Official Neal Morse Appreciation Thread

[DTA]

I really liked The Great adventure as well, but no album since had an inpact on me as a whole.

For some reason I thought TGA came out before L&T. Yeah that one is excellent too. I&D just came and went for me unfortunately and I have no desire to hear it again. Same with Sola Gratia, The Exorcist, and probably Joseph 1/2 if I ever listened to them.

[Metro]

Sola Gratia was ok, but I never revisit it. It, along with JCTE and what I’ve heard of the the Joseph albums just sounds like Neal by numbers. It’s just him going through the motions. Innocence and Danger was the last album from him that I cared for.

[hefdaddy42]

Sola Gratia was ok, but I never revisit it. It, along with JCTE and what I’ve heard of the the Joseph albums just sounds like Neal by numbers. It’s just him going through the motions. Innocence and Danger was the last album from him that I cared for.

This all fits me as well.

[Stadler]

For some reason I thought TGA came out before L&T. Yeah that one is excellent too. I&D just came and went for me unfortunately and I have no desire to hear it again. Same with Sola Gratia, The Exorcist, and probably Joseph 1/2 if I ever listened to them.

"Innocence and Danger" is one of my favorite albums of all time. 

Honestly, I'm biased; I love Neal, he's entertained me to unmeasurable levels over the years, and yet for me, Neal is the spark, the key, but his work is elevated by the players around him.  The Joseph albums - for me - suffer for the lack of the rest of the Neal Morse Band.   I have to be honest, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but as happy as I am about Mike rejoining Dream Theater, the fact that it looks like it's not a given that Randy and Mike will be involved with Neal projects going forward is going to impact my excitement about them.

[ReaperKK]

I've listened to around a dozen or so Neal albums and I&D is the only one that stands out to me (and the only one I go back to). For the amount of material he puts out a lot of it is very similar/samey.

[gmillerdrake]

I love Neal, he's entertained me to unmeasurable levels over the years, and yet for me, Neal is the spark, the key, but his work is elevated by the players around him.  The Joseph albums - for me - suffer for the lack of the rest of the Neal Morse Band.   I have to be honest, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but as happy as I am about Mike rejoining Dream Theater, the fact that it looks like it's not a given that Randy and Mike will be involved with Neal projects going forward is going to impact my excitement about them.

This is where I'm at. I LOVE what Neal has given us over the years. But I do agree that the players he's had involved in the process are a big part of that as well. Without that cast of characters involved.....just not all that interested to be honest. Especially being that....as was mentioned....a lot of this recent content is essentially things/sounds/arrangements that we've heard a thousand times from him already.

[The Letter M]

Count me among the group that finds I&D his last great prog album. Even though I've gotten both Joseph albums, I don't think I've listened to them more than once each, same with JCTE. They're FINE albums, I'm sure, but something about them just doesn't bring me back. My willingness to spin Neal related works has waned in recent years, as well, unless it's Transatlantic, Flying Colors, or the DMJ trio albums, all of which are groups where he isn't the main or primary composer. I like him in his more collaborative efforts, it seems, so I hope the project with Keaggy and Thompson comes to fruition since that sounds the most intriguing to me.

As for his singer-songwriter stuff, it's very good, but I rarely go back to it. I enjoyed Songs From November, and I've maybe listened to Life & Times a couple of times, but I can't say I'm rushing to pre-order the new one. But his work with Nick and Ross is just top-notch and I love their vocal interplay together.

Over-all, Neal is still one of my favorite all-time composers and musicians, but I'm at the point where I only revisit his stuff if I'm in the mood to marathon stuff in the lead-up to a new major release, and considering Transatlantic is probably done, NMB might not do a fifth album for awhile, and Flying Colors is a big question mark, I don't see any more Neal Morse Marathons coming anytime soon.

-Marc.

[HOF]

I’ve preferred Neal’s singer-songwriter stuff to his prog stuff for a while. I just don’t think his solo prog stuff/NMB is all that good. Not all of his singer songwriter stuff is either, but I tend to connect better with the poppier side of his stuff since he initially went solo.

[Pebsie]

I don't know about everyone else, but Neal releases so much music that it's created a "mental" state for each grouping of his releases. Like how phone companies release a flagship product and then a budget product. The flagship product is the super interesting one and the budget products are still well worth paying attention to but are "minor" releases. For me it's like this:

Flagship Releases
Every Spock's Beard album
Every solo album up to & including Momentum
Transatlantic*
Flying Colors*
Every NMB album excluding The Grand Experiment
MorseFest*
DMJ

* to indicate exceptions, see below

Non-flagship Releases
Singer-songwriter albums
Worship albums
Covert to Cover albums
JCTE
Joseph 1 & 2
Transatlantic live albums except The Whirlwind (no idea why that one feels different to me)
Flying Colors live albums
MorseFests 2018-202
I&D: Live in Hamburg

Doesn't count pandemic releases
Sola Gratia

I don't know: maybe it's a marketing thing, maybe it's a taste thing, but he has a clear line of "maximum effort" albums and another line of "high effort but not so special" albums. The last "big" release in my mind was I&D, and I'm waiting for the next NMB album before I think we'll see another "flagship" release.

and just FTR I own and love every single one of this albums, including his live albums (excluding the cover albums). This is not a criticism of albums I've deemed here non-flagship.

