V

This is a record that is worth buying because it contains monstrous progressive rock, perhaps among the best prog done til this day. But why can't I give it five stars? I'll come back to that later on. This is the American modern band Spock's Beard's fifth record and was released the first year of the new millenium, 2000. The cover give's an idea how good this is. It features the two Morse brothers Alan on guitar and cello and Neal on keayboards, guitar and vocals plus Ryo Okumoto on organ and mellotron, Nick D'Virgilio on drums and Dave Meros on both electric and acoustic bass and french horn. After a frist listening I wasn't totally pleased because it sounds very American and modern but after my prejudicies had fell in sleep I enjoyed this music totally. I have listened to the full album perhaps four times now so I am beginning to know what I am talking about.

V contains sex track of which three are masterpieces, the long ones and "Thoughts". I will begin with "Thought(Part II)" which begins with a smooth and nice song from Morse and then totally surprises us with harmonies that only Gentle Giant had done before. A great track for relistening. The starter "At the end of the day" begins with Medieval feeling and thereafter the symphonic rock starts. It mixes a spanish guitar and rhytm with little metal and a lot of jazz. Also great guitar solo. The best song and the fatest monster of this lp: "The Great Nothing" could have been the only track and made it well. This is a progressive world to drown in with different melodical themes that follow each other and return. Also very professional vocal work. What lowers this record is the remaining short songs. They are not bad but not especially good either. There is som Beatles in "Revelation" but the track is rather boring. "All on a Sunday" is a pop song, not much to praise there and "Goodbye to Yesterday" is nice but not special. As often this disc would have impressed more with a shorter length. A three-track record with: "At the end of the day", "Thoughts(Part II)" and "The Great Nothing" would have taken five stars immediately but as a unit with the other fillers that's impossible. Nevertheless it is an essential rock album with great music on it. It also opens the doors to new music.