Customer Reviews

Strictly Inc.

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When this album was released in 1995, it sank without a trace and didn't even see a US release. Though Tony Banks' solo output away fom Genesis has never been successful, the music has always, always been good. Everything you would want from a good Genesis album is here- strong songs, emotional vocals and cinematic, atmospheric keyboards. This album beats the pants off of Calling All Stations, released a couple years later. Though Phil Collins was the face of Genesis, Tony was without a doubt the musical soul of that band.

Strictly Inc. teams Tony with Wang Chung singer Jack Hues, possibly the best vocalist on a Banks solo album. His voice adds a bit of 'New Romantic' suave to the material, giving it an 80's sound while sounding timeless at the same time. Highlights include emotional balads 'A Piece Of You' and sadness-tinged 'Never Let Me Know', slight techno-ish 'Only Seventeen', 'Strictly Incognito' a song about an ice cream truck driver who falls for a schizophrenic minor, and Tony's finest solo moment, the 17-minute 'Island In The Darkness', in which Tony seems to have been channeling 1977-80 era Genesis with that piano sound we know from albums like 'And Then There Were Three'. A powerful and melodramatic track, 'Island' goes through many moods and 'movements' and also features a soulful guitar solo from Daryl Stuermer.

One thing that sank this album was the 'band' moniker of 'Strictly Inc.'- most people probably didn't even know it was a Banks album, not that it would have sold much better. But still, Tony should have learned his lesson with 'Bankstatement', his 1989 'band'/duo/project thing which met a similar fate, so 'Strictly Inc.' was dead before it was even out of the box. It really should have been called Tony Banks/Jack Hues. The cover gives no indication as to who is on the album, just 'Strictly Inc.' with a couple cartoon characters on it on a white background(what is it with these Genesis people with albums with white backgrounds?).
The music however is well worth checking out, and special mention must be made for Wang Chung's Jack Hues who's vocals fit Tony's music like a glove. 80's/Wang Chung fans should check this out too. Well crafted, great songs, great keyboards, great atmosphere, great vocals, bad band name. I can't praise this album enough.

Maybe being the quiet one in a band lead by a very strong, almost hyper-kinetic personality prevented Tony Banks from getting the attention he so richly deserved. Initially, I was attracted to Genesis because of Phil, but I stayed a fan for 25+ years because of Tony. As far as Strictly Inc goes - I loved it from the first time I played it. Island in the Darkness is a beautiful, almost hypnotic track that I played almost repeatedly after the CD first arrived. It's the kind of extended instrumental/vocal that I was wishing for on albums like Bankstatement and Still. I'm not to keen on the cover art, but that a very minor flaw. I highly recommend this album - and I hope Tony keeps on making more music. He may not have a huge following, but those of us that are on board are very devoted.

While he may be the most important member of Genesis, keyboard player Tony Banks has constantly had next to no success as a solo artist.

But the great man is a powerful lyricist as well as a fantastic musician. This 1995 project uses singer Jack Hues as vocalist and guitarist. The opner 'Don't Turn You're Back On Me' is trademark Banks, it's powerful and angry, but also very quirky. 'Walls Of Sound' is one of my personal favourites, a beautiful lyric from Tony and some good vocals by Hues make for an excellent love song. 'Only Seventeen' is my least favourite and sees Banks experimenting with trance and dance sounds. It sounds overblown and horribliy like a Pet Shop Boys song to me. Next comes 'The Serpant Said' has Tony written all over it. Some powerful and penetrating lyrical complexity (that continues throughout the album) and some intense and quiet frightning instrumentation, a winner all round.

'Never Let Me Know' is my personal favourite, a moody and atmospheric meditation on regret and anxiety, this is sort of quietly devastating (with the other Banks trademark, big instrumental sections) adding to the power. The haunting 'Never Let Me Know' leads to 'Charity Balls' a nice little medatation on sleaze in high places, but for me the instrumentation is a little TO quirky and makes it difficult to listen to without getting bored and skipping. 'Something To Live For' is a highlight, with some interesting music and a meaningful lyric.

Another great piece here is the ethereal 'A Piece Of You' with lyrics by Jack Hues. A beautiful song with some nice chords from Banks, reminicent of those on teh Genesis track 'Hold On My Heart'. Then comes the bizzare 'Strictly Incognito', again for me this is just a bit too out there. While i like the quirkiness and strangeness of Tony Banks, again the music just dosen't grab you and you end up skipping it.

