Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited
As Genesis' guitarist, Hackett displayed an extraordinarily broad range, from classical delicacy to rock-ist aggression. His extensive solo catalog abounds with imagination, eccentricity, and a graceful melodicism, and that's the case with this 1996 effort. On it, Hackett revisits 11 vintage Genesis numbers, including such favorites as the title track, "I Know What I Like," "Firth of Fifth," and "Your Own Special Way," with help from esteemed colleagues like King Crimson/Asia vet John Wetton, Yes drummer Bill Bruford, Genesis drummer Chester Thompson, King Crimson/Foreigner co-founder Ian McDonald, Squeeze/Mike and the Mechanics vocalist Paul Carrack, and Zombies singer Colin Blunstone.--Scott Schinder