Spock's Beard

[KevShmev]

Does anyone here like Ted Leonard's vocals more than Neal's or Nick's? Not to diminish their vocal abilities, but I think I'm going to end up liking Ted more in the long run. While I still love his music, I don't really like Neal's vocals as much as I used to (I used to love his vocals; maybe I've been overplaying his material?) and Nick, while a good singer, has never really been a favorite of mine.

There is no way he will surpass Neal, for me anyway.  NDV, not sure.  NDV often struck me as a great background singer doing lead vocals for now, but his voice had a certain charm to it.  Again, Leonard more range, but, again, lacks the character of the other two, IMO.  But it's still early, so his voice could certainly grow on me.

Oh, and, yes, I will be buying the album, so anyone thinking of cursing me cause I am listening to a copy I didn't pay for can preemptively shut it.

[Mladen]

Ted's voice works great on the album. I honestly thought I would have to get used to hearing a different singer in the band, but no, he fits so naturally.

[BlackInk]

Just listened to The Edge of the In-Between for the first time in a long time. That is amazing, best Spock's Beard song.

[The King in Crimson]

Ted's voice works great on the album. I honestly thought I would have to get used to hearing a different singer in the band, but no, he fits so naturally.

This.

Ted's the star of the album, IMO. He does a great job. I guess it helps that I was never a big fan of either Neal or Nick's vocals.  I never had any complaints about either but rarely was I... excitedly impressed by either.

As for the album, I really like it. I liked X better after a similar amount of listens and I continue to like it more, but I still think this is a really good album.

[kirksnosehair]

I really love this album and it's taking a lot of effort to not over-play it.  I wasn't sure how Ted's voice was going to sound, but I think he did a fine job.  I don't know if he'll surpass NDV as my favorite SB vocalist or not, but time will tell.

[The Letter M]

I really love this album and it's taking a lot of effort to not over-play it.  I wasn't sure how Ted's voice was going to sound, but I think he did a fine job.  I don't know if he'll surpass NDV as my favorite SB vocalist or not, but time will tell.

THIS... I've been playing it at home on my iPod, in my car on CD-r (the main album/first disc), and at work on my computer. It's sooooo damn good and catchy and just stupendous - it's going to get SO over-played it's not even funny, but I do not care. It's as every bit strong as X was, and maybe not in all the same ways, but still strong. There's a lot of classic SB moments, and in some songs Alan Morse pulls out his best Steve Howe impression, giving some of the songs a very-Yes feel here and there.

I have to say, the songs on the main album that didn't stick out at first have begun to grow on me. "A Treasure Abandoned" is a great slow-tempo rocker with a big chorus - something SB is very good at. The opening and closing sections are some of the most majestic parts of the whole album and of recent Beard history! Again, Alan rips out some awesome guitar parts in this song.

"I Know Your Secret" still isn't wow'ing me as much as the other songs on the album, and in fact I could trade it with any of the first 3 tracks on the 2nd disc!

And speaking of the 2nd disc - "Down A Burning Road" is classic SB, and I'm saddened it wasn't included on the main album! It's really good, as is the whacky "Wish I Were Here" - the repeating line of "TV with Dave" makes me wonder... is Alan speaking about Dave Meros? If so, hilarious. another 'quirky' SB song, something that is missing on the main album ("Afterthoughts" not included).

The whole album (both discs) capture a lot of SB feelings and moments, both Neal and Nick era, so it covers a WIDE range of sounds and styles that are really the ESSENCE of Spock's Beard music. I'd almost go to say that this is going to be one of THE best SB albums, and at least ranks in my TOP half of SB albums. It already surpasses Day For Night, Feel Euphoria and Spock's Beard. It may even top Octane, The Kindness Of Strangers and The Light, but is definitely on par with the likes of V, Beware Of Darkness and X.

I cannot wait to run my Spock's Beard Survivor again just to see how every feels about this album in a few months!

-Marc.

[Mladen]

I cannot wait to run my Spock's Beard Survivor again

Because the previous one was such as success? 

[Elite]

Marc, I agree with you on everything you said there

[The Letter M]

I cannot wait to run my Spock's Beard Survivor again

Because the previous one was such as success? 

Oooh ho ho... I see what you did there.

I'm hoping that this new album will draw fans, old and new, here, to my Survivor when I start it! If I get at LEAST 5 regular voters, I'll be a happy man.

-Marc.

[Elite]

Well, you know, I'll be there.

[Mladen]

Me too, obviously, but I'm hoping for a few more voters this time around.

[The Letter M]

Alrighty folks...here's my first ranking of the main album's tracks:

Waiting For Me
Something Very Strange
Afterthoughts
A Treasure Abandoned
Submerged
Hiding Out
I Know Your Secret

And with the 4 bonus tracks included...

