on this album are No Reply At All and Man On The Corner, the rest are definitely Genesis songs.
Bottom line: if you only like the prototypical "progressive" side of Genesis, like the 10-minute epics and the long keyboard/guitar solos and the classical-sounding arrangements and the concept albums, then you might not like this album. But if you like bands that aren't afraid to change their sound and experiment with new ideas (which is the REAL meaning of "progressive"), then give this one a chance.

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Genesis: Live at Wembley Stadium Review

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(More customer reviews)The good news: This was an excellent performance with outstanding video & audio quality as well as great camera angles.
The bad news: Whoever edited this thing made poor use of the available footage. For some reason they change cameras every two seconds with no regard for what was taking place on stage. It's annoying and a shame some thought wasn't put into the final product.

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Studio: Wea-des Moines VideoRelease Date: 03/23/2004Run time: 131 minutesRating: Nr

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Calling All Stations Review

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(More customer reviews)If the departure of Peter Gabriel was a real blow for the band back in 1975 then the departure of Phil Collins should spell their imminent demise. Commercially Genesis will almost certainly never recover but musically they have gone and produced arguably their best and most consistent album since 'Duke'.
It is fairly certain that messers Banks and Rutherford are in a financial position not to have to worry about sales and so instead they concentrate on the traditional strengths of Genesis: high quality prog rock. This will not please fans of 'Invisible Touch' or the dull 'We Can't Dance' but long term fans will find plenty to enjoy. 'Congo' is an terrific single and deserved greater radio play while 'One Man's fool' is one of the best things the band have ever done. 'The Dividing Line' and 'There Must Be Some Other Way' also have a power and ambience that was completely lacking in recent albums.
The multi-talented Collins requires two replacements and both handle things admirably. Ray Wilson has a pleasing, soulful voice and the unpronouncable Nir Zidkyahu is a fine drummer and sometimes sounds uncannily like Collins, particularly on 'One Man's Fool'.
There are possibly one or two tracks too many on the album - something that could be said for many Genesis albums from the seventies onwards - and those who were fans of Genesis purely for Phil Collins should steer clear. Everyone else can purchase without hesitation.

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Digitally remastered edition of this classic 1997 album from one of Rock's most successful bands featuring new stereo mixes of all tracks. From their Progressive Rock beginnings to their commercial superstardom, Genesis created some of the most challenging, creative and rewarding albums of their generation. This edition allows the listener to experience the album as never before!11 tracks including 'Congo', 'Not About Us' and 'Calling All Stations'. EMI. 2009.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Platinum Collection Genesis Review

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(More customer reviews)For the Genesis Beginner -
There have been several Genesis compilations released to date: (1) "Turn it On Again - The Hits" is essentially Disc 1 of this 3 disc set, culling most tracks from their hit albums "We Can't Dance" and "Invisible Touch". If you mainly are interested in Genesis for these tunes (ie, Land of Confusion, In Too Deep, Thowing it all Away, No Son of Mine, etc) you can save $10 by simply buying the one-disc set; (2) "Genesis Archive 1967-1975" is mainly live material from early Genesis' magnum opus "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" - for hardcores only; (3) "Genesis Archive 1975-1993" is mainly B-sides and random live cuts from this era of Genesis - also for hardcores only.
THIS compilation is BY FAR the best accumulation of Genesis songs across their entire career, released to date. Disc 1 covers the Phil Collins pop machine years; Disc 2 covers some of their pop years, moving more into their "introspective" period in the early years of Collins as front-man; Disc 3 covers the progressive rock era Peter Gabriel-fronted Genesis from the early '70's.
I would suggest that a "casual" fan of the band buy this set in order to give the tunes on Disc 3 a shot, among other reasons. For those of you who may have NO idea what to expect, and have never listened to other bands like King Crimson or Yes in their early years - these songs are more musically intricate, and generally of greater length, than their pop songs. They are less about hooks and catchy riffs, and more about telling a story, or creating a particular mood. They are more challenging, and less accessible. However, if you're looking for something different, look no further.
For Genesis Hardcore Rabid Fans -
I will not argue over song selection. This is the best anyone could have done over 3 discs. Personally speaking, the collection would have been perfected for me with the exclusion of "Illegal Alien," "Your Own Special Way," and "Calling All Stations" (the latter I like, though it just seems out of context here); and the addition of "Dance on a Volcano" and "One for the Vine." Otherwise, perfect.
Despite what others have noted, I do not detect a significant overall improvement in sound on Discs 1 and 2 over the "definitive edition" remasters released years ago. If there are improvements on certain songs, the effect is minimal, or even innocuous to the quality of the song (ie, sometimes I think they change things just for sake of changing).
However, I believe it's worth shelling out the $20 to buy this album for the improvement on Disc 3. There is a discernable sonic improvement on these cuts, especially for "Cinema Show" and "The Knife" (especially for those of us here in America where the definitive edition remaster of Trespass never made it to this side of the Atlantic!). I should caveat that statement, however, by adding that evidently "Supper's Ready" is not among those tracks newly remastered. It's the same version from the definitive edition remaster of Foxtrot; therefore, if you buy this compilation solely for a new and improved version of this cut, please do not.
Other comments for all -
I'll just add that a cool companion piece to this compilation is the newly released DVD with the same cover, and all of the videos (aptly titled "Cinema Show" - although ironically there was no video released for that particular cut). It is also worth picking up - and incidentally includes certain tracks excluded from the CD's, such as "No Reply at all" and "Man on the Corner" from the Abacab album.

