ONE

For all my years in high school I had played keyboard for my church, which involved playing repetitive chord changes that usually consisted of the progression I-V-vi-IV or some other variation. Seeing a subtonic chord was as far outside the key that you would ever get. The lyrics usually consisted of the love, glory, and mercy of God, but nothing really profound or philosophical.

Neal Morse is the ultimate prog answer to Christian worship music. This album is a story of the creation of man, the fall, and the redemption of man through Christ. Much of it focuses on the relationship between man and God. The music provides a great soundtrack to this story, which is complete with long songs, hammond organ solos and symphonic instrumentals. Two themes are actually repeated throughout the album.

"The Creation" is an 18 min progressive rock epic about the creation and fall of man. Ironically, probably the most unique section of the song falls in the section "Where Are You?" about the fall of man. The music becomes slow and melancholy in an interesting sort of way that makes the atmosphere feel like something bad just happened. Mike Portnoy puts some interesting drum fills in around this part.

"The Man's Gone" is about man's forced independence after the fall. This song features an acoustic guitar sound.

"Author of Confusion" I believe is about the devil making it difficult for man to know truth. It's probably the heaviest and most atonal song on the album.

"The Separated Man" goes into more detail on the separation of man from God, and the consequences that follow. In the section "I am the Man", Neal is able to use an electric keyboard sound to create a dark, middle-eastern atmosphere.

"Cradle to the Grave" is really not progressive, but is a short, sad song about the broken relationship between man and God.

"Help Me/The Spirit and the Flesh" has a bit more of a groove to it than other songs on the album. It's about man crying out to God and God sending Jesus.

"Father of Forgiveness", like "Cradle to the Grave," is not really progressive. Simply a precursor to "Reunion", this song is about man accepting God's forgiveness.

"Reunion" is almost cheesy, how happy it sounds. The music consists of brass instruments ragging the original melody of "The Creation" and Neal Morse singing the melody as well. It is about the reunion of man and God and their restored relationship through Christ. The final part, "Make Us One," completes the concept of the album that all the believers are one in Christ.