I remember when Both Sides came out in November of 1993. The record company didn't promote it and neither did VH1 or MTV. When I listened to it, I thought this is Phil Collins at his most serious. It seems to me that Phil was trying to say something without the typical humor he uses. This cd flopped commercially and critically, the first Phil Collins cd to do so. Perhaps it is because the nature of the music is so serious. I happen to like it when an artist bares his soul, and Phil did an excellent job here. I have all of his solo cds and all of Genesis' cds as well, and I have to say that Both Sides is probably Phil's best solo cd. Sure, No Jacket Required has all the hits and is very well produced. Sure, Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going are very good cds as well, but Both Sides touches an emotional nerve that those others do not. Listen to the intimacy Phil exudes on such songs as "Can't Turn Back The Years" and "I've Forgotten Everything." Listen to the messages imbedded in "Both Sides Of The Story" and "We're Sons Of Our Fathers." I can't think of Phil being so honest with his feelings as he is on this album. It's not the typical, uptempo Phil that most fans enjoy, it's more mature and painful. It sure is a better buy than his 1996 cd Dance Into The Light. Both Sides is a must have for any rock collector.

Words really don't have a way of adequately depicting the music and lyrics on this album. While the record was much less successful commercially in comparison to other albums such as "Face Value" and "No Jacket Required", this more serious than "...But Seriously" album contains some of Phil's best material, and he thinks so, too. Playing all the instruments and singing all the vocals on this album, three songs fall into the catergory of social issues. "Both Sides of the Story" does what the title says - looks at several individual episodes, such as a ghetto kid who carries a gun in order to get respect, and points out the two sides that every story has. Another is "We're Sons of our Fathers", describes how family values have changed since Phil himself was a kid. The third song is "We Wait And We Wonder", a powerful anthem with Scottish bagpipes that describes how the cloud of terrorism that lurks overhead everyday makes you think of it as almost normal, until something hits real close to home. Most other songs reflect on Phil's personal life at the time, in both love and everyday life, such as letting the past remain what it is: the past, in songs like "Can't Turn Back The Years". "I've Forgotten Everything" is totally inspired by Hoagy Carmichael's "I Get Along Without You Very Well", and "We Fly So Close" is another hidden treasure; a song that makes a person think about how often disaster comes within their grasp everyday. "There's A Place For Us" is a beautiful song that has its inspiration found in "Somewhere" from "West Side Story", and of course "Everyday" which just epitomizes how love can make you do things you never dreamed possible. This album is a true treasure that is lying in the shadows, waiting to be discovered, and it will happen someday. While it doesn't have as much radio-friendly material, it feels like Phil walks up to the listener and shakes his hand. It's as meeting the artist face to face. It returns to very simple melodies and heartfelt lyrics, and all recorded in Phil's home studio on 8 Track, showing you that the size in production doesn't matter. If it's from the heart, it's beautiful in any shape or form, simple or complex. As Phil says, "I hear the difference. I hope you do, too..."

When I first purchased Both Sides, I'll admit that I didnt care for it much, after hearing 1989's "But Seriously," Both Sides seemed to be a bit of a disappointment. But being the die-hard Phil Collins fan that I am, I just couldn't let the album collect dust. After about 5 plays, I fell in love with it, and now I view it as one of Phil's best albums, and certainly one of his most unique. Both Sides was a very personal album for Phil Collins. It contains messages of life, of love, sadness, heartbreak, and even growing old. In this way, Phil Collins truly helps us get to know the man behind the music, and that says something. Not to mention the fact that Phil played every instrument himself, and even recorded every song in the upstairs room of his house! Talk about a personal album! Phil even speaks to the listener personally in the sleeve notes of this album, and provides a description of each song's meaning under its title. In his own words:

"The reason....is to give the listener a direction or to maybe explain what the songs are about. Songs are all things to people but sometimes the wrong path is taken and the misinterpretation stays with your forever."

This personal touch really makes the listener feel as though he or she is truly part of the picture Phil has painted with this album, and the impact of that fact is incredible. Phil is indeed a real person.

