j o n b

I was originally going to just write a brief mini-review of this album, but after listening to it a few times I found that I had too much to say about it. Thus, here we are. Steve Hackett has always been one of my favorite guitar players. Not only because of his focus on musicianship and tonality instead of aimless chops, but also because in the years since he left Genesis he has continued to explore new musical ideas, from South American rhythmic influences, to blues, and orchestral work. He has never rested on his laurels. Which is what makes this look back at Genesis all the more odd. Why would a guy so intent on revisiting his past instead of going on forward? I think he did because he realized what great things were going on back then and, unlike some of his contemporaries (Phil Collins, to name one) is not ashamed to be one of the grandfathers of progressive rock. But Hackett didn't just go back and rehash old work. Instead, he reinterpreted these songs and put a new spin on things. He was going forward while looking back. Each old Genesis song gets its own treatment, some a little more conventional than others. "Watcher of the Skies" and "Firth of Fifth" are fairly straight forward, except in a couple of obvious places (like substituting a Spanish style guitar section in the instrumental middle of "Firth). Others get serious revisions, which sometimes work and sometimes fail. The best revisions are "Dance On A Volcano", to which Chester Thompson and Alphonso Jackson add some great quasi-funk parts, and "Los Endos", where Hackett and gang expand on what he calls the tune's Santana inspired moments, giving the song a more Latin flavor. Other tunes don't quite work, although the changes are at least creative and daring. "Your Own Special Way", which I don't think would be in many Genesis fans' list of top ten songs, in turned into a modern R&B sounding track, and sounds out of place on the same disc with "Watcher" or "Los Endos". A more interesting transformation is the one given to "I Know What I Like", which is turned into a sort of 20s jazz, almost Dixieland, song. Imagine the Squirrel Nut Zippers do Genesis and you'd just about have it. Personally, I don't care much for that touch on that song (though if I heard the Zippers do it I would love it, I imagine), but at least it's interesting. There are three tracks on the disc which are new, sort of. "Waiting Room Only" is a sort of atonal jam in the spirit of "The Waiting Room" from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I didn't like the idea the first time and I don't like it much here, either. Just not my thing. The other two new tracks are songs that were begun while Peter Gabriel was still with the band and then were finished up by Hackett for this disc. "Valley of the Kings" is an instrumental cut, featuring a lot of trademark Hackett licks over a foundation of synths. I really could see this coming off a Roine Stolt/Flower Kings album, actually. "Deja Vu" is am interesting little tune, a good example of what might have happened to Genesis had the shift to a more commercial driven sound been overseen by Gabriel and Hackett. Certainly more accessible and straightforward than other things, but also interesting and well done in its own right. Overall, I enjoyed this album a lot, maybe more than I let on. I admire Hackett for his desire to look backward with pride and still want to try new things. If that suits you, then check this disc out. review by Jon Byrne — undated —

s e a n

This album, released in 1996, is certainly a curiosity. It is subtitled "Genesis Revisited by Steve Hackett", and that pretty much sums it up. Hackett re-explores or re-interprets several songs from his time in Genesis with some interesting results. The first notable difference, which is not a surprising one, is that the guitar is often louder in the mix, and has some additional parts from the original tracks. Given Hackett's often criminal under-exposure in Genesis, particularly towards the end of the road, this is a welcome change. Some of the other touches are pretty nice; the addition of orchestration to the Mellotron intro to "Watcher of the Skies" is definitely an improvement. On the other hand, there is some pretty appalling AOR-schmaltz stuff thrown into the mix as well. Hackett employs many guests on this album, although no official members of the band (although Chester Thompson and Bill Bruford come close, having toured with them). The rest of the cast is certainly good on paper, featuring John Wetton, Tony Levin and Ian McDonald, although nobody apart from Hackett has any standout contributions to make. The only original works here are "Deja Vu", a piece started by Gabriel around the time of Selling England... and finished here by Hackett, and "Waiting Room Only", a jam that attempts to recapture the spirit of "The Waiting Room" off The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Neither of these are particularly essential, and so what one is left with is essentially a curiosity, more for the die-hard fan of Genesis than one new to their sound. review by Sean McFee — undated —

j o e

Despite the roster of guest stars, I was originally against buying this album for quite some time, feeling somewhat disappointed that Steve Hackett, certainly one of the more adventurous of the Genesis solo careers, had succumbed to 'going nostalgia' with a whole studio album of previous Genesis tunes. To his credit, Steve does try some different things to work some new life into these reliable warhorses, and I honestly wasn't even expecting that much. Ultimately, though, my verdict remains: "Eh...'A' for Effort, but..." Besides 90s state-of-the-art production and sound quality, the new arrangements at their best don't offer much significantly above and beyond the original Genesis versions. And at their worst...well, I may be one of the few who will admit to actually liking the original version of "Your Own Special Way," but even I can't defend the hideous adult-contemporary transformation (with Paul Carrack on vocals—who else?) included here. The short and sweet "For Absent Friends" from Nursery Cryme never sounded so stiff and stodgy to me. Even the 'lost Gabriel-era' track, "Deja Vu," is as anti-climatic as Al Capone's vaults. Wouldn't make this one a high priority, despite the star supporting cast. review by Joe McGlinchey — undated —

e r i c

Hackett and friends dig into the Genesis catalogue to recreate some Genesis classics and a play few new tunes. I don't find any of these performances better than the originals. Some of the songs are odd choices; the lounge version of "Your Own Special Way" is a huge disappointment with all the material there was to choose from. "Riding the Colussus" is just a new song title for "Sierra Quemada" from the Guitar Noir CD. "Watcher of The Skies", sung by John Wetton (who does a fabulous job), is my favorite of the songs here. The orchestrated "For Absent Friends" is enjoyable. Wetton again displays his vocal prowess on "Firth of Fifth", and this also is well done; but the orchestration used where the original flute solo comes in is overkill. An interesting if somewhat unspectacular release. I much prefer The Tokyo Tapes to this; it is live, but the performances are excellent. review by Eric Porter — undated —