[Stadler]

I kind of like how you've done that.  I feel sort of the same way, though I have to admit I just can't really get into the Spock's Beard stuff.   FOR ME, with only a few exceptions, it's not up to the same level as the later "Flagship" records.    I also would quibble with excepting "The Grand Experiment", since it contains two of his five best songs (Waterfall and Alive Again, which is my favorite Neal Morse epic by a long shot). 

[Kwyjibo]

But then one could argue, that a record like JSTE with all the different singers and the musical elements is more special (or needs more effort) than a Transatlantic record, where four guys jam for a few days and call it an album. Yeah, I know there's more to it but I strongly disagree that with some of his albums Neal purposely puts in less effort than in others. And just because a song is more "simple" doesn't mean it's easier to write.

Maybe it's because I'm a big fan of JSTE and really like Sola Gratia and the Joseph albums. I&D on the other hand didn't grab me and still doesn't, as well as all the Transatlantic records save the first two. All not bad, but all not really great either, although I know I'm in the minority with this opinion.

And the "Morse of the same" critic isn't without truth, but it goes back to his Spock's Beard and first solo record days, so it's nothing new. But maybe he now has reached such an immense number of published records that it's more apparent that not every record is really unique.

[The Letter M]

Coincidentally, that list of "Flagship releases" is almost entirely through Inside Out Music. Pretty sure the promotional push those albums and bands get is mostly due to being through a big(ger) label.

His other releases through Radiant and Frontier Records definitely don't get the reach or attention that Inside Out or Mascot Records get, and it shows.

-Marc.

[gzarruk]

I agree Neal's output has become a bit "samey" the last few years, but he's also done so much that it's a bit hard to come up with something fresh every single time. The man is a music writing machine, he just can't stand still. I guess that's really the problem here, all the stuff he keeps releasing in short periods of time.

A bit of a different opinion to what the others here have said, but I just don't connect at all with his singer/songwriter stuff. The stuff with Nick and Ross doesn't do anything for me either, it's the prog stuff keeps me engaged. Sure, every new prog album should have the NMB players ideally, but that doesn't mean he isn't putting out quality content, it's just that he has so much stuff coming that it gets tiring. I bet the recent prog albums would've been a lot better received if they were released in a different time period.

[Kram]

I agree Neal's output has become a bit "samey" the last few years, but he's also done so much that it's a bit hard to come up with something fresh every single time. The man is a music writing machine, he just can't stand still. I guess that's really the problem here, all the stuff he keeps releasing in short periods of time.

A bit of a different opinion to what the others here have said, but I just don't connect at all with his singer/songwriter stuff. The stuff with Nick and Ross doesn't do anything for me either, it's the prog stuff keeps me engaged. Sure, every new prog album should have the NMB players ideally, but that doesn't mean he isn't putting out quality content, it's just that he has so much stuff coming that it gets tiring. I bet the recent prog albums would've been a lot better received if they were released in a different time period.

I agree he's just too prolific. If he didn't release anything, for say 3-4 years, there would be so much more anticipation for something new from him.  Where as now, it feels like 3-4 releases every year or so.

[HolidaysAnoraks]

Anyone here that ordered the MF22 Transatlantic box set check out their Blu-rays yet? The Friday night show is skipping a lot for me (In Held ‘Twas In I in particular). There didn’t seem to be any damaging to the packaging and the disc itself looks fine to me (no scuffs / scratches), so I’m wondering if it was an issue with the pressing.

Edit: I should have mentioned that this was the box set from Radiant.

[Metro]

I ordered from LaserCD and haven’t gotten mine yet, but someone in the Transatlantic thread mentioned having similar issues and they also ordered from Radiant.

[ytserush]

A few albums in the works, per the Inner Circle letter.

New singer/songwriter album, "Late Bloomer"...



A new prog solo album...

And the project with Chester Thompson, Phil Keaggy, and Byron House...

In. Hope there's a tour for both of these.

[SwedishGoose]

Anyone here that ordered the MF22 Transatlantic box set check out their Blu-rays yet? The Friday night show is skipping a lot for me (In Held ‘Twas In I in particular). There didn’t seem to be any damaging to the packaging and the disc itself looks fine to me (no scuffs / scratches), so I’m wondering if it was an issue with the pressing.

Edit: I should have mentioned that this was the box set from Radiant.

I ordered from  Roine and got mine on wednesday.

I have watched both BRs and they were both in fine quality.

Great release.... wonderful to hear Transatlatic supplemented by so many additional musiscians / singers.

[Pebsie]

In. Hope there's a tour for both of these.

I'm still holding out hope that we get a Neal Morse solo tour some point soon, running through songs from his back catalogue + Sola Gratia, Joseph and JCTE. Those albums - especially Sola Gratia - really deserved a tour imo, especially with how good MF20 was.

