SNOW

It seems like SPOCK'S BEARD can't do anything halfway, so when they decide to do a concept album they make it a double album ! Man it took me some time to get into this one, I mean i'm not big on concept records or double albums. Yet they won me over, which considering how much I like their music maybe shouldn't be too surprising. Still this isn't 4 stars for me, more like 3.5 stars. I like what King By-Tor says about this concept, that it's really a metaphor of Neal's own life and conversion. In fact Neal would give his story of getting saved on his "Testimony" double album. Of course the lyrics are more meaningful on that one, but the music on this one is not only better, but even more emotional than "Testimony".

So many highlights to pick out. I like the opening track "Made Alive / Overture". The first part is mellow with reserved vocals and strummed guitar. I like the drumming in the second section after 4 minutes and the heaviness that follows. Killer bass ! The jazzy section 2 minutes in on "Welcome To NYC" is nice treat. "The 39th Street Blues" has some good guitar and sax in it. "Devil's Got My Throat" is fantastic ! This song has attitude ! The organ rocks and check out the guitar 4 minutes in. "Open Wide The Flood Gates" is a laid back but uplifting tune. The instrumental work 4 1/2 minutes in is such a highlight. "Wind At My Back" is the final song on disc one and it's so uplifting and emotional. The lyrics are very meaningful.

Disc two opens with "Second Overture" and it's like getting kicked in the face right away. A nice heavy sound with some chunky bass follows 1 1/2 minutes in. Check out the drumming too. Guitar starts to chew up the soundscape 2 minutes in as horns join in. "Reflection" is a moving song with Neal and his piano mostly. Some drums and mellotron too. "Carie" continues with the piano.The vocals are so yearning, delivered by future SPOCK'S BEARD vocalist Nick D'Virgilio. Beautiful song. "Freak Boy" opens with riffs as organ comes in screaming. Vocals are fantastic as well. "I'm Dying" has this chorus that just seems to be transported above the rest of the song. "Freak Boy Part 2" is really good. Grinding guitar with chunky bass as vocals come in. "Devil's Got My Throat Revisited" is a killer track with passionate vocals. Check out the organ on this one. You can hear the cheering on "Ladies And Gentleman Mr. Ryo Okumoto On The Keyboards" which is part of the theme of the previous song "Snow's Night Out". In other words this is part of what Snow did on his night out on the town (see Ryo Okumoto play live). It works for me. "I Will Go" has these desperate vocals crying for help.This song becomes an uplifting one, but it will be surpassed by "Made Alive Again / Wind At My Back". Neal sings this like i've never heard him sing on previous albums. It's really a celebration that all heaven seems to take part in. "And my soul has been kissed, just because you exist, you're the gold that is free, you're the groom on one knee".

Favourite Neal Morse era SPOCK'S BEARD albums are: 1- "V" 2- "Beware Of Darkness" 3- "The Light" 4- "The Kindness Of Strangers" 5- "Snow" 6- "Day For Night". That's all folks.