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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I think we know who the real poser is., May 15, 2004
By A Customer
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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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
another great album--where the "new" Genesis truly arrived, December 28, 2004
I find it interesting to see other reviewers pointing out that "Abacab", originally released in September of 1981, was a huge departure for Genesis--it's an excellent point, because, indeed, this is the album that truly marks the beginning of the "pop"-era Genesis, as it's generally referred to. There's a certain timeless gloss & punchiness here that sets this album apart from all of the Genesis albums that came before it, and it 'sets the stage', so to speak, for their next couple of albums that followed. It's not exactly a coincidence either--David Hentschel who co-produced the previous two albums was gone, & this album was engineered by Hugh Padgham who had also engineered and assisted on Phil Collins' debut solo album from earlier the same year. "Abacab" was also the first album the group recorded at their own studio. Now, don't get the wrong idea--contrary to what certain people will try to make you believe, this is not an album of light & frothy 'sell-out' pop songs. The level of musical intelligence & sophistication is still astonishing, & track after track is intoxicatingly catchy. The 7+ minute title track starts the album off with a bang--it's got an arresting moody atmosphere, & it's simply loaded with savvy keyboard & guitar licks from Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford respectively, laid over Phil Collins' crisp drumming. Tony Banks' solo composition "Me And Sarah Jane" is a definitive example of his compositional brilliance--it flows seamlessly from section to section, working its way through different moods; it truly takes you on a journey. "Dodo" starts off with an exciting, dramatic blast before the irresitible synth riff kicks in, and it's followed by an arrestingly contemplative minor-keyed section before eventually working its way back to the opening section in thrilling fashion. All that said, this ain't a run of the mill "pop" album by any means! Yes, there are some strongly pop-rock-flavored tracks, but they're great in their own right like the highly melodic "No Reply At All" with its strangely hyperactive keyboards; Phil's haunting ballad "Man On the Corner"; & Mike's plodding, yet soulful & soaring ballad "Like It Or Not" with wonderfully passionate Phil vocals. "Keep It Dark" is ultra-crafty, both musically and lyrically, with an intoxicating chorus. And the album's most notorious track--the jokey, quasi-atonal & repetitive "Who Dunnit?"--is exhilirating silly. Quite simply, "Abacab" is one in a long string of masterpiece albums that Genesis put out. Like so many of their other albums, "Abacab" is a supremely rich listening experience from an astonishingly creative & consistent band.
(P.S. During the "Abacab" sessions, Genesis recorded one of their best songs ever--the beautiful, epic pop-rocker "You Might Recall"--but they left it off the album. Check it out on either the original US version of "Three Sides Live", or on the "Archive #2" box set.)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What he's waiting for, I don't know, June 29, 2004
Good album. Some fairly pure Phil Collins material (not a bad thing); plenty of good solid Tony Banks. And the sound of this remaster is notably superior to the original CD release: better dynamics, better stereo separation. Better overall.But wow, look at the vitriol that prog-rock fans will sling at any iconic band that changes its sound. Well, Abacab is where Genesis *started* for me -- that's right, with MTV -- and yes, I have sensed a quality decline in subsequent albums. (If you think Abacab is a pop sell-out, you haven't listened to Invisible Touch or, worse, We Can't Dance.) But! There's always been at least a little good stuff to keep me coming back. (In truth, I still love Invisible Touch, despite my best efforts to go with the anti-corporate flow and hate it.) I haven't yet gotten into Gabriel-era Genesis, but I'm looking forward to exploring it someday. Plenty to choose from! If you don't like their later music, don't buy the darned stuff. Peter Gabriel did move on with a solo career, in case you didn't notice. "Who Dunnit" is one of my favorite tracks on Abacab. It's weird, but intentionally so. It's a playful riff: "Who Dunnit" always sounded to me like "Abacab" played sideways, if you can picture that.
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