Invisible Touch

Invisible Touch

Genesis

Atlantic Records, 1986

http://www.genesis-music.com

REVIEW BY: Jeff Clutterbuck

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/25/2005

Well, after researching the matter thoroughly via the Internetand the National Archives, and having consulted the nation's topscientists, I have come to the following conclusion: technicallyspeaking, the former progressive rock group Genesis did record Invisible Touch.

For the past few weeks, you have all read the various takes wehave at the Vault on the discography of Genesis. Just think, itwasn't that long ago the reviews for Foxtrot, or Selling England By The Pound went up. Now here we are, with Invisible Touch, the six million copy-selling pop-rockmonster. Just ponder for a moment, how many other bands haveundergone such radical changes, and come out on top like Genesisdid? For the life of me, I cannot think of one.

Note that so far, I have yet to label Invisible Touch as a lousy album. That is because it reallyisn't, when viewed with the proper context. For a Genesis fan fromthe early '70s, there is no question this album must have beenviewed as an abomination, sacrilege of the worst kind. For an '80spop fan, this is a wonderful crafted, catchy work. Seeing as howGenesis had completely ditched the whole prog rock sound by thispoint, it's unfair to hold Invisible Touch against an album such as The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. It is a pop album, nothingmore.

The first four tracks of this album are gold, pure gold. Anyonewho lived in the '80s will remember "Invisible Touch," "Tonight,Tonight, Tonight," "Land Of Confusion" and "In Too Deep." Each songhas its own unique charm, as well as a qualitatively differentsound. "In Too Deep" is a touching ballad, though it sounds anawful lot like a Phil Collins solo effort. "Invisible Touch" wasalways a personal favorite of mine, with its driving, almostdanceable beat and strong refrain.