Search - In Their Own Words on DVD

Disappointing Overall

Annette Schiffer | North Bergen, NJ USA | 12/22/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with this book/DVD. It did have some interesting facts, but nothing that a true fan wouldn't have already known about the band.

The book is small and the DVD is relatively short.. I think less than an hour. Again, there are a few things that made it worthwhile to watch, but I wouldn't say that you'd be missing much if you didn't purchase it.

If the price is right, go for it... if not... pass... but if you are a true collector of all things Genesis... then I guess you'd want this."

You somehow feel that the 'band' never gave their consent to

Bren Tierney | UK | 04/04/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"As much as I like Genesis (although I kinda stopped after ABACAB), I've just watched this DVD and now feel deeply disappointed by its content.

Why? Because like most people buying this DVD, I was expecting to see all five members of the 'classic' line-up (Hackett, Gabriel, Collins, Rutherford & Banks) discussing their time in the band today "in their own words" - and not just various poor-quality radio snippets, journalist/reporter-garnered cassette interview recordings and 5-second cuts from various TV recordings which hardly qualify as either expansive or insightful as to the band's history and/or workings at the time they wrote the various tracks and albums.

I know that the band (well, at least Banks, Rutherford & Collins - ably assisted again by Stuermer and Thompson) have had a 'reunion' tour in 2007, and that it is moot that they are going to do a "Lamb Revisited" tour in 2008 (with Gabriel, but albeit without Hackett), but have the band honestly had anything to do with this current release (Genesis - In Their Own Words)?

As far as I can see, and no Genesis historian me, I've heard before all the input here, e.g. Hackett leaving because the Banks/Rutherford writing team "squeezed-out" his material and he was finding it difficult to get his stuff considered by the band for inclusion on albums etc. etc. Indeed, apart from the concert footage (again, none of which is new), and the accompanying booklet, there is very little here on which the true fan would willingly spend his/her money. Sorry, but there you have it.

At its start, whilst there is mention of original and former band members (Anthony Phillips et al) who preceded Hackett and Collins joining (1970, on Nursery Cryme), there is no footage or audio reportage of their input/opinions. Why? This screams poor research (or, more tellingly, those named wanting nothing to do with this production) - or at least a sense of 'couldn't be bothered' by the producers.

The DVD ends at Duke (thankfully, but it might have been interesting to hear Ray Wilson's view of the band during the 'Calling All Stations' period) - again: it leaves you wishing that it had lived up to its perceived billing and been a record of the five members of the 'classic' line-up saying, today, what it it was like, what they felt, how time had mellowed/hardened their attitudes to being in the band and what legacy they think they might have left. Alas, all this is missing.

There are also various Genesis tracks played by a string section (ranging from their earliest releases to the latter day), but these are played only in part and only as links to the various (spurious?) clips of radio/TV/Journo-recordings from band members and the odd bit of concert coverage. DO NOT expect to see/hear any song or track covered in its entirety here - they (the producers) have not bothered to provide that fundamental detail.

Finally, the DVD 'extras' here are very poor: when you go into the Menu section of the DVD and choose 'Picture Gallery' (actually the fourth picture in), there is an inexplicable picture of Ritchie Blackmore (of Deep Purple and Rainbow fame)??!! Is this a test to see if fans are keeping up, still awake or just the producers taking the p*ss? Again, this left me wondering whether the band members themselves had actually had anything to do with this DVD release - other than, perhaps, having been informed that it's just some of the pre-tour marketing collateral? Hmmm...

OK, this may be a money-spinning punt released as they were about to tour again (2007), but for any serious fan, you will probably be very disappointed with this purchase. Mine will probably end up on the re-seller section of Amazon or eBay very shortly."