And so the final piece, at 17 mins long 'An Island In The Darkness' is Banks' most ambitious solo composition. Haunting and powerful, this piece is a great work, and to sum up both Banks and this album, i quote the final line from 'Island', after assaulting you for 17 mins and sending you through many differnt emotions and moods, Tony ends with the line:
'Do you have the will to carry on?'

There is simply not enough to say about this album. This album has it all...great vocals, a great story with every song and hypnotizing musical (Tony's keyboard genius) elements that will make you wear out your music system. Tony Banks has proven to be THE core of Genesis. As you listen, you'll be "hooked" on the very refreshingly original sound that Mr.Banks offers. Obviously from this album, Mr. Tony Banks prides himself on absolute originality, a quality extinct just as the dinosaurs are today. Mr.Banks keyboard talent features a brilliant mixture of modern synthesizer and classical piano. You'll rob yourself of pure music pleasure if you don't buy this album. Go get it now, it'll sound great in any music system you own. Experience music as it should be!!!!! You'll be happy you did!

You must try and get this CD for one song only. "An Island In The Darkness". Download it, rip it, steal it, do whatever you must to hear this song. This song reminds you of why you fell in love with his music long ago. There are two good sing-a-longs that I sing in the car. "Never Let Me Go" & "A Piece Of You". Although, "A Piece Of You" runs a distant third. Just when you thought you would never hear a new song from Tony that would blow you away like the old days.....along comes "An Island In The Darkness"

Ok, so I'm a prog nut (Marillion and Porcupine Tree are my favorite bands) and I love everything by Genesis up to Seconds Out, have a liking for the Collins era stuff, and thought Calling All Stations was an amazing return to form (my favorite Genesis LP since Seconds Out). With that said, this is easily the best of the plethora of solo Genesis albums (Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Mike and the Mechanics, Steve Hacket, GTR, etc.) barring Peter Gabriel who would require a separate discussion and ranking. Anyway, this album shows why Tony is considered the true heart and soul of Genesis. And as already mentioned in the other reviews, "An Island In the Darkness" is worth the price of admission all by itself. The final climactic guitar solo is basically a 2000's version of the "Firth of Fifth" solo Hacket layed down on Seconds Out. Amazing stuff. If you only buy one solo Genesis album, make it this one.

This is an incredible Tony Banks album. An Island in the Darkness is quite probably one of the best songs he ever wrote. Just great songs throughout. Let's face, musically speaking Tony Bank was Genesis, and this album just further confirms that. Too bad it's out of stock. If you can find it buy it. It is gorgeous. Best vocals ever on a Banks album. 10 tracks...reminiscent of Duke, Wind and Wuthering, Afterglow, the whole ball of wax.

1995's "Strictly Inc." is a collaboration between Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks and Wang Chung lead singer Jack Hues. The album is a total beauty, a perfect pop-rock blending of Banks' marvelous keyboard-playing and songwriting with Hues' incredible voice. Standout tracks include the catchy "Don't Turn Your Back On Me," the sinister "The Serpent Said," the charming "Charity Balls," the gorgeous "Never Let Me Know" and "A Piece Of You," the entrancing "Something To Live For," and, for the grand finale, the epic "An Island In The Darkness." If you love Genesis and Tony Banks' solo stuff (and if you also happen to dig Wang Chung besides), then dive in to "Strictly Inc." and enjoy. It's easily one of Banks' finest accomplishments, and Jack Hues proves that there's more to him than just "Everybody Have Fun Tonight." Great album, you guys!

What can I say that already has not been said. This is Tony's [Yes we're on first name basis] best endever. Jack Hues vocals are top drawer. O.K. here is something new. "An Island In The Darkness"----BRILLIANT! Enough said. Buy,beg,borrow this CD. Period.

I bought this CD based on the positive reviews of others, but am totally underwhelmed. This is my fourth Bank's solo CD (I also have "Bankstatement", "A Curious Feeling", and "Still", not to mention the entire Genesis catalog) -- and there's nothing on "Strictly Inc. that hasn't been done better on another disc. And quite frankly, that's part of the problem: "Strictly Inc." is just more of the same material that has been reformulated and regurgitated. If you're into prog (like me!), you're going to be disappointed in this quasi-pop mishmash of forgettable tunes. There's nothing here even as remotely catchy as the opener to "Still"; "Red Day on Blue Street".