Customer Reviews

Both Sides

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I remember when Both Sides came out in November of 1993. The record company didn't promote it and neither did VH1 or MTV. When I listened to it, I thought this is Phil Collins at his most serious. It seems to me that Phil was trying to say something without the typical humor he uses. This cd flopped commercially and critically, the first Phil Collins cd to do so. Perhaps it is because the nature of the music is so serious. I happen to like it when an artist bares his soul, and Phil did an excellent job here. I have all of his solo cds and all of Genesis' cds as well, and I have to say that Both Sides is probably Phil's best solo cd. Sure, No Jacket Required has all the hits and is very well produced. Sure, Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going are very good cds as well, but Both Sides touches an emotional nerve that those others do not. Listen to the intimacy Phil exudes on such songs as "Can't Turn Back The Years" and "I've Forgotten Everything." Listen to the messages imbedded in "Both Sides Of The Story" and "We're Sons Of Our Fathers." I can't think of Phil being so honest with his feelings as he is on this album. It's not the typical, uptempo Phil that most fans enjoy, it's more mature and painful. It sure is a better buy than his 1996 cd Dance Into The Light. Both Sides is a must have for any rock collector.

When I first purchased Both Sides, I'll admit that I didnt care for it much, after hearing 1989's "But Seriously," Both Sides seemed to be a bit of a disappointment. But being the die-hard Phil Collins fan that I am, I just couldn't let the album collect dust. After about 5 plays, I fell in love with it, and now I view it as one of Phil's best albums, and certainly one of his most unique. Both Sides was a very personal album for Phil Collins. It contains messages of life, of love, sadness, heartbreak, and even growing old. In this way, Phil Collins truly helps us get to know the man behind the music, and that says something. Not to mention the fact that Phil played every instrument himself, and even recorded every song in the upstairs room of his house! Talk about a personal album! Phil even speaks to the listener personally in the sleeve notes of this album, and provides a description of each song's meaning under its title. In his own words:

"The reason....is to give the listener a direction or to maybe explain what the songs are about. Songs are all things to people but sometimes the wrong path is taken and the misinterpretation stays with your forever."

This personal touch really makes the listener feel as though he or she is truly part of the picture Phil has painted with this album, and the impact of that fact is incredible. Phil is indeed a real person.

Here is a description of each song an my own opinion on each one:

1. Both Sides opens with the incredible "Both Sides of the Story," a song that truly shows both sides of life, and sounds like it should have been on "But Seriously".

2. "Can't Turn Back the Years" is a song about growing old, about how we all wish we could go back and live again, but the past must remain the past.

3. "Everyday" also sounds like Both Sides material. This deeply moving song about love and heartbreak will bring tears to your eyes, it did for me. :) Definitely one of Phil's best songs ever.

4. "I've Forgotten Everything" is a slow moving song about closure, and how it sometimes can be hard to forget a past relationship..and the hurt with it. This is one of the weaker songs on Both Sides.

5. "We're Sons of our Fathers" is a good song in my opinion. Phil talks about how things have changed since he was a child, how todays youth are harder to control. The song has an excellent foundation, and could have been great if given a bit more attention.

6. "Can't Find My Way" is absolutely excellent. It carries a dark and atmospheric, In The Air Tonight-ish sound that makes for a very good song, one of the strongest on Both Sides!

7. "Survivors" is upbeat song about forgiveness, a fairly good song though not the strongest.

8. "We Fly So Close" is excellent! The song has an incredible opening that invokes images of waves crashing against a rocky shore, dark clouds and rain, which fade into the song itself. The imagery and FEEL of this song are indescribable, another In The Air Tonight-ish song, and definitely a must-hear! Buy Both Sides for this song if for nothing else!

9. "There's a Place For Us" is jazzy and slow, got a good sound to it, not strong yet not weak.

10. "We Wait and We Wonder" sounds similar to Both Sides of the Story, earlier in the album. Though not quite as good, one of the catchier and definitely one of the stronger songs on the album, I believe they even made a music video for this one.

