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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: KevShmev on February 01, 2019, 08:38:15 PM
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Since I will be seeing the Neal Morse band on the 27th this month, I thought it would be fun to count down my favorite 25 records that Neal has done, meaning ones that he has played a huge role in (Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, solo work, Flying Colors and Neal Morse Band).
The Great Adventure will not be featured since it is too early to fairly rank in.
I spitballed this list in about five minutes, so this is more for fun and an excuse to talk about all of these albums, so feel free to chime in, disagree, agree, whatever, Neal fans!!
Here goes nothing...
25. Lifeline
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ab/Neal_Morse_Lifeline.jpg)
A good record, but not one I revisit a lot. The long epic, So Many Roads, is really the one song I listen to on any kind of regular basis, and even that is one that feels a bit too long (the middle part could have been shortened a little). The title track is a good song, but is also one that is way too long. There are a few other songs I would deem as pretty good, but nothing essential. Seems like most Neal fans agree that this is his least best prog album ever, which I obviously concur with. This was the easy choice to put at 25.
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God’s Love is really the only low point on this one, but I agree it has sort of a “least-best” vibe to it compared to the rest of his stuff. So Many Roads is on the weaker end of the spectrum of his epics too. Curious to see this list though, I’m guessing Bridge Across Forever, V, or Similitude as the number 1 spot.
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Yep, this is the one I would also put at the bottom of my list.
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I actually really like Lifeline. There’s a couple short songs that are just ok (and I can’t stand Leviathan) but overall it’s maybe in my top third of Neal stuff. But So Many Roads is my favorite of his epics possibly, so that song kind of carries the album for me.
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I actually really like Lifeline. There’s a couple short songs that are just ok (and I can’t stand Leviathan) but overall it’s maybe in my top third of Neal stuff. But So Many Roads is my favorite of his epics possibly, so that song kind of carries the album for me.
Good to see that I am not the only one who dislikes Leviathan. I still can't believe that got played on multiple tours.
Yep, this is the one I would also put at the bottom of my list.
Smart man. :coolio
Curious to see this list though, I’m guessing Bridge Across Forever, V, or Similitude as the number 1 spot.
Stay tuned! :biggrin:
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24. Second Nature
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Secondnatureflyingcolors.jpg)
The second album by Flying Colors is good, even really good at times, and there are certainly some standout tracks, but it's an album I have never really been able to wrap my arms fully around. Mask Machine is a catchy modern rock-sounding tune, Peaceful Harbor is a majestic prog wonderment, and One Love Forever is fun as heck, but even those are songs I rarely feel the need to revisit. Oddly, Neal's proggy A Place in Your World, while being a solid tune, sounds like a song that wouldn't have been good enough to make one of his solo albums, and Neal's section in Cosmic Symphony brings the song down a little (Casey's parts, the first and third parts are great). For whatever reason, while less than great Neal stuff is still pretty good, he and the band both seemed off their game a bit on this one, yet still gave us, what I would call, a good album.
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I'm surprised to see this album so low, but then again, it was slightly underwhelming. I liked it at first but it didn't have too much staying power, most likely because it didn't differ a lot from other Neal's works. It was much more prog and less pop than the debut, which made the band not so special anymore.
Also, I just now realized that, not counting The Great adventure, Neal released 25 studio albums throughout his entire career. This isn't top 25, this is effectively all 25 ranked. ;D
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I bought both Flying Colors albums, but never really got into them despite trying. The only song I occasionally go back to is the last one from Second Nature.
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I kind of always forget that FC exists when talking about Neal Morse albums. I definitely agree with SN being number 24 on this list, though I might even put it dead last in my own personal ranking. The first album blended pop/rock with a tiny bit of prog into an interesting and unique mix that felt fresh. Second Nature just feels a bit more forced and the privy moments feel shoehorned in. The repetition of the into theme of Open Up Your Eyes drives me nuts. They do the same shit in TA’s Kakeidoscope album epics and it’s purely to make the running time longer for whatever reason. Peaceful Harbor and A Place In Your World are excellent and Cosmic Symphony has cool moments too.
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Also, I just now realized that, not counting The Great adventure, Neal released 25 studio albums throughout his entire career. This isn't top 25, this is effectively all 25 ranked. ;D
Exactly. :tup :tup
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23. Life & Times
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/radiant_records/images/Life-and-Times-HiRes.JPG)
A nice little record that Neal released nearly a year ago, nothing on this record wows me, but most of it I enjoy quite a bit. Manchester by the Sea, Good Love Is on the Way, Old Alabama and Selfie in the Square are my favorites, as as well as He Died at Home, which is one of the most interesting and crushing songs Neal has ever written. This is on of those "chilling on a Sunday afternoon" kinda records. Not one that will wow you, like his prog albums, but a very enjoyable catchy record. I dig it.
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Life & Times is probably my favorite of his solo non-prog releases. Livin’ Lightly and Old Alabama are the only weak spots for me but Lay Low, She’s Changed Her Mind, and You + Me + Everything are some of my top tracks throughout his entire catalog of pop songs. Great album. I think I’d rank this higher than a lot of his prog-releases also.
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Livin' Lightly has a nice vibe musically, but I think it would have been better suited in the middle of the album, as it comes off as a kind of a bland opening track. I do like She's Changed Her Mind quite a bit; I guess I overlooked that one in my write-up.
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A question: Aside from TNMB, Transatlantic, and Flying Colors, I haven't heard any of his solo stuff. Are they somewhat similar in sound and style to the previously mentioned bands?
Since I really like The Neal Morse Band I thought I would check out his solo albums but don't know where to start.
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A question: Aside from TNMB, Transatlantic, and Flying Colors, I haven't heard any of his solo stuff. Are they somewhat similar in sound and style to the previously mentioned bands?
Since I really like The Neal Morse Band I thought I would check out his solo albums but don't know where to start.
The solo prog albums are similar to the Neal Morse Band, except that they don't have Eric and Bill, and Neal handles most of the electric guitar work, except for when he had guest soloists like Roine Stolt, Steve Hackett, Paul Gilbert, Kerry Livgren, etc. Opinions will always vary, but it seems like One, ? and Sola Scriptura are his most well-loved solo prog albums (and are all single albums, so easier to digest).
As for his solo non-prog albums, stay tuned to this thread to see which one I would recommend first (anyone who has seen me talk about it will know which one I will rank the highest). ;)
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Thanks :tup
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Life & Times was my soundtrack for 2017, it's such a lovely album. I would definitely place it much higher. I'm surprised It's not too late will be ranked above it.
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Life & Times was my soundtrack for 2017, it's such a lovely album. I would definitely place it much higher. I'm surprised It's not too late will be ranked above it.
Not to spoil stuff too quickly, but while I think they are similar in quality, It's Not Too Late has slightly higher highs (I will touch more on that when I feature that record).
Thanks :tup
:tup :tup
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22. It's Not Too Late
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41XCGYF9DSL.jpg)
Yep,I like this one slightly more than Life & Times. The Wind and the Rain is a tremendous song (listen to this on a rainy day and tell me otherwise), and songs like I Am Your Father, So Long Goodbye Blues and The Change are very nice as well. It does have a few misses in the second half, and the sound quality is a tad off at times for some reason (it doesn't sound bad, just not as good as usual), but this is still quite enjoyable.
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It's Not Too Late is a good album, but I probably would've cut a few songs to make a more concise, strong collection (Broken Home and The Eyes Of The World and possibly Leah), but the quality is still really high throughout. I love All The Young Girls Cry, The Change, So Long Goodbye Blues, and I Am Your Father also. I think Neal plagiarized himself by reusing the same melody from Something Blue in Outside Looking In.
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My favorites on this one are Oh Angie and The Eyes of the word. However, the album as a whole really drags and it's a chore to listen to. If I made a list, I think only Lifeline would be below it.
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I’ve yet to get Life and Times. Didn’t love Songs From November so I skipped it. Haven’t heard it’s not too late in ages. Maybe it’s time to revisit the singer songwriter stuff and get Life and Times...
