Search - Genesis :: Calling All Stations

No swan song here

steve ward | Dallas, TX. USA | 08/10/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I was Genesis fan back in 1969 when I first listened to the Trespass album. The albums of the 70's were perhaps the finest the band ever produced. They were, in fact one of the best stage performers of their time as well. For me, their magic died with Duke and all that followed. IMHO, their creative genius faded quickly with subsequent releases. Hackett's departure, I felt, was the beginning of the end. There were glimmers of the old group here and there, but the 80's and 90's material were not the Genesis of old. Calling All Stations seems to carry on the tradition without the benefit of creativity. Ray Wilson was the only refreshing piece of CAS but he couldn't save this. CAS is not a horrible production but the sound and composition is a rehash combination of Mike and the Mechanics stuff and Invisble Touch. Nothing new or progressive; just more a pop and commercial feel.



I'm no musical authority by any means, but I do know what I like. I don't particularly like CAS. I miss the Genesis of old and this album makes me miss them even more. Not the fitting finale one would like to see from one the greatest prog bands in history"

Under-rated

M. Williams | 12/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having just listened to the entirety of this album, and then having read through the various reviews here, i felt i had to throw in my tuppence worth.



Three to five stars were probably awarded by people, such as myself, that realise that different times and different people will make different sounds. I LOVE Genesis. I own everything they've released (and a chunk of stuff that they didn't). I picked this album up expecting to be entertained - because it is basically a Genesis album. What i didn't expect was to hear a Gabriel/Collins rip-off...they're gone and their input is missing. Pretty logical really!



Two stars and less were probably awarded by the same people that wrote Genesis off as Peter Gabriel left the band...and then again as Steve Hackett left the band. Remember that each time the band lost a member, the sound changed. It's not exactly rocket science. Phil Collins leaving the band was obviously a huge blow and, not surprisingly, the sound changed again. Gone are the poppy, top 20 hit singles and, instead, this album is full of well crafted, well played, and well sung rock songs. With the exception of Small Talk (which is still okay!), this album is consistently strong. The title track kicks things off with a brilliant riff that Collins would never have allowed Mike Rutherford to play! 'Congo' follows and is catchy and, had it not had the Genesis name attatched to it, would probably have fared much better in terms of radio play and gaining a following for this album. I could go on here naming track after track that come at you, sometimes quietly with typical Banks/Rutherford melodies, and sometimes blasting away with obviously emphasised drumming by two exceptional drummers. The longer tracks are, in my opinion, the best stuff on here, especially The Dividing Line and the absolutely brilliant One Man's Fool. Reviewers who have knocked Ray Wilson's singing should hang their heads. He's never going to sound like Phil Collins!!! His performance on this album is solid and suits the music perfectly.



If i had one bad thing to say about this album, it is that it's the only one with this line-up. Shame on Banks and Rutherford for running away after not reaching previous heights...the follow up could have been something REALLY special.



Basically, it matters not to me if you buy this album or not. It entertains the life out of me - still! If you choose to ignore it, it's your loss entirely...just because of preconceived expectations. Forget that it's Genesis if you must (although it clearly is!) and listen to it as a new band. It's simply a brilliant album."