WE CAN'T DANCE

Not essential, but oh, so close. It definitely sounds like Genesis at this point were listening to the then- blossoming alternative rock revolution. Don't misunderstand; I'm not saying that Genesis were PLAYING alt-rock, but some of the similarities are too profound for even me not to notice: shorter (relatively speaking) song times, an insistence on REAL instrumentation, a warmer-sounding production and a focus on more down-to-earth themes, such as in the lead-off track No Son Of Mine, a real chiller with quiet verse-loud chorus arrangement. I still love hearing this tune, if only for the cathartic feeling it gives me to know that someone else (in theory) went through what I did as a kid.

Why is this disc not essential? There are a few reasons.

1. Too long. 12 tracks at nearly 72 minutes is far too long, and by the time track 9 or so comes around, it's already blown its proverbial load. Meanwhile, my finger is itching to hit skip.

2. For all the real instruments on this disc, they should've gotten rid of the drum programming. It makes a mockery of all that Genesis used to stand for. And it's horrifying to hear a song like the quasi-title track, littered with it. Yuck. No thanks.

So, no. Not essential, but still shockingly good. 4 stars.