Nows the time because I stopped listening to the Great Adventure a couple days ago (want it to be fresh ish when I see it in a few weeks).
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I think Neal plagiarized himself by reusing the same melody from Something Blue in Outside Looking In.
I can't believe Neal Morse would reuse one of his own melodies...:lol ;)
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21. Kaleidoscope
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5e/Transatlantic_Kaleidoscope.jpg)
Similar to Second Nature, this album is loaded with good melodies and whatnot, but for some reason, which I cannot put my finger on, it doesn't quite come together. I probably listen to the shorter songs from this more than the epics, neither of which I ever listen to anymore, and even the short ones, I rarely visit these days. It's definitely a good record, but considering the quality of the first three TA albums and how well each has held up, this one was hard to not think of as disappointing.
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I think Neal plagiarized himself by reusing the same melody from Something Blue in Outside Looking In.
I can't believe Neal Morse would reuse one of his own melodies...:lol ;)
I'm not sure I've noticed any outright repetition that isn't within a conceptual recycling of themes, but this one stood out as it's identical. Maybe he realized it was wasted on the backend of a solo album nobody really listens to and decided to reuse it, or maybe he didn't even realize it (more likely imo)
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21. Kaleidoscope
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5e/Transatlantic_Kaleidoscope.jpg)
Similar to Second Nature, this album is loaded with good melodies and whatnot, but for some reason, which I cannot put my finger on, it doesn't quite come together. I probably listen to the shorter songs from this more than the epics, neither of which I ever listen to anymore, and even the short ones, I rarely visit these days. It's definitely a good record, but considering the quality of the first three TA albums and how well each has held up, this one was hard to not think of as disappointing.
I agree with you about the epics, I think they're pretty weak. SO MUCH REPETITION to create a longer song rather than inserting new parts. That's the biggest downside with MP's "write an album in a week" format. He's obsessed with creating long songs but since there's a time-crunch, it winds up being repetition that creates the length.
I honestly hope they don't keep reviving TA to create albums like this. SMPTe and BAF were legendary; The Whirlwind was a good exciting return after a long hiatus. But Kaleidoscope just feels like them going through the motions. If they decide never to make another album and maybe just tour every few years, I think that would be good. Plus, Roine is devoid of ideas and I can't imagine Pete is brimming with ideas that he wouldn't rather use in Marillion.
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Black As The Sky is easily my favourite from this album.
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I've only recently become aware that this album in fact didn't age too well. I was never crazy about the shorter songs. The title track was a huge favorite of mine back in the day, but it really is Transatlantic by numbers. Into the blue, however, is more original and daring, but it's still not as memorable. As a whole, the album is solid, but not a favorite of mine neither.
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I strongly disagree with the placement of Kaleidoscope, but that's my opinion. Special albums are able to take you back to a special place in time and this album does that for me. I was able to see this tour twice within a few weeks. Once at the Keswick Theater and then at PNAS.
After boarding the ship in Miami and settling in, I got a chance to chat with Neal before we set sail. He thanked me for supporting them both at the Keswick (over the years. He said that was a very special venue for him) and then on the cruise. I mentioned how hot it was on the deck by the stage and reminded him not to forget his sun screen! He smiled and said how very wise that was!
Transatlantic took the stage as we sailed out and I will never forget the sun on my face as they played "into the blue" and my pure joy as I started one of the best weeks of my life! Based on that memory, my list would place this album up near the top!
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yeah i'm a HUGE fan of kaleidoscope as well especially the epics
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Similar to Second Nature, this album is loaded with good melodies and whatnot, but for some reason, which I cannot put my finger on, it doesn't quite come together. I probably listen to the shorter songs from this more than the epics, neither of which I ever listen to anymore, and even the short ones, I rarely visit these days. It's definitely a good record, but considering the quality of the first three TA albums and how well each has held up, this one was hard to not think of as disappointing.
I completely agree. There is some really good stuff on the album. But for reasons that are hard to articulate, it just fall far short of the first three. And I agree with Zydar about the favorite song.
Going back to Lifeline, I largely agree with the description of that one as well. I can't even tell you the last time I listened to it. As for the individual songs, I know Leviathan really well because he has played it so frequently and it has ALWAYS been one of the few Neal songs I do not like at all. I don't even really recall how any of the other songs go, aside from the odd line or two here and there.
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I really like Kaleidoscope and think it works best when I listen to the whole of it. I think I have a special appreciation because I've only seen Transatlantic once and it was during this tour. One of my favorite shows ever.
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I honestly hope they don't keep reviving TA to create albums like this. SMPTe and BAF were legendary; The Whirlwind was a good exciting return after a long hiatus. But Kaleidoscope just feels like them going through the motions. If they decide never to make another album and maybe just tour every few years, I think that would be good. Plus, Roine is devoid of ideas and I can't imagine Pete is brimming with ideas that he wouldn't rather use in Marillion.
Agreed. Many keep clamoring for more Transatlantic, but the Neal Morse Band is kicking ass as is and I would rather Neal save all of his best prog stuff for that. Like I said before, Kaleidoscope is a good album, but it definitely has that "I guess it is time for us to make an album, so here ya go" feel to it.
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I honestly hope they don't keep reviving TA to create albums like this. SMPTe and BAF were legendary; The Whirlwind was a good exciting return after a long hiatus. But Kaleidoscope just feels like them going through the motions. If they decide never to make another album and maybe just tour every few years, I think that would be good. Plus, Roine is devoid of ideas and I can't imagine Pete is brimming with ideas that he wouldn't rather use in Marillion.
Agreed. Many keep clamoring for more Transatlantic, but the Neal Morse Band is kicking ass as is and I would rather Neal save all of his best prog stuff for that. Like I said before, Kaleidoscope is a good album, but it definitely has that "I guess it is time for us to make an album, so here ya go" feel to it.
I can sort of get that vibe, but it doesn't change my mind that I think Kaleidoscope is a fantastic album. Granted, it still ranks 4th in my TA Album ranking, but it's not a huge drop off from the other three. In fact, in the last 5 years since its release, I've probably listened to it more than the first two, which I probably burned myself out on in the preceding decade or so since discovering Transatlantic. I also probably burned myself out on The Whirlwind, which is probably my favorite, but I've laid off of it for awhile, so as a refresher, I still put on Kaleidoscope every now and then. It's still different and fresh enough to me to stand apart of together with their other three albums. They all have their own unique character traits and I love them all for that!
As for a fifth album, I definitely do NOT want them to do one "out of obligation", so if it means waiting another 2 or 3 years til they hit the studio again (or one last time), I'd be patient.
-Marc.
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I wouldn't say it is a "huge" dropoff. But I wouldn't say it is an insignificant one either.
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I wouldn't say it is a "huge" dropoff. But I wouldn't say it is an insignificant one either.
For me:
Bridge Across Forever = A+
The Whirlwind = A/A-
SMPT:e = B+/A-
Kaleidoscope = C+/B-
Like, I still really enjoy it, but it definitely doesn't score as high as the other three. It still "passes" as an excellent album, both in prog and in music in general, but compared to it's older siblings, not as high achieving.
-Marc.
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It reminds me of the Falling for Forever epic Neal wrote for the Spock's 20th anniversary release. Very good songs, but paled in comparison to most of the prior 20-minute plus songs Neal had written.
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I’m in the minority but I absolutely love Kaleidoscope. Into the Blue is possibly my favorite Transatlantic song.
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Totally agree about Kaleidoscope, I try many times to like the album but the only song I really love is "Black as the sky", the rest is not bad but pales in comparison to the previous albums.
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20. Songs for November
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91zpSxbdA%2BL._SX425_.jpg)
I've always liked this record, and as time has gone on it has really gone up in my eyes. I spin this more now than I did when it was first out, to be honest. It's a very consistent record, with the back half having many of my favorites, like Daddy's Daughter, When Things Slow Down and Wear the Chains. Flowers in a Vase is very nice as well, with a cameo by Eric Gillette on vocals. Very nice record.
