SNOW

I started to dig into Spock Beard's music and all in the line of Neal Morse's connections less than a year ago. Until now, my wife (hates progressive rock in general) started to enjoy what Mr Morse and co could produce.

In the same fashion as Tommy and the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Snow tells a story of an outcast in a journey to discover himself. Lyrically, the plot is moving, albeit not at all original. As everyone knows, the two discs are influenced and stuffed with religious messages. But that doesn't fend me off, although I'm not a Christian (Buddhism is my religion).

Anyway, let's get back to Snow. Although many seem to think Snow is generally too poppy or 'safe', I think it's one of the best progressive/symphonic rock albums in its year. It's got everything one could look for musically, and exceptionally great song-writing. Sadly later Spock's Beard never comes close to this momentous landmark. Although Neal Morse moves on, he also revisits some melodic elements featured in this album, e.g. some vocal notes for Long Time Suffering appear in Sola Scriptura.

The only flaw, if you can call it a flaw, is to have a song called "Ladies And Gentleman Mr. Ryo Okumoto" in a concept album. If you read the sleeves when you listen, it kinda ruins the concept and the build-up a bit to have a real band member appearing in the story of Snow, the albino. However, to listen without reading, this is a very good track.

This perfect album should score somewhere from 92 - 95 out of a hundred. Therefore I have to give it a five-star.