CALLING ALL STATIONS

I don't think the problem is what is there, or who was involved, I think that the biggest problem with this record is who 'wasn't' involved. The songs all have the same Synthesiser sound and 80's/90's pop with a more progressive sound to it. Imagine Phillips and Hackett were back in the band. Now Phillips would give you his acoustic/spanish guitar backdrop, which is what this thing REALLY needs, and Hackett would give you his explosive guitar solos. The year before this came out Hackett released a Genesis covers album and that year Anthony Phillips released 'Dragonfly dreams', a competent album containing acoustic guitar pieces and a few synthesiser solos as well. If these elements came into the Synth-heavy tired-sounding Genesis-pop of 'Calling all stations' then we might have a different animal on our hands. I think that Hackett's Spanish guitars and Phillips' acoustic rhythm section are just what this album needs.

That said, I don't think this is a one-star album It is probably a three star album, I like some of the songs; 'Not about us' is a catchy modern pop-song, 'The dividing line' is a cool prog/rock song with great drumming and a hypnotic keyboard riff that carries you for most of the song. 'Alien Afternoon' is a colourfully hazy sounding reggae-groove prog song. Another song with 'hazy' keyboards is 'Uncertain Weather', which has an anthemic chorus and beautiful synthesiser work. The album closer 'One man's fool' starts off slow and keeps building up to a dramatic ending.

As far as this album being 'unsuccessful' it was actually quite popular in Europe. According to 'Wikipedia' this was the first album to chart in 'France' and there are a couple of countries where this was the best charting album for them or best charting in a long time. But anyway since when was prog judged by commercial success?

Anyway I think this album is not one of the best Genesis albums, but I think it is better than 1 star but maybe I have misjudged it. I also think it would have been better if some of the old/other members had been involved. Instead they were struggling to find a new sound.