WE CAN'T DANCE

We Can't Dance was the final album Genesis made with Phil Collins, disregarding any future resurrections. Like the last two albums, the music was primarily written for the new pop rock fan base, with a slight nod on a couple songs to their die-hard fans of their progressive rock era. Overall the album is slightly better than their 1983 self-titled album and Invisible Touch from 1986. There are a good number of pop rock numbers on here, with the exception of Driving the Last Spike and Fading Lights, the latter showing a return to their prog rock sensibilities. Another notable departure was a return to actually using an analog drum kit on more songs than relying on electronic or programmed drums. An improvement, yes, but Banks keyboard work is still uninspiring and Mike Rutherford is still tall, but also uninspiring.

The three core members ended a long string of albums with something that at best would draw a blank face from the average Genesis fan. A sad ending to what was one of the most influential and important symphonic prog bands of the 1970s. Rutherford and Banks would take one more stab at the Genesis name in 1997, but for the most part, this was it for them. Collectors and fans only. All others, I'd recommend getting something from the 1970s. Two stars.