the Calling All Stations appreciation thread

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This Genesis album seems to get alot of thoroughly negative reviews but in my opinion that is very unfair. It was at the very least a brave attempt to create a "new" Genesis.

There is material on this album that I enjoy as much as any other Genesis track such as Uncertain Weather, the title track, The Dividing Line and parts of One Man's Fool.
Though, yes, there were also tracks that attempted to imitate the success they had with Phil Collins as frontman such as Congo and Shipwrecked and I could do without Small Talk and If That's What You Need. I do like Shipwrecked as a song though.
I would have replaced the tracks I enjoy less with b-side/unreleased tracks such as Banjo Man, Papa He Said and Nowhere Else To Turn which IMO are better than most of the tracks that made the album and are the strongest tracks I've heard from the Ray Wilson led 'era'.

I do wish that Genesis had done another album with Wilson because he'd have been able to have alot more input as most of CAS was written before he was hired. As much as I'm a fan of all eras of Genesis, I agree with Wilson's comments in Chapter and Verse that they shouldn't have continued after Collins left if they didn't 'have the balls' to.

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Tearful Jester Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: April 13 2008 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 43	Topic: the Calling All Stations appreciation thread Posted: May 22 2008 at 16:08
	This Genesis album seems to get alot of thoroughly negative reviews but in my opinion that is very unfair. It was at the very least a brave attempt to create a "new" Genesis. There is material on this album that I enjoy as much as any other Genesis track such as Uncertain Weather, the title track, The Dividing Line and parts of One Man's Fool. Though, yes, there were also tracks that attempted to imitate the success they had with Phil Collins as frontman such as Congo and Shipwrecked and I could do without Small Talk and If That's What You Need. I do like Shipwrecked as a song though. I would have replaced the tracks I enjoy less with b-side/unreleased tracks such as Banjo Man, Papa He Said and Nowhere Else To Turn which IMO are better than most of the tracks that made the album and are the strongest tracks I've heard from the Ray Wilson led 'era'. I do wish that Genesis had done another album with Wilson because he'd have been able to have alot more input as most of CAS was written before he was hired. As much as I'm a fan of all eras of Genesis, I agree with Wilson's comments in Chapter and Verse that they shouldn't have continued after Collins left if they didn't 'have the balls' to.
	"When you grow up and leave the playground Where you kissed your prince and found your frog Remember the jester who showed you tears; a script for tears"

TheProgtologist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: May 23 2005 Location: Baltimore,Md US Status: Offline Points: 27802	Posted: May 22 2008 at 16:54
	I think it would have turned out better if Kevin Gilbert would have gotten the job as their new singer.He had gotten the news shortly before his death that they wanted to see him for an audition. I think his creative input and innate musical genius would have really helped the band turn the corner,and things might have turned out very differently.