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Founded in the late '60s in Surrey, England, Genesis rose out of the ashes of earlier bands formed by schoolmates Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Michael Rutherford, and Anthony Phillips (who departed after 1969's Trespass, the album providing the final track on this stellar retrospective). Guitarist Steve Hackett soon signed on, as did drummer/vocalist Phil Collins, who'd later emerge (as would Gabriel) as a solo superstar. Following Gabriel's 1975 departure, Genesis grew from a progressive art-rock outfit into one of the biggest arena rock acts ever, with a long string of platinum-sellers and chart smashes. On this, their most comprehensive career-spanning collection to date, Genesis' remarkable evolution is revealed.

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Turn It on Again: The Hits Review

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(More customer reviews)I admit that I came to Genesis after the departure of Peter Gabriel, which means that I was listening to top 40 Genesis versus the more challenging music attempted by Peter Gabriel. Despite the lack of experimentation and depth, Genesis did turn out one serviceable song after another, and a few of these songs are excellent.
This CD focuses on the Phil Collins years, which makes sense from the title, "The Hits". As I noted above, Peter Gabriel was trying for a more cutting edge and artistic sound that some consider to be progressive rock. Typically that type of rock doesn't make for commercial hits, though the music is often artistically better than released singles. The CD also includes one song from the post-Phil Collins years, "Congo". Thus there is at least an attempt to represent Genesis throughout the group's existence.
I was surprised to hear more keyboards in these songs than I remembered hearing. One of the characteristics of many popular 80s groups was their heavy reliance on synthesizers and other keyboards, and Genesis was no exception. As an example, "Abacab" from 1981 was strongly keyboard oriented.
From the title, this CD must focus on Genesis' hits, and it certainly does. "Invisible Touch", "I Can't Dance", "No Son of Mine", and "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" are among the numerous top 40 hits that Genesis seemed to churn out regularly throughout the 80s into the early 90s. There is much to listen to from these songs, and it's the inclusion of these songs that make this CD perfect for the casual fan. However, there is more on this CD.
"I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" is a reggae-influenced song featuring the original five-member lineup from 1973s "Selling England by the Pound". This song seems a little out of place in comparison to the predominantly middle-of-the-road pop selections featured on this CD. The intro has a very progressive sound that becomes a flavor as the song evolves. The full-bodied sound is more alternative and challenging than much of Genesis' pop music years.
Another song that seems a bit out of place is "Congo". This song from the post-Phil Collins CD "Calling All Stations" still retains a pop flavor, but with four members in the lineup and a styling that could recall Duran Duran at the peak of their popularity. I enjoy this song and am tempted to either borrow or buy the CD from which it comes to see whether the other music on that CD is consistent with this song.
The last out of place song is a 1999 remake of "The Carpet Crawlers" from 1974s "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", hailed by some as a great progressive album. Several other reviewers have stated that this song is a great improvement over the original, and wish the rest of the album would be re-recorded. This song does sound good, but it is not a pop song. In some ways I would consider this particular song the best from this entire CD. I have considered buying "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" since it has been compared to other progressive albums I have enjoyed.
You know what you are going to get with a Genesis "hits" CD. The pop was solid, generally very listenable and good; little in the way of breakthrough music. However, at least three of the songs give you a flavor of the breadth of which Genesis was capable. For the casual fan that enjoys Genesis' top 40 music, I highly recommend this CD. For those that preferred Genesis before Phil Collins became the lead vocalist, you may want to stick to buying the albums from the Peter Gabriel era.