11. "Please Come Out Tonight" gently eases the listener out of the album. The song has a gentle, melancholy mood to it, something to listen to when you are lovesick.

That said I highly recommend Both Sides to the devoted Phil Collins fan. It's a great album that will take a few listens to fully appreciate it, but once you do, you'll love it. I wouldn't recommend that the casual Phil Collins fan start with this album. Try getting his earlier works first, and then purchase Both Sides, as it is quite a departure from the radio friendly Phil that so many people know. After hearing his earlier work, it's incredible to come down to earth, relax, and get to know the man himself. Both Sides does that, and that's why it's a five-star album. You must get it. :)

Although Phil Collins popularity fizzled in the 1990's, his music remained as fresh and intimate as usual. His 1993 album Both Sides, reflects about holding on to love, and remembering the good and bad times with others, as well as breaking up with your partner. The songs are very sincere and compassionate. Each song has an story to tell. The first song Both Sides Of The Story, about an homeless child trying to get ahead in life (similar to Collins megahit Another Day In Paradise).

From D-I-V-O-R-C-E, to his split with Genesis, Both Sides forcasted the stories of Phil Collins in the 1990's. But everyday, something good will come along if you think positive. I really thought it was one of the most understanding albums I've ever heard. We always gander at one side of the story of each problem, but Both Sides shows that every side, Everyday (as in the song titled Everyday) we all go through life on more than one street. Both Sides states that constant.

Words really don't have a way of adequately depicting the music and lyrics on this album. While the record was much less successful commercially in comparison to other albums such as "Face Value" and "No Jacket Required", this more serious than "...But Seriously" album contains some of Phil's best material, and he thinks so, too. Playing all the instruments and singing all the vocals on this album, three songs fall into the catergory of social issues. "Both Sides of the Story" does what the title says - looks at several individual episodes, such as a ghetto kid who carries a gun in order to get respect, and points out the two sides that every story has. Another is "We're Sons of our Fathers", describes how family values have changed since Phil himself was a kid. The third song is "We Wait And We Wonder", a powerful anthem with Scottish bagpipes that describes how the cloud of terrorism that lurks overhead everyday makes you think of it as almost normal, until something hits real close to home. Most other songs reflect on Phil's personal life at the time, in both love and everyday life, such as letting the past remain what it is: the past, in songs like "Can't Turn Back The Years". "I've Forgotten Everything" is totally inspired by Hoagy Carmichael's "I Get Along Without You Very Well", and "We Fly So Close" is another hidden treasure; a song that makes a person think about how often disaster comes within their grasp everyday. "There's A Place For Us" is a beautiful song that has its inspiration found in "Somewhere" from "West Side Story", and of course "Everyday" which just epitomizes how love can make you do things you never dreamed possible. This album is a true treasure that is lying in the shadows, waiting to be discovered, and it will happen someday. While it doesn't have as much radio-friendly material, it feels like Phil walks up to the listener and shakes his hand. It's as meeting the artist face to face. It returns to very simple melodies and heartfelt lyrics, and all recorded in Phil's home studio on 8 Track, showing you that the size in production doesn't matter. If it's from the heart, it's beautiful in any shape or form, simple or complex. As Phil says, "I hear the difference. I hope you do, too..."

I absolutely love this CD. I own every CD Phil has ever made, and this one gets played the most. I am amazed that it is one of the least hyped of all of his offerings. It's simply melodic, with lyrics that just about anyone can relate to. It's the perfect album to listen to and think, or listen to and just veg.

"We Fly So Close" is hands down the best song on this CD, with "There's a Place For Us" and "Please Come Out Tonight" coming in close behind.

This one will continue to be in my stereo on a regular basis.

I'm a fan of personal artistic statements. Especially by artists that have already shown that they can write for a mass audience. That certainly applies in Phil's case; he was one of the most popular musicians of the 1980's.

