Genesis

Abacab

20+ year old sound that still sounds fresh, and vibrant.

Review Score:

(10/10)
Genesis returned less than a year after what many fans consider their last progressive rock album ...Released in 1981, Abacab is considered the album where Genesis left behind it's progressive, storytelling rock past and embraced the pop arena. ...I can easily say that Abacab was YEARS ahead of it's time, even ahead of Invisible TouchÃ¢''s time and despite it's age, it still sounds fresh and vibrant. The drums sound more like real drums as opposed to drum machines...Whoever keeps saying that the first half is great and the second half is weak, needs to get his or her ears checked. ALL of the songs are strong, ALL of them.

The title track is a 7 minute long, state of the art song with awesome keyboards, incredible drumming, unforgettable guitars, and that unforgettable voice of Mr. Collins. The first half is more mainstream while the second half is slightly creepier, almost like two songs in one. No Reply At All was the main hit with a more danceable beat, and Phoenix horns from the Earth, Wind & Fire band. I just love those fast playing keyboards...Me And Sarah Jane is a midtempo rock ballad with yet more awesome beats. I just love the bizarre chord changes in the middle of the song. Keep It Dark is a darker, yet another catchy rock song with awesome 80s synthesizers and bell-sounding percussion. I love when PhilÃ¢''s vocals echo during the last minute and a half of the song. Dodo/Lurker is a more turbulent track with a darker, heavier edge that foreshowed the coming of Domino from Invisible Touch. The second entitled Lurker is quirkier with piercing keyboards. Who Dunnit unfortunately gets too much criticism as itÃ¢''s actually a great song. In fact, itÃ¢''s my favorite track off Abacab. ItÃ¢''s a tale of someone denying doing something wrong and inserting some humor and very loud buzzing sonics and pounding beats. I would even go far enough to say that itÃ¢''s probably the most Ã¢''violentÃ¢'' Genesis ever got. Crank up the stereo, stomp on the floor to the beats, when this one starts playing. Just be careful not to crack the windows. After the explosive Who Dunnit, things mellow down with the socially conscious Man On The Corner which tells the tale of a homeless man. This track is a virtual twin of Collins solo epic Ã¢''Another Day In ParadiseÃ¢'' and is in the vein of Ã¢''In Too DeepÃ¢'' and Ã¢''Taking It All Too HardÃ¢''. Like It Or Not is another midtempo power-ballad. The last track Another Record, is way ahead of itÃ¢''s time. ItÃ¢''s the last track on the album and features awesome keyboards that would become a trademark keyboard sound of PhilÃ¢''s solo albums during the 80s. It starts off with intoxicating keyboards and ambient keyboards and distant guitar sways before piercing cymbals come in and then the song becomes a passionate, semi-danceable, track about the tale of one trying to move on after a tedious period in ones life. It also has what I guess is a harmonica too. This is another favorite of mines and it ends Abacab on a high note.

I highly recommend this CD...Abacab doesnÃ¢''t even sound like early 80s New Wave. In fact, from my point of view, itÃ¢''s at least five years ahead of itÃ¢''s time and still sounds fresh more than 20 years after itÃ¢''s release. It may be difficult for me to say which CD is GenesisÃ¢'' best as they put out so much great music that itÃ¢''s almost impossible. I highly recommend buying this CD pronto....Buy It! :)

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