|
Post by jrmugz on Sept 3, 2014 14:37:06 GMT
I'm still playing it and taking notes, that will share later in the week. Right now one thing clear to me is that "Billy Don't Lose My Number" is my fave. Jim
|
|
|
Post by unomusette on Sept 3, 2014 19:49:45 GMT
I'm determined to listen as well - do comments have to come in before the next CD is launched? I have a lot of catching up to do
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Sept 4, 2014 1:29:36 GMT
I'm determined to listen as well - do comments have to come in before the next CD is launched? I have a lot of catching up to do Sure, whenever you want. My comments should be in the next couple days. Jim
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Sept 5, 2014 11:49:17 GMT
OK, here is my review.
First of all, let me say, I can prove to anyone who is tired or wary of Phil Collins music, that he is actually an enormous gift to pop-rock that we/many often take for granted.
Here is how I can prove to you that you think Phil Collins is awesome even if you are wary of him over the years or feel like you are sick of his songs:
Play the Genesis album where he doesn't sing on it called "Calling All Stations" with the replacement singer he had in the mid-late 90s. While the album has its merits and the singer is good, you can just tell it's not really the Genesis we know and love. So after trying to like that album and naively thinking it might be as good as any Genesis album, and even hoping that it would be better than with Phil Collins, just so I can think "See, he's not that great", it just fell totally flat with me. Then I played Genesis' self-titled album, and it finally dawned and me after years of writing him off somewhat, that "dang, this Phil Collins guy has a pulse." I mean, he really knocks out of the park every time with his passionate vocals and pounding drums, etc., really puts himself 100% into the songs and really lays all on the lines that talks in the same way of the common person. So my respect for him was totally reborn with that experience a couple years ago.
So if someone would have asked me to review "No Jacket Required" a few years back, I might have thought "oh puhlease". But now it was actually very cool and I was very excited when Brax said to review it. Because I know it's and album I had overlooked, and took for granted because of its frequent airplay.
Enough said, here is my breakdown of the songs.
1. "Sussudio" - Classic 80s with a lot of cool hooks, and a nice bridge. 2. "Only You Know and I Know" - Straightforward song, feels like filler. 3. "Long Long Way to Go" - Beautiful piece of pop genius. Vintage Phil. Melodic shades of "In the Air Tonight". Great PC song I was not aware of. 4. "I Don't Wanna Know" - A pretty good chorus, surprised I didn't hear it on the radio more. 5. "One More Night" - Nice ballad, with nice hooks. 6. "Don't Lose My Number" - My favorite of the bunch, unique topic for a song, like the abstractness and catchiness of it. 7. "Who Said I Would" - Nice and upbeat and catchy like "Sussudio". 8. "Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore" - a unique chorus, that reflects his relationship issues. 9. "Inside Out" - A good one I hadn't heard in a while. 10. "Take Me Home" - Classic Phil Collins song, with great percussion.
11. Bonus track "We Said Hello, Goodbye"- Great song, refreshingly sparse arrangement; definitely should have been on the album.
Thanks Brax, for allowing us to review this CD; if I have any additonal thoughts, I will mention them between today and tomorrow.
I guess the only additional thought that would be that lyrically, it seems like he puts too much stock in relationships with others instead of the interior deal with The Big Man, and maybe that's why 3 divorces: if you expect a person to be so much to you that only The Big Man Upstairs can be, you will be totally disappointed. I always got a sense that he put too much stock in relationships because I never hear him reference God in any songs. That said, I do realize he was totally crushed from the failure of his first marriage, and I can only imagine if the same thing happened to me, so maybe he just never got over it. I did hear him commenting on the song "Jesus He Knows Me" in an interview once, and I got the impression that he may be cynical towards Christians and Christianity, and might not be that spiritual. Whatever the case, he's certainly made his mark as a great musician, and is known as a very friendly person, etc. from the feedback I've seen in interviews from musicians who have worked with him. I saw him play drums for Eric Clapton concert I attended for the "Behind the Sun" album that Phil Collins produced and played on, had the hits "Forever Man" and "She's Waiting". It was a great concert, I believe someone from Cream was on the keyboards.
Jim
|
|
|
Post by 88keys on Sept 5, 2014 20:11:17 GMT
I did hear him commenting on the song "Jesus He Knows Me" in an interview once, and I got the impression that he may be cynical towards Christians and Christianity, and might not be that spiritual. That song was a commentary on Jimmy Swaggart-type preachers who preach one thing and do the opposite. Makes me glad I'm an atheist.
|
|
|
Post by unomusette on Sept 5, 2014 21:59:48 GMT
Jesus He Knows Me. LOVE IT. That's all. And now....
I saw Phil Collins with Genesis on the Duke tour, just as he was also going solo. He's a brilliant frontman with a frankly amazing voice and his acting background is very evident. Recently he's become one of those people the media love to hate, and try to make us hate too, but it's hard to deny his contribution to music when he was at the top of his game. I have a live version of Mama on Spotify which is absolutely electric. Talent is talent regardless of personality. So here goes, only had one listen so a lot of this might change with repeated listenings. I've deliberately not read anyone else's feedback so as not to be influenced *polishes halo*
I found this to be really redolent of the 80's, sort of fast and frantic, maybe influenced by all those Stock Aitken Waterman songs. Although the horns and (obviously) the drums are probably real there's a lot of it that sounds like it all come from a synthesizer. Can't criticise this too much though because at the time that's what was selling.