But the 1990's were different. And certainly in this post 9/11 world, things are even more different now. Irrevocably so. What are we to make of a song like "We Wait and We Wonder" which Phil explained back in 1993 as:

"To the outsider it seems that we in Britain live daily under the cloud of terrorism. That familiarity sometimes makes you think of it as almost normal, then suddenly something will happen..."

Overlord Phil the prescient?

I like what Phil did with this album, and I like what he's done with his sound since. The bottom line is that Phil Collins is a musician--a great musician. That's why he is respected by his peers, and why people like James Carter and Quincy Jones play with him. Phil just gets it. He's always gotten it. And his current audience, for the most part, gets it too.

With his 1993 album "Both Sides", Phil Collins made an even more deeply serious (with a capital 'S') album than he had with his 1989 predecessor "...But Seriously". Certainly serious songs were nothing new for Phil--after all, this is the man who wrote songs such as "Man On The Corner", "Take Me Home", "Another Day In Paradise", and so many others. Still, Phil really did turn a musical corner with "Both Sides"--that said, it perhaps figures then that this album marks the beginning of his considerable commercial decline in the US after having been absolutely huge from the mid-'80s to the early '90s. The thing is though, contrary to what certain people will try to lead you to believe, Phil was never a musical puppet, i.e., someone who just churns out mindless product in an attempt to cash in--through all of his massive commercial success, he's remained an ultra-sincere songwriter and performer. I was 12 years old when "Both Sides" came out in November of 1993, and I remember being extremely intrigued at the time to learn that Phil had played all of the instruments on "Both Sides". Don't get me wrong--Phil did indeed do an excellent job of doing the 'one-man-band' thing on here. The fact that he was able to make such a great album like this, writing everything himself, producing all by himself, doing all the vocals and playing all the instruments--i.e. a true SOLO album--is a major testament to Phil's incredible talent. However, I now realize that it wasn't really that much of a stretch--yes, Phil had gotten assistance on all of his previous solo albums from incredibly talented players, but he had basically always used his home demos as his basic masters, something he points out in the liner notes to "Both Sides". Here, he simply went the next step, doing all the bass parts himself & so forth. However, Phil playing all the instruments does have a major significance in a number of respects. One thing is that it results in an album with none of the signature horns that appear on all of his previous albums. Instead, Phil relied a lot on atmospheric keyboards, among other things, to fill out the sound, & he really pulled it off. Add to this that there isn't a single feel-good song on the entire album like a "Sussudio" or a "Find A Way To My Heart", this album ends up being a big change of pace for Phil.

And like I said before, it works--track upon track is incredibly effective. "Can't Turn Back The Years", the ultra-slow "I've Forgotten Everything", & the minor-keyed "Can't Find My Way" with its circular rhythm are all haunting gems. The sighing "Everyday" is a deeply moving love song with a gorgeous intro consisting of piano & light use of synth. The arrestingly dramatic "We Fly So Close" sounds like it was inspired by the Dream Academy's "The Power To Believe" which itself was clearly influenced by Phil's "In The Air Tonight", and it has what is seemingly an incredible simulation of acoustic guitar on a synthesizer that sounds like something Steve Hackett might play. Phil gives a nod to his affection for jazz/ traditional pop on the wonderfully romantic and bittersweet "There's A Place For Us". "Both Sides of the Story", a rousing cry for compassion and understanding, gets the album off to a great start, and "We Wait and We Wonder" is a catchy, uptempo track about terrorism--both of these tracks find Phil interestingly and effectively incorporating bagpipe sounds. The album's other uptempo track is the infectiously uplifting "Survivors" (with a heart-melting middle-eight). Bringing the album to a fitting finale is the wishful ballad "Please Come Out Tonight".

