10 Awesome Rock Bands With One Terrible Album
3. Calling All Stations - Genesis (1997)
It's not just, that this was a terrible Genesis album, it's that this is a terrible album, that used the name of Genesis to sell units.
After the departure of Peter Gabriel in 1975, Phill Collins took the reins, moving the group into a more pop-centric rock act. Prog rock was out and pop-rock was in. When Collins left in '96, however, the remaining members were left without a frontman. Eventually they recruited Ray Wilson to contribute vocals and lyrics. Tony Banks can write a mean synth melody, and Mike Rutherford is a proficient guitar player, but neither have the songwriter chops of Gabriel or Collins.
Musically this album had some interesting ideas, the title track in particular, exhibited qualities of the group's earlier prog sound. But at the same time, it felt like a rip-off of Queen's, The Show Must Go On. Congo hinted at the Phill Collins era, but only for a moment. And, If That's What You Need, sounded like a band trying to bring back the '80s synth ballad, well after it was out of fashion. Ultimately, the album floundered without strong creative guidance.