THE EPIC QUALITY OF LIFE

The first Shaun Guerin CD, By the Dark of Light, was mainly a solo performance. This time around Shaun recruits some of his "Cinema Show" (a Genesis Tribute band) bandmates and creates a more well rounded production, hence th e4 stars to BTDOL's 3 stars.

Shaun Guerin is a multi-insturmentalist who has recorded with the Clearlight Symphony, the Cinema Show and K2, as well as being in line to become the drummer in the Rocket Scientists before succumming to his inner demons. (RIP)

Six vocal tracks and three instrumentals that are very well written and flawlessly performed. Of the three instrumentals, the highlight is The Edge of the Earth, which features an incredible drum track, very reminiscient of the best work from 70's era Phil Collins. Red Zone and 5 to Go rock heavily in the vein of Los Endos. This enhanced CD is really a great mix of the classic Genesis sound and, harder edged, Prog-Jazz-Rock- fusion (includes a video of The Edge of the Earth).

The vocal (song) tracks are all addictive. Monsters in My Room is a vivid telling of a child's experience of challenging the creatures lurking in his night darkened bedroom, only to find himself greatly out-numbered and frighten beyond belief. Juliet is a love song, probably a metaphor to his own circumstance. A Queen's Tale could have been on Foxtrot and Inside of This is simply my favorite song on the disc, catchy and progalishus. Say Goodbye is an ode to lost friends, family, loves and relationships... Prophetic?

I've had a hard time leaving this disc out of my CD player long enough to listen to any other CD all the way through. Shaun Guerin has an addictive voice, dispite the heavy Gabriel influence. The melodies ricochet around inside my head and WILL NOT leave.

The cover art is among the best I've seen in the new era of prog. Paul Whitehead (Genesis) puts together a stunning work, with a self contained world covered in glass and floating in the ether. Scenes from By the Dark of Light, Nursery Cryme, By the Dark of Light and others are portrayed. Exquisite!

This disc is a must have for classic prog fans. Metal heads need not bother.

This album is a must for fans of classic Genesis.Guerin, a master multi-instrumentalist and a superb vocalist reminiscent of Gabriel at his best, died suddenly at the beginning of 2004 and thus robbed Prog Rock of a potential superstar.

Album opener,The Epic Quality of Life is like a Gabriel-era Genesis for the new millenium and The Edge Of The Earth sounds like the duel drum barrage of Phil Collins and Chester Thompson.Both tracks are sublime in their craft and flawless in their execution.

Best vocal performance is on the "spooky" Monsters In My Room which positively bristles with menace as Guerin the child takes us back to those nightmarish childhood nights of yore.Wonderfully atmospheric keyboards on this one too.

5 To Go thrashes along moving effortlessly up and down through the gears and is another classy instrumental,as is Red Zone the album's Los Endos style closing track.All the other tracks on the album are at least "good" and this is a very strong effort.

I must quickly mention Paul Whitehead's stunning cover.Fellow reviewer Danbo pays it tribute and whilst it is a beautiful piece of work,I'm not sure the Genesis scenes do it any favours.

The strength of this album is also its biggest weakness.Guerin wears his influences on his sleeve and whilst this is an album that gives us a tantalising hint at what a modern "Classic era" Genesis might sound like this simple truth prevents me from giving it 4 stars.It is an excellent addition to any prog music collection,whatever the ratings dictate.

When you look at the fully "Genesis" oriented album cover you almost know what will be available on this album. Paul Whitehead designed several for the band (from Trepass to Foxtrot). He did also some work for VDGG, Renaissance etc.

I wasn't really impressed with his first album and when I listen to the title track, I have the same feeling. The major influence during "The Epic Quality Of Life" is "Yes" ("Heart Of The Sunrise"). But vocals are fully Gabrielesque (since Shaun used to sing in a "Genesis" cover band, there is no surprise about this).

Of course, synths sounds as Bank's ones, but the overall feeling here is more on the neo-prog style ("A Queen's Tale"). My favourite track is probably "The Edge Of Earth". It is a solid instrumental which features great drumming (another facet of this talented musician). It is indeed reminiscent of "Los Endos" (as the closing number Red Zone).

While you listen to "Monsters In My Room", the scent of "The Lamb" fills the air, if you see what I mean. Slow, scary, it reminds me at times of "Broadway Melody of 1974". Not too bad if you can face the fact that the originality is not the strongest point available here.

His first album was mostly instrumental, which is not the case on this one. Still, "5 To Go" is another of these. Again, the synthesizers are almost cloning the ones of who you known. Definitely neo-prog; almost metal. But pleasant.

His second album (and last one since he passed away a few years ago) is more convincing than his debut one; but for those who would like to discover his best participation work, I strongly recommend the album "Book Of The Dead" from the "K2" project.

"Juliet" is not a really good song. It's a melancholic ballad, very similar to some of Gabriel's solo work. A slow tempo for a quiet song. And you can use a carbon paper for Say Goodbye.

Three stars for "The Epic Quality Of Life" but be aware that if you are a "Genesis" orthodox, several songs / passages will kindle you ears ("Inside Of This").