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Neal put out a lot of beautiful music in that album. I haven't listened to it in a while but it is usually an album I visit when I need my mood lifted. My favorites are Song for the Free and Flowers in a Vase
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20. Songs for November
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91zpSxbdA%2BL._SX425_.jpg)
I've always liked this record, and as time has gone on it has really gone up in my eyes. I spin this more now than I did when it was first out, to be honest. It's a very consistent record, with the back half having many of my favorites, like Daddy's Daughter, When Things Slow Down and Wear the Chains. Flowers in a Vase is very nice as well, with a cameo by Eric Gillette on vocals. Very nice record.
Still need to spin this one a few more times. I’ve only casually listened to it in my car 2-3 times. I didn’t like more than any of his non-prog solo albums on those initial listens but time may change that. Are you including God Won’t Give Up in this ranking?
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Are you including God Won’t Give Up in this ranking?
Considering there is no chance I consider that one of his 25 best albums, all signs point to no. :P
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There are some really pretty songs on this one. Daddy's daughter is a clear stand out to me. However, I remember this being my first of Neal's singer/songwriter albums and, having thought it was just OK, I was afraid the rest of them might be kind of bland as well. Luckily, Life & times and the debut proved me wrong once I gave them a go.
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19. Day for Night
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/SpocksBeardDayForNight.jpg)
This album was initially a big disappointment for me, as it came off as so inferior to other Spock's albums they had done with Neal, but while it still my least favorite of the six, I have come around to really liking it. Okay, it has a few weak spots (Ski, Gibberish, Can't Get It Wrong), but the title track, Crack the Big Sky, The Gypsy, Distance to the Sun and the Healing Colors of Sound suite are all major winners. Plus, this record just sounds like band had an absolute blast when making it.
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Are you including God Won’t Give Up in this ranking?
Considering there is no chance I consider that one of his 25 best albums, all signs point to no. :P
Fair enough! I think the music actually holds up really well but the lyrical content definitely makes it tough to really get into. If the lyrics weren’t so religious, I’m sure this album would be much more well-liked by all. I thought you were doing every single one of his releases and it just happened to be 25 albums.
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19. Day for Night
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/SpocksBeardDayForNight.jpg)
This album was initially a big disappointment for me, as it came off as so inferior to other Spock's albums they had done with Neal, but while it still my least favorite of the six, I have come around to really liking it. Okay, it has a few weak spots (Ski, Gibberish, Can't Get It Wrong), but the title track, Crack the Big Sky, The Gypsy, Distance to the Sun and the Healing Colors of Sound suite are all major winners. Plus, this record just sounds like band had an absolute blast when making it.
DFN rocks. It definitely is their most fun-sounding album and I’d probably rank Healing Colours as my favorite Beard epic. The My Shoes solo at the end is so intense. The Gypsy also flies under the radar with seemingly everyone and I always thought that was a really strong track.
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Despite my initial disappointment with the album, The Gypsy was the one song from it I always thought was great, and still do.
The "Lay It Down" section of the suite is one of Neal's great melodic moments. Such a simple melody, yet so glorious.
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The other day I was looking at the Neal era Spock's Beard and I realizes this album is top 3 for me, might even be my second favorite. Really solid and fun
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Day for night is also my least favorite of the first six Spock's Beard albums, but it's still good. The epic is slightly underwhelming and Can't get it wrong is extremely bland, but the rest is very solid. I'll go out on a limb and say that Gibberish and Skin are the two most underrated Spock's Beard song ever.
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That is really going out on a limb. ;)
I listened to both again recently for the first time in years and my thoughts were the same. Gibberish is more annoying than bad, and the hook in Skin is almost there, but doesn't quite hit the mark. I think the thin sound of the album didn't do certain songs any favors.
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Day For Night is a good album, but it’s the only Spock’s Neal album that doesn’t have any songs that I absolutely love.
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18. Momentum
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Neal_Morse_Momentum.jpg)
I have mixed feelings about this album nowadays. While it sounds like Neal was kind of on auto-pilot, it still gave us a tremendous epic in World Without End and another brilliant Thoughts tune (part 5!). I get why some might feel like World Without End is too long, as it is pretty long, but it is heckuva journey and I love every part of it. And I feel that Thoughts Part 5 is the second best of the Thoughts tunes, behind only the original. Freak and Smoke and Mirrors, both good songs, are my favorites of the rest, with the title track being a catchy rocker. Weathering Sky has never done much for me. Very good record overall, with one his best epics.
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This was my first solo album of Neal's and World without end remained my favorite epic he ever did solo. I also love Weathering sky and Thoughts part 5.
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I probably should have talked up Freak a bit more in my earlier write-up; I really love Neal's vocal in that one.
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It's nice to see Momentum here, though personally, I'm not sure if I would rank it this high. For me, I don't feel like it has aged well, though it certainly has aged better than say, Lifeline, but the epic is just so over-long for me. I would rather listen to "Alive Again" or "Seeds Of Gold". The shorter songs are all OK, with "Thoughts Part V" being the stand-out among them. Neal has done better albums with this similar format - a handful of short songs with a huge closing epic, like V and TGE, and I think they're better than Momentum in almost every way possible. Maybe I just haven't spun the whole album in a long while, but I haven't really felt the urge to back and listen to it in a couple of years. I feel like Neal was definitely trying to push for new ideas and sounds here and there, like with "Freak" and "Smoke And Mirrors", but they still end up sounding like Neal. I do like that he cut out the middle part of "Momentum" to tighten it up, and just to drop the over-used and cliched bridge with the piano bit that he seems to enjoy a lot in those kinds of songs. Dropping it really allowed the song to keep it's, well...momentum, especially as the album opener!
I think, if I have time this weekend, I'll spin this one again and see how I feel about it, and see if it has gotten better for me. I know I really enjoyed the live versions of the songs from the Live Momentum, which is a killer album from the proto-NMB. I think of Momentum had been FULLY done by the NMB, it might have had a bit more "oomph" to it, which is why I would LOVE to see them perform the whole album at Morsefest, just to hear more of Eric and Bill on it than what they initially recorded.
-Marc.
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I go back and forth on Momentum. I think the title track is a great track and opens the album in a really positive way. I had no idea there was a longer version until it appeared in the TSOAD setlist. I also think Thoughts 5 is great, though nothing will top Part 2 to me. Weathering Sky and Smoke & Mirrors are a bit meh for me, though I never skip them if they come on and I can occasionally hum the Weathering Sky chorus. Freak is awesome. I really like that kind of quirky track that Neal is so good at. World Without End....good parts, but just like So Many Roads, it's just too damn long. I'd rate this one higher than SMR and there's a heavy riff in the middle that I absolutely love, but this epic would rank pretty low overall.
I think Momentum is a good album, but the epic misses for me as a whole and the middle of the album drags a bit.
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For some reason, I love Day For Night.
The Distance to the Sun and Crack The Big Sky are right up there as my favorite SB songs of all time.
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Crack the Big Sky is a crackin' tune! ;)
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17. Testimony
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31BZG9675AL.jpg)
When Neal left Spock's Beard, and gave the reason why, no one really knew what to expect him, but here it was just a year later and he was releasing his 3rd solo album, his first double album as a solo artist, which lyrically featured his personal spiritual journey. The overt nature of the lyrics threw me off a bit at first, but the music was still generally of the quality we had come to expect on a Neal Morse record. Some of my favorites include Somber Days, The Storm Before the Calm, Sleeping Jesus, It's All I Can Do and Moving in My Heart. I do have a few issues with it, the main one being that the album is way too long (it feels like it could have been 20-25 minutes shorter and been much better), but for what it is this is still a damn fine record, and I get why it is the favorite for some.
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This one is a bit too much for me. I like some of the songs, but overall, it's very tedious. It would be near the bottom of my list.
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Being that it was his second double album in as many years, it was hard to not directly compare it to Snow, which I like more and will be in this top 25 at some point, but I still liked it a lot and listened to it like crazy for months after it came out. However, since he has released so many albums since, most of which I prefer, it's just not easy to find the time to dig deep into this one, although it does have songs that I revisit quite a bit individually.
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Thinking about it more, the streak of songs they played on the Momentum DVD is quite brilliant and might contain some of my favorites on here. Other two songs I truly adore and play often are Sing it high and It's all I can do.
