ONE

This is the first release I've heard by Neal Morse. I knew him of is work at Spock's Beard but never really loved their music, until about 2 months ago, I just decided to give The Light and Day for Night another go and I actually like it.

So I decided to listen to Neal Morse at the local recordstore and the first thing I noticed was the heaviness of the songs.

The first track on the album, called The Creation, is a wonderful 18 min epic that has, of course, Christian lyrics. But also heavy guitars mixed with superb synthesizers. The song consists out of four parts. Neal's voice is really nice on this song. From his high- toned voice to this part in 'Part 3 - Where are you?' where he 'screams'. Overall this is one of the best songs on the album and it certainly doesn't suffer from a lack of guitar- and keyboardsolo's.

The Man's gone is also one of the best track's on the album. It's a brief (mostly acoustic) piece with maybe even the best vocals of Neal I've heard EVER.

Track 3 Author of Confusion is I think the most aggressive/heavy track you'll gonna find on this album. The vocal parts are sung by various 'voices'. All singing the lines in a different way. This is typical Neal Morse. I mean, there isn't a single album from him with Spock's Beard that hasn't got this 'thing'. Overal this is a very nice tune.

The second epic The separated Man. Another long suite, this time again consisting of 4 parts. One of them being a superb reprise of 'The Man's gone'. I like the melody of the vocals in Part 1 'I'm in a Cage'. It has this very relxt but dark tone over it (from my point of view of course). This part also contains a small part from 'The Man's gone'. Part 2 - 'I am the Man' sounds a lot like the old PINK FLOYD classic 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun'. Considering the atmosphere of the song and the percussive elements look quite the same. The vocal sections in this part are being varied with heavy instrumental sections, even parts with cello's or violin's in it (don't know which one for sure). The reprise of 'The Man's gone' is an electric version and is heavier. This sections ends with a superb string arrangement assisted by DREAM THEATER kind of keyboards and heavy guitars.

Cradle to the Grave is the only track on the album that I really dislike. This is a duet with some bloke called PHIL KEAGGY and I really dislike his way of singing on the song. This song kept me from giving the album a 5 star review instead of 4 stars.

Help me/The Spirit and the Flesh starts with a nice piano chord that you'll remember for ever after once hearing it. The song features some really nice guitar work. Especially the Spanish guitar is played extremely well I think and it's very good move to put it in the mix! The second half of the track, 'The Spirit and the Flesh', is a bit too religious in the lyrics, but it doesn't do badly to the strength of the song. It's simply superb....!

Father of Forgiveness is another ballad but this time it works out right, not like 'Cradle to the Grave'.

Reunion is the closing track of the album. It starts quite happy and it has a really nice chorus in the first part. The 'Grand Finale' part is a very 'busy' and quick instrumental part. My personal opinion is that at the last note of 'Grand Finale' the album should be finished. The actual closing section doesn't sound as much as an end as that.

Overall a really brilliant album that has a couple of minor flaws.

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