Back catalogue: Progressive Rock

Review: This release saw Genesis balancing their progressive rock origins with a more radio-friendly sound when it hit in 1983, creating a seamless fusion of complexity and accessibility. Tracks such as 'Mama' - the first single that heralded the album's arrival - bring an eerie edge, with Phil Collins' emotive delivery matched by brooding synths and steady percussion. By contrast, 'That's All' offers a buoyant, piano-led melody that feels both light and intricate, showing the trio's knack for crafting memorable hooks without losing their musical depth. The instrumentation remains sharp and purposeful throughout, highlighting the group's ability to adapt their style while maintaining a sense of innovation.

Review: A 13-track selection from the Genesis headline set in front of 50,000 fans at Knebworth on June 24, 1978, closing a day's entertainment which also included Jefferson Starship, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and - somewhat inexplicably - eccentric US new wave mavericks Devo. This is the sound of the early Phil Collins-fronted era reaching its peak - they'd released the album And Then There Were Three earlier in the year, straddling the prog stylings that made them famous with more pop-slanted moments like 'Follow You Follow Me'. Collins proves himself capable of handling vocals on Gabriel-era classics like 'I Know What I Like' and 'The Fountain Of Salmacis', but mainly the tracklisting bears witness to the sound of a band ringing the changes and shooting into the stadium rock stratosphere as a result.

Review: Turn It On Again: The Hits offers a concise collection of Genesis's chart-topping tracks, catering to fans who view the band primarily through their hit singles. While some lesser-known songs make the cut over notable tracks like 'Paperlate' or 'Man on the Corner,' the compilation delivers all the major hits, including 'Turn It On Again,' 'Invisible Touch' and 'Follow You, Follow Me.' Although the sequencing may seem odd at times, with Peter Gabriel's earlier work juxtaposed with Phil Collins-era hits, standout moments like the reworked 'The Carpet Crawlers 1999' showcase the album's value. While it may not sway die-hard fans, Turn It On Again satisfies those seeking a comprehensive overview of Genesis's mainstream successes.

Review: As part of Atlantic's commemoration of 75 years as a label, the early recordings of Genesis are getting a fresh airing in audiophile-quality repressing. This is the band in its purest form, with Peter Gabriel up front, Phil Collins on the drums and Steve Hackett on guitar, when they were a quintessential prog outfit with a peculiarly English sensibility that's all of its own. Nursery Cryme was originally released in 1971 and it features sprawling epics like 'The Return Of The Giant Hogweed', which is as heavy and grooving as it is meandering, and the extravagant opener 'The Musical Box', excerpts of which remained in the band's live set well into the 80s.

Review: Genesis' A Trick of the Tail, originally released in 1976 and newly reissued on 180-gram vinyl, captures the band's confident transformation following Peter Gabriel's departure. Stepping up as lead vocalist, Phil Collins proved to be a natural fit, bringing a warmth and subtlety that allowed Genesis to thrive as a newly formed quartet. This seventh studio album stands as a progressive rock landmark, showcasing refined, melodic compositions with a softer, more intricate feel than their previous The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. The album's standout tracks, such as 'Dance on a Volcano' and 'Los Endos', highlight Tony Banks' masterful keyboard work, with compositions that weave atmospheric textures around Collins' dynamic drumming and Mike Rutherford's lively bass lines. 'Entangled' and 'Ripples' offer gentle, haunting melodies that reveal the band's more pastoral, emotionally resonant side, with Steve Hackett's guitar enhancing each song's ethereal quality. A Trick of the Tail redefined Genesis, focusing on intricate arrangements and collaborative songwriting, with Banks taking a leading role. The record's nuanced sound and rich harmonies have cemented its place in progressive rock, and this reissue beautifully preserves the album's lush, complex layers for a new generation of fans with many in agreement that this is one of the best Genesis albums of all time.