CALLING ALL STATIONS

Genesis

Symphonic Prog

2.46 | 1151 ratings

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SouthSideoftheSky
Special Collaborator
Symphonic Team

The dividing line

Calling All Stations is the last Genesis album to date and the sole Genesis album to feature vocalist Ray Wilson. It does not sound very much like any previous Genesis album, but that is to be expected with a new lead vocalist on board replacing such a distinctive voice as that of Phil Collins. Different might be a good thing though, and in this case it is! Personally, I think this is enormously much better than the weak Invisible Touch or Abacab albums and up to par with the good but uneven We Can't Dance. From a Prog perspective, there is no individual track on Calling All Stations that is as good as the very best songs from We Can't Dance (like the great Fading Lights), but there is also nothing here that is even remotely as bad as the worst songs from that same album (like Jesus He Knows Me or I Can't Dance). Calling All Stations is very even and consistent.

The new vocalist Ray Wilson does an excellent job, and I am very happy that they choose to work with someone with his own voice rather than someone who tried to sound like Collins/Gabriel. Indeed, it was wise and brave to make something different for once. It is hard to compare the music with other bands; maybe Hogarth-era Marillion and the David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd give some idea, but not quite still.

The songs are all emotional and melodic. And I like most of them. Yes, I even like Congo a lot as well as Shipwrecked! The instrumental work could be better - or rather, there could be more of it. The Dividing Line, though, has some very good keyboards and even a short drum solo!

Recommended for Genesis fans with an open mind.

SouthSideoftheSky | 3/5 | 2008-12-3

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