[SwedishGoose]

I'm still holding out hope that we get a Neal Morse solo tour some point soon, running through songs from his back catalogue + Sola Gratia, Joseph and JCTE. Those albums - especially Sola Gratia - really deserved a tour imo, especially with how good MF20 was.

I'd take an acoustic solo tour like he did for Life and Times...

Was very nice!

[Metro]

The last Inner Circle letter did mention a solo acoustic tour in May/June. No dates announced though.

Remember when I wrote about wanting to do some church/coffee house events in May and June? Well, I'm delighted to say that some people have responded and we have some events coming up. I'm really excited about those too.
 
    I'm going to be doing them solo acoustic, doing music from my catalogue and a few new songs, probably with a little bit of instrument looping. I plan to tell some of my story, too, and hang out afterwards and chat with people.  And I'd love to have you come and bring your friends.
 
Dates coming very soon....

[SwedishGoose]

Would love if that came anywhere near me.

Saw him solo in Stockholm with Roine Stolt as guest.

Met both in the lobby afterwards. Had a chat with Neal.

Loved the setlist and the performance  looping was really impressive to me...

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neal-morse/2018/sodra-teatern-stockholm-sweden-63ed56d3.html
Another soloalbum and tour like that would be great in my book.

[Pebsie]

I was at the London show and it was a really good night. Tickets were only like £15 as I recall so I had enough to buy a shirt for once. Was a very cool and intimate gig.

[Mladen]

If he comes to Europe with that tour, I'd be a fool to pass on that opportunity to finally see Neal.

[HOF]

The last Inner Circle letter did mention a solo acoustic tour in May/June. No dates announced though.

He has a show coming up in Montgomery, AL that I saw on FB this weekend.

[emtee]

I own all Spock's up to Octane and all are top notch for me. They have Kansas DNA in their music and all of them are stellar musicians.

I own Testimony, One and ?. All are fantastic but they represent everything I need from this band. The formula became too similar for me.

I own all TA except for Kaleidoscope and their last one. All superb but again, they ran their course.

And I own I&D which I really love.

But for me, I'm done with NM now.

[Trav86]

I own all Spock's up to Octane and all are top notch for me. They have Kansas DNA in their music and all of them are stellar musicians.

I own Testimony, One and ?. All are fantastic but they represent everything I need from this band. The formula became too similar for me.

I own all TA except for Kaleidoscope and their last one. All superb but again, they ran their course.

And I own I&D which I really love.

But for me, I'm done with NM now.

Have you listened to Sola Scriptura? Or the other NMB albums?

[OpenYourEyes311]

Have you listened to Sola Scriptura? Or the other NMB albums?

Agreed. Sola Scriptura, Similitude and Great Adventure are greater than every other album listed IMO.

--------
RE: Acoustic Tour

I saw him on the Life and Times tour (another favorite Neal album of mine), and it was so much fun. Sat right in front of him in a small room that had about 50-70 seats. Met him after (for the second time), he's super nice. And I remember it being cheap enough to buy some of the worship albums he had on sale that I didn't have. I would recommend going to this upcoming tour if you get the chance.

[emtee]

Have you listened to Sola Scriptura? Or the other NMB albums?

Yes. I've heard everything, just decided not to buy them.

[Stadler]

For some reason I've found myself inadvertently binging on Neal lately.  Been in a weird mood, weird place and that seems to be the only thing that has been scratching the itch. 

[ytserush]

I'd take an acoustic solo tour like he did for Life and Times...

Was very nice!

Saw that. Hoping for something like it.

[Trav86]

For some reason I've found myself inadvertently binging on Neal lately.  Been in a weird mood, weird place and that seems to be the only thing that has been scratching the itch.

When I get in the mood to listen to Neal. I can't listen to anything else for a while.  I'll jump between solo, NMB, Transatlantic and old Spock's Beard. Sometimes Flying Colors.

[Metro]

Solo acoustic tour dates just announced

Hello there!

I was keen to get out and do some church services and solo shows, so a few months ago I put the suggestion out there and I’m delighted to announce 10 events across the US in May and June! (Sorry if I’m not coming near you, but these are the places that I got invited to).

They are a mixture of formats - some “An Evening with” concerts, some church services, and some outdoor events. They are solo shows so I’ll have my guitar, keyboard, loop pedal and … well who knows who might even join me! I’m excited to be able to play a whole range of music and maybe even some requests from you guys!!

I will also be giving some of my testimony so if you know people who might be blessed by that, please bring 'em along. Also, as time permits, I will hang out afterwards and chat with you and your friends.

None of the events are ticketed and have no admission charges!  If you want any specific details about the events or the venues please reach out to the churches or locations directly!

All the details are included here with links to the church / venues websites -> https://nealmorse.com/tour-dates/

I am really feeling these will be very special. Come and join us!

Thanks and blessings,

Neal

[gmillerdrake]

I'll probably head to that date in Missouri, that church isn't too far away from me and it's free.