Phil Collins left
Genesis following the We Can't Dance tour and many observers expected
Tony Banks and
Michael Rutherford to finally call it a day. They decided to persevere instead, hiring former Stiltskin vocalist
Ray Wilson to replace
Collins. Given that Stiltskin was a European neo-prog band, it isn't a total surprise that
Genesis returned to their art rock roots on
Calling All Stations, their first album with
Wilson. The music on
Calling All Stations is long and dense, but it's given the same immaculate, pristine production that was the hallmark of their adult contemporary work with
Collins. It wants to be an art rock album while still appealing to the pop audience, even if the group didn't really write pop songs for
Calling All Stations. That may be because
Wilson's voice isn't suited for pop, but works well with languid, synthesized prog settings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine