Do you like Phil Collins?

[Paragon]

I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums.

Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to "Land of Confusion". In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. "In Too Deep" is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock.

Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like "In the Air Tonight" and "Against All Odds". But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist.

[mr_hat]

1. I'm just the opposite. After LLDOB and Gabriel left, >

Genesis became a pop band.

Of course, by then Elvis Costello, Clash, Talking Heads, Pistols, Jam et al had pretty much laid art-rock naked at the parade.

[Intelsucks]

2. I owned Robert Plant - "The Principle Of Moments" for a while before I

noticed that Phil Collins played the drums on that album. I still think I like it better than any other Plant solo effort.

But the thread was intended to be about Phil Collins and Genesis, right? Nevermind.

[Skittles]

3. I'm reaching way back here

but I attended a concert where Collins was the guest drummer - I THINK it was Plant?

[Intelsucks]

6. If it was around '82 or '83 there's a good chance it was him.

n/t

[Skittles]

9. yes

it would have been around then :)

Phil had a wig on and was introduced in the middle of the concert to a standing ovation.

[jdsmith]

4. "In the Air Tonight" a favorite guilty pleasure

One of the great play-drums-on-your-steering-wheel songs. Not as good as "Baba O'Riley" or "Burning Down the House," but more than adequate.

[bubblesby2002]

23. I agree with you so much

It is one of the best songs to listen to loudly - especially the drumming.

ps welcome to DU:hi:

[skooooo]

5. oh HELL no

he's a whiney twerp

[NightTrain]

7. Not only no, but FUCK NO!

Phil Collins...BLEAH! :puke:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

20. If anything, my reaction is more violent that Train's.

And he's a Tory to boot.

21. I'll never forgive Peter Gabriel

for leaving Genesis and creating a monster!!!
Well, I guess it wasn't really his fault.

[NightTrain]

26. It wasn't his fault.

Hell, Gabriel made his best music after he left Genesis!

[KG]

8. bleah.

over-rated.

[asjr]

10. Phil is very prolific but

I liked him better with Genesis. I think it was 1983 and my teenage daughter turned me on to his music. For me the 80s had the best music I had heard in ages. My daughter, Julie, always felt it was great that her Mom liked her music. To her that was really cool! It really grew on me and I miss the 80s music.

[tridim]

11. Loved him up until "I Can't dance" was released

It's been all downhill since then.

Yea, Duke was a great album, along with Wind and Wuthering, Trick of the Tail, ABACAB, Seconds Out and Three Sides Live. Pretty much everything through Invisible Touch. Of course all the Gabriel era albums were masterpieces. Trespass, Foxtrot and The Lamb are three of my favorites of all time.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. For me, Duke was the last good Genesis album

probably because Collins became too influential in the writing after that. He's a good singer and drummer, but the songs on Duke that are credited solely to him are the weakest - and that was the direction they developed in after that (although they stopped giving individual credits on the albums, so you can't tell for sure who did what). He's predictable, and unadventurous.

To me, Tony Banks was the best writer - he had a hand in all the songs on Trick of the Tail, and I think it's probably the best album they did, with or without Gabriel.

To those who think they went bad after Gabriel left, I'd recommend Duke's Travels and Duke's End - the last 2 tracks on Duke - as proof they still had it 5 years later.

[roguevalley]

13. Not since he faxed his wife he was divorcing her. Jeez. First I dislike

Huey and the News for dissing Live Aid and now this. I guess a better
question would be do I like their music? I find it hard to like and respect someone when they show a side of themselves that is more than just normally small and petty for a human being.

[absyntheNsugar]

14. Another Brett Easton Ellis ref

Yes those parts in the book were hilarious - pretty much sum up the whole Darkness/Levity feel of the whole book.

Question: do you think Brett saw himself as Patrick Bateman or not?

Read his other stuff and I seriously wonder if he did...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. About as much as I like sticking needles in my eyes

and he RUINED Howard Jones

[mvd]

16. Well, I always have thought that..

his love songs are earnest, he doesn't oversing, and his arrangements are usually tasteful. I like his Genesis work more than his solo career, but Testify is worth checking out IMO. Critics hated it, but I've never cared about what critics say.

[BlueEyedSon]

17. Yeah, in Brand X

I think that's him with the beard....

[jpgray]

18. He can drum pretty well

Did some nice stuff on a few Brian Eno discs.

[JaySherman]

19. Hate him.

My friend keeps trying to convince me what a great drummer he is, but I still can't stand him.

[CanuckAmok]

22. Hey, isn't that a passage from "American Psycho"?

LOL...not really, but it could be.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

24. Doesn't the family he abandoned live round your way?

[CanuckAmok]

27. Huh? What family? Who? What? Where?

Zuh?

Buh?

[solinvictus]

25. Hell, no!

I can't stand him.

[Mobius]

no i dont like him as a solo artist

im sure hes a wonderful musician and singer, I just dont like it.

[Mobius]

28. no i dont like him as a solo artist

im sure hes a wonderful musician and singer, I just dont like it.

[aquaman]

29. Some of the worst music on the face of the planet.......

In my opinion of course.