From: lorne.murphy@rose.uucp (lorne murphy)
Subject: Genesis, Yes Debates
Organization: Rose Media Inc, Toronto, Ontario.
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 15:46:39 GMT
X-Gated-By: Usenet <==> RoseMail Gateway (v1.2)


Date Entered: 04-08-92 14:56
I have been reading the ongoing debate between the Genesis and Yes fans out
there, and so far, I haven't seen any one message I agree entirely with.
I have seen many good points, but this is the real story:

Do not expect Genesis to be putting out SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND and
THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY when they are missing Peter Gabriel and Steve
Hackett. (BTW, contrary to popular belief, Genesis' sound did NOT change
until Hackett left. Gabriel's absence was only apparent on stage and somewhat
in the cosmic-lyric type songs on record.) I too love the early 70's Genesis,
but I don't get disappointed when I hear "I Can't Dance" instead of "The
Musical Box" or "Fountain of Salmacis". Even to hear 2 (count 'em... 2!)
10 minute tracks on the latest release made my spirits soar! A "return-to-
your-roots" or back-to-basics",no-nonsense approach is not ALWAYS the next
step in a band's career... When Hackett left in '77, I don't think that the
public expected such a good album as "AND THEN THERE WERE THREE", but I'm
sure they were pleasantly surprised. I am downright SICK TO DEATH of
hearing people say that "oh, Genesis hasn't put out a good album since...",
etc. Genesis and Yes have always been my favorite bands, and I can appreciate
them no matter what they put out.

I'm biased, but not to the point where I will LIKE anything they put out.
For example, I cannot stand "WHO DUNNIT?" on 1981's ABACAB, but that
doesn't mean that because it's "newer" Genesis, it's Collins' fault, or
it's Rutherford's, or Banks'! If Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett wrote a
tune on one of the early 70's records that I didn't like, I would admit that
also, and I wouldn't put the blame on any one person. Genesis is a very
democratic band, they choose the songs democratically.

I hear remnants of mid-70's Genesis in songs like "FADING LIGHTS" and "LIVING
FOREVER"... they have not gone downhill, they are NOT "limping along", and
their quality and standards are just as high. It's just a DIFFERENT kind of
music! Genesis and Yes are PROGRESSIVE bands, and that's what they do...
progress. For God's sake, people, don't expect them to sound the SAME on
every album! They have been cutting records since 1968! If you want
a non-progressive band, listen to THE CULT or someone like that....

Yes is no different. Their music is every bit as imaginative as it was in
1971, when they did tunes like "STARSHIP TROOPER" and "HEART OF THE SUNRISE".
This is again no one person's doing. Anderson does NOT write ALL of the
material, as too many people now believe. Trevor Rabin writes alot of the
music, probably far more than we know... and just because he has only been
with the band on three albums doesn't mean he isn't "In" with them..
they just seem to have a knack for picking the right people!

All in all, just consider Genesis to be 4 or 5 different bands... that's
the amount of "phases" I think they have seem to have gone through... same
with Yes.. and god knows they have had a million and a half lineup changes.
An interesting thing to do is listen to solo albums by each of the members
of these 2 bands, and you can really hear the kind of sound that they each
add to their group. It really is that simple... and if you hear Phil COllins
or Jon Anderson's solo albums sounding alot like Genesis or Yes,respectively,
then you're NOT listening closely enough! Of course their VOICES are going
to sound the same, but come on.. they aren't the only writers and performers
in their bands! If that was the case, they wouldn't have each been around for
24 years! Just please don't make Phil the scapegoat for genesis, if you HAVE
to blame somebody, blame the fans who keep buying their material!!!!

Sorry for the size of the message, but there's alot I have to get off my
chest...

LM
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