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I was going through a teenage crisis when T1 came out and played the everloving shit out of it in the months after its release but then I didn't really return to it until many years after. It holds a special place for being the album that sort of carried me through that rough time, but now that enough time has passed, I can listen to it objectively. It's good, but gets long-winded on the first disc. I like the second disc quite a bit more, and I Am Willing has a fantastic hook. Somber Days is also great, and California Nights/Colder In The Sun are cool too.
This is where he began his "Overture" obsession and began calling everything Overture rather than coming up with unique names for the tracks.
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16. Flying Colors
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Flying_colors_album.jpg)
Like many, I find the straight-forward nature of this band's debut very appealing. Sure, they stretch out a little on songs like Blue Ocean and Everything Changes, and of course they end the album with the mini-epic Infinite Fire, but the real heart of this album are the short catchy rock songs like The Storm, Love Is What I'm Waiting For, Better Than Walking Away, Kayla and Forever in a Daze. It has a couple of throwaway songs (All Falls Down and Shoulda Coulda Woulda), but I like the rest of the album so much that I am not even bothered by those two songs. I sure hope they recapture this vibe for the forthcoming third album.
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Testimony is one of my all time favorite albums. Flying colors, not so much.
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I listened to this one like crazy when it came out, it seemed like a perfect new thing for Portnoy. Hopefully the new one features some shorter, poppier songs similar to Kayla, Forever in a daze and Love is what I'm waiting for.
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Very exciting debut and an album I like quite a bit. The song-oriented approach was refreshing, and it felt more diverse and "like a band" than the other NM/MP projects (which feel more like Neal & Friends). Oddly enough, Fool In My Heart is probably my favorite track even though MP's vocals usually work best in the background. Everything Changes is also a standout and Infinite Fire is a great ending song and just proggy enough to justify its length, but not so proggy that it feels like a run-of-the-mill Neal Morse outtake (unlike Open Up Your Eyes).
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15. The Kindness of Strangers
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511hDmKMihL.jpg)
This is an interesting album for me. I like every song from it a lot, and it has two of my favorite Neal songs ever, Flow and Harm's Way, yet it is only finishing at 15 here, I think because it is tough to listen to from start to finish because of the sound. It doesn't sound bad, but it does sound a bit loud and cluttery at times, which makes it not as easy a listen as every other Spock's record. It also contains June, one of the band's most loved songs by fans, and the opener, The Good Don't Last, really stands out as well. Hideous album cover :lol, but despite the nits I am picking with the sound, I am still a big fan of this record.
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June was the first SB song I heard - that one and The Good Don't Last are among my favourites in their discography.
I got to spin some Spock's Beard soon.
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I was wondering which albums would land in the middle of the list. I would also place this one around #15. It's very good. My favorites are Flow, In the mouth of madness and Cakewalk.
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Early Spock's is often referred to as quirky, and no song is a better representation of that than In the Mouth of Madness.
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Kindness falls through the cracks for me a bit. I like all the songs very much, but it's one I never really play or think about. Flow is a really cool song and one of Neal's more unique epics I think and Harm's Way and The Good Don't Last are also really strong tracks. Strange World is underrated and it's one I really like. Seriously, this is just a great collection of songs but I never listen to it.
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14. Neal Morse
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.progarchives.com%2Fprogressive_rock_discography_covers%2F712%2Fcover_26412117102008.jpg&hash=85d267242dcba26c2db8e8a6e245de63d7d79830)
I have always loved Neal's first solo album and still do. Emma and Everything Is Wrong are two of my favorite Neal songs ever, and the catchiness of ear worms like Living Out Loud, Lost Cause and Nowhere Fast is irresistible. The A Whole Nother Trip suite is pretty fantastic, and Landslide is a favorite of mine as well. Considering how prog all of those early Spock's albums were, this record was the first real sign that Neal could do pretty much an entire album of songs and arrangements that were more simple, yet still masterfully done. This is a fantastic record that should be owned by every Neal Morse fan.
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16. Flying Colors
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Flying_colors_album.jpg)
Like many, I find the straight-forward nature of this band's debut very appealing. Sure, they stretch out a little on songs like Blue Ocean and Everything Changes, and of course they end the album with the mini-epic Infinite Fire, but the real heart of this album are the short catchy rock songs like The Storm, Love Is What I'm Waiting For, Better Than Walking Away, Kayla and Forever in a Daze. It has a couple of throwaway songs (All Falls Down and Shoulda Coulda Woulda), but I like the rest of the album so much that I am not even bothered by those two songs. I sure hope they recapture this vibe for the forthcoming third album.
Always loved this album and I agree that it had its strength in its most concise songs. I hope too that the next Flying Colors will be in this vein, and I'd say that if Kayla was written by a famous mainstream artist, it would have been a smashing, massive hit.
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I find The Storm to be much more appealing on a mainstream level.
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That first Neal Morse album is fantastic. I kind of expected it to be placed a bit higher on the list, though. ;)
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That first Neal Morse album is fantastic. I kind of expected it to be placed a bit higher on the list, though. ;)
Too many other great albums. :biggrin:
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13. Sola Scriptura
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/Sola_Scriptura_cover.jpg)
I was not a fan of this really at all when it first came out. The two super long songs were mountains I had trouble climbing, the subject matter was off-putting, and the album had this kind of cold sound that I didn't find appealing at first, but years later, I was finally able to appreciate both The Door and The Conflict once I listened to them in pieces; only then did both really come together for me. And now I am a big fan. It's different compared to his other solo prog albums of the 00's, but that's not a bad thing. And it sure does rock.
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My favorite Neal album. I grew up a Lutheran so I could relate to the story which helped absorb the album more. But having listened to harder rock and metal growing up, naturally this album was a fun listen right off the bat. That Gilbert solo in The Door is my favorite solo from any artist, and the endings to The Conflict and The Conclusion are my favorite emotional moments from any of Neal's albums.
This is the one that took me from being an interested fan of Neal to being a hardcore fan. So glad I made the trip to MorseFest '15 to see this album live. An all-time moment for me.
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I wish I had gone that year to see all of ? and Sola. Oh well, can't change it now.
I agree that Gilbert's solo at the end of The Door is money, and I have much love for the "Two Down, One to Go" section of The Conflict.
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I love this album overall, although The Door really can be a challenge to listen to in its entirety. The Conflict, on the other hand, goes by very fast.
It's also worth noting that, of all the solo albums that particularly rely on the Christianity, I find this one to be the most interesting album lyrically. Martin Luther truly was a fascinating figure.
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Two Down, One To Go may be my favorite overall section of music from any NM solo song. I always love when Neal throws in Spanish sounding parts. Sola can be a chore to listen to with the triple epics, but I can't deny that each one is a great piece of music. As far as his solo output (non-SB/NMB), this might be my second favorite just below ?.
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Love Sola from start to finish (and my god that Gilbert solo in The Door :hefdaddy :hefdaddy). Really, really wish I had been hip enough to Neal's solo career to go to Morsefest 2018 because Sola Scriptura and ? are probably my two favorite Neal solo albums (not including NMB releases).
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12. The Light
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/SpocksBeardTheLight.jpg)
Spock's Beard's debut album has held up really well as a tremendous debut and overall great record. The title track remains one of the best songs Neal ever wrote, and The Water is a personal favorite as well (despite the FU section, which still seems so strange given Neal's path since). I don't quite love Go the Way You Go as much as the rest of the fan base, but I still like it. On the Edge is a nice tune, although it seems weird for the short song to be last in the running order following three long songs. All hail Senor Valasco!!
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This would be my number one. Which is odd, thinking of how the amazing Neal Morse never quite surpassed his debut despite many other tremendous releases.
The Light and The Water are masterpieces, On the edge is one of the best short SB songs, and Go the way you go is also very good. :tup
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This could have been ranked higher if I had done this months ago or a few months from now. I always love it, but where I put it on the SB hierarchy is ever-changing.
