Neal Morse new album!

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   I just got this e-mail from CD-services who I buy my prog CD's from:
NEAL MORSE: QUESTION MARK (?) (3rd Solo CD)
Holy Surprise, Batman!! Look - I'll make no secret of it - I expected this album to be rubbish!! Why? Well we'll come to that in a minute - but in theory, this album shouldn't have worked. You see, and let's deal with this head on, Morse has got religion - big time!! Previous works have made no secret of this - and lyrically things were beginning to get bogged down - hell, I was brought up a Roman Catholic and, even though thoroughly lapsed, am still qualified to say that I know when religion is beating me over the head with a blunt object - and that's what I hated about his last album. So, this one, with titles like 'The Temple Of The Living God', 'Sweet Elation' and 'Inside His Presence' not only made me fear the worst, but expect it as well!
So, you can imagine my surprise when, by track 2 I'm grinning like an idiot saying "this shouldn't work - but it does", by track 3 when I'm saying "this is sensational", by track 4 when I'm acclaiming it in the same way I acclaimed 'Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' and by track 5 when I'm saying "sorry, but this is genius". It is too - all of the above. Let's deal with the lyrics - they are filled with religious imagery, but don't ever (well, maybe once for about twenty seconds in track 6, and a tad wince-inducing on track 9 for about a minute or so, if I'm being honest with you) make you feel like you're listening to a religious album. The writing is absolutely brilliant - Morse has finally achieved the impossible - a Christian album that you can enjoy no matter what or who you believe in. In fact the lyrics reminded me a lot of the sort of story-telling state that Gabriel used in the immortal 'Lamb' album. 
Then those lyrics form songs - the songs are sensational, Morse's vocal performance being one of the finest in prog-rock today - there isn't one moment on this album where you don't appreciate the sound, dynamics and sheer inspiration of his solo, multi-tracked and harmony vocals. Then the music - oh yes, the music - and it's just INCREDIBLE! The album runs continuously throughout so that you feel like, and indeed you ARE, listening to a single piece that moves through many changes and movements throughout its twelve-part make-up. Prog-rock? Oh yes - this is a prog-rock album and no mistake - but it's powerful - boy is it powerful - with some seriously head-bending work from an arsenal of synthesizers, keyboards, Mellotrons, organ, electric guitars, bass, drums and acoustic guitars - and epic? Jeez, is it epic!!! When the massed choirs come in on track 7, you're in a maelstrom of swirling prog and are being taken to heaven at the same time, then, in a moment of absolute song!
-writing genius, it all drops down to vocal and acoustic guitar to provide an almost 'Pigs On The Wing' style outro that turns into track 8, as if by magic as the song just sails into the next part with warmth and passion, the music billowing out into a Floyd-like mix of prog and AOR. But the album sizzles, roars and burns too - with some guitar and keyboard work to have you enraptured throughout - and guest artists include members of Dream Theater (Rudess, Portnoy) plus guitarists Steve Hackett, Roine Stolt & Alan Morse. Anthemic on an epic scale, arrangements to die for and songs that, 98% of the time, have you hooked in their lyrical, story-telling flavour, this is a remarkable album - and to think I thought I'd hate it!! - Just goes to show.you gotta have an open mind to do this job!!!
Track List:
01. The Temple of the Living God
02. Another World
03. The Outsider
04. Sweet Elation
05. In The Fire
06. Solid As The Sun
07. The Glory Of The Lord
08. Outside Looking In
09. 12
10. Deliverance
11. Inside His Presence
12. The Temple Of The Living God

http://www.cd-services.com/
 

Edited by richardh