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.