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Limited digitally remastered two CD Tour Edition of this classic Genesis compilation released to coincide with their 2007 European tour. This double disc features all 18 tracks included on the standard U.S. single disc edition then adds an additional 16 tracks including 'Illegal Alien', 'Paperlate', 'Keep It Dark', 'No Reply At All' and many more. The tracks are in a completely different order than the single disc pressing as well. This double CD will be available for a limited period (until end of 2007) whilst the band are on tour (including U.S). 34 tracks. Virgin.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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A Trick of the Tail Review

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(More customer reviews)1976's "A Trick Of The Tail" was the first Genesis album without lead singer Peter Gabriel, with drummer Phil Collins taking Gabriel's place at the mike on a full-time basis for the first time (Phil had already sung lead vocals on a pair of the band's earlier songs, "For Absent Friends" & "More Fool Me"). "A Trick Of The Tail" was a landmark album for the band, and it still stands today as one of their best. It not only showed the music world that Genesis *could* survive without Gabriel, it also proved to those who thought of Genesis as "The Peter Gabriel Band" that Gabriel was not, in fact, the only talented musician in the group. While Peter is most certainly a musical genius, and he was a fantastic frontman & songwriter for Genesis, ALL of the band members, including Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, and former members including Anthony Phillips, etc., all contributed to the group's musical magic right along with Peter. "A Trick Of The Tail" was the proof of that. Now a quartet, "A Trick Of The Tail" finds Genesis still at the top of their game, with eight marvelous compositions that remain among the best in all of progressive rock, with such band staples as "Dance On A Volcano," "Squonk" (both superb Genesis rockers), the lovely, majestic songs "Entangled," "Mad Man Moon" & "Ripples," the great fun of "Robbery, Assault & Battery" & the title song, and the mindblowing coda, "Los Endos" (a sort of instrumental re-cap of the album's previous songs, with the band bidding a fond farewell to Peter Gabriel at the very end, as Collins sings "There's an angel standing in the sun/Free to get back home"---it's a line from "Supper's Ready," the band's magnum opus from 1972). The band's songwriting & musicianship here is truly sensational, with Banks, Collins, Hackett & Rutherford delivering some of their greatest work ever recorded. And Collins' voice perfectly fits the bill---if *any* singer could take over for Peter Gabriel, it was Phil. Thank God that the band didn't have to look very far for the man for the job! "A Trick Of The Tail" is classic Genesis all the way, and one of the band's greatest accomplishments. Let the dance---and the Phil Collins era---begin!

