Tony Banks - Still

It's usually claimed that Phil Collins was the ego who drove Genesis towards commercial pop in the 1980s, but this ignores the complicity of their keyboard player and most prolific songwriter, Tony Banks. His 1990 solo album "Still" is probably a must for fans of the poppy Genesis sound, but forgettable for others. It features a variety of singers singing, for the most part, uninspiring stuff. There are a few exceptions. Nik Kershaw's "I Wanna Change the Score" is a well-written pop song, a reminder of the days of "The Riddle" and "Wouldn't It Be Good". The ballad "Still it Takes Me By Surprise", sung over-earnestly by Andy Taylor, is passably good, and even features a widdly-widdly piano solo as a gesture to any prog-rock anoraks who are still listening.

But the stand out contribution comes from former Marillion singer Fish, collaborating with Banks in a gesture of mutual admiration. "Another Murder of a Day" has all the sweeping dynamics that Marillion fans will lap up eagerly, and some lyrics that are really rather good, actually. Incidentally, Fish once appeared with a different Tony Banks, the former British Sports Minister, in a "herbal cigarette" rolling competition on late night TV.

June 24, 2004

5 out of 10

previous | next