NEAL MORSE TO RELEASE NEW PROG CD, Lifeline SEPTEMBER 30, 2008
MIKE PORTNOY AND RANDY GEORGE RETURN
October 1, 2008-Hot on the heels of his breakthrough concert DVD, Sola
Scriptura & Beyond (which sold out before its release date), Morse
unleashes another progressive rock masterpiece with Lifeline. But where
do you go from Beyond?
Following Spock's Beard's Snow album, Neal crafted some of the most
acclaimed concept albums in the annals of progressive rock. His rich
sonic landscapes capture the imagination-musically, lyrically, and
often spiritually. When Neal began writing his next opus, though, he
took a fresh approach and let his songs stand on their own.
Lifeline is a collection of songs exploring a variety of topics
in musical styles ranging from the classic sound of early Spock's Beard
to the fiery intensity of Sola Scriptura. For the first time in his
solo career, most of his album's songs span five minutes. (Then again,
this is a Neal Morse album. So yeah, you're also in for a 30 minute
prog tour de force.) Overall,
Lifeline is a breathtaking leap
into uncharted musical territory, and a triumphant return to the
eclectic sound of his early work with Spock's Beard and Transatlantic.
The album opens with the title track, "Lifeline", a song that might
have overslept the Spock's Beard V sessions. Neal honours the
desperation he experienced for most of his life, and celebrates his
eventual escape. Morse explores this previous life more intimately in
the beautifully tragic "The Way Home".
"Leviathan", the third track, expresses Neal's lighter side. Humour is
not usually associated with prog…then again, neither are metal guitars
answered by funk horns, and sneezing sea monsters. Perhaps ironically,
this is also probably the heaviest track of Neal's career.
Neal explores spirituality, love, and hope on the next two songs. The
most recognizable for Morse and Beard fans will be the second,
"Children of the Chosen". Its anthemic, harmony-laden choruses evoke
Snow's "Wind at My Back". Together, both songs are among Neal's most
engaging.
"So Many Roads" is
Lifeline's inevitable, majestic epic.
Chronicling Neal's life, musically and biographically, the song
traverses the many musical paths leading to the establishment of one of
rock's distinctive voices. Prepare for a surprisingly candid account of
Neal's early experiences, and his motivation to seek a new life.
Bringing
Lifeline full circle is the closing track, "Fly
High". Neal sings of returning to the beginning…before there were so
many questions, so many roads. We return to where we were as
children-safe in the eye of a raging storm. Looking skyward, we see a
path leading out. We reach upward, higher than we ever could, and grab
hold...
LIFELINE – SPECIAL EDITION
2 CD set with Bonus disc containing 6 extra tracks!
Featuring the guitar work of Paul Gilbert and Paul Bielatowicz
Plus extra pages of personal notes and photos!
"HANDS DOWN, NOBODY IN THE INDUSTRY DOES PROG BETTER THAN NEAL MORSE"
- TheProgFiles.com
Featuring Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater
Edited by E-Dub - August 29 2008 at 12:43
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
New Neal Morse CD Lifeline
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