Waiting For Me
Something Very Strange
Afterthoughts
A Treasure Abandoned
Down A Burning Road
Submerged
The Man You're Afraid You Are
Hiding Out
Wish I Were Here
I Know Your Secret
Postcards From Perdition

Solid album, all across. The instrumental, however, is not as great as previous instrumentals - it's equal to "NWC", but not as great as "Skeletons At The Feast" or "Kamikaze".

-Marc.

[Mladen]

Let me try it:

A Treasure abandoned
Afterthoughts
Submerged
Something very strange
Waiting for me
Hiding out
I know your secret

The first four are great, the other three are damn good. What an album. 

[The Letter M]

Let me try it:

A Treasure abandoned
Afterthoughts
Submerged
Something very strange
Waiting for me
Hiding out
I know your secret

The first four are great, the other three are damn good. What an album. 

I'm glad our lists are slightly different, although we seem to enjoy "Afterthoughts", "Submerged" and "Something Very Strange" about the same. I'll have to say, "A Treasure Abandoned" has REALLY grown on me as I've listened to this album nearly non-stop since last week. It might climb past "Afterthoughts" into my Top 3 of the album, but I just really enjoy the whole "Thoughts" series, and it's a worthy successor to the first two parts by SB.

Interesting, also, to see that we both place "I Know Your Secret" at the bottom - it's good, but still not as great as the other six songs.

-Marc.

[The Letter M]

And another observation I have made about the new album - other than Snow, it is the only other SB album (other than Beware Of Darkness) to not have a song with movements/a suite of songs, that is, there's not multi-part epic or song with Roman Numeral'd movements within it.

Interestingly enough, it's also similar to BOD and TKOS in that they're 7-song albums that last under an hour. That seems to be a good formula for SB! ]

-Marc.

[Mladen]

A Treasure abandoned stood out as a Spock's beard classic immediately. It has been my favorite on the album from the start, we have yet to see if that might change at some point.

As for the three I ranked behind them, I like them almost the same, each one is very amusing in its own way, they're quite different songs. Afterthoughts is a worthy successor to the Thoughts tracks indeed, Something very strange is filled with prog rock goodness and craziness, and Submerged is a very much needed breather and a brief tune. It has such a catchy chorus, I wish I could sing along but Ted's voice is so damn high. 

[ColdFireYYZ]

1. Something Very Strange
2. A Treasure Abandoned
3. Afterthoughts
4. Submerged
5. Waiting For Me
6. Hiding Out
7. I Know Your Secret

Submerged was closer to the top at first but the other tracks, especially Afterthoughts, are really growing on me.

[KevShmev]

The first two songs are growing on me, while Afterthoughts definitely stands out to me as the weakest link.  The multi-part harmony sections are nearly cringe-worthy this time around.  Having no or little musical accompaniment doesn't help their cause.  They should have left that off the regular CD and put Down a Burning Road on instead.

[The Letter M]

1. Something Very Strange
2. A Treasure Abandoned
3. Afterthoughts
4. Submerged
5. Waiting For Me
6. Hiding Out
7. I Know Your Secret

Submerged was closer to the top at first but the other tracks, especially Afterthoughts, are really growing on me.

Once again, here's another list with "Hiding Out" and "I Know Your Secret" at the bottom... I guess you can say the album gets better after the first two tracks - not sure if that's a GOOD thing or not, but I really do like the opener. It's a great successor in a long-line of perfect SB opening tracks!

-Marc.

[Nel]

I like every song on the main album. Except Waiting For Me. I don't know what it is, I just can't get into it. Still need to listen to the bonus tracks. As an album, it's the strongest I've heard by Spock's Beard, though nothing on it touches the best parts of X.

I bought a used copy of Snow yesterday, though, so let's see if that changes.

[KevShmev]

Waiting for Me is good, but I wouldn't call it a great song.  I can only imagine how epic the solo in the middle would have been in the hands of a true guitar master.  Not that Alan Morse's solo is bad..far from it...but considering the build-up to it and the supporting music, it just isn't as awesome as it could have been. 

To me, A Treasure Abandoned and Something Very Strange are the standout songs on the main album.

[ColdFireYYZ]

1. Something Very Strange
2. A Treasure Abandoned
3. Afterthoughts
4. Submerged
5. Waiting For Me
6. Hiding Out
7. I Know Your Secret

Submerged was closer to the top at first but the other tracks, especially Afterthoughts, are really growing on me.

