Official Neal Morse Appreciation Thread

[MinistroRaven]

I liked it a lot.  And I don't think "game changer" and an artist's subjective belief that an album is the "album of his career" are necessarily the same thing.

Agreed, but Portnoy has said that in his book this album surpasses both Scenes from a Memory and The Whirlwind (which he considered the best albums of his career before this one); so that sounds a little bit more serious than the 'my newest album is my best so far' judgement.

Mike said that this album is the album of HIS career, that doesn't mean that it has to be MY/YOUR favorite of his career. He can feel whatever he wants about this album, what he says doesn't afect my appreciation for music. He said this is better than Whirlwind and SFAM, both albums are not MY favorites of his career.

People tend to forget that ART in this case music is subjective, for some The Astonishing is the best DT has put out and I disagree, so?

[bosk1]

I don't think anyone has forgotten that art and music are (somewhat) subjective.  Not sure what your point is.

[MinistroRaven]

I don't think anyone has forgotten that art and music are (somewhat) subjective.  Not sure what your point is.

Then you should reread what I said above again.

People is expecting this album to be the very best of NM and company, but that is the solely apreciation of one of the band members of the band.

[bosk1]

I did read it.  You are putting words in people's mouths and making assumptions. 

[MinistroRaven]

Relax dude, I am not putting word's in anyones mouth, at least it wasn't me who said one of the songs released are not game changer, again, art is subjective

[King Postwhore]

You also tend to forgetc every album an artist just completes is a game changer. They are not subjective.

Now as a fan I can't wait to hear it and hope it is!

[KevShmev]

Just found out that Neal Morse Band is coming here to St Louis in January!! Woohoo!!!!  After being a fan of his for over 16 years, I will finally see him live.

[gmillerdrake]

Just found out that Neal Morse Band is coming here to St Louis in January!! Woohoo!!!!  After being a fan of his for over 16 years, I will finally see him live.

I saw that.....so cool!!! And, it's on my birthday.....January 26th. Great gift. We will have to make sure to meet up!!


The venue is announced as Delmar Hall.....Isn't that the Pageant?

[devieira73]

The traditional glowing first review:
https://progreport.com/neal-morse-band-similitude-dream-album-review/
By the way, I really loved the first 3 songs from the album, I think it has potencial to be my favourite Neal Morse album at least (and I like very much his solo discography).

[KevShmev]

Just found out that Neal Morse Band is coming here to St Louis in January!! Woohoo!!!!  After being a fan of his for over 16 years, I will finally see him live.

I saw that.....so cool!!! And, it's on my birthday.....January 26th. Great gift. We will have to make sure to meet up!!


The venue is announced as Delmar Hall.....Isn't that the Pageant?

Definitely!

Delmar Hall is next to the Pageant, I believe. A bit smaller.

And I wish we had had more time here. I just found about this last night and my brother got our tickets at the pre-sale today.  It would have been cool if we could have gotten tickets to sit together.  Did you get tickets yet? We got third row center.

[gmillerdrake]

Just found out that Neal Morse Band is coming here to St Louis in January!! Woohoo!!!!  After being a fan of his for over 16 years, I will finally see him live.

I saw that.....so cool!!! And, it's on my birthday.....January 26th. Great gift. We will have to make sure to meet up!!


The venue is announced as Delmar Hall.....Isn't that the Pageant?

Definitely!

Delmar Hall is next to the Pageant, I believe. A bit smaller.

And I wish we had had more time here. I just found about this last night and my brother got our tickets at the pre-sale today.  It would have been cool if we could have gotten tickets to sit together.  Did you get tickets yet? We got third row center.

yeah...that happened fast!! but thanks to your heads up text I got 7th Row Center   

[KevShmev]

I know!

Are we all assuming on this tour that the whole new album will be played?  Since the album is just over 100 minutes supposedly, that would take the first two hours of the show (two sets, most likely), and then I guess we'd get a long encore or a short third set and a short encore.  Since they will be playing cities they have never played, hopefully they bust out some Neal tried and true classics from other projects (We All Need Some Light, Wind at My Back), as well as some killer stuff from Neal's career post-SB (The Call, one of the long epics like Seeds of Gold, Alive Again or The Separated Man).

[gmillerdrake]

I know!

Are we all assuming on this tour that the whole new album will be played?  Since the album is just over 100 minutes supposedly, that would take the first two hours of the show (two sets, most likely), and then I guess we'd get a long encore or a short third set and a short encore.  Since they will be playing cities they have never played, hopefully they bust out some Neal tried and true classics from other projects (We All Need Some Light, Wind at My Back), as well as some killer stuff from Neal's career post-SB (The Call, one of the long epics like Seeds of Gold, Alive Again or The Separated Man).

I think you're assumption is a good one. I'd think it's the new album followed by some classics. Can't wait!!

[Mosh]

I am surprised about the choice of venue for Denver. It is a run down theater in a run down neighborhood down the street from mine. I assumed the place  was out of business until the NM dates were announced.

[KevShmev]

I know!

Are we all assuming on this tour that the whole new album will be played?  Since the album is just over 100 minutes supposedly, that would take the first two hours of the show (two sets, most likely), and then I guess we'd get a long encore or a short third set and a short encore.  Since they will be playing cities they have never played, hopefully they bust out some Neal tried and true classics from other projects (We All Need Some Light, Wind at My Back), as well as some killer stuff from Neal's career post-SB (The Call, one of the long epics like Seeds of Gold, Alive Again or The Separated Man).

