Tag: Neal Morse

Neal Morse, Superstar: The Similitude of a Dream

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock10 Comments
nmb-album
Radiant Records, 2016

Here’s the best way to sum up the new Neal Morse Band album.

  • If you loved SNOW, you might or might not love THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.
  • If you loved SOLA SCRIPTURA, you’ll definitely love THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.
  • If you loved THE GRAND EXPERIMENT, you’ll think THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM is good, but not great.
  • If you have not heard of any of the albums mentioned above, but you’d like to try some of Neal Morse’s music, you definitely DO NOT want to start with THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.

Every one of Neal Morse’s post-Spock’s Beard album seemed to get better and better: TESTIMONY; ONE; ?; LIFELINE; TESTIMONY 2; and MOMENTUM.  With the exception of SOLA SCRIPTURA, Morse seemed incapable of making a mistake.  Though I dislike SOLA SCRIPTURA not only for its themes and lyrics and for its music being over-the-top bombast, I was certainly willing to forgive these problems — especially given the honest spirit in which the album was written, produced, and performed.

What about THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM, then?

Continue reading “Neal Morse, Superstar: The Similitude of a Dream” →

Neal Morse Band Announce Epic Concept Album: “The Similitude of a Dream”

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rockLeave a comment

a072010e-c952-475b-955f-0d3386f1fcc7Courtesy of the folks over at Prog, the Neal Morse Band officially announced their upcoming double concept album, The Similitude of a Dream. According to Morse, the concept is loosely based upon the beginning of John Bunyan’s classic story, Pilgrim’s Progress. The first song released, “Long Day/Overture,” features both the quiet and proggy sides of Neal Morse’s career. From the get-go, this song captures your attention and leaves you wanting more. It is definitely one of the proggiest new songs I’ve heard this year.

The Neal Morse Band is made up of, obviously, Neal Morse, as well as Mike Portnoy, Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keyboards), and Eric Gillette, who is quickly proving himself to be one of the best guitarists in the prog world.

Mike Portnoy has said that this is the greatest album of his entire career, even surpassing Dream Theater’s classic Scenes From a Memory. He has gone so far as to compare The Similitude of a Dream to The Who’s Tommy, Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Those are bold words, and time will certainly judge whether or not those statements are true. If the first song is any indication, though, this album may very well be the best yet by Neal Morse.

The album is set for release on November 11, but you can pre-order the album from Radiant Records now: http://www.radiantrecords.com/products/634-the-neal-morse-band-the-similitude-of-a-dream.aspx.

The band embarks on a four month tour across the US, Canada, and Europe (and a show in Israel) in the beginning of 2017.

 

Get ready to Pre-Order the new Neal Morse Band album

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
Pre-orders begin at 10am Friday Sept. 9!
 
You Must Be Registered at www.radiantrecords.com to receive the free downloads that will come with your pre-order! Register now so you’re ready! 
(We suggest that you go to www.radiantrecords.com  

now to make sure your username and password 

 

work correctly)
 
The first 200 preorders of the SE or Vinyl versions will receive a 5″ 7″ exclusive framable photo of an actual lyric sheet signed by Neal Morse. And free downloads of 2 tracks from the album!
This is gonna be great!
Thanks,
The Radiant Records Team

Freakishly Huge Sale at RADIANT

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

STARTING NOW: Radiant’s Pre-Labor Day 3-Day Sale through Wednesday, 8/31!

 

BIG savings on:

Transatlantic – Kaleidoscope

Neal Morse – Songs from November

Neal Morse – Momentum

Neal Morse – LIVE Momentum

Transatlantic – Whirld Tour 2010

Transatlantic – More Never is Enough

Spock’s Beard – Don’t Try This at Home

Order within the next three days for your chance to win a surprise gift! 

(Recipients of surprise gifts will be chosen at random. If you are picked, the gift will be included with your order.)

PLUS: All orders over $60 receive a 15% discount! 

(Discount automatically deducted at checkout – no code required.)

https://www.radiantrecords.com/default.aspx

Neal Morse Band: aLIVE again

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
ALIVE-AGAIN-COVER-LOW+REZ
Forthcoming, August 2016

The amazing new Neal Morse Band “Alive Again” DVD/2CD Set and Blu-ray will now be released worldwide August 5th.  Pre-orders will begin 9:00 a.m. CDT June 21st.

