Christgau Consumer Guide
Pretty convoluted: great falsetto of great drummer-led black pop band seeks solo identity, turns for production aid (and duet on single) to drummer who’s led great (i.e., best-selling) white art-rock band back into money by ripping off (appropriating?) black rhythms and vocals.
Christgau Consumer Guide
ROBERT CHRISTGAU
PHILIP BAILEY “Chinese Wall”
(Columbia)
Pretty convoluted: great falsetto of great drummer-led black pop band seeks solo identity, turns for production aid (and duet on single) to drummer who’s led great (i.e., best-selling) white art-rock band back into money by ripping off (appropriating?) black rhythms and vocals. Funny thing is: though Phil Collins plays a little louder than Maurice White, he’s got almost as many chops and may even sing better. Even at that, for Vegas-gone-toheaven I’ll take EW&F over Phil & Phil. But I’ll certainly take Phil & Phil over Genesis for lush/sensuous/zippy soundtrack. B +
BLACK STALIN “You Ask For It”
(Kalico)