The New Neal Morse Appreciation Thread

@Roj - After purging Transatlantic, I went with Neal's solo albums before diving into TFK, (only had a couple of their albums at the time), and I went with ? first, then later Sola Scriptura, and I still think they are two of Neal's best albums. One is not a bad one to start with either, but feels too long to me.

I really dig Neal Morse with Spocks Beard. SNOW is a very good concept album

This thread appears to have been hijacked by the Flower Kings thread crew .

I've listened to the album a few times in earnest now. Also listened to WWE about ten times. The album is a solid four for the archives.

The epic is...well, epic, the only fault I can find with it is that it is such a basic Neal Morse epic formula. From the Close to the Edge-like sound effects at the beginning, to the main theme reprise at the end, the short metal section, overuse of organ and so on. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome it's just not all that challenging or inspiring because I feel like I've heard something so similar before. Regardless, it's worth hearing for the awesome melodies. I can't remember which part, but there's a part in the opening section which reminds me of the Star Wars theme.

The closest comparison I can make from a previous NM epic would be Stranger in your Soul.

The shorter songs are OK. Thoughts P5 is awesome, the others are fine.


Edited by TrickedTail - September 25 2012 at 02:48

I finally gave Momentum a listen! Great! Really good songs, and Thoughts part 5 is awesome, it represents my favourite Neal's style of composing. The epic is good too, but I feel I need some more time to completely get into it. Hovewer, this is the situation so far:

zumacraig wrote: Dennis, what's up with your Chicken Fetish?   what's funny is while i was writing my comments on V i thought of you and how you had mentioned seeing it live.  after i posted, i decided i needed to take a closer listen to V.  thanks for the reminder.  no chickens necessary...maybe chicken farmer song;) nice new avatar pic by the way:) C

The chicken thing was coincidence.  I was teetering on a high wire trying to balance my vitriol when my sacred Great Nothing was attacked and one the other hand. I think you are one of the kindred spirits around here and I am quite fond of our chats, so....   I needed to act quickly and without pause, but the action needed to be one which gets the point across that we don't mess (ever) with the Great Nothing (Spock's Beard) but that same action doesn't put me in the cross hairs of an FBI investigation.  So all the nasty things that explode and involve body parts were out, so all at once it hit me.   What is more horrible than trying to sleep in a room where 750 chickens are pecking, crapping and pissing all at the same time??   If the Feds ever did try to come after me, I would say it was one of your redneck buddies out in the county.   Understand now?

Yes, I love Banks of Eden more and more.  I LOVE Numbers.  I think TFK have found themselves again, no need for other metal band lead singers, etc...  Definitely a return to form.  I love Spock's Beard for the same reason, when they had Neal they did what they did, no excuses, just fun music.  No need to impress some fan at home by trying to redefine what they are with each album. I have always thought as a wannabe musician, "just play, its only music, have fun!"  Its not a sin to find a grove and work it until it stops workin for ya!

Thanks for the kind words about my avatar, I took the photo myself.

After 50 years I can humbly submit two things that will help bring peace & happiness in one's life


1.  Get a good camera
2.  Get a 5.1 surround system

zumacraig wrote: yeah, i think i like neal solo a bit better.  despite the lyrics, he kind of lightened up.  his SB stuff is kind of dark and clunky at times both lyrically and musically.  especially the epics...the great nothing, water, etc.  i have yet to get any post neal SB.  i've heard some.  i really like Nick's voice, so i need to get on that now!!

         

The Great Nothing Rocks!!!!!!!!!!    I saw the entire piece performed live.

Take this advice from a dear friend:

If you dis the Great Nothing ever again, I will have an illegal alien dump oh say 750 live chickens in your bedroom.




P.S.   Spock's Beard V is a masterpiece.

I think that "V" - is one of those CD's I've bought and forgotten to listen to - oooops....There is a theme here - should I stop buying CD's and listen to all those I've bought and archived???

I have all the Neal solo and Transatlantic albums, but only have the first 3 Spock's Beard, V and X. I listened to Snow a couple of times, but didn't like it much. It's been a while though so i may revisit it one day. I very much prefer Neal's solo stuff (and TA) over all eras of Spock's Beard.

yeah, i think i like neal solo a bit better.  despite the lyrics, he kind of lightened up.  his SB stuff is kind of dark and clunky at times both lyrically and musically.  especially the epics...the great nothing, water, etc.  i have yet to get any post neal SB.  i've heard some.  i really like Nick's voice, so i need to get on that now!!