Customer Reviews

Invisible Touch (2007 Remaster)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I'm writing this review for people who are actually trying to decide whether to buy the album. No doubt, reading the reviews here is confusing because half the people love it and half the people hate it. Genesis is one of the biggest acts of the rock-pop era...and that's without the solo work of its members, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford (of Mike and the Mechanics) and various more obscure projects. THIS album is the band's biggest POP album success. It's got FIVE top 10 singles and two more songs that charted in the top 40. How many albums can you say that about?? So why do some people hate it? Well, Genesis started as a progressive rock band that focused on long (10 to 20 minute), complicated songs that displayed a huge degree of musicianship. Unlike most prog bands, the vocals were always good. Still, the poetic, complicated lyrics about mythical creatures, etc, do turn off general audiences. When Phil Collins took over on lead vocals after the departure of Peter Gabriel (Phil had just been the drummer up to that point), the band stayed prog for a while, but in the 80s, drifted into more melodic, romantic, shorter, and, yes, poppier songs. Some musical snobs pretend that the Gabriel era was all about art and the Collins era was all about selling out. It's just not true. Some of the Gabriel stuff still sounds great, but some of it is hopelessly dated. Gabriel stopped making that kind of music when Genesis did. It ran its course. And make no mistake: EVERY Genesis album, including this one, ALWAYS features great musical playing and some progressive elements (the big prog track here is Domino, a three part song). Not only was Phil a great singer; he was one of the best rock drummers of all time. The title track of this album is a great pop song, but most of the other "pop" songs here have some weird little edge to them or some kind of darkness that make them stand out from other pop songs. Tonight, Tonight is pretty murky for a pop song. The few ballads are about as good as ballads get and deserved their "hit" status. This was actually the first album I bought. I was a radio kid until I heard this album. This was my "gateway album" that steered me from solely radio pop toward more complicated fare. Domino changed my life. I'd never heard a 10 minute song before...with lyrics about melting children, no less! And a whole instrumental track? But the album is so LISTENABLE. It's like a spoonful of sugar helping the medicine go down--progressive music in a tasty pop frosting. NOTE: If you like this, the NEXT step in Genesis is Duke. That 1980 album had what I consider the best mix of real progressive rock and melodic or pop sensibilities. It's my favorite Genesis album. Best Gabriel album? Selling England By the Pound. Working your way BACKWARDS in Genesis a great way to discover the band for people unfamiliar with progressive rock or technical music. It's a fun band with a diverse catalogue of music. Enjoy!

I can't remember the last time I so well spent $20 on an album. And, an album that I already own and probably could replay in my mind, too!

This isn't just a remastered version of Invisible Touch: it's remixed as well, and listeners familiar with the original 1986 release will quickly notice the differences. In my opinion, Invisible Touch has never sounded better. It's really incredible. I have several copies of the original U.S. release on vinyl, the best of which I keep meticulously clean. Now that I have this CD, I won't be spinning the record anymore, well, that is, unless I want to demonstrate the dramatic difference between the two! I guarantee you will hear notes you have never heard before--partially because of the remastering, but also, I suspect, because the notes were buried in the original release's mix, assuming they were even there.

I read a review of the new box set that said Phil Collins' vocals seemed more prominent in the remix. I don't know about that, but my wife did perceive a lot of harshness in the higher frequencies, and Phil sings fairly high sometimes. The treble range does not seem harsh to me, but I am used to the clean sound that digital playback provides. High frequencies (including the human voice) can be harsh, and there is nothing like vinyl groove noise on a compact disc to smooth them out. When you listen to digital recordings through earbuds or bass-shy headphones, you'll hear what treble sounds like naked, so, it is more important than ever to have high quality, full range loudspeakers. Anyway, whether or not you perceive any harshness, you should still appreciate the benefits of increased dynamic range and detail retrieval--not to mention the convenience of compact discs over LP records. When I can get a treasured analog recording on a convenient, foolproof digital format like the compact disc, and it has been remastered for digital playback, I'll take it.

As for the DVD, it features a great new surround mix of the album. I have only listened to the DTS track, but I found it to create a realistic ambience that the stereo mix could not. However, I was reproducing more bass with a subwoofer on stereo, than in the surround subwoofer channel. After several listens, I don't know which rendition I prefer (nor could I say which is closer to the artists' intent). There are also some videos, with accompanying DTS/DD surround tracks. I found these new surround mixes to match very well with the video--none of the lip syncing issues I've noticed in other remastered concert/video DVDs. The best news about this DVD is that it is a conventional DVD, and not a DVD-A disc. So, you can play it in a standard DVD player.

