 Genesis I'm by no means the world's biggest Genesis fan, though I do love pretty much the whole discography. And much as I like Peter Gabriel, I have to admit I really think the band got better after he left, and Phil Collins started writing all those wonderfully catchy bitter breakup songs ("No Reply At All," "Misunderstanding," etc). Not that I'll go so far as to say I think the band's 80s output is stellar (oh, "Illegal Alien"), but to me, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is pretty bloated, and actually not all that well produced compared to the more rock-focused records Collins & Co. put out in the late 70s. That said, let me now step down from the long and winding point I just allegedly made to say that Genesis Live is probably my favorite record in the group's excessive catalog (I have heard perhaps 6 of their 919 albums). Normally you'd think a live album is not going to compare at all to a band's studio work, but in this case I'd argue that the result is superior. The band plays incredibly well, the songs are fantastic, and the overall sound of the album is just intensely inviting. It's a moody little record, not coming off like a big live album at all, probably because at this point, Genesis hadn't really put out enough material to do the exhaustive arena shows. So this is my choice if you want to dive into the "theater years." The subdued stage shot on the cover gives you an idea of the art-rock that lies within. Gabriel is wearing a cape and some kind of triangular helmet that makes him look rather like a Spider-Man villain. Collins, head bowed, is unrecognizable, and the big ol' glowing keyboard setup (I'm guessing Mellotron) is just what the doctor ordered. This was 1973, and the band was Gabriel (vox), Collins (drums), Mike Rutherford (bass), Tony Banks (keys), and Steve Hackett (guitar). The style is obtuse but very likable, quite a bit more subtle than, say, ELP or Yes from the same period. I don't think I've ever heard any of the original versions of these songs, so I couldn't tell you why I even bought this CD in the first place, but I can say that I love it. "Watcher of the Skies" is a true art-prog classic, one of Gabriel's best moments. This disc gives you an idea of why he was considered such a captivating performer pretty much from the get-go. All of the songs are over eight minutes long, with multiple parts. Some long, slow passages, some sudden frenetic passages, lots of soloing, but really no moments I'd call indulgent. It's just a great show by a band that would steadily lose its pretense toward art (though not pretense). A bit spacey, with a rock edge that isn't heavy at all. It's very akin to the early 70s Tangerine Dream sound, musically searching rather than showy. Great stuff; a real gem; classic rock I'm not ashamed to admit to liking.
Review by James Davidson-Harley |