Genesis
Live Over Europe

THE REVIEW

It has been about 9 years since Genesis, without Phil Collins, presented themselves to the public with a new album, that "Calling All Stations" which struggled to be digested by Genesis fans who just couldn't see Ray Wilson as the person who was supposed to replace the good Phil on vocals for the coming years... Predicted flop? I would say yes! The subsequent tour of that album was a complete flop, evidenced by the poor ticket sales in Europe and even the cancellation of most concerts that were supposed to be held in America. Moral of the story... Tony Banks: "Let's end it here! We don't want our brand to meet such an unseemly end!”

Many dark years for Genesis fans, continuously awaiting a reunion that was always denied. Then, on November 7, 2006, the official announcement! With a press conference held by Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford, Genesis announced their return with a tour that would touch Europe and America. In short, a return in grand style!

Everyone was waiting for this blessed June 11, 2007, which coincided with the first date of the tour, and when this moment arrived, it marked the beginning of the march of this immense band that reached its peak with the Rome concert, made memorable by the fact that it was held at the Circus Maximus in front of 500,000 people!

In celebration of this immense tour, they wanted to pay tribute to the fans with the release of a live album that collects the best of this tour. The setlist was reproduced in order without any cuts, but each track was taken from a particular date of the tour, forming a high-level musical puzzle! "Live Over Europe" is the live album that was missing from Genesis fans' shelves. An album that, as I explained earlier, does not feature any "cuts," and this is already a novelty given the previous live albums.

Upon first listen, you can surely feel the less energetic rendition of some songs that in past years had constituted real powerhouses in Genesis concerts. "In The Cage Medley", for example, seems a distant relative of that memorable one contained in Three Sides Live, especially due to the speed of execution and the fact that Phil was forced to lower the pitch of his voice by a semitone! "Firth of Fifth", cut from the sung part, appears to be more simplified in rhythm, where Phil's famous rolls barely take off, a consequence of more than fifteen years dedicated by Phil to cartoons etc... of the series: I can still ride a bike, but I need to practice a bit! Tony's keyboards are certainly more prominent, but even here, the choice of sounds adopted by Tony is debatable as they do not even remotely resemble the original ones!

Now you might be wondering if probably the reviewer doesn’t like this album at all? Instead, you are very wrong!

In my opinion, this album is the most beautiful testament this band could leave to the fans. There are thrilling songs on this album, and we must give credit to the band for that, who after so many years presented themselves to the public with a more than respectable setlist making the right mix of old and new!

I certainly think of "Ripples" which had not been offered live since 1980. A beautiful and poignant version where many at the concert did not hesitate to shed a tear. The instrumental part was shortened but this does not take away the magic from this piece where Daryl Stuermer's guitar faithfully reprises Steve Hackett's score... wonderful!

"Land of Confusion" offers a more aggressive version than previous ones, inspired by the cover made by Disturbed, from which Tony and co. took cues... a song definitely revisited!

"Domino" is another song that on this album assumes a disarming beauty, making it seem like a modern "In the Cage". Recorded in Rome, it features Phil in great form with an impressive sound performance, engaging you to the extreme and then bringing you to the pinnacle of the show...

The Drum Duet that sees Phil and Chester dueting on chairs, and then moving on to the drums... the longest drum duet in Genesis history that makes you jump out of your seat to admire such skill, even at fifty years old...

"Los Endos", on the other hand, does not suffer from the past years, a version that is very close to that stunning one in Seconds Out. Here you witness a real apotheosis where Phil Collins marks the time with counter times that move you...

The album ends with "Carpet Crawlers", where Phil gives his best making everything seem like the end of a film that lasted thirty years, where Phil sings all the notes and lines with a passion that moves you, making the audience interact in an anthem that praises everyone, the Genesis who made us dream once again, and the fans who have always stood by them, even in the most difficult moments. In my opinion, it is the most exciting, and most significant finale that I have ever heard in rock history!

A wonderful and absolutely must-have album. It is a testament of thirty years of career summarized in two and a half hours of concert, with a succession of emotions, thrills, and applause for a band, Genesis, that has been bestowed the gift of immortality!