Genesis Archive #2 1976-1992
Genesis pulled off one of rock's most successful chameleon acts, making an unlikely segue from prog rockers to MOR staples--imagineRushmorphing intoHootie & the Blowfish. But at the time of original vocalistPeter Gabriel's departure in the mid-'70s, few could have predicted the multiplatinum success that lay ahead. Indeed, it was hard enough to imagine who could even fill the shoes of an illustrious frontman whose theatrical antics included metallic batwing headgear and costuming himself as a giant, bubbling rock; tellingly, drummerPhil Collinsoriginally wasn't even on the band's short list of contenders. Genesis's improbable career certainly warranted a box set. But two?Archive #2documents the band's stellar Collins era over three discs, though it eschews the era's wealth of hit singles in favor of outtakes, remixes, and live recordings aimed primarily at diehard fans. Even the disc-plus of live performances leans primarily on unreleased versions of nonhit album cuts. It's a set that reveals some of the band's pop bent (the drama of "On the Shoreline," the hook-laden "I'd Rather Be You"), but leans more to its more experimental instincts (including the instrumental workouts "Do the Neurotic," "Naminanu," and "Submarine"). Even the 12-inch remixes of hits such as "Invisible Touch," "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight," "I Can't Dance," and "Land of Confusion" often seem like sly excuses to revisit prog roots. If you're searching for Genesis's greatest hits, this isn't it. But if you're a fan that wants to further explore the full range of the band's multifaceted, if often underestimated, talents, you'll find plenty to ponder in this archive.-Jerry McCulley