Now we turn to One, which is the first non double album in a while, but yet another concept album.
1. The Creation-Does not feel like 18 minutes. I really enjoy the flow of this song. It hangs together better than some of his other epics. The bit right after Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Life is perfect.
2. The Man's Gone-Short, sweet, it works, but it's not one I seek out to listen to on it's own.
3. Author of Confusion-This might be controversial, but I don't like this one. One of my least favorite Neal songs. The middle section where he stops the Author of Confusion part is the only part I like.
4. The Separated Man-The first section is very nice. It feels like a fun rocker. I like the darkness in the second section. The third section's instrumental break sounds good if a tad overlong. The fourth section is just kinda there.
5. Cradle to the Grave-I love this one. Neal's voice sounds great here.
6. Help Me/The Spirit and the Flesh-I really like the Help Me part. I'm probably wrong, but the more latin feel is quite refreshing. The callbacks to The Creation are very well placed. This is a great and emotional ending to the song.
7. Father of Forgiveness-My first copy of One had a scratch and so the album stopped here. For about 3 months I thought this was the final song on the album. I almost feel as if it was better that way. I just love this song. It's a great emotional conclusion, especially immediately following the Spirit and the Flesh.
8. Reunion-I hate, hate, hate that he just repeated the melody from The Creation here. The one immediately following Adam and Eve eating from the tree. It feels full of menace, and a dark reality hiding behind the outward appearance of joy. He should have changed keys, or moved it up and octave, or something. As it stands it has no business in the joyous conclusion and almost ruins the song. In addition, this album already had a more somber conclusion with Father of Forgiveness (I'm not convinced that Reunion needs to be here), Reunion was set up as a celebration. Ending with a more somber conclusion, however beautiful, doesn't work. You can't go somber, then happy, then suddenly somber again. It feels like emotional whiplash and doesn't work as well as it could have.
Overall thoughts: While this might have my most negative comments yet, I still think this is a really good album. In fact, I daresay it is one of the best Christian albums that has ever been made. Take out Author of Confusion and fix Reunion and you have a solid record. I still really like it, it just needs a few corrections. Father of Forgiveness and Cradle to the Grave are the highlights, with The Creation coming close behind them.