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Digitally remastered reissue of the 1976 album by the esteemed Prog/Rock band featuring a new stereo mix of the album. This reissue features the new mix of the album's original tracks (sans bonus tracks) yet adds a new breath of fresh air on these classic recordings. Eight tracks including 'Dance On A Volcano', 'Entangled' and 'Robbery, Assault And Battery'. EMI. 2008.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Genesis Live 1973-2007 (8 CD/3 DVD) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Genesis box set releases continue! This time around, the band focuses on their live albums for this particular set, "Genesis Live 1973-2007". Four live albums: "Genesis Live," "Seconds Out," "Three Sides Live," and a re-sequenced "The Way We Walk," all remastered and remixed by Nick Davis, who worked on the band's previous box sets of studio albums. There is also an empty slot in the box to put in 2007's "Live Over Europe" (as the band wisely assumes that most diehard fans have already bought it), AND, as an added bonus, you get a CD and 5.1 DVD of the band's complete "Live At The Rainbow" concert from 1973! Also included is an excellent 52-page booklet, with insights from the band members, and wonderful photographs of the band taken from many years of live concerts. Overall, I'm very happy indeed with this live box set, but I still have to agree with other reviewers that "Live 1973-2007" still falls short of perfection. Let's briefly go through the live albums:
"Genesis Live"---the band's only proper live album with Peter Gabriel, recorded in 1973, sounds great, but it now includes 5 bonus tracks from the 1975 "Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" show in Los Angeles, and they're not even in the correct order---"Back In NYC," "Fly On A Windshield," "Broadway Melody Of 1974," "Anyway," and "The Chamber Of 32 Doors." On the one hand, yes of course it's great to hear some live "Lamb" material in this box set, but why not give us the *whole* "Lamb" concert? In fact, why didn't they just expand "Genesis Live" into a double album so it's now the complete 1973 show (and not just five songs), and throw in the entire L.A. "Lamb" show as a bonus? That, I think, would have been the much better way to go. (At least the whole L.A. "Lamb" concert---more or less---is available on the "Genesis Archives Vol. 1" box set).
"Seconds Out"---this classic Genesis live album, recorded in Paris in 1976 and '77 on the "Trick Of The Tail" and "Wind & Wuthering" tours, sounds amazing, and the slipcase packaging is excellent, but dammit, there are a couple of CD glitches: the second song on Disc One, "Carpet Crawlers," starts to play, only to restart itself before it plays properly (the very beginning of the song is mistakenly attached to the end of Track One, "Squonk"---the CD player then switches over to Track Two and restarts "Carpet Crawlers"). The exact same problem happens again with the second song on Disc Two, "Cinema Show," the beginning of which is mistakenly attached to the end of Track One, "Supper's Ready," so it too begins to play, and then restarts itself. Sure, we're still getting the complete performances of both songs, as neither of them are chopped up in any way, but it's still an annoyance. May as well keep your old CD copy of "Seconds Out" until the folks at the record label can fix the problem, and I hope they do.
"Three Sides Live"---mostly recorded in 1981 on the "Abacab" tour, as well as some concluding live material taken from the "Trick Of The Tail" and "Duke" tours, this re-issue replicates the UK release of the album, and, once again, the sound quality is excellent, but I do have one very minor quibble---I always liked the album's concluding touch of hearing Ethel Merman singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" over the PA system as the album fades out, after the band conclude "It/Watcher Of The Skies". Alas, Ethel has been removed, and that's a shame.
"The Way We Walk"---recorded on the "We Can't Dance" tour from 1992, this a GREAT revamping of this live album, as the original release cut the album in half: "Vol.1: The Shorts" was all the shorter hit songs, and "Vol. 2: The Longs" was the longer, more art-rock sounding stuff. This new version of "The Way We Walk" re-sequences the songs in the correct performance order, and combines them into the complete double album that "The Way We Walk" should've been the first time around. There's also some extended bits of inbetween-song dialogue from Phil Collins that wasn't heard before, which is really nice. I couldn't be happier with this new, improved version of "The Way We Walk".
The bonus set "Live At The Rainbow 1973"---*of course* I'm thrilled to have a complete live concert of Genesis with Peter at the microphone, and it sounds awesome, but there's a catch: the 5.1 DVD has the complete concert, but the accompanying CD omits "Watcher Of The Skies" and "The Musical Box," presumably for CD time limitations, and also because the band didn't want to give us *two* live versions of the same song (there's still the live versions of "Watcher" and "Musical Box" on the "Genesis Live" CD). It's understandable, but it still ticks me off that I can't play the *entire* concert in my car or on my home stereo system, just only on my DVD player. Also, the CD of the "Rainbow" concert also omits some of Peter and Phil's inbetween-song dialogue with the audience. Luckily, some of the Rainbow material was previously released on the "Genesis Archives Vol. 1" box set, including Peter and Phil's spoken-word stuff. The only way you can have the complete Rainbow concert on CD (sort of) is if you splice together the Rainbow material from *both* box sets, and throw on "Watcher Of The Skies" and "The Musical Box" from "Genesis Live" to fill in the gaps, and burn it onto a CDR for your own personal private pleasures. It's crazy, but I just might do it.
Insert your copy of "Live Over Europe" into the empty slot, and your Genesis live box set is complete!
So yes, I'm very happy with "Genesis Live: 1973-2007," even though it's not a perfect representation of these live albums. It's still great that the band decided to give the live albums a box set of their own, and I will treasure it. But guys, PLEASE fix those glitches on "Seconds Out," will ya? Thanks. Now, bring on "The Movie Box"....