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I love the FU section in The Water. It perfectly captures the spirit of teenage rebellion. I don't think it's that weird to listen to Neal singing it even today, since he's not really singing in earnest, he's just sort of mockingly playing an over the top character.
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It also might be something that was a part of him when he was younger. I think he stated in later years that he wouldn't perform the song anymore because of that section, as if he's ashamed by it nowadays. To be honest, and this might be a stretch, I've always thought that those lyrics are what Neal refers to during his spoken word part in Repentance.
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Could be. Given his spirituality, I get why he wouldn't want to sing a section where he repeatedly sings FU. Neal has so many great endings to his various epics, but the "Reach for the Sky" section of The Water has to be among my favorites.
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The Water is an incredible epic, but I'm not a huge fan of the title track. It just feels a bit devoid of "something" to me. What that "something" is, I'm not even sure. And like you Kev, I never quite got the fan obsession with Go The Way You Go either. On The Edge is cool, but just kind of there. As far as SB albums go, the only one I like less than this is Snow.
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11. V
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/SpocksBeardValbumcover.jpg)
It goes without saying that every album at this point is one I consider great, and I think some will be surprised this album isn't higher, but there is no shame in being number 11 on this list. At the End of the Day is such a wonderful song; easily one of my favorites by Spock's. Goodbye to Yesterday is one of those sneaky good songs that gets overlooked by many, but I have always been a big fan. I probably would have this higher if I loved both Thoughts Part 2 and The Great Nothing as much as many others do, but while I like both a lot, neither is a favorite; the latter certainly has some major wow moments, even if it does feel a bit too long. Notable about this album is, this is where the sound quality made a leap for Spock's Beard. Richard Mouser is the unsung hero of Neal Morse's music (whether it be SB, solo, NMB or TA).
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My favourite SB album! So many great songs. At The End Of The Day could be my favourite song of theirs (along with June). Goodbye To Yesterday is up there as well.
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The Great nothing might be the most overrated Neal Morse song ever. However, the rest of the album is SO fantastic, that it's still one of my favorites overall.
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All On A Sunday and Revelations are excellent, not to mention the epics and Thoughts 2 (my favorite Thoughts song). Revelations is the single most underrated SB song there is imo. This was the first album of theirs and I was hooked. It might actually be my favorite SB album...I can't believe you like Snow more than this!
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Woah, woah, simmer down with the spoilers there, sparky. ;)
I love Revelation's verses, but the chorus is somewhat of a letdown. It's not bad, just not as stellar as the verses.
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10. Snow
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/75/Spocks_Beard_Snow.jpg)
This super long double concept album is clearly the band's most divisive album, but I love it. The first disc and the majority of second disc are all mostly top notch stuff. I could listen to that 22-minute run at the end of disc one every day and never tire of it.
Sure, the second disc could have used a bit of trimming. Even though I like Looking for Answers, it seems just thrown in there, and it is the only song from the entire album with no connective tissue (there is silence before and after it). And those reprise tracks after I'm Dying could have gone bye-bye. I think finding a short instrumental track as a segue way from I'm Dying to I Will Go would have made a lot more sense.
But as is, the album is still fantastic. Wind at My Back is one of Neal's catchiest and well-crafted songs ever, and the Made Alive Again/Wind at My Back reprise finale is in the short conversation of Neal's best finishes to an album ever (which is a bold statement, considering how strong his finishes almost always are).
A flawed record to some extent, sure, but still a great one!
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Snow is great! I think I like V more though. I fall in the camp that thinks The Great Nothing is one of the best epics ever. Can’t believe I saw it live last year at Morsefest!
Snow was probably my first real prog rock album though, so it is special to me. Took me years to finally have it click. I wasn’t an over night prog convert, but now I’ve definitely drank the koolaid.
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Getting to see The Great Nothing at Morsefest last year was definitely pretty sweet, although it seemed strange for it to open the show (Neal called it them opening with the encore). I guess he figured anything after the climatic ending of the Exorcist would be anti-climatic and he was probably right.
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Snow just never did it for me, and it's probably because of where I was musically back in 2002. I was super into all things prog (bigger/longer = better to me back then) and didn't necessarily like seeing an album with so many short tracks. Stupid in retrospect, but it's honestly soured my opinion of the album since and I just can't seem to reassess it more positively. At that point, it just didn't feel like a Spock's Beard album in the sense of a combo of long and short songs, and it didn't have the same adventurous spirit that songs like At The End Of The Day, Healing Colours, The Doorway, Thoughts, etc. had.
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I always loved Snow, it's ages since I last heard it but back then I was really impressed by it, and still I am. Honesly I was following this thread mainly to see if it would rank at n°1, 'cause I assumed it was quite beloved among the fanbase. Yeah, some trimming here and there doesn't hurt but all in all it's a fantastic album.
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Kev, I just couldn't put Snow in front of V. That's just my two cents.
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09. The Grand Experiment
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/NealMorse-TheGreatExperiment-cover.jpg)
I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive when I heard that Neal was bringing in a few new members and making the trio of Morse/Portnoy/George a 5-piece real band, as I had no idea who these new guys were, and my first listen or two of this album was a tad off-putting since I wasn't keen on anybody but Neal singing lead, and even the harmonies threw me off (who were these other guys singing?). But once I adjusted, the greatness of this album came shining through, and I realized that the addition of Eric Gillette and Bill Hubauer was like an adrenalin shot to Neal's music. Just look at the results on this, their first album together, alone: five songs on the proper album, and I would say three of them are among the best Neal has ever done: The Call, Waterfall and Alive Again.
The long epic was my workout mainstay for quite a while in 2016 when I went through a stretch when I'd go to the gym at lunch. I could squeeze in 25-30 minutes of cardio every day at lunch and Alive Again was my go-to song nearly every day. Amazing song on all levels.
If someone who has never Neal Morse would ask me to play them one song to demonstrate his greatness, the song I would always pick is Waterfall. I remember Neal said it took some time for them to get that one just right, but once they did, it was magic. And the results show that quite clearly. The song never fails to put a smile on my face.
The title track and Agenda are both good, solid tracks that I like, although I never pick either to listen to on their own.
And of course last but not least, is the first song on the album, The Call, which the band is obviously extremely proud of, as they should be. The first half of the song is terrific, but once Randy George plays that little bass lick that leads into the instrumental section, the rest of the song is god-tier. Amazing guitar solo, magnificent keyboard solo (possibly my favorite ever), and then that climax with the chorus. Bill singing, "And let love shine light..." after the third line in the chorus following the keyboard solo, before they all join in with, "on us all," still gives me goosebumps every single time I listen to this song. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Wow. The Grand Experiment higher than SB's albums! :omg:
I can't agree :biggrin:
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I love Bill's part from Alive Again around 16:30 minutes in, but other than that, it's an epic I just can't seem to find worth the running length. What do you like so much about it/what am I missing? Same with Waterfall. Just seems like a typical slower NM song. Not bad, but nothing that stands out yet everyone seems to gush over it.
The Call is a brilliant song and the outro is really uplifting. This song alone makes the album worthwhile. I'm also a huge Agenda fan. Catchy and fun. Good intro album for TNMB, but Similitude just takes it to a whole new level.
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I'm still slightly disappointed by The Grand experiment. Alive again is my last favorite of his epics outside of SB and TA, and The Call is a rather underwhelming opener, especially the vocal parts. Ironically, Agenda might be my favorite track on it.
Snow is fantastic. The first disc is tremendous, almost all of it is great songs. Disc two is also very solid. To be honest, I really like the interludes and reprises. My biggest issue with Snow is that Wind at my back does absolutely nothing to me, which is a shame, since it's kind of the centerpiece of the album.
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08. Beware of Darkness
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/77/SpocksBeard_BewareOfDarkness.jpg)
The first Spock's Beard album I heard remains my favorite. After starting with a good cover of a George Harrison song, which then became the title track, it is nothing but greatness the rest of the way through. Thoughts, The Doorway, Walking on the Wind and Waste Away are all among the best Spock's tunes ever, and the finale, Time Has Come, is a really cool tune, especially since it doesn't really follow what would become Neal's somewhat formulaic structure for an epic. This was early on when Neal was still playing around with how to structure songs and this one always sounds really fresh when standing back and looking at all of his epics.
