THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Written and recorded in just four hours, the third studio album by Spock's Beard is a great continuation of their symphonic style of progressive rock, this time around, however, with a slightly more prevalent pop inclination that can be heard in the more easy-going melodies and the somewhat more straightforward writing. 'The Kindness of Strangers' nevertheless remains the very excellent and "forgotten" album by the great American band, full of signature songs and incredibly catchy hooks, structured in a way similar to 'Beware of Darkness', yet exhibiting a stronger tendency for more user-friendly arrangements and perhaps less experimentation, relying a tad bit more on what could now be seen as a band formula.

With a bag of great ideas, Neal Morse & Co. exercise their songwriting and produce incredible compositions like the 10-minute opening track 'The Good Don't Last', a beautiful mini-epic with some gorgeous playing and great vocal harmonies. This one is followed by several shorter tracks, each one of which has a character and a feel of its own, always staying true to that lighthearted and occasionally humorous Spock's Beard aesthetic that never backs down on grand arrangements over a pop structure - just go through 'June' or 'Strange World', which are definitely two very different but essential sides of the great Beard! And while 'Harm's Way' might feel a little forced in some parts, it is the 15-minute opus 'Flow' that is the big highlight of the record, whether it be for the melodic middle section or the frantic final one, this is a signature track for the band, and one that finishes off a flamboyant, beautiful and well-conceived album. An excellent piece of music in the band's catalogue that showcases just how strong the Neal Morse-era of Spock's Beard is.