U-Catastrophe

Last updated
U-Catastrophe
U-Catastrophe - Simon Collins.jpg
Studio album by
Released2008
Recorded2007–2008
Genre Rock, synth-metal
Label Razor & Tie
Producer Kevin Churko & Simon Collins
Simon Collins chronology
Time for Truth
(2005)
U-Catastrophe
(2008)

U-Catastrophe is the third album by British-Canadian musician and singer-songwriter Simon Collins, son of Phil Collins. Phil plays on the track "The Big Bang", while another former Genesis member, Steve Hackett, plays on the track "Fast Forward the Future". It was first digitally available in August 2008 on iTunes.

Contents

Production

While recording a cover of the 1981 Genesis song "Keep It Dark" in 2007, Collins met Canadian record producer Kevin Churko. As a result of the meeting, they decided to produce Collins' next album together. [1] That same year Collins signed with the record label Razor & Tie. Work began on the album in September 2007, finishing in February 2008. [2]

Theme and highlights

Collins recounts that much of the album as well as the album's title were inspired by events in his own life, stating, "I went through some hard times a couple years ago and I had to find a way back to love and a way back to living a life that I knew was healthy for me. There were certain things I felt a need to sing about, so a lot of these songs were inspired by my own personal u-catastrophe.". [3] "Us (Love Transcends)" is according to Collins "one of the most personal songs on the record" and was written for his partner and stepdaughter. [3] Collins has also related that songs on the album such as "Disappearing" and "Eco" are his response to the global warming issue: "I know everyone's sick of hearing about it but it's not gonna go away." [3]

Collins' father, Phil Collins, appears on the track "The Big Bang" in a drum duet between the two. [4] [5] Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett contributed to the final track, "Fast Forward the Future". [4] [5]

Reception

Musicplayers.com wrote in their review of the album, "There is definite greatness here. On the drumming front, Simon shares style and tone with his dad, but he goes far more in a modern rock direction with programming electronic beats and grooves." [6]

The album's first single "Unconditional" reached the Canadian Hot 100 in November 2008.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."U-Catastrophe"Simon Collins, Kevin Churko5:24
2."All I've Left to Lose"Collins, Churko3:07
3."Disappearing"Collins, Churko4:20
4."Powerless"Collins, Churko3:38
5."Go (Only One I Know)"Collins4:26
6."The Good Son"Collins, Churko, Kelly Nordstrom4:54
7."Unconditional"Collins3:39
8."The Big Bang"Collins, Churko, Dave "Squids" Kerzner5:54
9."Eco"Collins, Churko, Debora Lucyk5:11
10."Us (Love Transcends)"Collins4:21
11."Between I & E"Collins5:02
12."Fast Forward the Future"Collins6:34
Total length:56:30

Personnel

Production

See also

Related Research Articles

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Philip David Charles Collins is an English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is best known for his tenure as the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and for his solo career which began in 1981. Between 1982 and 1990, Collins scored three UK and seven US number-one singles as a solo artist. When his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is totalled, he had more US top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s. His most successful singles from the period include "In the Air Tonight", "Against All Odds ", "One More Night", and "Another Day in Paradise".

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Stephen Richard Hackett is an English musician, songwriter, singer, and producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums, seven singles and one EP before he left to pursue a solo career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.

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Dave Kerzner American musician, producer, sound designer

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References

  1. [ dead link ]
  2. "Features > Bands > Simon Collins". MusicPlayers.com. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  3. 1 2 3 Messer, Lesley (2016-07-13). "FIRST LISTEN: Simon Collins Unveils New Songs - Music News". People.com. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  4. 1 2 "Simon Collins - U-Catastrophe (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  5. 1 2 "Is Grunge still alive?". Archived from the original on 2012-12-16.
  6. "Reviews > What We're Listening To: December 2008". MusicPlayers.com. Retrieved 2016-07-19.