INVISIBLE TOUCH

I was 10 years old when this album came out. Of course, at the time I couldn't help but think the songs were good. They were everywhere on television and radio. When I finally realized that I was a real person a few years later, I would have not been caught dead listening to Phil Collins pop crap.

Today, I am 30 and playing in a band where we're doing a lot of 80s music. I pulled out this CD from my wife's childhood collection (I never had my own) and I'll say that I had a blast. I've already purchased the music for Invisible Touch for us to begin working on next week. But perhaps I just recognize now that these guys were middle aged by 1986 and had to support the families and what not (right?)

I don't understand what all the fuss is about regarding the title track? Every review seems to bash it; even the better ones. Try to sing it at full volume and energy. I swear I have more respect for Phil Collins as a vocalist tonight (no pun intended) than I ever have in my life. That F to G key change sounds incredible every time I hear it. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight is another gem full of fake poppy emotion, though it works superbly. Land of Confusion was always my childhood favorite. I suppose the Ronald Reagan puppets in the music video had something to do with that. Today, the song has implications for the current political climate.

Avoiding the other radio staples for brevity, I wanted to say that Domino was a huge surprise given that my first listen was tonight. Even though the band was trying get as much exposure as possible, they still threw in this prog tune while keeping with the "updated" synth sound. The Brazilian closes out the album quite nicely. Hearing this one also for the first time tonight, I wish I would have paid more attention to these tracks when I was younger because they certainly have their own light to them even if overshadowed by the pop success of the other tracks.

So basically, there's nothing to be ashamed of here. I think everyone here likes the title track anyway in secret...a guilty pleasure, if you will. Now it seems, I'm falling for her....