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Genesis Live 1973-2007 gathers the four live albums recorded by the legendary British group from 1973 to 1992. Featuring brand new stereo mixes, the boxed set also includes the long-awaited release in stereo and 5.1 of Live At The Rainbow 1973 only available with this collection. Genesis Live 1973 - 2007 11 disc boxed set that includes: Genesis Live, the band's first Top 10 album in the UK, recorded in Leicester and Manchester and issued in 1973, and featuring the classic line-up of Tony Banks (keyboards), Phil Collins (drums, vocals), Peter Gabriel (vocals, flute), Steve Hackett (guitars) and Mike Rutherford (bass, guitars). Genesis Live, for this box-set release, has been extended to feature five bonus tracks recorded at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles on January 24, 1975 and the full album is also presented in 5.1 for the first time. The double set Seconds Out, a Top 5 entry in 1977 that documented the group s Paris dates as a quartet with Collins on lead vocals following Gabriel's departure in 1975. The tour featured touring drummers Bill Bruford and Chester Thompson. Exclusive to this boxed set, Seconds Out is presented in stereo and 5.1 versions. Three Sides Live, a #2 album in the U.K. in 1982, mostly showcasing the Banks-Collins-Rutherford incarnation augmented by Thompson and guitarist Daryl Stuermer. The Way We Walk, finally sees these two live albums resequenced as per the original show's set list. Originally released separately and entitled Vol I: The Shorts, which made the Top 3 in Britain in 1992, and Vol 2: The Longs, this was the band s sixth # 1 album, and their only concert recording to top the charts in 1993. Recorded in London by the Banks-Collins-Gabriel-Hackett-Rutherford lineup, Live At The Rainbow 1973 expands on the live material first issued on the Archive 1967-1975 boxed set in 1998 and will delight die-hard fans of that period in their lengthy career. The concert from October 1973 features most of Selling England By The Pound at the time of its release, along with the conceptual piece 'Supper's Ready' and 'Watcher Of The Skies' from their breakthrough album Foxtrot, and 'The Musical Box' from Nursery Cryme, the last two titles on 5.1 version only. Genesis Live 1973 2007 has been designed to incorporate space for the most recent live Genesis release - the 2-CD set Live Over Europe 2007. All albums feature brand new stereo mixes created by Tony Banks, Nick Davis, and Mike Rutherford, while Genesis Live, Seconds Out and Live At The Rainbow 1973 all feature 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound versions.

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Tarzan - The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast) Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, I have to say that I love the movie soundtrack. Ironically, the movie songs here are by far the best ones. And, surprisingly enough, Tarzan's singing (Josh Strickland) is the strongest. Kerchak's (sp?) voice is plain annoying and Jane sounds like a past-her-prime Julie Andrews. Frankly, I'm disappointed with the voices of the cast.

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Both Sides Review

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(More customer reviews)I remember when Both Sides came out in November of 1993. The record company didn't promote it and neither did VH1 or MTV. When I listened to it, I thought this is Phil Collins at his most serious. It seems to me that Phil was trying to say something without the typical humor he uses. This cd flopped commercially and critically, the first Phil Collins cd to do so. Perhaps it is because the nature of the music is so serious. I happen to like it when an artist bares his soul, and Phil did an excellent job here. I have all of his solo cds and all of Genesis' cds as well, and I have to say that Both Sides is probably Phil's best solo cd. Sure, No Jacket Required has all the hits and is very well produced. Sure, Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going are very good cds as well, but Both Sides touches an emotional nerve that those others do not. Listen to the intimacy Phil exudes on such songs as "Can't Turn Back The Years" and "I've Forgotten Everything." Listen to the messages imbedded in "Both Sides Of The Story" and "We're Sons Of Our Fathers." I can't think of Phil being so honest with his feelings as he is on this album. It's not the typical, uptempo Phil that most fans enjoy, it's more mature and painful. It sure is a better buy than his 1996 cd Dance Into The Light. Both Sides is a must have for any rock collector.

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Live: We Walk 1--Shorts Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw Genesis live in the summer of 1992 on what would turn out to be their final tour with Phil Collins, and it still remains THE greatest concert I have ever attended in my life. The band's performance, power, and live presentation were SO magnificent, it was the closest I ever got to Heaven in my years on this earth so far. As my friend Mike so eloquently said when it was over, "I could've stayed and watched them play 'til Christmas!" Amen, brother. "Live: The Way We Walk Vol. 1 (The Shorts)" is the first half of the live document of this Genesis tour, featuring some of the band's biggest hit songs: "Land Of Confusion," "I Can't Dance," "Mama," "That's All," "In Too Deep," and "Invisible Touch," among other hits (the band's longer, more progressive-sounding material is found on "Volume 2 (The Longs)"). "The Shorts" is proof positive of what a powerhouse in concert Phil & the boys are. The performances are stunning, and Phil's singing voice is also in top form. And this live CD also makes a great case for the band regarding the slickness of their "Invisible Touch" material---although *I* like the album just fine, the "Invisible Touch" songs, including the poppy hit title track, really do sound better & stronger live in concert.The only disappointments on "Volume 1: The Shorts" is that the live rendition of "Mama" is missing a verse towards the end, and the live version of "Tonight Tonight Tonight" is much too short. Then again, this live set IS called "The Shorts," so I guess these two songs had to be pared down to hit-single length. Other than that, "Live: The Way We Walk Volume One (The Shorts)" is a terrific live Genesis set, and things only get better with it's companion release, "Volume Two (The Longs)," but that's another review....

