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Reviews: Genesis: We Can't Dance

Reviews: 2

Review by Rage October 31, 2007 (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:    
"Poppy" side of Genesis done well...

Look elsewhere for reviews of the music (allmusic dot com), but rest assured that this hybrid SACD (with Dolby Digital and DTS 24/96 tracks on the bonus DVD disc) sounds excellent. In fact, it's the best I've ever heard it. Seeing as how a large part of this album features guitar and synthesizzer-rich environments and soundscapes, you can imagine how well that translates to Super Audio. While it's certainly not the last word in SACD fidelity, what it is is a wonderful sounding reissue with details and textures abound. Surprisngly to me (I'm not a huge fan of surround music), this music really opens up and shines on the DTS 24/96 tracks. During certain tracks, the music envelops you in a bubble of ambient sounds, with some of them seemingly hanging in the air above your head. Oh and make SURE to have your subwoofer(s) turned on, put on the DTS 24/96 track and check out "I Can't Dance." WOW, this track rocks in a slow, grooving way. Not only are Mike Rutherford's dry guitars up front and very present and Tony Banks' weird synth noises floating above your speakers, the low end THUMPS!!! This track has become a demo track for friends who have never heard surround music. Well done and easily worth the price if you're a fan of latter day (read: "poppy") Genesis. Too bad we have to order this kind of stuff as an import as this package should have been made for those of us in the US. Oh well, no matter, just listen and enjoy!

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Review by marshman February 28, 2013 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
1991's We Can't Dance sees Genesis return to a grittier sound after the more pop feel of Invisible Touch, and was sadly the last studio Genesis album with Collins on vocals. This is perhaps ironic as he left the band to pursue a solo career that had, in retrospect, already peaked. One wonders at what Genesis could have produced had he stuck with them. Oh well.

I found mix on the previous album a bit too bright but, pleasingly, We Can't Dance returns to a warmer mix and more depth to the music. The subject matter of the songs has also got deeper along with the sound. Other than a couple of fleeting light hearted moments (Jesus & I Can't Dance) the subjects are all quite touchy and personal, requiring the listener to invest a bit more emotionally whilst playing. Whether this is a good thing or not will depend on personal tastes, for me I prefer less social commentary.

No Son of Mine is a great opener, both musically and sonically, with wide open, clean guitars and powerful drums, building to an enveloping crescendo - a good appetiser for the hi-fedelity goodies to come. Other standouts are Driving The Last Spike, with really decent bass and a good example of what a 10 minute Genesis epic can sound like without extended keyboard solo's in the middle (sorry Tony). I Can't Dance is one to turn up and demo to your SACD sceptic friends, as they'll know the song but won't ever have heard it so good.

Things get a little preachy in places - Tell Me Why is musically and sonically a great track, but the social commentary is, whilst well meaning, a bit trite to me. Give me a song about goblins, hit men or fallen diva's anytime. Same goes for Way Of The World, which has a great riff in a similar style to I Can't Dance and sounds great in SACD, I just wish it was about Silver Rainbows, or even love, rather than, well, the way of the world.

Things return to more familiar ground with Hold On My Heart which sounds like a warm bath, the by now essential ballad inclusion (In Too Deep, One More Night, etc) and Living Forever finally allows Mr Banks to have a bit of a play on his keys, as well as providing great sound separation on drums, bass and keys.

I have my audio set up to 'Pure Direct' so my amp doesn't process the sound, just delivers it as it is on the CD. Whether it's a feature of Collins' voice or the Genesis mix's I once again found his vocals to be a bit on the bright side, but this was at least balanced by richer and deeper instrument sounds compared to Invisible Touch.

I hadn't listened to this album for some time and enjoyed the music a great deal. It's less immediately accessible than Invisible Touch but, questionable song topics aside, a deeper and more satisfying listen with a harder edge. The SACD surround mix adds further clarity, separation and draws you in for an involving journey.

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