Genesis
The Way We Walk, Volume 2: The Longs

The decision to split the latest live album by Genesis into two completely different concept discs is, in my opinion, spot-on, not only from a commercial perspective. The first contains the "short" tracks, meaning the hits taken from the latest works; the second, however, of much greater interest, includes the suites and extended pieces (from the 80/90 period), along with an interesting medley that also references the Gabriel era.

The second disc is by no means, in my opinion, a live album for "completists," but rather an excellent summary of the more recent Genesis, demonstrating that behind the more radio-friendly sound (but often of great originality) there lies a "prog" soul or at least one inclined towards a robust and solid rock. The album is wonderfully recorded, and both the performance of the instrumentalists and the incisive voice of good old Phil are of high caliber.

The lengthy Medley is very interesting and summarizes the most memorable tracks of the band's purely progressive period. It skips from one theme to another, presenting the pieces that best summarize Genesis's initial phase. The decision to include the instrumental part of Firth of Fifth is excellent, as it was a bit tedious in the studio version of '73, whereas here it proves to be a truly memorable and pathos-laden moment.

The mini-suite Home by the Sea / Second Home By The Sea, an excellent track from an otherwise mediocre album (except for "Mama," which is very original), is even more impactful live than the already beautiful studio version. Bravo Phil Collins, and great keyboard work by Banks. The long instrumental part is even more powerful, as the drum machines are less intrusive and the performance is more rocking. An extraordinary piece that I consider, both live and in the studio, the best track of Genesis in the 80s, also for its very mysterious and dreamlike lyrics.

Also, Domino is more compelling in the live version, and the sparser arrangement makes it a more incisive and sharp piece. Excellent arrangement, the track proves fluid and intense, and moreover very varied.

The two songs taken from "We Can't Dance," namely "Fading Lights" and "Driving the Last Spike" perform excellently live, displaying dense and clear instrumental parts. Both flow very well and show excellent guitar-synth interplay; they differ from the others included in this live due to their more "soft" and less frantic initial pacing (although they then evolve intensely).

In conclusion, the album (aside from the Drum Duet, which is technically impressive but quite unnecessary) proves very interesting and above all decisively gritty and "rock", as exciting as ever and with an excellent repertoire selection that proves fully up to the mark. It's impossible not to crank up the stereo volume. Despite many changes, reproaches, and criticisms, Genesis demonstrates to be a phenomenal and highly inspiring live band: they remain charismatic and capable of greatly exciting the audience watching them or listening at home.

This live and Three Sides Live prove to be very different in inspiration from Seconds Out. If in the latter, Genesis seemed to say "we are a great prog group, despite Gabriel's absence, and we want to prove it to you," in the other two they imply "despite everything, we are a kick-ass band and can engage you with our drive."