ABACAB

'Abacab' was, in my opinion, the beginning of the end for Genesis. That's not to say there wasn't anything good that came out of the last five Genesis albums. The band just ventured into a more poppy musical direction which doesn't connect with me emotionally to the same degree that their classic albums of the 70s do. Nevertheless, I still applaud the band for progressing their sound. When Genesis were releasing albums, you never knew what to expect with each new release, which I think is a good thing. 'Abacab' sounds completely different from its predecessor, 'Duke.' I think the album cover perfectly captures what the music sounds like through art: minimal.

There aren't many layers to the music on this album, which adds to its charm. This is especially apparent on the opening title track. The title is based on the structure of the song. The synth and guitar solo section at the end is riveting, and I especially like the "Three Sides Live" version as it is prolonged and has more energy. "No Reply at All" grabs the listener's attention immediately with the Earth, Wind & Fire horn section. Tony Banks utilizes the cross-hand piano technique, hearkening back to "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway." Mike Rutherford's bassline is interesting. The bridge of the song is melodramatic. I like the call and response between the vocals and horns during the coda. "Me and Sarah Jane" is a strange song that goes through many unexpected twists and turns. It's hard to take the song seriously with the eccentric vocals and syncopated guitar chords. However, the last two minutes are grandiose. "Keep It Dark" is my favorite song on 'Abacab.' At first, I didn't like this song, but every reason that I didn't like the song initially is why I love the song now. The strange syncopated guitar riff and chord progression played on top of it is quirky, but I think it encompasses the good aspects of 'Abacab' all in one four minute and thirty-three second track.

Side two opens with arguably the most proggy and track, "Dodo / Lurker." This is the longest song on 'Abacab,' and is quite good for the most part. The keyboard melody played during the "Lurker" section is eccentric and I don't think it suits the song and what came before it musically. "Who Dunnit?" is more tolerable than "Illegal Alien" and "I Can't Dance," but still extremely annoying and grating to the ears. Definitely one of the worst Genesis songs of all time, in my opinion. "Man On the Corner" is an 80s synth pop song that could totally fit on a Phil Collins solo album. The last two songs, "Like It or Not" and "Another Record" are incredibly forgettable. The "round and round and round and around" part of "Another Record" is appalling.

In conclusion, 'Abacab' is a rather weak effort from Genesis, especially after 'Duke,' which is an album I love. When I was delving into the discography of Genesis chronologically and arrived at 'Abacab,' I was a bit depressed after listening to it for the first time. The minimal stylistic approach the band pursued on this record didn't work, in my opinion, and is why I don't return to this album much at all. 4/10