Here is a description of each song an my own opinion on each one:

1. Both Sides opens with the incredible "Both Sides of the Story," a song that truly shows both sides of life, and sounds like it should have been on "But Seriously".

2. "Can't Turn Back the Years" is a song about growing old, about how we all wish we could go back and live again, but the past must remain the past.

3. "Everyday" also sounds like Both Sides material. This deeply moving song about love and heartbreak will bring tears to your eyes, it did for me. :) Definitely one of Phil's best songs ever.

4. "I've Forgotten Everything" is a slow moving song about closure, and how it sometimes can be hard to forget a past relationship..and the hurt with it. This is one of the weaker songs on Both Sides.

5. "We're Sons of our Fathers" is a good song in my opinion. Phil talks about how things have changed since he was a child, how todays youth are harder to control. The song has an excellent foundation, and could have been great if given a bit more attention.

6. "Can't Find My Way" is absolutely excellent. It carries a dark and atmospheric, In The Air Tonight-ish sound that makes for a very good song, one of the strongest on Both Sides!

7. "Survivors" is upbeat song about forgiveness, a fairly good song though not the strongest.

8. "We Fly So Close" is excellent! The song has an incredible opening that invokes images of waves crashing against a rocky shore, dark clouds and rain, which fade into the song itself. The imagery and FEEL of this song are indescribable, another In The Air Tonight-ish song, and definitely a must-hear! Buy Both Sides for this song if for nothing else!

9. "There's a Place For Us" is jazzy and slow, got a good sound to it, not strong yet not weak.

10. "We Wait and We Wonder" sounds similar to Both Sides of the Story, earlier in the album. Though not quite as good, one of the catchier and definitely one of the stronger songs on the album, I believe they even made a music video for this one.

11. "Please Come Out Tonight" gently eases the listener out of the album. The song has a gentle, melancholy mood to it, something to listen to when you are lovesick.

That said I highly recommend Both Sides to the devoted Phil Collins fan. It's a great album that will take a few listens to fully appreciate it, but once you do, you'll love it. I wouldn't recommend that the casual Phil Collins fan start with this album. Try getting his earlier works first, and then purchase Both Sides, as it is quite a departure from the radio friendly Phil that so many people know. After hearing his earlier work, it's incredible to come down to earth, relax, and get to know the man himself. Both Sides does that, and that's why it's a five-star album. You must get it. :)

Although Phil Collins popularity fizzled in the 1990's, his music remained as fresh and intimate as usual. His 1993 album Both Sides, reflects about holding on to love, and remembering the good and bad times with others, as well as breaking up with your partner. The songs are very sincere and compassionate. Each song has an story to tell. The first song Both Sides Of The Story, about an homeless child trying to get ahead in life (similar to Collins megahit Another Day In Paradise).

From D-I-V-O-R-C-E, to his split with Genesis, Both Sides forcasted the stories of Phil Collins in the 1990's. But everyday, something good will come along if you think positive. I really thought it was one of the most understanding albums I've ever heard. We always gander at one side of the story of each problem, but Both Sides shows that every side, Everyday (as in the song titled Everyday) we all go through life on more than one street. Both Sides states that constant.

I'm a fan of personal artistic statements. Especially by artists that have already shown that they can write for a mass audience. That certainly applies in Phil's case; he was one of the most popular musicians of the 1980's.

But the 1990's were different. And certainly in this post 9/11 world, things are even more different now. Irrevocably so. What are we to make of a song like "We Wait and We Wonder" which Phil explained back in 1993 as:

"To the outsider it seems that we in Britain live daily under the cloud of terrorism. That familiarity sometimes makes you think of it as almost normal, then suddenly something will happen..."

Overlord Phil the prescient?

I like what Phil did with this album, and I like what he's done with his sound since. The bottom line is that Phil Collins is a musician--a great musician. That's why he is respected by his peers, and why people like James Carter and Quincy Jones play with him. Phil just gets it. He's always gotten it. And his current audience, for the most part, gets it too.