Perhaps the NOMAC tracks will be extended a little live to give James a break... he's got a lot of work to do each night. I could see Jordan having a little fun extending them a small amount.
I've been through the album 6-times now and it's grown on me with each listen. First time through, I picked up large chunks that I liked a lot and melodies that stayed with me; on subsequent listens however, I starting picking up the recurring themes and the story (haven't read the track-by-track explanations yet) jumped out at me more and more. I'm proud of them for taking this risk, and for me anyway, it paid off!
I'm excited by the album, and I'm excited for the band! I think the story is strong and I enjoy it; and, of course, the music is very strong. Tasty stuff laid down by the whole band. Can't wait for April and the opportunity to see it live!