U-Catastrophe is the third album by Simon Collins

Simon Collins

Simon Philip N. Collins is a British-Canadian musician. He is the son of English pop singer Phil Collins.-Early years:...

. It was first digitally available in August 2008 on iTunes.

Production

In 2007, Collins recorded a cover of the 1981 Genesis song Keep It Dark

Keep It Dark

"Keep It Dark" is a song by British band, Genesis, released on October 23, 1981 as a single in Europe only. The track wasn't released as a single in the U.S.-Song information:...

. While working on the cover, he met Kevin Churko. This resulted in the decision by Collins & Churko to produce
his next album together.

Collins later signed with Razor & Tie

Razor & Tie

Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...

 that same year. Work began on the album in September and finished in February 2008.

Much of the album and the title itself, were inspired by the problems Collins faced in his own life "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.". Us (Love Transcends)" is according to Collins "one of the most personal songs on the record." which was written for his partner and stepdaughter.

Songs such as "Disappearing" and "Eco"; refer directly to the issue of global warming, something Collins feels very strongly about. "I know everyone's sick of hearing about it but it's not gonna go away."

Simons father, Phil, makes a guest appearance on the track "The Big Bang", a drum duet between father and son. Phil Collins

Phil Collins

Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....

is not the only Genesis member to make an appearance on the album, with ex-guitarist Steve Hackett contributing on the final track "Fast Forward The Future". Collins said of the track, "I also wanted to work with Steve Hackett for the longest time. So “Fast Forward the Future” was the perfect song, I thought, in terms of an electro-funk kind of epic; whatever you want to call it. But it’s been one of the more progressive arrangements on the album."

Reception

Musicplayers.com wrote in their review "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."

The albums first single "Unconditional" reached the Canadian Hot 100 in November 2008.

Track listing

1. "U-Catastrophe" – 5:24
2. "All I've Left to Lose" – 3:07
3. "Disappearing" – 4:20
4. "Powerless" – 3:38
5. "Go (Only One I Know)" – 4:26
6. "The Good Son" – 4:54
7. "Unconditional" - 3:39
8. "The Big Bang" - 5:54
9. "Eco" - 5:11
10. "Us (Love Transcends)" - 4:21
11. "Between I & E" - 5:02
12. "Fast Forward the Future" - 6:34

External links

• Simon Collins' Official Myspace Page
• [ U-Catastrophe on AllMusic]