D’Virgilio, Morse, Jennings - "Sophomore" album out Nov 10, 2023

[Orbert]

Knowing all of that makes this the perfect single to release now.  The harmonies are great and we know they can write a good song, but we also know that they can stretch out sometimes.  It all points towards the album being potentially really good.

[majo]

a very pleasant single

[RoeDent]

They really missed a trick by not calling this band Spockroach King.

[ytserush]

I get that recording things remotely, especially during pandemice/lockdown times, is the way most music is getting done these days, but it still seems strange to me that bands can record entire albums without ever being in the same physical space at any point.  I guess that when I think of a band, part of it includes the members of the band actually playing together.  Just jamming, getting to know each other musically, that sort of thing.  If it's a band that's been together for years already, that part probably isn't as necessary, but Neal specifically stated that he formed this group because he was thinking of three-part vocal harmonies, then they write and record an entire album without hearing how the three-part vocals actually sound.

Blah blah blah... Get off my lawn!

I think that's part of the music making. But yeah, i can see the front lawn from my window.

[MinistroRaven]

Guys, if you are hesitant to get this record, make yourself a favor, pre order it now, this thing blows! (Same for the new Big Big Train album) 

[The Letter M]

Guys, if you are hesitant to get this record, make yourself a favor, pre order it now, this thing blows! (Same for the new Big Big Train album) 

I've never heard anyone saying "this things blows" as a compliment.  It's usually taken as a pejorative remark about something, e.g. "I got the off-brand food item at the grocery store and it tasted horrible - it really blows."

Well, if it IS good, I'm glad you think so! Cannot wait to hear it!

-Marc.

[King Postwhore]

Primus sucks!

[MinistroRaven]

Guys, if you are hesitant to get this record, make yourself a favor, pre order it now, this thing blows! (Same for the new Big Big Train album) 

I've never heard anyone saying "this things blows" as a compliment.  It's usually taken as a pejorative remark about something, e.g. "I got the off-brand food item at the grocery store and it tasted horrible - it really blows."

Well, if it IS good, I'm glad you think so! Cannot wait to hear it!

-Marc.

I apologize, I miss used it as a GOOD thing, I need to keep learning English. Thanks!

But yeah, the album is REALLY good, and Julia is the weaker track of the album IMO

[Kram]

Guys, if you are hesitant to get this record, make yourself a favor, pre order it now, this thing blows! (Same for the new Big Big Train album) 

Great to hear!  I'll definitely be picking up both.

[CrimsonSunrise]

Sounds awesome!  I guess I'm one of the few in the "I like Ross" club.

[MinistroRaven]

Today, the band are pleased to share the new video from the album’s second single and opening track “Everything I Am”, directed by Christian Rios.
https://youtu.be/I04cDyVbTbM

Neal Morse had this to say about the track:
“A long time ago my parents allowed my brothers and I to go see the “Woodstock” movie in the theater. It was rated R and that was kind of a big deal at the time. I was rather overwhelmed with all the great music in that film and one of the groups that I fell in love with and stayed in love with was Crosby, Stills and Nash. You can definitely hear their influence in this song as the vocal blend that we got I believe almost gets to that level!
 
“I wrote this song one morning when my wife was having a bad day and it’s about how no matter what happens our lives are fully intertwined no matter what. “

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

That's a nice song! 

[The Letter M]

Very enjoyable single! The more I hear, the more I'm anticipating this album!

-Marc.

[hefdaddy42]

I really liked the new single.  Looking forward to this album.

[Kram]

Another nice song for sure.  We might have to create a new category for Neal with this lol.  I guess this song is closest to his singer songwriter stuff, but it's a band effort, not a solo record.  The first single had a hint of prog.  I guess we'll have to wait and see how the rest of the album is.

[MinistroRaven]

Check out Nick D’Virgilio, Neal Morse, and Ross Jennings talk about their collaboration and debut album Troika, out on February 25, 2022.

https://youtu.be/uGh82jhf7-c

[DoctorAction]

Love the two tracks I've heard so far.

[hefdaddy42]

Check out Nick D’Virgilio, Neal Morse, and Ross Jennings talk about their collaboration and debut album Troika, out on February 25, 2022.

https://youtu.be/uGh82jhf7-c

Nice!  Really looking forward to this album.

[MinistroRaven]

The band have now released the video from the album’s third single “You Set My Soul On Fire”, directed by Christian Rios.
https://youtu.be/NZ5b_xgIZh0

[Peter Mc]

This is my least favourite of the three singles.

Really enjoy the first two but find this a bit cringey to be honest.

[HOF]

This is my least favourite of the three singles.

Really enjoy the first two but find this a bit cringey to be honest.

