OCTANE

Sorry, but this is the worse Spocks album ever. This is the first time I have listened to a Spocks album and got absolutely nothing from any of the songs. No hairs on the back of the neck, no huge hooks or melodies and nothing orginal. This is not prog this is AOR and not even good AOR. Why they have a heavy dirge in Surfing... is beyond me as the rest of the album is mainlyvery poor mellow/ballad territory. Yes, Neal has left the band and what a chasm has been left. The last album Feel... at least had progressive elements and Spock's signatures, but this one has been a shock to me.

There is no doubt the band are going in a new direction but is akin to Alan Parsons last album where the overall sound is nothing like the trademark style associated.

I have been with the Spocks since the very beginning and have everything they have done. This will be my last buy as the overall sound is of a band who have lost something major and I do not mean Neal Morse. They are all talented musicians but for some reason it just does not click. Personally, I think the songs are very weak and its unlikely to be played again in my house for a long time. Now for some Beware of Darkness.