INVISIBLE TOUCH

3 DESERVED stars. "Is he nuts?!" some whispered. No, not nuts, but realistic. Could these guys survive the 80's by doing all over again Supper's Ready or The Knife? No, and the bands who do it are targets for laughs and yawns. (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, BTO, Sex Pistols, Moody Blues). Wonder why? Maybe because the 80's brouhgt MTV. MTV brought more people into music. More people means more boys but also lots of girls. But girls don't like much prog. 80's Girls liked dancing (and still do). Girls just wanna have fun, right? I'm not possessing the answer but one thing is sure: Genesis had to grow to survive...and progressive rock died with the end of the 70's anyway.Too bad? Not really. It could be seen from far away. Prog is an underground movement loved by college students (at first) just like ambient, acid, drum n' bass or jungle (90's electronic frenzyness). Often, underground stuff is less to have a long life. Doesn't mean it's bad, au contraire. But the market is not made for progressive rock and today, read the papers, people don't want others to know that they love prog (Jack Black for instance). How many people make their family live with an income of underground-du-jour music? Not much or very very few. It's good, because they do what they like and I respect that. But it doesn't mean in any way that Invisible Touch is crappy because it's Pop (even with a capital P). Once again, prog lovers are (too often) stuck in this kind of thinking: "Man, 1975 was the best! Wish it never ended!" Perhaps, but time's passing. And music is marching on too. And what the heck is that 80's bashing's all about? What's wrong here? Okay, this album sounds very 80's, but what's wrong with that? At least the 80's innovated in some ways. Today's just the same over and over again. Hugh Padgham made this album sound very good, even to today's production. If you spit on the 80's, maybe you follow too much what people say? It's hip to laugh at that time. The 80's had good stuff and bad stuff just like every decade, period. And you who nags, do you write music? Do you know how hard it can be to create a good 4 minute song? Well, Collins-Rutherford-Banks did something amazing here. Many catchy songs in one single album. Songs that makes you move. Why not? Prog is so static, cold and technical. It's fun to vary! Yes, the 80's had their share of lame stuff, but so did the 90's and today's stuff is more violent, gory and recycled than ever. In conclusion, Invisible Touch is great in the car or to do chores around the house. Gives pep in your day too. Don't vomit yet or play freesbee with it, just adjust your optic.