I Know What I Like (in this Archive)

The Genesis Archive (1969-1976) is the ultimate gift for that special someone who just can't get enough Genesis. Featured on three of the four CDs are a collection of live performances from various shows, including the LA Lamb Lies Down on Broadway show in its entirety (except for the conclusion of It, which was studio recorded to fill in a gap left by the house sound engineer who let the tape run out). When it came out, I was low on cash and had to beg and plead for my girlfriend to get it for me for Christmas. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever got.

Peter Gabriel's summary of his story between sets, while not quite capturing the mystique of the stories he told between sets of earlier Genesis shows, were helpful in acquainting the audience with the narrative and guiding the listener through the setting. I have owned the studio Lamb Lies Down on Broadway for almost fifteen years, read the narrative that came with the CD, and it is still incomprehensible. I came to a better understanding of the story with Gabriel's between set summations.

Most Genesis fans were looking forward to owning a legal copy of this show for years (a not so legal version of the show, called The Lamb Lives had circulated rare record shows for at least twenty years). And though this is a great reason for getting the collection, the real gems include the live set for "Supper's Ready," including the introductory narrative "Colors," and "Twilight Alehouse." "Supper's Ready" is my favorite Genesis song (see my review on Foxtrot for the specific reasons why), and the live performance with the story is especially awesome.

"Twilight Alehouse" was never released on a Genesis album, but I think that it was a B-side to a single that Genesis released. I don't concern myself with singles, so I honestly don't know which song this was packaged with. It was originally written in the beginning of Genesis's career, while they were still at Charterhouse, and the main riff can be heard in the introduction to "The Serpent" on From Genesis to Revelation." The instrumentals move through typical Genesis ebb and flow between lilting and haunting and downright aggressive. Steve Hackett's downward slide over the fretboard of his Gibson Les Paul during the closing is especially effective against the siren-like keyboard of Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford's insistent bass rhythm.

The performances of all the non-lamb, non-archive stuff are excellent and do a better job at capturing the sound of a Genesis live show than Genesis Live (meant originally to be a double album with "Supper's Ready" included on side 2 but eventually transformed into a single album with shorter performances and a brief "bass solo by Michael Rutherford." Since most of the material is previously unreleased, buying the Genesis Archive adds almost four hours of never before heard music and performances to the Genesis fan's collection. Those who secretly wish Peter Gabriel and his old friends from Charterhouse will record a whole album together (like myself) will definitely want to grab this archive. It is worth every penny.