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Genesis: When In Rome 2007 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Yes, I truly believe that this IS IT....the chances of this band, in any form, reuniting again is so slim that we'll probably see Bill Clinton in the White House again before these guys Tour or record ever again. Indeed, watching this document of the last ever Genesis Tour is a sad event....4 (or is it 5!) decades of absolutely GREAT tunes....wonderful personel and commraderie through the years....and, maybe, one of the most profound musical careers of our times. Yes, I will certainly miss this "Family" of guys---maybe more so than any other band or group of people. The good news, for us TRUE fans, is that they decided to give us what I have just watched, AND, will watch many, many more times to come....'When in Rome'. This DVD package is as good as anyone could hope for; Great songlist, Great quality sound and video and the usual outstanding musicianship onstage.
The setlist includes what may be the most comprehensive set of songs the band has ever toured with. Of course there are the 'usual suspects' such as 'Turn it on', 'AfterGlow', 'Invisible Touch', Etc., But there are also several that we haven't heard since the 'Duke' Era ----'Ripples', 'Carpet Crawlers' and 'Los Endos'. Is it THE set I would have picked? NO....but, it was a good move by the guys to "cater" to a very, VERY large range of concertgoers. Don't be swayed by comments that are being made concerning the tour----"lowered key/ pitch makes songs unlistenable"...."Old guys simply going through the motions", Etc. Personally the songs being lowered in Key for the sake of vocals made NO difference to me and was probably the difference between Phil "choking" parts and the smooth delivery we get here....Phil, as usual, nails his parts. As for some saying these guys are uninspired on stage, I totally disagree...All songs were played with passion and prescision. These guys have never been a "showboat" band, and they make no bones about their age. That said, don't expect any David Lee Roth jumping splits or high kicks (although Phil's tambourine solo on "I know what I Like" is quite impressive!). As with most progressive bands, these guys are focused on one important element on this DVD----to replicate their music for the masses....this is no "Old Time Rock and Roll" here, this is very involved music that requires concentration from the members.
Another nice aspect of this package/ show is the sound and stage. The audio and video is the best I've seen on any Genesis release. Very clear picture and sound throughout the show, with good camera angles and everyone getting their fair share of the lens. Thats not to say it isn't without its faults....there are times when the massive lighting casts overbearing colors on the band....very red and green in certain spots. Also there are a handful of times when Tony's keys are too "upfront" in the mix, as well as some strange harmonics(for lack of a better way to describe) that eminates from the synths from time to time, but none of what I mention above distracts from the overall show. I would also give special mention to the awesome stage for this tour.....Genesis has always had groundbreaking lights and backdrops, but this is massive! Only Pink Floyd's 'Pulse' stage comes close. When I first saw the cover for 'When in Rome' I questioned the unsymetrical, almost "hokey" look of the stage....well, after viewing the DVD, I can see how it all fits together for one of the most spectacular stage/light shows that one is likely to encounter. There are at least 3 or 4 times during the show where the lights and video backdrop are almost as intense as the music being played....if 'In the Cage' doesn't raise the hairs, you might be dead!
So, all-in-all, this is probably the best we'll get from this great band....the show is certainly worthy, as well as the DVD documentary and extras included. Even if the band releases vault material such as 'Seconds Out' or 'The Lamb', it will never sound and look as good as 'When in Rome' (although an official 'SO' concert DVD would put me in Heaven!). In closing I would also like to throw out some opinions, since this may be the last review I write for a Genesis product. I have loved ALL incarnations of this band....early, experimental Gabriel era, as well as the prog-pop efforts of Phil and Ray Watson led Genesis. There are (and will always be) Gabriel-era "purists" who scowl at anything released after 'The Lamb', however, I can confidently say that EVERY album has somthing special and extraordinary....and YES, even moments of pure Progressive bliss! As matter of fact, I find myself reaching for 'We Can't Dance' or 'And Then There Were Three' more often than 'Nursery Chryme' or 'Lamb'. Some of the older albums simply didn't age well. That said, I will say that Peter leaving the band and Phil taking center stage was the best thing that could have happened to Genesis....otherwise they may have died a worse death than Gentle Giant, Focus and Camel. Phil, nor Genesis ever sold out musically(though they may have sold-out to Wal-mart!)....they remained musically significant till the end, and, quite frankly, you'll likely hear 'Throwing it All Away' or 'ABACAB' well into the future----will you hear 'Watcher of the Skies'....I doubt it....as much as I would like to. At any rate, if you are a fan of this band, don't think twice about picking this up....it really is a worthy memoir in every respect. Thanks, Genesis, for the wonderful music and memories....your music will never stray far from my life.