I think you're assumption is a good one. I'd think it's the new album followed by some classics. Can't wait!!

Yep, that makes the most sense. I just hope we get more than a couple of songs not from the new album.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL5u8nCI8FY

New song from the new album, "So Far Gone".

[bosk1]

Wow, I quite like it.  The vocals were definitely a surprise.

[KevShmev]

I am not saying I am concerned, since I am sure the best stuff will be the deeper cuts, but I haven't been wowed or overly impressed with any of the songs they've released thus far.  This latest one is another that strikes me as being just pretty good.  It's easy to say, avoid the hype and expectations, but considering how it's been talked up, it can be difficult.

[Skeever]

Neal Morse rocking the JP music man.

[The Letter M]

Apparently, according to a post by Eric Gillette, we're getting another music video next Friday, and I think, the day of release on the follow Friday. Honestly, I've not watched the new one yet and probably won't watch the next one or two as we're so close to release date, I'm just going to wait until the whole thing is out and listen to it then.

I've also avoided reading the reviews that have started to trickle in that I keep seeing Mike, Neal, Randy, and Eric post about on Facebook. I see them, nod, and scroll along, hoping that by staying blind (or deaf?) to the hype that keeps building, I'll be more excited for the music when it comes out.

-Marc.

[Moor]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-didnt-want-new-the-neal-morse-band-album-to-be-compared-to-dream-theater/

Interesting...so it is gonna be "The Similitude Of A Dream" vs. "The Astonishing" ??
And does the comparison stands just because both are double albums??

[Lynxo]

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-didnt-want-new-the-neal-morse-band-album-to-be-compared-to-dream-theater/

Interesting...so it is gonna be "The Similitude Of A Dream" vs. "The Astonishing" ??
And does the comparison stands just because both are double albums??

Well, they're also both concept albums, not to mention progressive. Add also the fact that Eric Gilette is playing a JP Music Man and I think it's a perfectly valid concern. 

[Moor]

Wait.. I just go it:

The Similitude of a Dream Theater Album

[KevShmev]

https://progreport.com/neal-morse-band-premiere-new-track-the-ways-of-the-fool-from-new-album/

Not sure about this one.  Hopefully, it will grow on me, but given the handful of songs that have been released thus far, my enthusiasm for this record has been severely dampened.  Nothing has wowed me yet.

[PROGdrummer]

Ways Of A Fool has been the only single so far that was an instant winner for me upon first listen. Very very cool song, Bill's vocal delivery is very good. It's like they put The Beatles, Queen, and early Genesis in a blender, but the solo section totally takes me to ELP-World for a minute.

So Far Gone has really grown on me a lot too and I was pretty lukewarm on that track. I managed to go from very wary of this record to very excited overnight 

[bobs23]

https://progreport.com/neal-morse-band-premiere-new-track-the-ways-of-the-fool-from-new-album/

Not sure about this one.  Hopefully, it will grow on me, but given the handful of songs that have been released thus far, my enthusiasm for this record has been severely dampened.  Nothing has wowed me yet.

I find it better when it's heard within the context of the album.

[Architeuthis]

Wait.. I just go it:

The Similitude of a Dream Theater Album

   

[Architeuthis]

I must see what the hype is about, I admit I'm intrigued!

[ytserush]

Except for a small snippet I got spoiled with listening to a recording of Trunk and Portnoy interview Rabin and Wakeman (which sounded ok to me I guess) I have yet to hear a note of this album before I get it.


I never thought to compare the two double albums but I guess some would make a connection. I think it's more of Neal being Neal than Mike trying to recreate Dream Theater.

[MinistroRaven]

I have the album and I must say that TSOAD sounds NOTHING like DT. TSOAD is a great album, only two songs I wouldn't have included in the concept are I am Running and Freedom, both songs sounds to be part of the LIFELINE release. Other than that the album flows greatly and every other songs are REALLY great!

Also, don't expect to be better than SFAM or The Whirlwind, but I can say that it really is the best album NM has put out as a solo artist.

EDIT: in bold the edit I did on the post

[KevShmev]

That's a pretty bold statement, considering some of the awesome albums he has released (not even counting Spock's or Transatlantic).  If this is as good or better than ?, One or Testimony 2, the songs we haven't heard yet must be pretty awesome, because the songs I have heard thus far have not given me that vibe.  I would love to be proven wrong.

[Fritzinger]

Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind, when Portnoy said, they were going to do a double concept album, was Portnoy thinking "I can't let DT be the only ones to do this this year. I'll call Neal and we'll do a double concept album that will kick TA's balls". So his statement about being concerned about exactly that proved me completely wrong. Apparently he was the one who didn't want TSOAD to become a double album.

[Mladen]

I adore Neal, but I will be extremely surprised if this ends up being even remotely close to albums such as The Light, V, Bridge across forever, Sola scriptura and Testimony 2.

[MinistroRaven]

I adore Neal, but I will be extremely surprised if this ends up being even remotely close to albums such as The Light, V, Bridge across forever, Sola scriptura and Testimony 2.

I should have said: " it really is the best album NM has put out as a solo artist."

[Fritzinger]

Considering Neal Morse music ALWAYS sounds like him, no matter what band he is in, I think we're already splitting hairs. And if we're splitting hairs, I must say, this is not a solo release. It's an Neal Morse BAND release