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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!rlgvax!tom
From: tom@rlgvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Gentle Giant (actually Genesis and Peter Gabriel)
Message-ID: <696@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 23-Jun-83 11:15:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.696
Posted: Thu Jun 23 11:15:26 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Jun-83 00:08:50 EDT
References: <215@ihuxt.UUCP>
Organization: RLG Corp., Reston, VA
Lines: 49

I have not been a Genesis since their personnel changes several years
back ("Trick of the Tail" was the start of a headlong rush downhill).
No complexity or richness to the music, dull compositions, incredible
repetitiveness, insignificant lyrics, generally boring pop.  For their
peak, try "Selling England By the Pound" (and listen for the puns in
the lyrics), "Foxtrot", Nursery Crymes", "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway",
"Trespass" (perhaps thats not the album title but a song on the album)
and earlier albums.

However, Peter Gabriel is another story.  He was the leader of Genesis
before he left back in the 70's.  His solo albums have been excellent --
very creative and interesting music, though perhaps a bit avant-guarde for
the masses.  Its easy to see where the talent went when Genesis lost it.
He does concerts at various times (at least here in the East) and is
playing in DC in July, though I don't know if its part of a tour.
If you get a chance, check him out!

Albumwise is as follows.  Note that I don't think he titles his albums.

"Peter Gabriel I" - with "Salisbury Hill" on it, is probably the most
    accessible and closest to mainstream rock.  It also contains "Here Comes
    the Flood", a TERRIFIC song.  This version of it is excellent but a bit
    over-produced (as perhaps most of the album is); check out Gabriel
    singing the same song under a different arrangement and production
    on Robert Fripp's "Exposure" album (but beware of the rest of "Exposure"
    if you are not familiar with Fripp!).

"II" -  is much along the same vein, not as much of the "wall of sound" effect,
    with "DYI" and "On the Air" being songs that occasionally get played
    on truly progressive FM stations.

"III" - contains his most popular hit "Games Without Frontiers" (I even like
    the foreign version).  "Biko" is another excellent composition (Biko
    was a South African black leader who died "escaping" out the window
    of a 6th floor police station during interrogation).  Rest of the album
    also very good.  I think that several of the songs join into a theme/story,
    but I've never heard of anyone else noticing this.  Has anyone out there?

"IV" - is known for "Shock the Monkey", but my favorite is "Rhythm of the
    Heat".  This album has quite a lot of experimentation with African
    rhythms.  Also interesting is the fact that this album was recorded
    digitally, yet sells for standard LP prices.  The sound quality is
    superb.  I hope others follow up on this trend.

   I have heard reports of another ex-Genesis member doing excellent solo stuff,
but I don't remember who.  Can anyone report on this?

- Tom Beres, RLG Corp.
{seismo, allegra, brl-bmd, we13, mcnc}!rlgvax!tom