Search - Genesis :: Invisible Touch: Special Edition

Wow! Genesis' Best Post Gabriel Effort Gets Even Better!

Frederick Baptist | Singapore | 07/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Is this the future of mlps re-issues? I certainly hope so! I don't have an SACD player and so I was sceptical at first about giving this version of my favourite Genesis album a try but boy am I glad that I did! This SACD Hybrid plays also on normal cd players and boy was the sound quality simply brilliant! I know a lot of Genesis fans are polarised between those who swear by the pre and post Peter Gabriel days but I happen to think that Peter Gabriel did his best work when he went solo anyway and so the whole thing was win-win to me.



Although I liked "Abacab" quite a bit when it was first released, "Invisible Touch" to me is the best of the Genesis Phil Collins' years and time seems to have proved this right to me as this album still sounds fresh today as it did to me way back when it was first released. Even songs like "Land of Confusion" are still relevant today with its theme of destruction environmental or otherwise for example.



For me, the best tracks are my favourite all time Genesis track, "Domino" and especially "Part One: In the Glow of the Night" and "Throwing it All Away" and I might be in the minority on this one but I thought "In Too Deep" was the weakest track on this album. This album showed just how talented the rest of the band is and that Genesis is much, much more than just Phil Collins and two other guys.



"In the Glow of the Night" is an excellent track that really made this album for me. Just listen to the brilliant drumming throughout that showed that the drummer just doesn't have to keep time only but can also be a creative force just like in the old time jazz drumming days. Surely some of the best ever creative rock drumming work I've ever heard in my life is on that track and kudos to Phil Collins for showing us just how great a drummer he really is. His drumming is even better than his singing folks and it was even able to evoke emotions that you'd think only instruments like the sax or the guitar can. That track was a real eye-opener for me and showed me what a lead-drum can do to make a track. That track always gives me goose bumps and although it's only half a track, Part One will always be among my top 10 ever tracks; songwriting/crafting at its very best.



The only gripe that I have with this mini-lp replica sleeve (mlps) version of the album is the actual design and assembly of the cardboard sleeve which is made from flimsy, thin cardboard which looks like it will fall apart soon when the glue gets old. This is a real shame as the rest of the value proposition is excellent. We get a second disc which is a DVD with both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround options which sound extremely good on my system. The sound quality of the SACD/Hybrid on my normal system also sounded fantastic. The remastering job they did was simply first class! There are also Visual Extras such as interviews with the band, videos of the tracks with the standout being the "Land of Confusion" video.



There is just so much value for the money here for the price that they are asking that it makes me think that all cds should be made this way with the exception of the mlps design itself that should be improved. See what they did with the mlps versions of "The Band" and the Hall & Oates catalogue if you want to know what I mean about how much better mlps designs can be. Included are inserts with the transcripts of the interviews and all the lyrics in both Japanese and English.



So while the mlps design and assembly leaves much to be desired, the sound quality (wow! the great sound!), the DVDs with multiple sound quality surround options, the videos, the interviews, and oh did I mention the sound make this the best version of what I feel to be Genesis' best album that is currently out there. A hefty price tag but boy is this still great value for money!



Highly recommended!"