Phil Collins

Both Sides

Easily His Best to Date

Review Score:

(8/10)
Four years after the socially conscious But Seriously Phil Collins follows up that album with the introspective Both Sides. This incredible follow-up to the great But Seriously finds Phil Collins going deeply personal on this CD and in much darker territory. Both Sides is virtually opposite to the feel-good upbeat feel of Both Sides and much less socially conscious than But Seriously. Unfortunately this CD found one of my favorite artists commercial success slumping. Both Sides is a vastly underrated masterpiece from the meistro of the drums. The best songs on this CD are the mournfully nostalgic Can't Turn Back The Years, the heartwarming Everyday(My favorite track on this CD), the bitter I've Forgotten Everything, the saddening minor note Can't Find My Way the more upbeat Survivors, and the We Fly So Close(Very reminiscent of In The Air Tonight).
The lyrics are very deep and powerful and express strong feeling but it's mainly the dark melodies that express the majority of the mood of this album. Both Sides is so wonderfully crafted that I regret buy this album used because buying a new copy of Both Sides would've added to record sales. That's how good Both Sides really is. Plus another thing is that Phil played all of the instruments when recording this album and that really makes this album one of his most talented works to date. If you're looking for the poppish fun of Sussudio, Two Hearts or Don't Lost My Number steer clear of Both Sides because this powerful CD is almost completely opposite to the excellent No Jacket Required. The happier songs on Both Sides are more melancholy than even Long Way To Go off No Jacket Required. It's kind of odd that Phil suddenly took a 180 degree turn into much more upbeat territory with the incredibly underrated 1996 follow-up Dance Into The Light which probably is a close cousin to No Jacket Required.

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