A TRICK OF THE TAIL

Whilst Phil Collins' tenure as Genesis lead singer would eventually wind up with the band abandoning their prog rock past almost completely, it couldn't have started out better. A Trick of the Tail is a resurgence of the nostalgic, pastoral style of Nursery Cryme (complete with preoccupation with Victoriana), but on top of that presents some of the best instrumental performances from the band, with Dance On a Volcano, Squonk, and Los Endos being particularly worthy of mention.

On top of that, Phil really comes into his own as a singer on songs such as the comedic and whimsical Robbery Assault and Battery (which like the best Gabriel era material manages to be whimsical without being embarrassing) or the emotionally moving Ripples. In presenting an updated vision of the pastoral prog of Genesis' earliest days, A Trick of the Tail and its successor go a long way in making sure the Phil Collins era has at least a few albums worthy of the band's illustrious past. It doesn't quite make up for We Can't Dance or Invisible Touch, but let's be honest, neither does Nursery Cryme or Selling England By the Pound.