After gaining some limited commercial success with Duke, Genesis went for the jugular of American radio with the well-crafted pop of Abacab. While there are still some traces of their art rock past, the album is primarily filled with a new wave sound and concise songs. Phil Collins, who replaced... [+] Expand

After gaining some limited commercial success with Duke, Genesis went for the jugular of American radio with the well-crafted pop of Abacab. While there are still some traces of their art rock past, the album is primarily filled with a new wave sound and concise songs. Phil Collins, who replaced Peter Gabriel years earlier as the lead vocalist, was finally comfortable with his role as the leader of the band, and his influence is more prominent. Although he's not a strong vocalist, Collins more than makes up for it with passionate performances. "Man on the Corner," a modest hit, managed to make social commentary about the homeless without feeling preachy. Abacab rose to number seven on the charts, which is a tribute the band's ability to bring intellectual pop to the masses with catchy melodies. Genesis is no ordinary pop band -- they use driving beats and unusual syncopation (by pop standards) on the title track and "No Reply at All," a song that employs the horn section from Earth, Wind & Fire. This album is one of their most enjoyable, and it gave Genesis the success and recognition they deserved. ~ Vik Iyengar, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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