SIDES

"Sides" is PHILLIPS' most commercial effort to date, though clearly his strength lies elsewhere. Sounding remarkably like a STEVE HACKETT album at times (notably Cured), the songs feature different vocalists of varying talent, including a few from PHILLIPS credited to The Vicar. The material isn't half-bad, mixing pop and progressive rock with musical references to PHILLIPS' earlier work as well as GENESIS. The opening "Um And Aargh" is a rail against the music industry that recalls similar complaints from GEORGE HARRISON; this and "Side Door" are catchy pop songs if a little clumsy. As might be expected, PHILLIPS throws in a few sentimental love songs that hark back to "The Geese & The Ghost": "Lucy Will", "Magdalen" and "I Want Your Love." A cynical love song, "Holy Deadlock", features lyrics from MARTIN HALL, and combines light reggae with a little clockwork strangeness. The album's high point occurs on two progressive instrumentals, "Sisters Of Remindum" and "Nightmare", that will instantly evoke images of Steve Hackett (in fact, Hackett responded with "The Air-Conditioned Nightmare" on Cured). Throw in the failed musical story "Bleak House" and you've got the works.

Although it's not an entirely unsuccessful foray into contemporary music, PHILLIPS didn't release another commercial album of songs for some time. Apparently once was enough for everyone involved.