The Doorway is, quite possibly, my favorite Spock's Beard song to date, and I finally got it to see it last year...twice! First on Neal's solo acoustic tour, and then on night 1 of Morsefest during the "Voices of the Beard" evening. The piano intro would make Tony Banks proud, and the melodies this song features just grab you and never let go. Amazing song, with a fantastic "fake" ending, and then the real ending which ends being a slow burn till it ends in bombastic fashion once and for all.
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I prefer The Light, V and Snow, but damn, does this album have some strong stuff on it. :tup
It's interesting to see that someone's favorite SB album is at number 9 of all of Neal's albums, given that SB is such a significant part of his career.
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Number 8, actually. ;)
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Beware of Darkness was my first Spock's Beard album. I love Waste Away and Time Has Come. There is a tragic element to the making of the album in that it was Kevin Gilbert's last mixing job before he passed away.
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Beware is a great album. Every song is strong, and the longer pieces are all top-tier. Time Has Come is a really good epic and I wish he'd play it at some point in a Morsefest. Maybe an Epics of SB night?
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07. Testimony Two
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bd/Neal_Morse_Testimony_Two.jpg)
Almost never is the sequel as good or better than the original, but in the case of Testimony, the sequel lapped the original! It is more diverse, has better songs, and is just a better overall record. Disc 1 fills in the gaps of Neal's spiritual journey that he left out in the original, and then Disc 2 are three standalone songs, two of which are tremendous, the ear worm that is Supernatural and the beast of an epic that is Seeds of Gold.
One of the great things about Disc 1 is that the nods to the original Testimony are rare and seem more like nods to it, rather than merely milking those themes for another album. And what really makes Disc 1 so strong is how well it flows. The transitions from song to song are so seamless and seem very natural, rather than cross fading two songs for the sake of it. That is often a great strength of every Neal concept record (or disc, in this case), and it is true this time as well. That 23-minute stretch that covers Part 7 of the Testimony journey (Nighttime Collectors, Time Has Come Today, Jesus' Blood and The Truth Will Set You Free) is one I listen to all the time even when pressed for time since listening to discs/albums in full isn't always so easy these days.
And of course once again Neal absolutely crushes it with Disc 1's finale, the very moving Crossing Over/Mercy Street Reprise, which has one of the greatest outros I've ever heard. I love how it fades out, as it gives you that feeling that it will go on forever, but our moment to visit it has passed and it slowly leaves us as the band continues to play on. Absolutely brilliant.
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Agreed on T2. Probably my favorite album ending also (disc one I mean). Probably in my top 3 of Neal solo releases.
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That album is almost flawless. My favorite of Neal's solo albums.
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06. ?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/36/Question_Mark_cover.jpg)
Speaking of flawless records, this one qualifies! I remember a few pre-release reviews hyping the heck out of this one, and thinking, "they are setting the bar high," but this album cleared it, with room to spare!! It is another flawless record where the songs are all tremendous, the flow is immaculate, and the climax is very gratifying.
Aided by guest stars like Roine Stolt, Steve Hackett and Jordan Rudess, some of the solos and instrumental sections on this record are nothing short of mind-blowing. Hackett's solo in 12 is a monster (best guitar solo on any Neal solo record!!), and that extended section in the middle of In the Fire is the stuff of legends.
And honestly, it almost feels odd to pick out individual songs as standouts because they are blend together and flow so seamlessly. I am not going to cheat and call it one song like some do, but this is a great example of how you can take 12 songs and fit them together to make a perfect record.
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I only heard this for the first time a few weeks ago, and I really love it. Especially the first half, with The Temple Of The Living God, Another World, and In The Fire being the highlights. Outside Looking In is awesome too. Great stuff!
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This one used to be my favorite of the bunch. However, it kind of bugs me that none of the song is a clear stand out. I'm having a hard time picking just one and listening to it on its own. But as a whole, the album works really well.
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That run from the back-half of 12 through Inside His Presence (well through the end of the album for that matter) is probably in my top 3 of musical moments from Neal's solo prog/NMB collection.
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Thank you so much KevShmev for this very interesting and helpful thread.
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? is probably his best overall solo album. It's not super long and all the songs feel tight and impactful rather than overly drawn out to make things "epic". In The Fire is the clear standout, and The Temple of The Living God melody is super-catchy, but I also like the way too short Glory Of The Lord segment. I wish that would've actually been extended into a bit more (which is something I never say about Neal's music).
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05. One
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/Morse_one.jpg)
I go back and forth on which album is my favorite Neal solo album, ? or One, but this month it was One, so it gets the top 5 slot for now.
As much as I liked Testimony, the leap in quality when this came out was more than evident, and the sound was back to being very warm and very organic, as opposed to Testimony's dry sound. The lyrics might be a bit too much for some, and if they were by just about any other artists, they would be for me, but Neal manages to make the story so enjoyable to listen to, and of course the songs...my goodness, the songs are nothing short of magnificent.
The Separated Man might still be my favorite song from any Neal solo record, and I am huge fan of Help Me as well. Reunion is also another well done epic closer.
Notable as well is that this was the first Neal album featuring Randy George on the bass, and his presence makes a difference. Some of those bass licks he lays down in The Creation are pretty bad ass.
Two of three bonus tracks are nice, but I am glad they were not included as a part of the normal CD, as it would have felt too long, plus Nothing to Believe is pretty average and its inclusion would have dragged down the overall consistency.
Overall, this is another terrific record.
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The Separated Man is a really good epic. I know The Creation seems to be the more popular, but I find Separated Man to be better in nearly every way. I like how it just starts without any sort of "epic intro" and the acoustic parts near the end are just great. This and Seeds Of Gold are probably his best stand-alone epics outside of SB.
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The lyrics might be a bit too much for some, and if they were by just about any other artists, they would be for me, but Neal manages to make the story so enjoyable to listen to, and of course the songs...my goodness, the songs are nothing short of magnificent.
That's a good question.
Personally, NM's lyrics are a problem for me. I'm glad that English is not my native language at this case, because I can try to "pay less attention to the lyrics". But it's a bit of what you've said. The fact of being NM changes everything.
I love One. :metal
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I like this one, although it can get overwhelming towards the end. As much as Neal is the master of dramatic prog rock, this one might be too much in some spots. My favorites include The Separated man, Author of confusion and The Creation.
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The Separated Man is a really good epic. I know The Creation seems to be the more popular, but I find Separated Man to be better in nearly every way. I like how it just starts without any sort of "epic intro" and the acoustic parts near the end are just great.
Yep, that is one Neal epic that really strays from the formula he has used for his long epics since 2000. And that formula always works well, but it's good to get some different structures as well.
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Can't wait to see which of Similitude and TGA is #1 :P
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04. The Whirlwind
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/TAWhirlwind.jpg)
I am not what I can say about this record that hasn't been said already over the years, but this blew the minds of most TA fans back in '09, including mine.
Not that the rest of the album isn't great, but that run from The Wind That Blew Them Away through Rose Covered Glasses is one of the best 30-31 minutes of non-stop music on any CD I own. Just unbelievable. And the rest is pretty damn great as well. My only minor quibbles are the Overture sounds too copied and pasted, as it bounces from theme to theme in their attempt to check off each box before the singing starts, and then the last song goes on way too long as well, again because it felt like they wanted to hammer every theme again, but again those are minor quibbles, and I do like both of those songs; I just can't put this album in the top 3 here because the albums ahead of start and finish better, while being just as strong throughout.
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I was never too crazy about this one. There are some highlights and a couple of great tracks and themes, but I'd much rather play the first two Transatlantic albums.
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03. SMPTe
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Transatlantic_SMPTe.jpg)
I remember hearing this for the first time back in 2000. My brother got it first, as he had heard about this side project that Mike Portnoy was doing with some other guys we had no clue about, and I heard a bit of All of the Above and was like, "Woah, what is that?? That sounds great!" He then played me the beginning of My New World and I was like, "Okay, I need this!" :lol :lol My own copy of the CD was in my hand within a week and it was one of the two CD's that dominated my CD player in 2000 (the other being Scenes from a Memory). And of course that record was my gateway to getting into both the Flower Kings and Spock's Beard, so its impact on me was huge.