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We Can't Dance Review

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(More customer reviews)Peter Gabriel Genesis and Phil Collins Genesis...for the most part, they are two different animals...both GREAT STUFF! And honestly, both "leaders" also had some "duds". I believe the reason this great album...yes I said GREAT, has only a total 3.5 star rating is that the older die-hard Gabriel-era fans are disgruntled that their favorite band refused to remain in the past. We, as fans, have seen this played-out over and over again...our favorite bands try to branch out and evolve---sometimes it works e.g. Genesis, Santana,etc...sometimes it doesn't, e.g. Metallica, ZZ-Top, etc... So, with that said, I'm giving 'We Can't Dance' 5 stars to try and offset the undeserved current rating. Likewise, I wouldn't give 5 stars to an album that did not deserve it. This is a very good Genesis album that rates 5 in my mind, and not for the "hits"...though they are worthy. The real treasure with this album lies with the unknown songs. Driving the Last Spike, Fading Lights, Dreaming While You Sleep, Living Forever, etc...some of which contain some very cool "proggy" passages. Many other reviewers have rated the individual songs quite well, so I will simply say this album means a great deal to me and provokes many emotions within me (probably due to a "tricky" relationship I was going through when I first heard this CD). This is one of my favorite releases of the past 20 years, so beware of every review you read...you may miss out on something that might have become a treasured part of your collection/Life! Jeff

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Digitally remastered edition of this classic 1991 album from one of Rock's most successful bands featuring new stereo mixes of all tracks. From their Progressive Rock beginnings to their commercial superstardom, Genesis created some of the most challenging, creative and rewarding albums of their generation. This edition allows the listener to experience the album as never before!12 tracks including 'No Son Of Mine', 'I Can't Dance' and 'Hold On My Heart'. EMI. 2009.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Duke (W/Dvd) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Duke" is the 4th post-Peter Gabriel album, originally released in 1980. I never bought the album when this came out as I preferred the prog-rock sound of the band and this alvum continued their evolution into a more commercial, mainstream band. But the temptation of the 6 CD/6 DVD box "Genesis 1976-1982" was such that I just had to have it, and so now I have "Duke" finally.
As to the CD, "Duke" (12 tracks, 55 min.) is, now listening to it 27 years after the facts, quite a surprise to me, and a pleasant one. No, I still don't like the "Misunderstanding" or "Turn It On Again", the album's big hits, all that much. But I discovered quite a few other tracks I really like, starting with the majestic opener "Behind the Lines", the reflective "Man of Our Times" and "Alone Tonight", and then of course the massive 11. min. ending of "Duke's Travels/Duke's End".
As to the DVD, it first brings the album in a terrific 5.1 surround mix, and it sounds fantastic if you have the proper music set-up at home (which I do). As to the visuals, it comes with the videos for Duchess, Misunderstanding, and Turn It On Again, nice but nothing earth-shattering. The "Reissue Interviews 2007" brings about 20 min. of the guys bringing their perspectives on the album, quite entertaining. But the real gold nugget is a 45 min. excerpt of a 1980 London concert where the band showcases several Duke tracks (including a great "Behind the Lines") and then delves into the past and delivers outstanding performances of "In the Cage", "Dance On a Volcano" and "Los Endos". The video and audio quality is tops. Any Genesis fan will want to have this, period.
If you are considering buying any of the reissued CD/DVD albums, you really should look at buying the 6 CD/6 DVD "Genesis 1976-1982" box instead as it offer far more "bang for the buck" (only $69 here on Amazon), and on top it comes with a bonus CD/DVD of assorted B-sides, EPs and other hard to find tracks from that era.

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Eric Clapton & Friends: Live 1986 (1986) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, let me tell you that, being a Clapton fan I try to get hold of everything he releases, whether official or not, and of my modest collection, this is, along with the Hyde Park concert of 1996, one of the best performances caught on video.
As part of the small tour of 1986 he did, this England unique date of a 2-day leg, features Phil Collins on drums, Greg Phillinganes on Keyboards and bassist extraordinaire Nathan East. The tight sound is amazing and as other reviewer mentioned, for a 4 piece, the sound is great, like a steam roller downhill!
As for the Dvd release, this concert had been out in VHS form and now the DVD makes justice to the sound with DTS and 5.1 features. Video quality does not improve much upon the original tape, but I guess just there's so much you can do with a 1986 videotape. As far as extras, this release has none but the simples menu and intro animation with a small 3D guitar spinning around.
I love this concert so much I'd like to see a few more tracks, or some commetary by one of the performers. Anyway, it is a great document in Clapton's career and "comeback" of the mid 80's. Recommended!

