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 | Title : Testify
Author : Collins, Phil
Release Date : 20021112
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $11.97
(37
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Editorial Reviews :
On his first album of new material since 1996, Phil Collins's crisp voice returns to the forefront, as does the booming rhythmic grooves and rich melodies. After taking time out to record his big-band tribute, A Hot Night in Paris, and the Tarzan original soundtrack, the former Genesis drummer-turned-frontman seek out more familiar territory on Testify. Collins successfully updates his soft rock sound with discreet electronic embellishments and spartan arrangements. It's simple stuff, but it's what Collins does best. Most intriguing is his silky cover of Billy Nicholls's 'Can't Stop Loving You' (originally recorded by Leo Sayer on his 1978 self-titled album), but even originals like the effervescent 'Wake Up Call' and the shadowy 'Swing Low' echo the ambitious reach of his most popular work.
Buyer Reviews :
Amazon.com should have a place to select what type fan writes each review, for comparison to your own tastes. Well, if you've got all PC's solo and Genesis albums, CD singles and seen him in concert a handful of times this review is for you, it's fairly long but worth it (I think).
Upon my first listen to this CD, I was largely disappointed. To me, all this CD contained was light, fluffy synthesized music that lacked a whole lot of energy and power (save for Can't Stop Lovin You, but we'll discuss that track later). I wondered what happened, then put DITL in and listened to it. Then it made more sense...this album continues the decline away from ROCK and towards what others have called 'elevator music'. Since then I've listened to it about a half dozen more times and discovered several more great bits here and there on the CD. It is growing on me, but I continue to lament the lack of uptempo, drum sound, soaring vocals kind of songs that have brought PC fans so much joy for 20+ years now.
After the Tarzan sound track, I had hope there would be return to a harder edged kind of album, especially after listening to 'Son Of Man'. It appears PC's 'going technical' has permitted him to do little more than type at a keyboard instead of actually play on the CD. Sure, there's drums on it...probably half of them are electronic. The sounds from his drum kit are his TRADEMARK SOUND and we have to listen to electronically sampled and synthesized percussion. From what I can tell, PC made this 'personal' album the way he wanted to make it, end of discussion. Never mind the record company, fans or whatever other external influences that might exist...this is Phil's album, a testimony to his new life and family. Which is all fine and good, and I'm really happy for him, Nic and his wife. However, I cringe to think that PC might be heading the way of R.E.M. when they stopped making rock albums and starting making whatever it is they're doing now. I don't know because I stopped buying R.E.M.'s CD's about five or six years ago.
PC still has it and I can prove it to you. Go no further than track 10 'Can't Stop Lovin You'. Undoubtedly with this being played on the radio AND TV (car commercial), this particular song will get played ad nauseum and we'll all be sick of it before too long. But this song absolutely ROCKS, I mean it gives me chills to listen to it...THIS is the PC we all want to hear. This is the type of song that his career was built on, we used to get 10 of these songs and two ballads. Now we get 10 ballads and 2 upbeat songs. As you listen to the song, notice how simple it starts, even as it hits the first chorus. Then as the song moves on, the complexity builds, you hear keyboards, then guitar, then the song knocks you down as it approaches the end. As I listened to this, it suddenly all made sense and put a huge smile on my face...
This is a Genesis song.
Listen to it...the drum sound, the keyboards keeping everything together supplemented by a guitar that not so coincidentally even sounds as though it's tuned JUST LIKE Mike Rutherford's. The sound is so unmistakable I asked a friend of mine to listen and even he picked up on it.
Phil, we're all happy you've found happiness with your new family. We're glad Andrea, Simon, Joely, Lily, Orieanne and Nic all 'get along well'. Enjoy these years with your newborn and good luck with the prospects of another. Make another album like this if you want, stay at home and be a Daddy...don't tour and put yourself through the pain your hearing loss must give you at concerts. But don't deny your fans of music like 'Can't Stop Lovin You', either on your own or PREFERABLY with Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, either as Genesis or otherwise. Play drums. Bring in musicians. Make music. Leave the computers to the DBAs and programmers in the world. Please.
(by Mike Marino)
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