ANOTHER SIDE OF GENESIS

Interesting view of Genesis mid to latter day songs by someone who actually played them a lot with the band. Although Stuermer never recorded with Genesis in the studio, he has been their live guitarist since Steve Hackett left the group. And he did record with Phil Collins regularly since the early 80´s (and also with Rutherford and Banks, although less frequently). So, he does have enough credentials to actually legitimate this album, I guess. Actually, I was anxious to hear his own interpretatiosn, since he had not very much freedom to do so with Genesis.

Instead of doing something grandiose, he decided to play them mostly with acoustic guitar and with some sparse accompaniment: basicly percussion, with keyboards and sometimes little backing vocals. And, in that way, it works, at least most of the time (a couple of songs - like Land Of Confusion - don´t really fit here) I guess progheads will frown at the lack of bold and more imaginative arrangements, the straigh playing and the track list limited to Genesis pop period. All is true, of course. Still, I enjoy this CD: I think he did a fine, if not very creative, instrumental version of those songs (some of them quite underrated) and it´s an easy listening. Production and playing is top notch.

Conclusion: a good, easy listening instrumental album of pop songs, with tasteful playing. But if you´re looking for bold interpretations or anything broundbreaking or even something really new, go somewhere else. This is basicly straightforward pop. Nice, but nothing more. Since I like this style, I´d give 3 stars, but a more critical look would give it no more than 2. So I guess a 2,5 stars rating would be more fitting. I expected more from such a great musician.

A bit to syrupy for my liking. Granted Daryl Stuermer had every right to do an album of Genesis songs especially as he had played them so many times live over the years but why did he not try and keep that energetic formula together captured many times live. Instead we have Genesis Lite intrumentals which if anything negate his reputation for the riffs and tecniques he is so usually adept at. What we have is Another Side Of Daryl Stuermer to be honest with the songs never really testing any ground and all too easy on the ear. All you need is some Zamfir like flute playing and you will be heading for the nearest exit. Sure it is the artists interpretation but one would expect so much more. A good point in comparison is Steve Hackett's brilliant Tokyo Tapes with his versions of Genesis/King Crimson/Asia tracks albeit mostly live. Sorry but this is too wishy washy for me. Highlights few and far between but probably ' Taking It All Too Hard and Abacab's ' Man On The Corner edge it. For completionists only.