Neal Morse's new album "Sola Scriptura"

Great news!

I'm kind of with Ivan here

I'm against "message" music in general (both of the religious and political kind). It's not a matter of disagreement as much as I don't like being preached to while listening to music. But I'm also a believer in free-speech, and don't have anything against artists releasing that type of music or people listening to it if that's what they're into


Edited by Littlewashu5 - December 19 2006 at 21:20

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: My problem is that I'm a Catholic, my sister also, I have no kids yet but already teaching my 4 years nephew the fundaments of Prog (with permission of my sister).    Neither she as the mother or me as his uncle and Godfather want him listening a guy talking against my religion so I won't even introduce him to Neal Morse, but there are lots of kids non Reborn Christians that will be listening subliminal messages against the religions his fathers are entitled to teach them.   I would have the same opinion about a Catholic Prog Artist or a Political one.   Art must be free, not used as an instrument of indoctrination, if not, we're going back to the times of The German Nazis and the Stalinist USSR.   Iván

I wouldn't worry about it

In my experience the only people who buy openly political/religious music are people who have ALREADY been "indoctrinated" with said music's message

At least that's how it is in the US. I'm not sure how these kind of messages are perceived in other parts of the world

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Littlewashu5 wrote: I wouldn't worry about it In my experience the only people who buy openly political/religious music are people who have ALREADY been "indoctrinated" with said music's message At least that's how it is in the US. I'm not sure how these kind of messages are perceived in other parts of the world   I do worry, I have a nephew in an English speaking country who listens rap and he's starting to call his sister bitch and having problems in school.   Most surely it's not the only cause, but the subliminal message of Gangsta rappers is already affecting him, the same goes with any message, if a kid listens that what the Catholic Church teaches him is wrong, he will receive part of his message and that IMHO is incorrect because we are entitled to transmit our Religion (Whicjh is part of our inheritance) to our kids.   Iván

Edited by The T - December 20 2006 at 00:29

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:   I do worry, I have a nephew in an English speaking country who listens rap and he's starting to call his sister bitch and having problems in school.   Most surely it's not the only cause, but the subliminal message of Gangsta rappers is already affecting him, the same goes with any message, if a kid listens that what the Catholic Church teaches him is wrong, he will receive part of his message and that IMHO is incorrect because we are entitled to transmit our Religion (Whicjh is part of our inheritance) to our kids.   Iván

Well, I think your nephew's problems are something that should be handled by his parents or a guidance counselor

Plus really, if you think about it, there's a lot of negative messages in ALL forms of media. And if somebody has a few screws loose to begin with, ANYTHING could cause a spark. As Prog fans we like to think that our music can't have harmful effects on society and a lot of us think the world would be a lot better if more people listened to Prog. The irony of this is that a lot of Prog has messages and concepts that are just as bad if not worse than genres like Rap and Punk. Sure, it's delivered with a less crude, more intellectual approach, but there's now denying that a lot of Prog is incredibly dark and negative

For instance, take someone who is mentally unbalanced and prone to violence. Whose to say Porcupine Tree's "In Absentia" wouldn't push this person over the edge and turn them into a serial killer?

Yes, it's incredibly unlikely. But it COULD happen

Or take Pain of Salvation's "One Hour by the Concrete Lake". Someone who believes Humans are destroying the planet and feels the need to act might be tempted to join a terrorist organization like ELF and and try to blow up a building. The fact that Gildenlow himself seems to be half-way to that point doesn't help

Speaking of being "mentally unbalanced" there's no way you could ever pass a guy like Roger Waters off as a sane, rational human being

Don't even get me started on whole RIO sub-genre, or what was going on in the Italian scene in the 70's

And I'm pretty sure a lot of people here (particularly the younger folk) listen to Black Metal. Guys like Varg Vikerness not only preached violence but actually tried to act on it


