Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fine album against the odds, January 22, 2000
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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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Man Does Not Make A Band..., December 23, 1999
By A Customer
Calling All Stations is a perfect example of an album dismissed by the public due to the fact that a lot of people associated Genesis(in the 80's and 90's anyway)as an extension of Phil Collins's solo career. A message to those out there who gave up on Genesis when Collins left: One man does not make up a band. A band is a collection of individuals gathered together to serve the music first. A band that has been together for as long as Genesis would not give up doing something they live and breathed if they felt the fire inside was gone. That fire inside them is still burning, maybe not quite as brightly, but it is burning. And hopefully for a while longer.I will admit I did lay off this album for quite some time. Maybe it was because I was so familiar with the material with Collins. Maybe it was because I had grown used to the long and longer waits between records(6 years between We Can't Dance and this), then lost patience and just gave up. Or maybe it was because I listened to others out there tell me how bad it was.While I was browsing for used CD's one day, I decided to shell out the 8 bucks for this CD, figuring I would not be out much money if I found the album to be unlistenable.It was worth the money I spent. It's not the greatest album I ever bought, that would be stretching it a little. But it is a very credible work by a band that has recorded many great albums over the past three decades.There are a few forgettable tracks here, but some excellent ones as well: the title track, "Alien Afternoon", "The Dividing Line", and "One Man's Fool" stand out for me personally.And while he is not the second coming of Collins(since he is not a drummer), Ray Wilson is a credible vocalist whose soulful voice(eerily similar to Paul Carrack)lends itself well to the material, most of which contains a rather dark tone.As for Collins' replacement behind the kit, Nir Z does a very good job, really displaying his chops on "The Dividing Line" and "One Man's Fool", as well as tasteful performances on several other tracks.This album would have sold millions, songs would have been played on the radio which later would have become hit singles if Collins were still fronting the band, based solely on his "star power". Unfortunately, it did not sell millions, and as far as I know, nothing from it was played on the radio. And I listen to the radio. A lot. But that does not make this a less credible work. In fact, it is actually quite good, and deserves a fair chance to stand on its own merits.Remember, one man does not make a band...
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tony and Mike got spoiled, February 17, 2006
When Phil Collins decided to leave Genesis, the remaining members wanted to go on and so recruited a singer who sounded nothing like Collins. The album they produced, CALLING ALL STATIONS was dark and moody. Some would say (and have said) it's bland and unemotional. They are wrong, of course. Dark and moody, yes, bland and unemotional, no no no.
First off, Ray Wilson does sound nothing like Phil Collins, and that, maybe, is a good thing. Second, the album is NOT an attempt to recreate the Gabriel, Collins editions of Genesis. It was an attempt to forge ahead with a new singer and attitude. Well, the album was a flop and Genesis folded after a not-so-successful tour. Ray Wilson went ahead with his solo career, and from what I hear, he's doing just fine. The other two, well, who knows what they're doing. Mike and the Mechanics, and neo classical music, I suppose. And as for Phil Collins, he's doing Disney movie music and playing with his baby. Oh, what fun.
What I think happened is this: The album flopped, the tour flopped, and Mike and Tony, spoiled from all the Phil Collins era success couldn't stand the fact that they were no longer on top of the music world, so they folded the group. If they really had any rock soul left, they would have kept on with Ray Wilson, swallowed their pride, and done club dates, and small venues and kept on plugging away until people came to accept the NEW Genesis with the new singer. They no longer had the cute and cuddly Phil Collins, and the media wasn't all over them, and they couldn't take it. Buy CALLING ALL STATIONS, listen to the NEW Genesis, and give it a chance. It will grow on you.
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