Back to the record, though, this is sometimes my favorite Neal record, but for now it sits comfortably at number 2. All of the Above is hands down the best song I have ever heard over 30 minutes in length (if it ain't a single track on the CD, it ain't a single song, for context), We All Need Some Light is one of Neal's most-enduring melodies to date, Mystery Train is a fun little rocker, and Roine's My New World is so majestic and epic. And of course the Procol Harum cover is really nice as well.
This is one of those albums I don't listen to on a regular basis anymore, simply because I overplayed the crap out of it for years back in the day, but it remains one of my favorites.
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SMPTe is definitely my favorite TA album. I can't describe how refreshing it was to hear this music come from these guys in a time when they were all in their musical prime. It felt new and exciting and the songs are all excellent with AOTA being my favorite TA song. We All Need Some Light was the best of his sappy acoustic ballads up to that point and My New World is so infused with the 90's Flower King sound that I can't help but love it. I was lucky enough to catch them in Philly on the tour they did for this album. I didn't even own the album at that point, I was just so obsessed with Portnoy that I would've done anything to see him live at that point. I miss this period of his career when side projects felt fresh and exciting...now they just feel more done out of obligation/quantity than any creative desire.
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Was this the start of Mike's and Neal's musical collaboration?
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Was this the start of Mike's and Neal's musical collaboration?
Yes.
We All Need Some Light was the best of his sappy acoustic ballads up to that point
??? I would never describe that as a sappy song.
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You’re probably right but I just automatically feel like any acoustic ballad is sappy by nature. Sappy can be good though
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I was never too crazy about this one. There are some highlights and a couple of great tracks and themes, but I'd much rather play the first two Transatlantic albums.
That’s exactly how I feel! I can’t remember the last time I’ve listened to this one all the way through.
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All of the above is a masterpiece. That word gets used a lot, but this is the perfect opportunity to use it. Also, My new world is wonderful. I've always liked the Procol Harum cover, even though I've never heard the original.
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I think I have unusual opinions when it comes to Transatlantic. I really enjoy Kaleidoscope, mainly on the strength of the title track (probably my third favorite TA song), which fell early in your list. Meanwhile, All of the Above is perhaps my favorite Transatlantic song, but I do not like Mystery Train at all, and find My New World, though still good, to be my least favorite TA epic.
I agree with your overall assessment of The Whirlwind, but I also think I find myself in the minority when I say that I *LOVE* Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise). I think the length of that ending is an excellent payoff for the full epic, and is probably my favorite Neal Morse finale.
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To reiterate, I do like Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise) a lot; it just feels a bit too long. But that's prog for ya, right? :P
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Seeing that BAF has yet to be listed, it just reiterates just how good of a band Transatlantic has been and the quality of their output. An amazing discography from a great band. It's been a fun read going through your rankings.
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All of the Above is the best song Transatlantic's ever put out (and one of my absolute favorite epics from anybody ever). I have to say though that I don't really care for the Procul Harum cover, I pretty much always skip it.
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So that’s Similitude and Bridge Across Forever left, right?
I’m rooting for Bridge as #1!
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Shhhhhhhhhhhh! ;)
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02. The Similitude of a Dream
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/Thesimilitudeofadream.jpeg)
This was tough to not put at number 1, and really it is like 1b. The hype this album got pre-release was off the charts, aided by Mike Portnoy really talking it up, and my worry was that it wouldn't come close to matching the hype, but it not only cleared the bar, it did it with room to spare!
Most double albums seem to have lags or down spots inevitably, as it is extremely difficult to keep the quality at a high level consistently over the course of two discs, but Similitude did the impossible. It is a flawless record, in every way possible. I am thrilled that I got to see this perform in full twice, one on the regular tour and then again at Morsefest in 2017. To me, it was like seeing Dream Theater perform Scenes from a Memory back in 2000, as you could just tell that both the fans and the band knew that this was a really special album they were playing. I have no doubt that the Neal Morse Band will continue to make very good/great records, for as long as they stay together as currently constructed, but I have zero expectations that they will ever top or even equal this record. You can't top a once in a lifetime record.
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This is the best one of The Neal Morse Band albums, but as much as I like it, I don't think I would even put it in top 10. There are a couple of snoozers in there, but for the most part, it's really good.
It's astounding that Neal can put out an album this "late" in his career and still have the fans single it out as one of the very best ones.
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Such an amazing record, so many great songs on it. I haven't decided yet if TGA is better or not - right now they're pretty equal.
Favourites on this album are Makes No Sense, The Way Of A Fool, So Far Gone, Freedom Song, and The Mask.
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I did a top 50 for Neal solo/NMB songs years ago (I think not long after the release of The Grand Experiment), and if I had to redo it now, I would probably include no less than 16 songs from Similitude. That is how highly I think of the entire record.
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Agreed, Similitude much like Scenes, is essentially perfect from start to finish.
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I did a top 50 for Neal solo/NMB songs years ago (I think not long after the release of The Grand Experiment), and if I had to redo it now, I would probably include no less than 16 songs from Similitude. That is how highly I think of the entire record.
I found it. I always enjoy your Top 50 songs threads, so this will be a fine read as a newish Neal Morse listener.
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=46216.0 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=46216.0)
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Similitude is NMB's crowning achievement and they will likely never top it. TGA is really good, but it's never going to hit quite the same way as the first one.
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I found it. I always enjoy your Top 50 songs threads, so this will be a fine read as a newish Neal Morse listener.
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=46216.0 (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=46216.0)
I suspect the list would be quite different today (of the ones in there that would still make the top 50).
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01. Bridge Across Forever
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/TransAtlanticBridgeAcrossForever.jpg)
It was a tough call between this and Similitude for number 1, but ultimately I went with this because it has survived the test of time for a bit longer, plus it has Stranger in Your Soul, which is still the best song Neal has ever written (or co-written, depending on how much input the other members of TA had on this one).
Duel with the Devil
Suite Charlotte Pike
Bridge Across Forever
Stranger in Your Soul
Just looking at the track listing says it all. Four magnificent compositions.
The best Neal CD to date (IMO today, anyway ;) ).
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01. Bridge Across Forever
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/TransAtlanticBridgeAcrossForever.jpg)
It was a tough call between this and Similitude for number 1, but ultimately I went with this because it has survived the test of time for a bit longer, plus it has Stranger in Your Soul, which is still the best song Neal has ever written (or co-written, depending on how much input the other members of TA had on this one).
Duel with the Devil
Suite Charlotte Pike
Bridge Across Forever
Stranger in Your Soul
Just looking at the track listing says it all. Four magnificent compositions.
The best Neal CD to date (IMO today, anyway ;) ).
Honestly, this might be my top Neal Morse album as well. It's easily my favorite Transatlantic album, and it has one of my favorite epics of all time "Stranger In Your Soul". Speaking of which, it was definitely not entirely written by Neal, as the part that Pete sings in the beginning (and Neal sings in the end, same melody, "I can hear it now..."). I believe some parts were also written by Roine, but it's been some years since I've watched the Making Of Bridge Across Forever DVD, but I remember that part about Pete's contributions.
It's really weird to listen to Neal's demo of SIYS, titled "Hanging In The Balance", and how there are so many parts not present in the demo that were in the final song, either brought in by other members or written during the sessions. It's an amazing amalgamation of the bands' talents!
Also, am I the only one that unfaded the ending of SCP and re-inserted the ending-jam that was a hidden track at the end of SIYS? I'm not sure why they decided to fade out SCP, the ending-jam really book-ends the song (since they left in the "Take 2" part at the beginning), and the sound-effects used afterwards flow really nicely into "Bridge Across Forever".
-Marc.