I liked it a lot (love Nick’s voice), but it feels like more of a solo vocal performance than the other tracks do.

[HOF]

Got my CD in the mail today from Laser CD. About to give it a first listen.

[MinistroRaven]

On  music there’s a bonus track for Julia.

[HOF]

On  music there’s a bonus track for Julia.

This is on the CD as well. It appears to be Ross’ original arrangement of the song, which is kind of cool to see how they reshaped the album version. There are things I like about Ross’ arrangement, but I do think they improved it in the final version.

I’ve really enjoyed this album, even if there are a few tracks that will probably always be skips. Some of the lyrics are pretty clunky as well, but it’s really just a showcase for their vocal harmonies so it doesn’t really bother me. It sounds phenomenal. I was surprised that Rich Mouser didn’t mix it. Never heard of Jerry Guidroz, but he did an amazing job mixing it. There are a few rockier tunes towards the end which were a nice change of pace. King for a Day is an especially fun rocker with just killer harmonies.

[jammindude]

As much as I love the first two tracks, I do have to say the lyrics are what possibly brings it down a bit. The third single seemed a bit overly cheesy. But it’s true that their vocal harmonies really steal the show.

[Peter Mc]

Only really had it on in the background to be totally honest but it has the feel of something I don’t need to own.  I will stream it now and again but not sure I will be buying the cd.

It’s not bad or anything, just not that great either.  When Neal does all these amazing melodic pop moments in his prog songs, I always think he’d be a great pop writer but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to translate that way.  I haven’t got into his non-prog related stuff at all.  This is probably the best of them though.

[ariich]

I’ve really enjoyed this album, even if there are a few tracks that will probably always be skips. Some of the lyrics are pretty clunky as well, but it’s really just a showcase for their vocal harmonies so it doesn’t really bother me. It sounds phenomenal. I was surprised that Rich Mouser didn’t mix it. Never heard of Jerry Guidroz, but he did an amazing job mixing it. There are a few rockier tunes towards the end which were a nice change of pace. King for a Day is an especially fun rocker with just killer harmonies.

Agreed with all this. I liked it on first listen but after a few more, I'm loving it more than I thought I would. The vocal arrangements and performance are just lovely.

[Dr. DTVT]

My hot take - I couldn’t make it through the album, but I think that is more that this isn’t what I’m looking for musically, despite the fact that I should love the hell out of this.  I’m sure I’ll come back to it when I am done digesting everything else I have bought in the last month.

[Ben_Jamin]

This album gives me strong Crosby, Stills, and Nash vibes. Mainly in how they utilize their voices to harmonize and how they are calm, acoustic type of songs. I am enjoying it.

[XeRocks81]

listening to it now for the first time (yeah I 'm late) I'm on track #3 and yeah this is CSN (sometimes Y) 1000%  I like it a lot so far but I can totally understand someone being put off by how much of "rip off", for lack of a better term, this is.

[HOF]

listening to it now for the first time (yeah I 'm late) I'm on track #3 and yeah this is CSN (sometimes Y) 1000%  I like it a lot so far but I can totally understand someone being put off by how much of "rip off", for lack of a better term, this is.

To be honest, I don't know enough about CSN to really compare. I've heard some of their songs and have a mental image of what they sound like, but it wouldn't bother me if they sang straight covers because I wouldn't know the difference.

[XeRocks81]

I'm up to King For Day now and the songs rock a little harder but still has a lot of that vibe.  To be fair my first impression might be overstating a little bit, after all CSN didn't invent vocal harmonies or anything but still, it sounds very similar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGT0P0XJRFM

[HOF]

I'm up to King For Day now and the songs rock a little harder but still has a lot of that vibe.  To be fair my first impression might be overstating a little bit, after all CSN didn't invent vocal harmonies or anything but still, it sounds very similar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGT0P0XJRFM

Of course, the explicit goal was to make songs that sound like CSN, so it should have been expected.

I do know the song in that video. Probably know more of their music than I realize!

[King Postwhore]

listening to it now for the first time (yeah I 'm late) I'm on track #3 and yeah this is CSN (sometimes Y) 1000%  I like it a lot so far but I can totally understand someone being put off by how much of "rip off", for lack of a better term, this is.

Who's put off?  I haven't seen anyone on the internet say that.

[XeRocks81]

listening to it now for the first time (yeah I 'm late) I'm on track #3 and yeah this is CSN (sometimes Y) 1000%  I like it a lot so far but I can totally understand someone being put off by how much of "rip off", for lack of a better term, this is.

Who's put off?  I haven't seen anyone on the internet say that.

didn’t mean to imply there was, it was just an off the cuff first impression.  Overall I liked it a lot!