Dance into the Light

AMG Review of Dance into the Light

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Following the bleak But Seriously and Both Sides, Phil Collins delivered the considerably lighter Dance into the Light, his first upbeat pop album since 1985's No Jacket Required. Not only was it a return to the musical style that brought him to the top of the charts during the '80s, but Dance into the Light was the first record Collins released since leaving Genesis, which made it all the more crucial to his career. For the most part, the album treads familiar territory -- R&B-influenced dance-pop, sensitive allads, and brooding midtempo ruminations -- but there are several occasions where he stretches out, incorporating worldbeat influences into his style.