Description

Uk pressed music cassette. Black cassette with silver text.

One could say by 1991 Genesis had definitely hit their commercial stride, making hit after hit, appearing in countless music videos and interviews and even having a tie in deal with Volkswagen (yes, that happened). However, after the incredibly upbeat and party vibes of 1986’s “Invisible Touch” there was an decent gap in between both it and the proceeding album. During that time Mike Rutherford hit it big with Mike + The Mechanics and Phil Collins had become more socially conscious with his hit “Another Day In Paradise”. When “We Can’t Dance” arrived in stores on November 11th, 1991 many people expected a return to the jovialisms of “Invisible Touch”. However, what they got was much different. “We Can’t Dance” is definitely a commercial album, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s a surprising return to form for the once prog rockers. With such intimate epics as “Driving The Last Spike” or “Fading Lights” Genesis prove they still have their prog identity. But, with pop numbers like “I Can’t Dance” or “Jesus He Knows Me” the record gains somewhat of an identity problem. Most of the album is spent being very downbeat and dark compared to Genesis previous outing, but with the upbeat call and response of “I Can’t Dance” it can become somewhat of a jolting and bumpy ride due to the albums sequencing. Despite it’s flaws though, “We Can’t Dance” does have some of Genesis’ better pop singles, especially with the foreboding lead single “No Son of Mine”. Phil Collins’ presence is largely felt throughout the whole record, but it’s a much more mature presence compared to “Genesis” or “Invisible Touch”. Collins contributes some of his most pining and poignant lyrical contributions to the disc than on past records, which is quite needed after the dated cheesiness of “Invisible Touch”. The band is also in top form with Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks providing a warm backdrop for Collins’ heavy drums and raspy vocal tones. While “We Can’t Dance” is definitely flawed in places, in other places it’s one of the fresher things from the Collins lead years of the band.

Track list:
1. No Son Of Mine
2. Jesus He Knows Me
3. Driving The Last Spike
4. I Can’t Dance
5. Never A Time
6. Dreaming While You Sleep
7. Tell Me Why
8. Living Forever
9. Hold On My Heart
10. Way Of The World
11. Since I Lost You
12. Fading Lights