Album of the Day

Tony Banks: Still. If there was any justice in the pop world, the breakout solo artist from Genesis would have been Tony Banks, who was infinitely more responsible for the band's commercial success than Phil Collins. Granted, Tony has the electrifying stage presence of a wet dish towel, but what do you expect from a keyboard player? Still is the only Banks album I own, and it is what you might reasonably have expected from a Genesis man in 1992 - decent synth-heavy pop with a couple of real high points, but not much else. Given the fine collaborators Banks has along for the ride of some tracks (Daryl Stuermer, Vinnie Colaiuta, Fish), it's a shame Banks's synth sheen doesn't break a little more often than it does. Anyway, "Red Day on Blue Street" is a good jaunty political tune (particularly appropriate at the campaign season hits high gear) and "Another Murder of the Day", co-written with vocalist Fish, gives some indication of what Genesis's Calling All Stations could have been had the big Scotsman taken over behind the mike.