 Worth the Price When You Understand What You're Buying |
| Review Date: May 9, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Parrish A. Highley, Somewhere I've Never Travelled |
Let's clear up some confusion: the only reason anyone should spending this kind of money on music is because this music is encoded on Sony's Super Audio (SACD) format. If you are primarily in the market for mp3s, then you need not spend this much money to listen to them through a pair of tiny speakers incapable of micro-dynamics. The reason this and the other Genesis box sets are worth this much money is BECAUSE of the SACD format! But if you do not know what that is and/or do not have a home system capable of reproducing the full spectrum of audible frequencies, then do yourself a favor and save your money because no one looking for this box set wants to hear you whine and cry about the dvds being PAL and not NTSC! Besides, quite a few of these songs are not even available for download.
Now, as far as the SACDs themselves are concerned these remixes are very, very pleasing to the keen ear. They are neither overly bright nor warm but even handed in their coloration. And the multi-channel performance is a more balanced surround field with fewer distracting aural gimmicks than the first SACD box set released for Genesis.
The seventies were the golden age of Genesis, the quintet, the quartet, and, at least early on, the trio. But there really was something truly magical when all five songwriters were together. The manner in which Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, and Collins would interact with one another both creatively and musically was really one of those rare fortunes in history. Such art deserves to live on in the SACD format! I just wish that the late Eric Woolfson & Alan Parsons (The Alan Parsons Project) would receive a similar treatment. |
the Semi-Holy Grail of 70s prog-rock?
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| Review Date: November 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Phil (San Diego, CA), San Diego, CA |
Every one of the prime albums of Genesis available not just as a box set, but as a downloadable box set with ten extra rarities? Phenomenal! I will readily admit that I have not heard this particular issue, this review is based upon familiarity with the original albums. For those who savor the years when Genesis featured Peter Gabriel on lead vocals, yes, this might be the holy grail.
The compilers judiciously excised two albums from consideration, those of interest only to completists - Genesis Live and the primordial efforts of "From Genesis to Revelation". These are available elsewhere to those for whom every scrap of recording tape is a precious legacy. My friend bought both of those back in the day and having heard his purchases, I was grateful that I dodged those bullets that afflict completists.
For the rest of us, this summarizes the entire Genesis+Peter Gabriel canon, all five albums complete. Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. From Trespass the only tracks I'd need are "Dusk" and "Stagnation", but the other four of these five albums are indeed a holy grail of 70s prog-rock.
I would anticipate that to some degree this box set would be "selling to the choir", those of us who relished the original albums as they came out, but for those newly delving into the classic era of Genesis, you'll find that Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot are both strong, and the final two albums of the set, Selling England by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway will become two of your ten favorite prog albums. This is a great way to scoop up the entire legacy at once. I hope that those ordering the physical CD set find that the box set pays due respect to the Genesis legacy for the additional cost of physical media.
One added note - don't assume that separation rendered irrelevant the careers of either Genesis or Peter Gabriel (or Steve Hackett when he left two albums later). Listen for yourself via Amazon's song samples but I think you'll find that any of Peter Gabriel's first four albums are well worth your time, as were the next two Genesis albums, "A Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Wuthering".
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Avoid the $200
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| Review Date: December 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Lourdes Gutierrez, |
| Avoid those who want to explode prices, go to Collectors' choice and get it for $ 120 |
In The Beginnings, There Was Peter Gabriel
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| Review Date: November 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Michael Kerner, Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. |
After several years of anticaipation, Genesis had returned to the stage last year, in a well-dedicated reunion of the trio of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. But back in the 70's, when Genesis made humble beginnings, Peter Gabriel was the one behind the microphone, delivering storytelling, and showcased a true to life cult following that has been with the group for over 40 years. While last year, their catalog has been throughout the Phil Collins era with the hit albums like Invisible Touch and the innovative Duke, seeing a new light of day and brilliantly restored down to the soul from top to bottom. But, for Peter Gabriel fans of the Genesis era, and those who still adore his solo efforts have wanted to know what his days were like, now can hear them from scratch with this boxed set.
Genesis 1970-1975 is the final boxed set of the acclaimed re-releases of the Genesis machine that has withstood the testiments of time. While the Phil Collins era boxed sets 1976-1982, and 1983-1998 are only available on CD and DVD, this is the only one that is also available for downloading to your MP3 Player, as well as CD/DVD. The collection is a hard core buy for Gabriel fans of the early days, and consist of their hit records: the elusive The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (which you can only right now find on the boxed set), Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound, and Trespass. The songs have all been remastered beautifully from top to bottom, and bring in a splice for anyone who loved the early days. The collection includes the hits The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, early day sonnets like The Chamber Of 32 Doors, Back In N.Y.C., the depths of Watcher Of The Skies and the epic drama of the storytelling of Supper's Ready. There are also some great b-sides and live recordings that have seen the light of day here, including the rare recording of Twilight Alehouse, and never-before heard live recordings from Jackson and the BBC on songs like Manipulation, which bring life into the long lost era. Sadly though, there are a few disadvantages with the collection. The first of which is that while the 70's era was highlighted well, the boxed set doesn't showcase their debut album From Genesis To Revelation. So hard core fans, don't get to listen to the making from original founding member Anthony Phillips. The second disadvantage is that with all the wait is that here, you can only get The recordings from The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway here, and not individually anywhere else, but for the extra cost, it is well worth the money.
All in all, Genesis 1970-1975 is a great addition to your MP3 Player. This is the only one of the 3 boxed sets available for your MP3 recordings, and at nearly $40 to download from here, it is definitely a great purchase, and for those who want to say to Peter Gabriel that you know what you like in his wardrobe, than it is definitely right here.
Songs: B+
Price: B
Remastering: B+
Overall: B |
Genesis 1970-1975 not the correct item
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| Review Date: July 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Randal G. Ramsden, |
| Too bad the advertising was not more accurate. The DVD format for the box set they advertise containing the Super Audio CD's (SACD's) had PAL-formatted DVD's. A very important difference in the US as most players will not play the PAL-formatted DVD's and need the NTSC formatted discs. What you need to order is UPC: 5099951968724. If you have a 5.1 system, just buy the American release, it is all you will need as the DVD's are 5.1. |
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