Once again, here's another list with "Hiding Out" and "I Know Your Secret" at the bottom... I guess you can say the album gets better after the first two tracks - not sure if that's a GOOD thing or not, but I really do like the opener. It's a great successor in a long-line of perfect SB opening tracks!

-Marc.

Despite placing them on the bottom of my list I do like first two songs. It took me a few listens to get into I Know Your Secret, but I loved Hiding Out from the start and I think it's a great opener.

[Nel]

I'm actually quite liking the Sanctified Remix version of Something Very Strange more than the original. This is awesome. 

EDIT: Postcards From Perdition is a pretty sweet closer too.

[Mladen]

I'm still having some trouble with Waiting for me. I like it, but it's way too ordinary - it just screams ''a typical Neal Morse song'' that sounds like a whole bunch of other Spock's beard or Transatlantic songs. It actually reminds me of Infinite fire in so many ways. They closed the previous album with Jaws of heaven, which was one of their most original songs as far as I'm concerned. This one sounds like I've heard it a dozen times already, which I wouldn't mind if it were an improvement or really damn good.

[kirksnosehair]

After a good dozen spins the only track I haven't really warmed to is the instrumental, which has a little bit of a phoned in feel.  Too early to rank the rest of the tracks just yet.   I think Something Very Strange stands out quite a bit.

[The King in Crimson]

Did anyone get their CD yet or get confirmation that they were being shipped out? I remember getting the initial email but I haven't heard anything since and it's been a few weeks.

[KevShmev]

I'm actually quite liking the Sanctified Remix version of Something Very Strange more than the original. This is awesome. 

I might agree with this.  Maybe it's because the remix doesn't have that Good Don't Last-like melody (which makes it sound a bit derivative of themselves), or maybe it's cause it sounds more compacted and cohesive, but I am finding myself listening to the remix more. 

[The Letter M]

https://getreadytorock.me.uk/blog/2013/03/interview-10qs-with-dave-meros-spocks-beard/

Fans of "A Treasure Abandoned" will enjoy knowing the following:

It started with a theme that Al had written many years ago. . .late 90s  (I remember playing bass on an early version of that back in maybe ’97 or ’98). . ..and John filled in the rest.  I love the way this one turned out, it’s one of my favorites on the CD

That a MORE on the new album and it's songs in the interview linked above!! No wonder ATA has that classic-Beard sound! It stems all the way back from the TKOS-era! LOVE IT!

-Marc.

[Mladen]

Well, that's why it's so awesome.  Great interview as well, it's a shame they're having all these problems with the new album, hopefully Dave will get some rest once they hit the road. I'll give my best to catch them, I'm still figuring it out.

[The Letter M]

In about TWO WEEKS, I will once again begin my Annual Spock's Beard Survivor! 2013 Edition! This will be a WHOLE Survivor, covering songs from ALL 11 studio albums, as well as some B-sides. And for Special Editions, bonus tracks will be included in that album's survivor (Which really only applies to FE, Octane, X and BNADS).

A proper Results & Discussion Thread will be happening shortly...

-Marc.

[Mladen]

https://www.rocking.gr/interviews/en/Spock%5C%5Cs_Beard_interview/15685/

Another great interview, this time with Alan and Ted.

[rumborak]

I'm still having some trouble with Waiting for me. I like it, but it's way too ordinary - it just screams ''a typical Neal Morse song'' that sounds like a whole bunch of other Spock's beard or Transatlantic songs.

My problem with Waiting For Me is that it's essentially a Day For Night ripoff.

[The Letter M]

I'm still having some trouble with Waiting for me. I like it, but it's way too ordinary - it just screams ''a typical Neal Morse song'' that sounds like a whole bunch of other Spock's beard or Transatlantic songs.

My problem with Waiting For Me is that it's essentially a Day For Night ripoff.

Maybe I'm just a slave to anything with Neal's name on it (if prog-related), but I am *loving* "Waiting For Me". Sure, it's a BIT derivative of older SB songs, but what did you expect with the writing team of The Morse Brothers? Al and Neal have a unique chemistry between them, and it's clearly evident that with BOTH involved in "Waiting For Me" and "Afterthoughts" that they really do exemplify the classic SB sound.

"Waiting For Me" is the perfect closer to the main album, and definitely along the vein of songs like "The Light", "At The End Of The Day", "Day For Night", "Walking On The Wind", "The Doorway", "Harm's Way"...okay, so pretty much every songs over 10-minutes from the Neal-Era of SB.

For me, it's an instant classic, and a favorite.

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

It might be in the same vein of those songs, but it ain't in the same league as most of them, IMO.  Good song, yes, but great?  Nah.  I can't go that far.

[obscure]

Loving every second of it except for I Know Your Secret :/
couldn't rank them yet....