SNOW

Perhaps the boldest album in Spock's Beard's discography is the famed double album 'Snow', which also happens to be the band's last with Neal Morse before his well-documented departure and dedication to a solo career. Written almost entirely by Morse, the album follows the life story of the main character who is an albino with mystical powers, in a very symbolic journey of spiritual awakening that goes through various events and occurrences. If we would like to look for a possible blueprint or for the creative inspiration behind 'Snow', one shall probably look no further than Genesis' 'The Lamb?' or even Kevin Gilbert's 'The Shaming of the True', yet in reality 'Snow' has a very recognizable identity of its own and is a daring and often challenging presentation of the various sides of the band's music, which is why we might also see the album as Spock's Beard's most eclectic and experimental one as well.

An introspective rock opera, 'Snow' contains a tremendous number of SB classics, definitely some of the band's most memorable episodes from the entire back catalogue, together with preserving all the signature aspects of the band's sound - the flamboyant instrumental pyrotechnics, the humour, the catchiness and the beautiful vocal harmonies, the prominent and jarring rhythm section as well as Neal Morse's excellent writing. Perhaps a logical step forward from 'V', one can see the double album 'Snow' as a mandatory but difficult exercise for every self-respecting prog act, and the Beard's entry is nothing short of excellent, playful, lush and inspired, a fancy journey through some of the band's boldest musical decisions and experiments, with an array of glorious sounds. The wide list of highlights from this album should include the album overture, 'Long Time Suffering', 'Welcome to NYC', 'Devil's Got My Throat', 'Open Wide the Flood Gates', 'Wind at My Back', '4th of July', 'Reflection', and 'Freak Boy'. An immense album that is at least a fabulous exit for Neal Morse, the mastermind behind 'Snow'.

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