Sussidio - great track, shows his voice off well. However the following song, Only You Know and I Know, is very similar with the fast pace and the horns. Surprised they put them next to each other, especially at the start of the album. Repeated listenings might give more definition.
Long Long Way to Go - I think this would be a grower. Pretty melody, interesting rhythm and you can hear other Genesis/Collins songs echoing.
I Don't Wanna Know - Some good vocals here but does sound like a filler to me.
One More NIght - If you like it miserable, here it is. Gorgeously angsty, this is exactly the kind of song I'd burble along to after a few cheap reds too many. My only criticism is it's a bit too echoey and it has that horrible electric piano on it which has thankfully been ditched by most right-thinking artists today. Apart from Celine (Sea Lion) Dion and Michael Bolton.
Don't Lose My Number - Never heard this before but it's interesting as soon as it begins. So 80's it almost hurts, but in a good way. Good pace and nice vocals.
Who Said I Would - Is this Sussudio again? Nice sax break in the middle.
Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Any More? - Drumming stands out here, liking the quiet verses building up to the chorus. Does get a bit tedious towards the end, a bit repetitious (is that a word? It is now)
Inside Out - As it begins it's a bit sludgy and it doesn't improve much for me. This is probably due to my penchant for either lively moshpit type songs or deeply over-the-top misery. This falls entirely in the middle and is lost to me.
Take Me Home - Great drumming again, love the rhythm and the passionate vocals.
Tinkly Piano Ending - You have to love an album with an extra bit at the end, nice one Phil!
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Sept 6, 2014 0:29:23 GMT
I did hear him commenting on the song "Jesus He Knows Me" in an interview once, and I got the impression that he may be cynical towards Christians and Christianity, and might not be that spiritual. That song was a commentary on Jimmy Swaggart-type preachers who preach one thing and do the opposite. Makes me glad I'm an atheist. How did the universe get here if there wasn't a God? I've listened to purely science college lectures on CDs, and they all admit that behind the big bang, nobody has a clue how the material got there for it. Jim
|
|
|
Post by 88keys on Sept 6, 2014 6:27:26 GMT
That song was a commentary on Jimmy Swaggart-type preachers who preach one thing and do the opposite. Makes me glad I'm an atheist. How did the universe get here if there wasn't a God? I've listened to purely science college lectures on CDs, and they all admit that behind the big bang, nobody has a clue how the material got there for it. Jim I'm sure the mods don't want us to get into some deep philosophical debate here, so I'll digress. But hey, whatever works for you, man!
|
|
|
Post by Horacewimp on Sept 6, 2014 7:52:01 GMT
How did the universe get here if there wasn't a God? I've listened to purely science college lectures on CDs, and they all admit that behind the big bang, nobody has a clue how the material got there for it. Jim I'm sure the mods don't want us to get into some deep philosophical debate here, so I'll digress. But hey, whatever works for you, man! Yeah, lets focus our views onto the music we are reviewing
|
|
|
Post by jrmugz on Sept 6, 2014 9:20:32 GMT
I'm sure the mods don't want us to get into some deep philosophical debate here, so I'll digress. But hey, whatever works for you, man! Yeah, lets focus our views onto the music we are reviewing OK, I still say it's a good question, though. Jim
|
|
|
Post by BSJ on Sept 6, 2014 22:23:23 GMT
From my understanding he is alive, but retired from music. As far as drumming, I think I heard him say in an interview that his body is too shot to do that, because he was playing the drums the wrong way with all of his might all of those years, he did some damage to himself, so he can't do what he used to do. Jim For anyone who doesn’t know this. I went on web and checked out Phil and his reason for not being able to drum. An article from 2010 read that surgeons accidentally cut the nerves to his hands while performing back surgery for a dislocated vertebra and causing the lost control of his hands.
Are you kidding me.
|
|
|
Post by unomusette on Sept 6, 2014 23:02:56 GMT
Lordy, and I thought I made some catastrophic mistakes at work Cue massive lawsuit.....
|
|
|
Post by Horacewimp on Oct 2, 2014 18:36:59 GMT
For us UK based members Phil Collins is on the One Show Friday 3rd Oct with his Genesis mates.
|
|
|
Post by unomusette on Oct 2, 2014 20:14:08 GMT
I heard that announced at the end of the One Show, how very irritating that this is how Genesis are now termed. I was outraged and I'm not even much of a Genesis fan. I reckon the rest of the band will lynch him overnight for that, bang goes the reunion tour.
|
|
|
Post by Horacewimp on Oct 2, 2014 20:21:12 GMT
I heard that announced at the end of the One Show, how very irritating that this is how Genesis are now termed. I was outraged and I'm not even much of a Genesis fan. I reckon the rest of the band will lynch him overnight for that, bang goes the reunion tour. I know you are Welsh unomusette so I don't want to upset you, but it was the silly Welsh bint Alex Jones I think who said it, she seems in cloud cuckoo land most of the time
|
|