Genesis
Invisible Touch

THE REVIEW

The crucial problem in evaluating an album is the more or less serious perspective that one must have in judging it: finding the right balance is difficult. The question is this: how should one judge a fun and enjoyable album without pretensions, yet artistically mediocre? Invisible Touch, the infamous orange hand from whose clutches old Genesis fans wanted to escape, is the paradigm of what I mentioned earlier. It's a work that energetically fits into the plasticity of the 80's, unleashing a series of commercial hits that still buzz on the radio today. Let's be clear, when compared to good records of the new Genesis era like "Duke," it clearly emerges as a flop. Too many eighties influences, annoying electronic drums, gaudy arrangements: Genesis don't seem like the sophisticated band they (almost) always have been.

However, it is also true that several tracks are quite hummable, and there are some sparks like "Tonight" and "Domino" that are quite interesting. The songs feature catchy melodies that are enjoyable to listen to if one doesn't have too many expectations. The album, in short, has the charm of a "guilty pleasure" record, which in its commercial inspiration is ultimately successful and also gritty. Rating 3 not as a "Genesis album", but as a standalone album within the pop realm. Genesis can do much, much better, here their talent is wasted, but they are still decisively above many of the period's blunders.

I mean, at least it's a group that knows what they're doing: they are skilled instrumentalists who remain excellent in concert settings. Today, the radio and MTV bombard us with colossal flops: dull teenage songs; dazed individuals appealing to the "tunzettara" trend; rock groups using their angry attitude to cover up their inability to go beyond two simple chords.

In comparison, Invisible Touch from the dreadful 80s shines like gold.