Customer Reviews

We Can't Dance: Special Edition

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

 

 

This past year has been a big one for Genesis. After reuniting nearly a decade after Phil Collins left the group, the threesome of Phil, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks had still proven they haven't lost their touch. that has proven also this past year, with the re-releases of several of their classic albums from the 70's, 80's and 90's. It has proven to be so amazing that the songs sound even better than ever, and the testiment of time that great music still comes from the heart. While all the hype has been more around recent releases from former American Idol winners Carrie Underwood and Jordin Sparks, Genesis still proves that they can dance, and that can even be said with this re-release.

The 2007 re-release of the Genesis album We can't Dance, the final album with singer Phil Collins as the lead, still is just as fun to listen to, as it was when it was released over 15 years ago. The album sounds better than ever, and feel just as delightful to listen to now, as it did then. The album includes their big hits from that album including the somber and intimate Hold On My Heart, the down to Earth and meaningful No Son Of Mine, the bass driven dance classic I Can't Dance, which has been the unoffical anthem of wallflowers and bachelors, as well as other songs that capture the light like the overlooked Never A Time and Since I Lost You, which was originally written in regards to the death of Eric Clapton's son Connor who tragically died after falling out of a window back in 1991.

The extra DVD also brings in the fun as well, with the classic videos for their big hits like Jesus He Knows Me, and I Can't Dance among the smash singles, as well as the lesser-known track Tell Me Why. The disc also includes a behind the scenes documentary No Admittance, which looked at their Live: The Way We Walk Tour for We Can't Dance, as well as new interviews with regards to the classic pop album.

All in all, We Can't Dance still sounds as good as it did when it came out years ago, and the re-released album is a great treat for any classic Genesis, or for anyone who just has been recently re-introduced to Genesis over their recent 2007 reunion tour. Even though Genesis claimed they can't dance, they are still dancing out loud with this album. I absolutely recommend it a whole lot.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B 1/2+

Price: B

Remastering: B+

DVD Extras: B 1/2+

Overall: B

Somehow when this album first came out it totally escaped my attention. It's likely I wasn't hearing it because it's time had passed for most local radio stations near me.This album did after all arrive right along with grunge and gangsta rap,neither of which held any interest whatsoever to me at the time. But I am not here to make judgements on music-just review this album.What I find interesting about this album is that it does sound more like something from 1988-89 then it does something from the early 90's-it's every bit as glossy as Invisible Touch in fact. The main differences are that there aren't as many electronics and none of the songs are nearly as catchy as the ones on the previous album. But seven years between albums does change things and here Genesis are generally in a more somber mood. "No Son Of Mine" is a very angrily motivated look at domestic abuse and rather a sad tune to open the album."Jesus He Knows Me" is peppier for sure and an interesting contrast. "I Can't Dance" was the big hit,rather a bluesy Rolling Stones-style tune very atypical of Genesis but that was part of the charm of Phil Collins lead Genesis;you could expect those albums to have plenty of variety.Some other tracks on this are interesting too;"Dreaming While You Sleep" sounds almost like something Genesis would've done a decade before while "Driving The Last Spike" and "Fading Lights" are even more in that style-longish prog-rock instrumentals that (I feel) are here to fill out the 71+ minutes of space everyone in this era seemed to have to fill.Yeah so....this isn't a bad album at all. It just is not as singles oriented as the last two but no less good.

in 1991, after a 5 year sabatical, collins, rutherford, & banks reunited for their final studio album which was more pop then rock but still retained some hints of prog/rock fusion. Collins, at this point was huge as a solo act, session player, & producer. It was great to see them reunite in 1991 to produce one of the last musically sophisticated & mature rock albums. Again as in 1978-80 when genesis plowed along in popularity with punk & techno, genesis found mass appeal against the likes of grunge & heavy metal. the album reached #1 in the UK & #4 in the US. They always seemed to pave their own way regardless of the popular mood of the present. Anyway, this was where they first recruited nick davis for engineer (engineer foor 2007 enhanced series). I think he did a fine job with the original album as it was a fairly compressed sound initially. this is why I think the new enhanced verison wasn't hurt. The album has many different flavors including 4-6 minute pop tracks, 2 10+ minute prog-rock fusion pop tracks, & some love songs. This is why I think the collins era genesis was so popular - they did a little of everything. fading lights & driving the last spike (the 2 long songs) are the highlights of the album as they tell stories of sadness, triumph, & harsh realities of life. No son of mine is a great rock song with simple rhythm patterns but a hard driving bass lines & strong vocals (typical of collins). Overall the 3 guys are less aggressive musically (compared to duke or invisible touch) but still as sophisticated & emotional. This album also showed signs of the end of the band. It was a good way for them to leave the industry - on top... The extras on the enhanced version are great especially the documentary from 1991 that was shown on MTV. It was a glimpse of the guys in the studio recording & giving interviews about their music. This was not their best album but right for the times

i really enjoyed this album back in 92 and i still enjoy it in 2007

the new mixes are bright and beautiful even some of the song i didn't

care for back then have been given a second life.my favorite genesis

song FADING LIGHTS is here so i favor this one right from the start.however some of the lesser know songs SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE,THE WAY OF THE WORLD,LIVING FOREVER,NEVER A TIME and TELL ME WHY have really

held ther test to time,especially within these new mixes.You hear things in some of these tunes you never knew were there.Highly worth revisiting now.