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Interesting list. I love how FANS' opinions on their favorite records can differ so much, and yet be similar at the same time. For instance, Similitude and Bridge would probably be in my top 3, at least top 5, yet SMPTe does NOTHING for me and would probably be last or close to it. Definitely my least favorite TA album. And then there's Lifeline, which gets last in your poll, but definitely would not be in mine. Middle of the road, for sure, but dead last? Not with The Way Home's melodies and the epics that are Lifeline and So Many Roads.
But good list, nonetheless. Tough to argue the top 2 spots.
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Very interesting reading, I followed your countdown and it's was a fun reading. I'm not such an expert in Neal Morse's music. I've heard the 3 TNMB's albums, the 4 TA's, the 2 FC's, "?", "One" and "Life & Times".
I think I will continue with Sola Scriptura and Testimony. For what I've listened, my list would be:
14. Snow (This one almost did nothing for me)
13. V (At the end of the day is awesome, the rest is not bad I guess)
12. Life & Times
11. Kaleidoscope
10. One
9. SMTP:e
8. Bride Across Forever
7. Second Nature
6. Flying Colors
5. The Great Adventure
4. ?
3. The Grand Experiment
2. The Whirlwind
1. SOAD
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Also, am I the only one that unfaded the ending of SCP and re-inserted the ending-jam that was a hidden track at the end of SIYS? I'm not sure why they decided to fade out SCP, the ending-jam really book-ends the song (since they left in the "Take 2" part at the beginning), and the sound-effects used afterwards flow really nicely into "Bridge Across Forever".
Honestly, I don't even consider that hidden track as part of the album anymore. I deleted it from my SIYS mp3 almost immediately at the time and never stick around for it when putting the actual CD in to play. Those kind of hidden tracks are annoying 99% of the time (not clever).
Interesting list. I love how FANS' opinions on their favorite records can differ so much, and yet be similar at the same time. For instance, Similitude and Bridge would probably be in my top 3, at least top 5, yet SMPTe does NOTHING for me and would probably be last or close to it. Definitely my least favorite TA album. And then there's Lifeline, which gets last in your poll, but definitely would not be in mine. Middle of the road, for sure, but dead last? Not with The Way Home's melodies and the epics that are Lifeline and So Many Roads.
But good list, nonetheless. Tough to argue the top 2 spots.
Lifeline better than SMPTe? That is, um, interesting. :P
Very interesting reading, I followed your countdown and it's was a fun reading. I'm not such an expert in Neal Morse's music. I've heard the 3 TNMB's albums, the 4 TA's, the 2 FC's, "?", "One" and "Life & Times".
I think I will continue with Sola Scriptura and Testimony.
None of us are, really. Some of us are just more-listened. ;)
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Also, am I the only one that unfaded the ending of SCP and re-inserted the ending-jam that was a hidden track at the end of SIYS? I'm not sure why they decided to fade out SCP, the ending-jam really book-ends the song (since they left in the "Take 2" part at the beginning), and the sound-effects used afterwards flow really nicely into "Bridge Across Forever".
Honestly, I don't even consider that hidden track as part of the album anymore. I deleted it from my SIYS mp3 almost immediately at the time and never stick around for it when putting the actual CD in to play. Those kind of hidden tracks are annoying 99% of the time (not clever).
That's a shame, I've actually hoped that the band would re-release the album, maybe remastered or remixed, and re-inserted the original ending back onto SCP, making it the full 17-minute epic. Ah well, guess I'll live with my edited version!
-Marc.
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I sometimes feel like Duel and Suite overshadow Stranger a little bit, but it's still a good epic. And yeah, the album as a whole truly is great and worthy of number one.
Great thread, Kev, I enjoyed it quite a bit. :tup
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I put All of the Above just slightly ahead of Stranger in Your Soul, but BAF ahead of SMPTe.
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Interesting list. I love how FANS' opinions on their favorite records can differ so much, and yet be similar at the same time. For instance, Similitude and Bridge would probably be in my top 3, at least top 5, yet SMPTe does NOTHING for me and would probably be last or close to it. Definitely my least favorite TA album. And then there's Lifeline, which gets last in your poll, but definitely would not be in mine. Middle of the road, for sure, but dead last? Not with The Way Home's melodies and the epics that are Lifeline and So Many Roads.
But good list, nonetheless. Tough to argue the top 2 spots.
Lifeline better than SMPTe? That is, um, interesting. :P
Yeah, I know. But SMPTe does that little for me. All of the Above is pretty good, but So Many Roads is way better IMO. The lyrics speak to me more, for sure. Mystery Train and My New World are both okay at best (which, to be fair, Fly High and Leviathan are the same). The cover is and does nothing for me. That literally leaves We All Need Some Light, which is great, but definitely can't hold up a whole album against another one with Lifeline, The Way Home, and Children of the Chosen. So yeah, comparatively, for me, Lifeline is easily better than SMPT:e.
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Good to see a lot of Neal fans enjoyed this thread. :tup :tup
Also, it is worth noting that 2112 has been my favorite song for 99.99999% of the time since 1992. That other .00001% was occupied by Stranger in Your Soul for a brief spell in 2002 (before I mentally put 2112 back up top).
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Kev, I don't know Neal outside of one great song he did with Ayreon. Didn't like what I've heard of Spock's Beard (got that's such a dumb name), never got in to TA, and never gave his solo work enough of a listen. I enjoy your musings on music though so followed this.
Also, 2112 has been my favorite song (favorite non-live studio album track anyway) from sometime also around the early 90s when I heard it for the first time.
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Interesting list. I love how FANS' opinions on their favorite records can differ so much, and yet be similar at the same time. For instance, Similitude and Bridge would probably be in my top 3, at least top 5, yet SMPTe does NOTHING for me and would probably be last or close to it. Definitely my least favorite TA album. And then there's Lifeline, which gets last in your poll, but definitely would not be in mine. Middle of the road, for sure, but dead last? Not with The Way Home's melodies and the epics that are Lifeline and So Many Roads.
But good list, nonetheless. Tough to argue the top 2 spots.
Lifeline better than SMPTe? That is, um, interesting. :P
Yeah, I know. But SMPTe does that little for me. All of the Above is pretty good, but So Many Roads is way better IMO. The lyrics speak to me more, for sure. Mystery Train and My New World are both okay at best (which, to be fair, Fly High and Leviathan are the same). The cover is and does nothing for me. That literally leaves We All Need Some Light, which is great, but definitely can't hold up a whole album against another one with Lifeline, The Way Home, and Children of the Chosen. So yeah, comparatively, for me, Lifeline is easily better than SMPT:e.
You’re not alone, I feel the exact same way. Love me some Lifeline and def like it better than SMPT:e
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Since I'm really digging Life & Times - both the songs and the whole vibe of it - where to go next for a similar type of album? Songs From November?
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Since I'm really digging Life & Times - both the songs and the whole vibe of it - where to go next for a similar type of album? Songs From November?
Life & Times is a bit of an oddball in that it's pretty unique within his catalog. Songs From November is probably the closest equivalent, though I haven't heard some of his Christian ones. God Won't Give Up is also poppy but has religious lyrics which may not be your thing. I think it's fantastic and can tune out the lyrics.
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Since I'm really digging Life & Times - both the songs and the whole vibe of it - where to go next for a similar type of album? Songs From November?
Life & Times is a bit of an oddball in that it's pretty unique within his catalog. Songs From November is probably the closest equivalent, though I haven't heard some of his Christian ones. God Won't Give Up is also poppy but has religious lyrics which may not be your thing. I think it's fantastic and can tune out the lyrics.
DTA kinda nailed it, but I would also throw out there Songs From the Highway. Not as poppy or upbeat as L&T, but a very good acoustic album. My second favorite non-prog album by Neal, after Life & Times.
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We all often talk about Neal often repeating himself, which is certainly the case. However, Life & times truly was one of a kind.
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True that. In fact, if you look at this last three proper solo albums - Momentum, Songs for November, and Life & Times - they are all pretty different from one another. I think people get too stuck on separating his "prog" records from his other records, when in fact it is all Neal Morse. It's like comments I have seen online about how the medley on the current tour covers all of the Neal Morse solo/NMB albums prior to The Grand Experiment, when, no, it actually doesn't. It covers all of the prog albums.