LIVE - THE WAY WE WALK VOLUME TWO - THE LONGS

A Peruvian proverb says that the human being is the only animal that trips twice with the same stone, well, I found by own experience that this piece of popular wisdom is true. Some years ago I decided not to buy any GENESIS album without "Gabriel" and/or "Hackett", but each time I read a review in which a fan of the best band ever is able to appreciate some trio albums, I feel some nostalgia and envy, so give them a new chance.

The editors of the album made the right choice of words when they decided to call it "The Longs", because the songs are relatively long, but that's all, length is not a synonym of Progressive Rock or quality and this less than average album proves it.

They start with "Old Medley" as a trap to capture some of the old fans and that was precisely the reason why I bought the Live compilation, a decision I regret. I love each and every song in the Medley, but the performance is horrendous, not even "Dance in a Volcano" which is a "Collins" era track sounds remotely as well as in "A Trick of the Tail", "Daryl Stuermer" is an outstanding guitar player, even when is clear he was not born to replace "Steve Hackett". but it doesn't stop there.

I never thought I would say this, but Tony Banks abuses of the Mellotron in this song, because this wonderful instrument played in short passages is impressive, but used to replace the original atmosphere gets tedious.

If "Phil Collins" and company can ruin a "Collins" era track, you must imagine what they do later, this version of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" is simply bad, Phil's s voice is flat and boring, plus that cheap trick of repeating the last word of the phrase as "Lies down..down, down, down", makes me want to thrown the stereo against the wall.

The rest of this "Old Medley" is not better, I never heard a so emotionless performance of "Musical Box" ever, the "Touch me" closing section is slow and anti-climatic. For God's sake, Tony Banks" ruins he "Firth of Fifth" intro with a terrible selection of electric piano which sounds like a Casiotone (not one of my favourites), and please, somebody tell "Stuermer" that he's not able to even try to re-create "Steve Hackett's" amazing solo, it's the worst attempt I ever heard in my life, sadly by a great musician who should limit himself to Jazz where he's outstanding.

The "Old Medley" ends even worst when "Collins" dares to introduce pieces of bland POP tracks as "Illegal Alien" and "Follow You Follow Me" blended with "I Know What I Like", simply distasteful.

They managed to ruin almost perfect music written by the band in their most glorious days...What could I expect from the rest? But let's continue until the experience becomes too painful to continue.

I don't now who may believe that "Driving the Last Spike" is a Prog song, it's the most repetitive, predictable and boring song I ever heard, and "Phil Collins" with his voice makes it even worst.

Just when I thought this could only get better because they reached the bottom, comes "Domino" and proves me things can always get worst, won't talk about all the track and will only mention the horible vocal closing passage, "Phil Collins" should never try to sing fast sections, because he's more annoying than usual.

I must accept that this version of "Fading Lights" is not worst than he one in "We Can't Dance", always saw it as a cute Pop ballad, not bad at all, but has no place in an album that pretends to rescue some of the Prog days of Genesis.

Never understood why people always mention "Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea" as a highlight of three men era GENESIS, yes I agree both tracks are good examples of POP GENESIS but have very few interesting moments (Specially the instrumental), sadly is just an average and a bit boring track with no interest for this reviewer.

The album ends with a "Drum Duet", would be a lie not to admit that both "Collins" and "Thompson" are great drummers, but if the band needs to close an album with a drum solo it's not hard to guess how poor is the album.

Believe it or not, rating a release of my favourite band with one star is painful, but I can't give them more, the trio plus two, destroyed six of the best early GENESIS tracks and filled the album with less than average tracks, I can't rate it higher.

I'm sorry for the fans of this era, but this is my honest opinion.

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