Genesis - Genesis CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

of ...and then there were three. It's as if the band members felt obliged to reassure their older fans that they remember them, too.

This is particularly appalling in light of what Genesis shows the trio capable of doing. Phil Collins' drumming is as tasteful as ever, and his gutteral delivery of "Mama" shows that his fondness for R&B may finally be paying off in his singing. Mike Rutherford's guitar work is surprisingly feisty, so much so that it's hard to understand why the instrumental tracks are so keyboard heavy. But even though Tony Banks sticks in some of his most bombastic synthesizer work in recent memory, some of his bits–the rubbery synth lines in "Mama" or the jazzy bounce of the organ in "That's All"–suggest it's more a matter of misdirection than misapplication.

Still, two songs, "Mama" and "That's All," do break some new ground. The former is powerful both rhythmically and conceptually, pushing the band to new heights of musical drama and rhythmic expression, while "That's All" is an engaging rummage through the false hopes of romantic regret. Overall, however, the drift of this album is one step forward, two steps back. (RS 413)

J.D. CONSIDINE