LIVE - THE WAY WE WALK VOLUME ONE - THE SHORTS

Live - The Way We Walk Volume One - The Shorts is the first live CD from Genesis tour supporting We Can´t Dance ( 1991) and as the title suggests this live album consists of the short songs played on that tour ( unfortunately also the most commercial). Volume two came out in 1993 and consisted of the longer songs from the tour ( the emphasis is unfortunately on the eighties material on that one too. I find it pretty enjoyable anyway though).

The songs selection on Live - The Way We Walk Volume One - The Shorts is not surprising but a bit unsatisfying for me. There are no songs from the seventies present on the album and the emphasis is clearly on the hits from the new album and the eighties hits. When this is said I have to say I do enjoy parts of this album greatly. It always reminds me of my childhood when I listen to a song like Land of Confusion or my early teens when I listen to songs like No Son of Mine and Jesus He Knows Me. Well composed and great songs. What drags the album down IMO are the more ballad type songs like Throwing it All Away, Hold on My Heart and In Too Deep. Way too suckery and sweet for me.

I really enjoy Genesis performance on this album. These live versions are much better than the originals and the technical skill involved to pull these songs of in such a professional way in a live setting is typical Genesis. You can argue that the sound is almost too perfect but I still enjoy it. Banks, Rutherford and Collins is as usual helped out by Chester Thompson on drums ( Frank Zappa, Weather Report) and Daryl Stuermer on lead guitar, bass and backing vocals. Two very competent gentlemen who are true to Genesis sound.

I gave volume two a big 3 star rating and I will give this one 3 small stars. Maybe it´s pure nostalgia that makes me give the third star but something just clicks when I hear most of these songs. I might be a bit too generous though.