'nothing wrong with CD, but the inside of the case was broken.'

Sorry but what a dim bulb statement! That isn't a 3 star review is it?

This is simply a great album with Phil and friends showing us the way to their musical nirvana. I'm listening right now to 'Dreaming while you sleep' and falling into a paradise of illusion...until I bumped my head on the keyboard/monitor, got to lean backward and not forward for obvious crush protection.

Early or latter Genesis, its all good. There's room in the head space of our minds for us to enjoy good music. I hope the Jazz, Rock, Pop, Hip-hop and Country never stops.

enjoy

Genesis' last studio album with Phil Collins to date called We Can't Dance was released in November of 1991.

The album was the band's first album in five years since the monster smash Invisible Touch. In between that album and its tour, singer/drummer Phil Collins appeared in the movie Buster (which its soundtrack spawned two #1 hits for Phil out of "A Groovy Kind of Love" and "Two Hearts") and released his fourth solo album But Seriously (which hit #1 and sold millions Stateside) and went on the Serious Tour. Guitarist/bass player Mike Rutherford released two more Mike and the Mechanics albums The Living Years (which its title track was a US #1 hit) and Word of Mouth and also pursued his interest in polo. Keyboard player Tony Banks recorded his third solo album Bankstatement and was recording his solo disc Still (which would not be released until 1992).

Then in 1991, Banks, Collins and Rutherford got together with Nick Davis (whom had done solo projects for Banks and Rutherford) and began recording the album We Can't Dance. When the album was released in late 1991 fans didn't know if either it was a great record or the band ran out of energy, read on.

We begin the album with the six minute epic "No Son of Mine" which deals with a very personal and troubled Father-Son relationship. The song was a US hit single and what a great album opener. Next is the comedic "Jesus He Knows Me" which pokes fun at the TV evangelists that occurred during that time. Its video was hilarious with the guys in leisure suits and fake wigs mocking the preachers. This track was the last US single from the album. Next is the first of two 10 plus minute epics "Driving the Last Spike" which is about England's railway workers. Next is "I Can't Dance" which was a rightfully great hit single. Its video was priceless with the band poking fun at the jean and model ads popular at the time. Next is the ballad "Never a Time" which is a great ballad. Next is the epic "Dreaming While You Sleep". This seven minutes epic shows Genesis didn't lose their prog side to their music.

The album's second half starts with "Tell Me Why" which is a nice Beatles-ish sounding piece about thr sociological problems of the world. Next is the excellent poppish "Living Forever" with excellent guitar work by Rutherford. Next is the album's third single and most memorable ballad "Hold on My Heart". Nice ballad. Next is the excellent "Way of the World" which is another piece about the problems in the world. Next is Phil's song for Eric Clapton's son who passed away that March called "Since I Lost You" which is a nice piece. We close the album and the Collins tenure with Genesis with the epic "Fading Lights". This piece includes a lot of elements of Genesis from their progressive days (long instrumental) in between the short vocal passages.

We Can't Dance reached #4 on the Billboard album chart and has sold four million copies in the US alone to date. While some fans don't like the record, We Can't Dance was a great album.

In 2007, the album was re-released as a CD and DVD combo pack remixed and remastered. The DVD has videos for No Son of Mine, I Can't Dance, Hold On My Heart, Jesus He Knows Me and Tell Me Why. Plus interviews with the band. Also, there is a documentary on the making of the album. Also there is the 1992 tour program on the DVD as well.

RECOMMENDED!

It is the last disk of Genesis with Phil Collins on vocals in the studio so far. It is far from one of the best of the band, having a mix of pop songs and melancholy. This DVD edition with improved presentation and does not compromise the group's career.

I have a thing for dark, intense, atmospheric songs. The kind of songs that Genesis (and Phil solo) tended to do. Songs like: "In the Air Tonight", "Land of Confusion", "Mama", "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight", "Dreaming While You Sleep", "Home by the Sea", the Mike & the Mechanics song "Silent Running", etc. Genesis could do those kind of songs with a great deal of aplomb. But, at the same time, they could also do songs and videos that showed off their sense of humor ("I Can't Dance" and "Jesus He Knows Me"). As well as, doing socially relevant songs like "No Son of Mine" and "Tell Me Why". There was a quite a bit of diversity in the subject matters of their songs.

The physical CD comes with the added bonus of a DVD containing music videos and other video footage.

This is Genesis' second best Album in my opinion, lovely music if you like Genesis.

There is nothing wrong with the CD, but the inside of the case was broken.