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In praise of Genesis

Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.
 
First time I've ever listened to that. I don't understand the appeal at all. An annoying pop song with pointless, passionless prog rock undertones (as if to say they are a cut above other annoying pop songs).


On the other hand this:

Is cheesy, pretentious, twee and all sorts of things but they sound like they fucking care about that poor wolfy.
 

C'mon. Stop lying. You know you love it



NO, I really don't :eek: I'd rather listen to jazz and I really don't like jazz. Some of their stuff is ok, 1 o clock and time for lunch, dunno if that's the title of the song but that's one I like. I really never understood why people liked them so much.
Some of the album covers were cool iirc.
 
They started out as pompous, pretentious, boring prog rock.

With Phil collins at the fore they turned into overproduced, shit, bland 80s pop-rock occasionally venturing into hamfisted and partonising attempts at 'social commentry'.

They should be hung twice. And collins three times with a disemboweling thrown in.
Gabriel gets a reprieve for his 'some pretty decent moments' solo career and generally seeming like a decent bloke.
 
Does any more need saying ... ?

gabrielflower.jpg
 
They did some good pop songs a long time ago:


I do like Anthony Phillips era Genesis. More subtle instrumentation and a nice acoustic hippy feel with angsty public school boy lyrics. From Genesis to Revelation is a good but very overlooked album and Trespass is really great - records with real character and drama with some beautiful arrangements. With Collins and Hackett on board it's downhill to fairly ordinary prog rock (basically a more formulaic version of Van Der Graaf Generator), Nursery Cryme is interesting in places but rather overwrought, Foxtrot is overblown but a bit average when it comes down to it, Selling England by the Pound is a minor return to form. After that I don't touch them.
 
I always assumed Anthony Phillips just disappeared into obscurity, but seems he's has quite an interesting musical career - possibly more fulfilling than playing all the Genesis hits for the last 40 years.
 
Never had you down as a Genesis fan DC. :)

I only know their shit stuff... No pherpas not fair. Just the tunes that perculated through to the mainstream radio play lists. Which didn't inspire me to want to hear more.
 
When they just used to release their shitty prog albums I could just ignore them, I didn't have to hear them anywhere, and that was just fine. I knew they existed but they didn't bother me and I didn't bother them either, and I was very happy with that arrangement. It was when they started getting all 'radio friendly' that our relationship really soured because then they started intruding into my life, which I didn't want, didn't ask for and, frankly, didn't think I deserved. We had such a good thing going for a while there, me and Genesis, I've never figured out why they had to go and spoil it. To this day I still can't find it in myself to forgive them.
 
I always assumed Anthony Phillips just disappeared into obscurity, but seems he's has quite an interesting musical career - possibly more fulfilling than playing all the Genesis hits for the last 40 years.

His solo stuff is worth checking out. Try the Geese and the Ghost - it's got Phil Collins on vocals so it's like a folky version of Genesis but richer and without either the prog rock must-use-an-awkward-time-signature-hereness or the attempts at mainstream pop.
 
It's only safe to play some Genesis when Mrs SFM is out or it sends her into a "ragin' fury". I dislike most of the 80s stuff (when it just became the Phil Collins Band) - although their first LP without Gabriel ("Trick of the Tail") is great. All started to go downhill when Steve Hackett left imho.
 
it shows how shit peter gabriel is when being replaced by phil collins is a massive improvement.

Its really hard to tell the difference between phil collins and peter gabriels voice. and i have all the albums between tresspass and then there were three.
 
Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

Phil collins was always ahead of the curve. his dumping his wife by fax was 20 years ahead of people doing that by text. i bore my friends with going on about the amazingness about phil collins....
 
They did some good pop songs a long time ago:


I do like Anthony Phillips era Genesis. More subtle instrumentation and a nice acoustic hippy feel with angsty public school boy lyrics. From Genesis to Revelation is a good but very overlooked album and Trespass is really great - records with real character and drama with some beautiful arrangements. With Collins and Hackett on board it's downhill to fairly ordinary prog rock (basically a more formulaic version of Van Der Graaf Generator), Nursery Cryme is interesting in places but rather overwrought, Foxtrot is overblown but a bit average when it comes down to it, Selling England by the Pound is a minor return to form. After that I don't touch them.


haven't heard from genesis to revelation but i love trespass the whole album is amazing.
 
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