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ERIC CLAPTON & FRIENDS LIVE 1986 - DVD Movie

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Wind & Wuthering Review

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(More customer reviews)Music: 5 stars; DVD material: 4 stars
"Wind and Wuthering" is the 2nd post-Peter Gabriel album, originally issued in 1977. It continued the unexpected success of "A Trick of a Tail" album with Phil Collins stepping in for Peter Gabriel as lead singer. I got the 1994 reissue but the temptation of a bunch of DVD bonus materials was such that I did buy the "Genesis 1976-1982" 6 CD/6 DVD set.
As to the CD, "Wind & Wuthering" (9 tracks, 51 min.) remains a fabulous listen 30 years later. From the opening "Eleventh Earl of Mar", the band sounds on top of their game. The 10 min. epic "One For the Vine" is in my book the best track that Tony Banks has ever penned, period. Mike Rutherford's beautiful ballad "Your Own Special Way" was the unexpected hit (in a shortened version), and foreshadowed things to come ("Follow You Follow Me', and others thereafter). "Wot Guerilla" is the "Los Endos" of this album. Other highlights include "Blood on the Rooftops", Steve Hacket's last main contribution before he left the band. The instrumental mini-set of "Unquiet/In That Quiet Earth" is just terrific, before giving way to the catharsic ending "Afterglow", what a way to end the album, wow!
As to the DVD, it first brings the album in a terrific 5.1 surround system, and it sounds fantastic if you have the proper home music set-up (which I do). As to the visuals, the "Reissue Interviews 2007" brings about 20 min. of the guys bringing their perspectives on the album, quite entertaining. The other video materials are somewhat disappointing: a US bootleg of Your Own Special Way and Afterglow (from a TV show) and a Japanese bootleg of several albums tracks, but the audio and video quality leaves to be desired. Couldn't they have found anything better to include here? That said, I saw Genesis on the "Wind & Wuthering" tour in Brussels in 1977, so this has a lot of sentimental value for me.
If you are considering buying any of the reissued CD/DVD albums, you really should look at buying the "Genesis 1976-1982" box instead as it offer far more "bang for the buck" (only $69 here on Amazon), and on top it comes with a bonus CD/DVD of assorted B-sides, EPs and other hard to find tracks from that era.

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No Description Available.Genre: Popular MusicMedia Format: Compact DiskRating: Release Date: 15-MAY-2007

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Abacab (W/Dvd) Review

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(More customer reviews)Abacab is the 5th post-Peter Gabriel album, originally issued in Fall, 1981. It continued the rapidly evolving sound of Genesis from prog rockers to more commercial and mainstream-sounding. Personally, I had a difficult time to accept or like that change as it took place 25 years ago. I never did buy either "Duke" or "Abacab" when they came out. But the temptation of a bunch of DVD bonus materials was such that I did buy the "Genesis 1976-1982" 6 CD/6 DVD set, and now I finally have the "Abacab" album proper.
As to the CD, "Abacab" (9 tracks, 47 min.) is somewhat of a revelation to me. I still don't like "No Reply At All" or "Mman on a Corner" as a Genesis song (how can you differentiate it from Phis Collins' "Face Value" album? you can't, as Phil wrote these at the same time and it just sounds the same), but I found a lot of other things here I like a lot. The title track, of course, but also a brooding "Keep It Dark", the epic 7+ min. "Dodo/Lurker", and "Like It Or Not". Abacab will never be my favorite Genesis album, but I enjoyed it better than I ever expected.
As to the DVD, it first brings the album in a terrific 5.1 surround system, and it sounds fantastic if you have the proper home music set-up (which I do). As to the visuals, it comes with the videos for Abacab, No Reply At All, Keep It Dark, and Man on the Corner, nice but nothing earth-shattering. The "Reissue Interviews 2007" brings about 20 min. of the guys bringing their perspectives on the album, quite entertaining. Regretfully, there is no concert footage, unlike most of the other albums reissued, and that makes this reissue of "Abacab" less essential.
If you are considering buying any of the reissued CD/DVD albums, you really should look at buying the "1976-1982" box instead as it offer far more "bang for the buck" (only $69 here on Amazon), and on top it comes with a bonus CD/DVD of assorted B-sides, EPs and other hard to find tracks from that era.

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