Invisible Touch (1986)

Invisible Touch (1986)

Many old-school Genesis fans had already jumped ship by 1986, and the neon-tinted Invisible Touch pushed even their most loyal die-hards toward the plank. Even the album’s brushes with art-rock (“Domino,” “Tonight Tonight Tonight”) are unapologetically slick and scaled-back, with Collins’ confident belting chased by blinding synth pads and digi-drum fills that punch with the impact of whoopee cushions. And the full-on pop moments — the ebullient title-track, the gooey “In Too Deep” — could easy function as Collins solo tracks, with Banks and Rutherford using their instruments only to decorate the chorus hooks. But even if Genesis sold out, they did so in expert style: Despite their eye-rolling, period-specific production chuckles, these are still well-crafted songs that have stood the test of time.