With rumors
and hopes for a new Genesis tour filling my social media, my
only response is that Steve Hackett, the great guitarist of
Genesis, is already giving us the sound and experience of
Genesis through his Genesis Revisited tour. Personally, I will
get to see the live show in a few months, but this live album
recorded at the famous Royal Albert Hall is quite a teaser for
me, and quite an experience in and of itself.
First of all,
the production values are enormously high. Hackett's guitar
(probably the most important part) thunders as if in a vacuum,
and the array of instruments all sound well-mixed and larger
than life. I especially love the sax and flute work from Rob
Townsend. These musicians, and all the rest, are all incredible,
and there's a reason Hackett chose them. The presentation is
rather "epic", if I can use that word. It keeps you guessing at
what will be played next and how the songs will have changed.
This is a sophisticated and professional show, through and
through.
Yet, everyone
wants to know about the tracklist. Honestly, it's pretty
stellar. Obviously, there's not much reason for me to go into
why certain Genesis songs are so great, as that's been done to
death a million times over by others.
However, I will say that the songs all sound great, and I love
Hackett's changes. Everything from "Dance on a Volcano" to "The
Return of the Giant Hogweed" to the spectacular visions of
"Supper's Ready" and "Watcher in the Skies" are all different,
yet the same. Their best moments are for sure left intact.
Though most people dislike it, my favorite Genesis album is
"Wind & Wuthering", and so I was more than pleased to see my
favorite Genesis songs "Unquiet Slumber for the Sleepers", "In
the Quiet Earth", and "Afterglow" in the tracklist. Not only
that, but they have been modified with a new jazziness that
elevates them considerably.
In all honestly, I think Hackett has improved upon most of the
tracks he has modified. It may just be modern recording methods,
but the songs have much more contrast between highs and lows,
much more depth, and a certain personality that simply fits.
Hackett's "Genesis Revisited: Live at the Royal Albert Hall",
then, is a wonderful live album that almost stands as an album
all by itself. Hackett is continuing his strong solo career, and
he deserves to be recognized more.