Needless to say, there's a LOT of stuff in Progressive Music that could be a bad influence on a person. The only reason there hasn't been any "public incidents" (or at least any that are well known) caused by Prog is because of the genre's lack of exposure to mass audiences. The reason Rap is always the target of moralising news pundits and sensationalists lawyers is because of it's popularity with the mainstream. The more people you reach with your music, the more likely you're going to reach a nutcase. And I personally don't think artists should be silenced just because a few impressionable individuals will adversely effected by it, while the majority who listen to it won't ever be tempted or even think about acting on the message being preached in the music. I think in the modern civilised world, most people have evolved past inflicting violence on those who worship a different God or vote for a different political party than they do

Or at least I would hope so. More and more I'm seeing evidence to the contrary on ALL sides of the spectrum


Edited by Littlewashu5 - December 20 2006 at 01:30

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: The T wrote:   I agree 100% about the crapiness of all these...   But as a defender of freedom above all, even if I disagree, I'd rather die than live in a world where my thoughts and ideas have to be controlled. So, in harmony with this, as trash as all of those are, I'll always defend their right to be released (with information about their contents, of course, none wants those in little children's hands), and even if they are Rap, I will attack any intention to prohibit it just for religious or moral reasons..... I DON'T WANT NOBODY TELLING NOBODY WHAT TO THINK..... I hope every person can make thier OWN MIND.   I don't know who said this, maybe in the french revolution era, I don't know, maybe Larousse, but it's one of my mottos: something in the line of: " I don't agree with anything you say, I oppose everything you say, but I'll DEFEND WITH MY LIFE your right to SAY IT"     One of the reasons to ban religion in schools and public places in USA is to avoid violence caused by intolerance but:   Ice Cube will swarm On any muthaf**ka in a blue uniform Just cuz I'm from the CPT, punk police are afraid of me A young nigga on a warpath And when I'm finished, it's gonna be a bloodbath Of cops, dyin in LA Yo Dre, I got somethin to say   This lyrics create more violence, youmng kids trying to be cool are introduced into violence and hate against muthafuc*r policemen and then people asks why cops and firemen are shooted in the line of duty when trying to stop a crime or help people.   At least in my country the apology of criminal acts is a crime.   I would never boycott a Neal Morse album because at least the message is positive, of course I will use my right to buy it or not being that I don't agree with the content.   But lyrics as the one quoted are not only not artistic but violent and provoking.    Very contradictory society that forbids God but allows Gangstas promoting shooting of policemen.   Iván

Edited by The T - December 20 2006 at 02:20

As a prog fan and a Christian (of the Protestant variety) I absolutlely love Neal Morse's solo albums, but unlike some of my Protestant colleagues I've never had any tiime for Catholic-bashing. I doubt Neal is going to go down this path, and in any case, I doubt that Inside Out Music would want to be party to religious sectarianism. But the fact is, Martin Luther was and will always remain an enormously significant figure in Christian history, despite his imperfections (including, incidentally, anti-semitism) and Neal is certainly demonstrating that his style of Christian music has a lot more thought, intellect and depth than a lot of contemporary Christian music (which I generally loathe for its lightweightness).

"We're not Gonna Take It" is a good song.  I have no idea what else they did though.....

Well, I personally am going to get this album.  And I'm not Christian at all.  I had initially had misgivings about listening to "preachy" music, but overall, Neals stuff really is not pushing any kind of message on you.  There is a message, and it is a pretty Christian specific one, but it's not as if he is trying to brainwash into being Christian.  At least, that is my impression of his solo works.  Frankly, I like the music he makes, I like Portnoys drumming, and I like epic songs.  So this album is looking pretty good to me 

(p.s.  Ivan, they don't allow kids to listen to Snoop Dog in public schools in the US either, as far as I know )

I am really looking forward to this release,Neal just gets better and better with each album.

It's weird to read this thread about Morse and see how it wanders,I can understand religion being discussed in the topic but what is with all the rap lyrics?