A. Herzman 2008-06-16
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
The greatest album ever made.
Face Value is an amazing combination of jazz, rock, R&B and pop. The fact that it was written and recorded after Phil's first divorce, forces real emotion to the lyrics and feel of the music. You can't help but feel his pain. Yet, no two songs are alike. Since it was never intended as a public release, the entire work is extremely personal. Each song is a story by itself. Real thought and emotion goes into the lyrics. It isn't just 3 or 4 words sung over and over again like many modern songs we are used to hearing on the radio. People who give this album an undeserving one star, seem to be disgruntled Gabriel fans, who are upset with Phil filling his shoes in Genesis.
1. In The Air Tonight -The crème al la crème of all Phil Collins. Arguably, Phil's best vocal recording ever. The songs starts off slow and haunting with the relentless sound of the drum machine (necessary for the mood), then builds into an explosion of drums and emotion. The energy released is like an atomic bomb. Just unforgettable. Lyrics like "If you told me you were drowning, I would not lend a hand", even though they are fictional, still send chills up the spine. A true masterpiece.
2. This Must Be Love- One of Phil's divorce songs. The lyrics tell the story of how bad the pain can be of being in love. We've all been there and we all can relate.
3. Behind the Lines- A sped up version of the Genesis version of the same name. The horns add another dimension to an already amazing song. I'm not saying it's better or worse than the Genesis version. I'm saying it's different.
4. The Roof is Leaking- A moving story about a poor family trying to get through the cold of Winter and surviving the elements. The picture is painted so perfectly, you can actually feel the cold and wind and see the water dripping through the ceiling. If it were a film, it would be worthy of an Oscar.
5. Droned- A short instrumental that works well as a bridge between "Roof is Leaking" and "Hand in Hand". Alone, it can put you in a trans like mood, thanks, in part, to the contribution of Ravi Shankar.
6. Hand in Hand- Absolutely amazing! Although there are no lyrics, there are so many things going on in this song, it is almost sensory overload. One of Phil's most amazing demonstrations of his drumming ability. It's the exact opposite of his drum machine sound of "In the Air Tonight", yet keeps the rhythm of the song flawlessly. The sound of overpowering horn section hasn't been this good since the "Big Band" era. If you try to listen to each track individually, you'll think they are all doing their own thing, which makes you appreciate how it all fits together into a single song. You can listen over and over without it getting boring. Yes, it's THAT good.
7. I Missed Again- A poppy song that is also very catchy. Another nice combination of drums, horns and vocals. Great for the radio.
8. You Know What I Mean- A song that will rip your heart out. The lyrics are very powerful. Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to how painful it is to break up, yet still have feelings for the significant other. Pure torture.
9. Thunder and Lightning- a jazzy song that uses the power of a thunderstorm to paint an amazing picture in your mind.
10. I'm not Moving- Another divorce song that can show the conflict of love and hate. The stubbornness of not wanting to move on, even though it would be the best choice to make.
11. If Leaving Me Is Easy- Arguably, the best ballad ever written. The song paints a perfect picture of the love Phil had for his wife. It turns your heart to jelly, but then, towards the end, the song literally STABS with pure emotion that pours like blood from a bleeding heart. You can actually feel the pain in Phil's voice. Like a 5 minute feature film...unbelievable.
12. Tomorrow Never Knows- A Beatles remake that features some of the tracks from this album played backwards. A worthy attempt at a tribute to the "Fab 4". Make sure you turn up the volume all the way at the end to catch Phil sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".
Face Value
