Search - Genesis: The Gabriel Era on DVD

Buyer Beware: Mostly Boring Interviews With Unknown Musician

Kirk Lott | adrift on the seas of life | 04/20/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This company has done a number of such DVDs, and this is apparently a repacking of a single DVD already released on Genesis. These DVDs aren't band approved, and fans are universally unhappy. Here's a review from another reviewer of the single DVD version:

"As with other titles in this series, fans are enticed by promises of never before seen footage...which there is, but the vast majority will be deeply disappointed that the footage is shown only in 10 to 20 second snippets. Most of the content is numbskull commentary from a group of musical experts you have never heard of. Fans should also be aware that this product is not approved by the group, and it is my understanding that none of the musicians involved recieve royalties from the sale of the product. The short length of the clips and the presentation of the series as a "critical review" allow the producers to avoid charges of copyright infringement. In my opinion, this series is abusing the music and the fans in a very cynical way.
For fans of early Genesis, there is clearly an interest in live performance footage. There are some really cool clips included here, which only serve to whet your appetite for an official release. Trust me, this DVD will fall far short of satisfying your interest...in fact, paying for and watching it may well be the most irritating, frustrating, infuriating, and unsatisfying experience you ever have with a music DVD.
Robert Fripp of King Crimson is also asking fans to avoid a forthcoming release on his band from the same company.""

3 FRIENDS TAKE 5 BRIDGES CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE COURT OF T

Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 06/09/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, this DVD is a lot of gibberish. There is a general absence of actual information and a complete absence of criticism -- meaning the evaluation, in useable terms, of artistic endeavor. The few participants here are careful to leave viewers unruffled by saying things like "12-string style" instead of simply pointing out Genesis' persistent stylistic penchant, bordering on the manic, for arpeggio. Only Chris Welch comes close to saying anything worth hearing, and even then he is so circumspect you're forced to guess at the meaning. Which in turn means that this DVD is no exception to the gloss and dross that passes for musical criticsm or even popular history. We learn that "'Nursery Cryme' was their third album". We're told that "'Foxtrot' is a classic", "'Trepass' is a classic", "'Selling England' is a classic" and, incredibly, "'Lamb Lies Down' is a classic". ( Before I forget, they confirm that "'Nursery Cryme" is a classic!") Somebody pops up now and again to tell us which key a piece is in and that this key is "evocative" or "dramatic". We learn that someone we don't know thinks "The Musical Box" is "a really great song". And, more importantly, we are exposed to wildly differing opinions concerning "Supper's Ready". Some say it is 22 minutes long. Others argue that it is 23 or 24 minutes long. One critic plays it safe and describes "Supper's Ready" as "breaking the 20 minute barrier."

Until I heard this I confess to being completely ignorant of "The 20 Minute Barrier".

Comprised mostly of period live footage with uniformly authentic (read: awful) sound quality the producers let things speak for themselves until an instrumental passage comes along and then -- may I just jam in an unrelated quote from Donovan here -- "gosh and golly" the experts chime in to drain the last bit of interest from our aching eyes and ears. And what you're left with is just that, oddly edited and fairly raw concert footage consistently scarred by always-on copyright info. And I mean ALWAYS ON. The copyright info becomes a video watermark whose position was apparently decided by finding the point on the screen at which the performers' faces usually appear. And to make things as hurtful as possible, those that remember the Foxtrot tour -- especially the staccato passage in "Supper's Ready" when Gabriel managed to make it look like his head was spinning on top of the fixed pedestal of his robed figure in perfect time to the music -- will notice even that, like so very much else about this important group, is missing."

IS THIS A BAD JOKE???

Alexander Boguslavsky | Glendale, Wisconsin United States | 05/12/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I was waiting for this DVD to arrive for a few months...and when I finally got it...ok I will try to be spontenious... -

1.The worse than VHS-quality picture and sound...

2.When it shows little bits of original concert footage with P.Gabriel this ugly sticker comes on the upper part of the screen ( property of...) - and it dosn't disappear!

3.Not a single iterview with original musicians, or ANYBODY You know and they don't tell anything new - obviously, - this edition wasn't approved by the band...

4.It's a double DVD feature and each DVD is inder 1 HOUR !!! - that means, that they could easily put it on ONE DISC!!! - with NO COMPRESSION!!! - Instead - they make double, so they can charge 36 dollars - WHAT A CYNICAL WAY TO MAKE MONEY!!!

Lets admit - GENESIS is one of the few bands in the whole world that influenced many generations of musicians and fans, no less important, than the BEATLES for example (Their music is VERY UNIQUE, - like no one elses, Tony Banks is no less talented composer than Rakhmaninov, or Bethoven... - but of different time...) - and THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS KIND OF APPROACH...
Pure shame"

"Classic Rock Legends = Poor Quality / unauthorized garbage

r-devic-saint | Pittsburgh, PA | 09/01/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"First of all I'm a giant progressive rock fan/ musician and I love Gabriel era Genesis. The one star is for the quality of the DVD not the quality of the band. Not only is this and it's companion "Classic Rock Legends" releases of King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd material unauthorized, it contains no complete performances, and is of no value whatsoever. The interviews are with unknown musicians in no way associated with the band. If you have no moral qualms about robbing performers of their royalities, there are much higher quality bootlegs of Gabriel era Genesis available one I've seen called Silent Sun (which is especially impressive). They at least preserve the music in it's entirety. And don't force you to listen to meaningless dribble from no-nothing self-proclaimed experts. The answer to companies like "Classic Rock Legends" and more obvious bootleggers is for the bands themselves to release the much sought after video material from their heyday. Until they do they and their fans will continue to fall victim to such inferior product as this."