FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

In a way GENESIS started out as they would end, namely being a pop band that blended in with the style of the day. Although I have a soft spot for great bands who had a quirky debut, I have to say that the debut album by GENESIS is the perfect representation of my hit / miss relationship with this band throughout their entire career. Of all the most popular progressive rock bands to have emerged throughout the days, it is GENESIS that I probably like the least in terms of total output in their discography. Although I wholeheartedly admit they have produced some amazing masterpieces, I find many of even their most revered albums to be lukewarm in my world. I think i'm in the majority with this one however.

Although they had their symphonic tendencies in play with their debut album FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION, it is clear that this was a symphonic pop band at this point. As a lover of pop music that is not what bothers me with this release. What truly bugs me the most about this first outing is simply the songs are BORING! The fact that Peter Gabriel, Banks, Phillips, Rutherfield and Silver would go on to anything great totally eludes the listener at this point. I mean even in the world of pop music of 1969 this is weak! The melodies aren't melodic enough. The symphonics aren't symphonic enough. Everything just seems like amateur hour. And so it is here.

It's obvious why this one wants to be forgotten and I am in the camp where I find this extremely boring despite my eclectic nature but there is little on here to warrant interest other than the historical interpretation of a famous band and their origins. There really is no standout track and although I have tried to find some redeeming value in this, I utterly fail every time. In the case of GENESIS I can only recommend totally skipping this debut and heading to the second release "Trespass" which is hard to believe that it is performed by the same band. If you want symphonic prog from the 60s, skip this and head straight to the Moody Blues. Yawn!