In summary, this fantastic re-release isn't just a digital clean-up, which alone would have been welcome. This is a new Invisible Touch that in my opinion, was not possible before the digital age. Turn it up loud and re-experience one of the greatest recordings of the 1980s for the first time again!

When it comes to great music reunions, this past year has shown to really be the best year for it. With acts like Led Zepplin, and The Police which have shown so much promise and delivered on stage again for the first times in years. That also has shown as well for Genesis. With Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks returning to the stage for the first time in over 15 years, the group really showed more promise than they've ever done. It wasn't alone just a live reunion from the VH1 Rock Honors concert, but a reunion tour, and a series of their classic albums remastered and reissued to the public, and it that also includes a new touch to listen to.

The 2007 MP3 edition of the classic Genesis masterpiece, Invisible Touch, brings back the classic sound of a delightful album, to a whole new generation. The songs sound refreshingly great in a remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound, which brings more heart to a innovative album. The album includes a lot of great classic tracks to new life like their only #1 smash Invisible Touch, the innovative Land Of Confusion, the soulful and somber In Too Deep, and many other great songs. While the album shines well, there is one big disadvantage to the MP3 album, unlike the actual CD re-release of the album. The track Tonight, Tonight, Tonight was shortened to the single edition, instead of the near epic 9 minute edition which was highlighted on the re-released Rhino CD/DVD re-release.

Overall, despite that one big flaw, Invisible Touch is a still a great album to listen to, past and present. If you haven't heard any record from Genesis yet, than you should give this one a sampling. Even after all these years, Genesis still the touch to make great music, and that isn't completely something that is throwing it all away for.

Songs: B

Price: B-

Remastering: B+

Overall: B 1/2-

First, let me say that the Rhino CD/DVD 2 disc Invisible Touch 2007 remaster DOES contain the full 8+ minute version of Tonight, Tonight, Tonight. It's the MP3 version that has the shortened version. The remastering job is good. Bass is improved. Highs are clean. It sounds as if there has been a little subtle remix to it. Some elements seem to be more to the front than before, some to the back of the mix. Some of Phil Collins vocal tracks sound to have a bit more pronounced reverb. Some of the adjustments are hard to pinpoint, but noticeable. After several listenings, I believe it is a worthwhile update; faithful to the original, with only minor tweaks.

English progressive rockers Genesis released their 16th overall album entitled Invisible Touch in June of 1986.

By 1986, lead singer and drummer Phil Collins was a solo superstar with his 1985 solo album No Jacket Required which hit #1, spawned singles and won him Grammies. Plus had hits with the soundtrack songs "Against All Odds" in 1984 and "Separate Lives" (with Marilyn Martin) in 1985. Plus he produced Earth Wind and Fire singer Philip Bailey's album Chinese Wall (which featured the two Phil's duet Easy Lover) and songs for Adam Ant's Strip album. Keyboard player Tony Banks had done the film score to the Kevin Bacon movie Quicksilver. Guitarist/bass player Mike Rutherford started his side project called Mike and the Mechanics which released its self-titled debut which spawned three singles.

In late 1985, the band plus co-producer Hugh Padgham recorded the follow-up to the 1983 self-titled effort. When the album was released, would fans embrace it or turn its back on the band. Read on and find out.

We kick things off with the chart-topping title track which has one of the best Rutherford riffs I ever heard and is still a great pop number today. Next is the first of two epics "Tonight Tonight Tonight". This track speaks about the evils of drugs and the seedy parts of life and with the drum machine loop, created a masterpiece. The song was released as a single with over FOUR MINUTES chopped from this classic and was another US Top 10 hit. We follow with "Land of Confusion" which was a great rocker. Who cannot forget the video where the puppets of the band and the late Ronald Reagan are dominating the clip. This track was another Top 5 hit here in the US. The album's first side closed with another Top 10 hit "In Too Deep" which was a nice ballad to close the first half.

The driving "Anything She Does" kicks off the album's second half and is an incredibly fun rocker with amusing supermodel-oriented lyrics that are right on the money, and the synth horns on it sound remarkably like the real thing. The video for this was funny and included the late Benny Hill as their head of security Fred Scottle Esquire! Next is the 11 minute plus epic "Domino". The first section "In the Glow of the Night" is wistful and superb. Then the section ends suddenly and we dreamingly then segue into the powerful "The Last Domino" which is killer despite the Simmons drums which slightly date the song. Next is the album's second US Top 10 hit "Throwing It All Away" which was a superb ballad. We then close the album with the atmospheric instrumental called "The Brazilian" which is packed with killer hooks and a wild atmosphere.