It seems that "Both Sides" is not the album a lot of people wanted from Phil--indeed, if all you want is another "Sussudio" or "Don't Lose My Number", forget it. However, I say more power to Phil--this is the album he wanted to make, and in characteristic Collins style, the music is honest and affecting. If you're a serious fan/ listener, "Both Sides" is a treasure.

"Both Sides" was originally released in November of 1993, and with it having been such a relative commercial disappointment, you can get this DIRT cheap on CD--if you see one in solid condition for $3, it's an absolute STEAL. (P.S. Also keep an eye out for the "We Wait and We Wonder" CD single which contains two great non-LP songs: "For A Friend" and "Take Me With You".)

This was a whole lot better than I expected! The first track, Both Sides Of The Story, I had already from the Hits album of Phil Collins. The second, third, fourth, and last track were in the Love Songs album that I have but other than those, this CD was a MAJOR success for me! I had picked this up from Barne and Nobles not expecting too much (that was the only CD of Phil I did NOT have) and paid my money...I listened through the first four tracks in my car anxiously and... fell in love with the album!! I don't understand why I didn't get it before! If you are a huge nutcase over Phil (like me) or like listening to him now and again, then this is a CD worth having in your Phil Collins collection! The music is Phil all the way plus a little extra. You've got everything in this one album, from slow easy-going love songs to upbeat drum filled songs like the first song( which is, by the way, my absolute favorite Phil Collins song!)
Definetly buy this one... SOON!!!!!

Expectations were high preceding the release of Phil Collin's album "Both Sides." Though I've recently become a fan I can imagine the disappointment many experienced when this album came out. At first I really didn't like this album, but subsequent listens led me to a new point of view.

I actually consider this to be Phil's artistic triumph. Though this album lacks anything that really stands out as a sure fire hit, it's the experimentation and mood of this album that sucks you in. Every time I hear this album I am taken to another place. My worries and troubles are forgotten when I put on this album.

In the liner notes, Phil writes that this is his most enjoyable album and actually considers this his best. I can definitely see where he's coming from with this point. He plays all of the instruments himself and wrote all of the lyrics (now that's what I call a musician!), and he does it without being self indulgent.

The mood of this album is VERY mellow. There are only 3 really upbeat songs, and the rest are ballads. Other people complain that this album lacks energy. I can see where they're coming from, but you have to listen a few times before you can actually understand this album. I think Phil's point was to experiment and actually do what he wanted with the music without anyone else's opinions, and this resulted in his best work and his most enjoyable album.

There is absolutely no filler here. Every song is good in its own right, and each has wonderful lyrics. Most of the songs are about love, but Phil also tackles political issues with the title track, "We're Sons of Our Fathers," and "We Wait and We Wonder."
Each song is touching and comes from the heart. You can tell Phil poured his heart and soul into this album.

This album is unlike anything Phil did before, and you have to hand it to him to do something a little different, not to
make something that's commercial. The closest this album comes to that is the single "Everyday," but even this song clocks in at over 5 minutes and really isn't very radio friendly.

The best stuff on this album are songs like "I've Forgotten Everything," "We Fly So Close," and "Please Come Out Tonight"... the slow songs. These songs especially and even the others stand as Phil's best work. Though there's nothing as catchy as "Sussudio" or anything as stellar as "Another Day in Paradise" or "In the Air ATonight" you will grow to love this album, if not more than the others.

This album is the one I play the most of Phil Collins.
Pick up a copy, and be mesmerized by the mood of this enjoyable album, the artistic value, the craftsmanship. Evrything about this album is stellar, and it's one of the greatest I've EVER heard. After you hear it, you'll see why.

"Both Sides" is a wonderful work of art. I especially enjoy entering Phil's mind and feeling his emotion. "There's a place for us," and "Please come out tonight" have similar tones of hope and desparation. It personifies the agony a lover feels when unable to connect with the one he loves. The warring opposites of conflict and hope, not to mention the colorful arrangements, launch the listener into Phil's orbit. Whether you like him or not, I recommend adding this one to your collection. It will touch you.