Invisible Touch would become Genesis' highest charting album in the US reaching #3 and was also its best selling album in the US with 6 million copies sold in the US alone and it is because the material is superb and has held up. Also, ex-Genesis members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett had success that year with their albums So and GTR respectively. Invisible Touch is still superb today.

In 2007, the album was re-released as a re-mixed/remastered CD and DVD combo pack. The DVD has videos for the title cut, Land of Confusion, In Too Deep, Anything She Does and Tonight Tonight Tonight. Plus interviews with the band, also a documentary on the Invisible Touch tour (which is also on the wembley Stadium DVD) and a behind the scenes look at Land of Confusion's video creation. Also, there is the Old Grey Whistle Test documentary on the band as well included. Lastly, the 1986 tourbook is included in the DVD.

Recommended!

You can gripe that Invisible Touch is a slick offering from Genesis, but when the songs are as good as the title track, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Land of Confusion, In Too Deep and Throwing It All Away, who could complain? These classics are superbly remastered, and as a bonus, you get the videos as well. Over 20 years later, these songs and videos still hold up well.

No comments need to be made about this music. Anyone reading this has heard most of this album a hundred times...and that's if you DON'T own a copy of it yourself. It's mid-80s art-pop...plain and simple.

My comments are in regards to the new Remix/remastering job recently completed on the entire Genesis studio catalog, as is the ***** rating.

It's MAGNIFICENT. Truly impressively OUTSTANDING! Superlatives FAIL miserably! The listening experience has been taken to a whole new level with this one. Yes, it's a MUCH better remix sonicly than any of the 5 albums in the "1976 - 1982" box set. I don't know what Master Nick did differently but whatever he did...it's a killer! On first listen, every few seconds I was swiveling around in my "surround-lounge" wondering "where did THAT come from?" Just all kinds of transients and textures coming at you in a relentless barrage from everywhere that you never suspected were there. Isn't that what you WANT from a remix? It sure works for me! If you're anything like me, however well you USED to like this recording, you'll probably raise your rating at LEAST a notch.

A final technical note: This domestic version from WEA/Rhino contains a standard CD disc with only the '06 stereo remix, and a DVD disc with Dolby Digital & DTS encodings of the '06 5.1 remix + the many videos filmed to support this release in the '80s, and some interview/documentary footage. As always, the Land Of Confusion video rocks! Also, Collins' voice is mixed into all channels to at least some degree. I find this much less challenging to enjoy than the more "center-channel=lead-vocal" approach that dominated the remixes released earlier. Hope this helps you decide.

With earlier this year, Genesis reunited to a whole new generation fans at their beaconed calls. With Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks returning to tour as a whole for the first time in nearly 15 years, the group had still proven it still hasn't lost its touch after all these years. That also was the case earlier this year, with the celebrated re-release of their catalog classics like Trick Of The Tail, Duke and the upbeat Abacab to name a few, restored to a whole new era of fans in 5.1 surround sound. But, still a lot of die hard fans have been eagerly awaiting for their 80's hay day records to be re-issued to a whole new era, and this big one is a true visible touch.

The 2007 re-release of Genesis's landmark album Invisible Touch, brings the classic sounds of one the most innovative albums of the 80's to a new era, and sounds better than ever. The classics here really come out well, from the deep beats of the drums, and the soul of Phil Collins trademark voice. the collection includes all the classic tracks like Invisible Touch, Land Of Confusion, and Tonight, Tonight, Tonight. There is also more for fan favorite that also shows with the DVD, as it includes some very special extras, including the videos for Anything She Does, In Too Deep, and the innovative video of Land Of Confusion, which also includes a behind the scenes look at the puppets of celebrities and Genesis in motion. There are also new interviews from Phil and company here and a live performance from the group on the BBC classic show The Old Grey Whistle Test.

All in all, the new expanded edition of Invisible Touch is a great treat for anybody who is either a classic die hard fan of Genesis, or for anyone who is listening to the innovatove album for the first time. I think it sounds much better than ever, and is a real treat for your music library.

Album Cover: B

Sound: B+

Price: B 1/2+

Remastering: A-

Overall: B+

1st: I received TWO disks in the package. The second contained the DVD Visual Music Video's. I, myself, extremely wanted to possess the music video to "Land of Confusion". When this CD arrived and I found the bonus CD I was at the top of the world.

2nd: The Quality of the music through my Sony sound system is Outstanding. Plus the Video patch to my 42" Sharp LED HDTV is remarkable.

Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.