Radiant’s Special Offer! The first 100 pre-orders of either version will receive a tour setlist signed by the whole band. This rare exclusive collectors item is only available through RadiantRecords.com

 

Track Listing

CD 1

1    Alive Again Intro
2    The Call
3    Leviathan
4    The Grand Experiment
5    Harm’s Way
6    Bill’s Keyboard Solo
7    The Creation
8    There Is Nothing That God Can’t Change

Total Time  65:22

CD 2

1    Waterfall
2    Eric’s Gtr Solo
3    In The Fire
4    Alive Again
5    Rejoice
6    Oh Lord, My God
7    Reunion
8    King Jesus

Total Time   73:50

Riding on the tremendous success of their breakthrough album, The Grand Experiment, The Neal Morse Band set out on a tremendously successful world tour in the spring of 2015. Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy have teamed up with Randy George, Eric Gillette, and Bill Hubauer to create one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time. Full stop. The Alive Again package shows them at the top of their form performing for a rousing audience in Holland March 6, 2015.

Audio mixed by Rich Mouser

 “The Neal Morse Band is a force of nature. They have evolved into a great live band, one that is as good as there is in music and they really shine on this live set. The performances here are jaw-dropping and might have you giving a standing ovation from your couch.” – Roie Avin, The Prog Report

[N.B. progarchy loves the views of Roie Avin!]

[N.B.II, my only complaint is that this does not include a live version of “New Jerusalem,” the single greatest song Morse has written!]

 

Neal Morse’s INNER CIRCLE

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
Do you want to be one of the first to get your [Morse]fest 2016 VIP Package and Tickets? If so keep reading how you can have access
to early ticket sales…..
If you join Neal Morse’s Inner Circle by March 10th, you will have access to purchasing your [Morse]fest 2016 VIP Packages and Tickets on March 11th, before the General Public on March 12th. If you want to experience this LIMITED, “once in a lifetime” VIP with ALL past and present Spock’s Beard band members and guests, then sign up today for the Inner Circle membership here.
If you are still not sure you should become an
Inner Circle member, check out all the amazing perks you get as a member –
 From behind the scenes footage and never heard before recordings, to exclusive insights on upcoming projects and past performances, INNER CIRCLE members get to see and hear everything Neal Morse! From Spock’s Beard to Transatlantic, Flying Colors to NMB, new projects and solo plans, INNER CIRCLE members are the 1st to know…
INNER CIRCLE membership entitles you to a personal newsletter from Neal EVERY month, an exclusive CD or DVD, EVERY OTHER month, plus offers and giveaways available to the INNER CIRCLE! Members also have access to all previous releases that are available NOWHERE else!
You can join here!

And, if you join the
Inner Circle this week, you will also receive the new
March Inner Circle release
‘The Grand Experiment Demos’
 
Check out what Neal has to say about this months release –

“I have concluded that a cool release for you guys in March will be an audio disk of many of the demos and bits that went into The Grand Experiment album.  I’ve been going through the demos and listening and making notes and making edits and it’s really very interesting and cool to hear.  You’ll be surprised to hear little bits of “Waterfall” right next to little bits of “The Call” and “Doomsday Destiny”… there’s a real hodgepodge of stuff.  I had forgotten that the music was all mixed up before we got with Mike and began to dissect it and really take the best bits and fit them together in the way that we ultimately did. So that will your be your fabulous Inner Circle release for March.  I hope you love it.”
I know that you are ready to join now!
Go here to become the next
family member of the
INNER CIRCLE!

Peace and Blessings,
Heather Thompson

The MAKING of SNOW

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
[Morse]fest 2016 VIP packages and tickets go on sale this weekend!!!

To celebrate this KILLER event,
‘The Making of Snow’ DVD, will be on sale
this week ONLY for $14.99!

Here’s what Neal Morse said about it: “….this contains the footage of the making of the Snow album and two acoustic performances, my last with the band. I’m sorry that it’s not of higher quality; although, in the video department, we never did have a really first rate one. But, here we are…here’s what we have…here’s how it was. I think this shows some but regrettably not all of the making of ‘Snow’, there’s much that was never filmed because who wants a guy with a camcorder in your face all the time? But, what there is shows the band in all it’s quirky creativity and humor and sheer brilliance…” THE MAKING OF SNOW Filmed by Neal Morse and Jim Harrel Produced & Edited Philip J. Satterley Plus: 2 COMPLETE ACOUSTIC CONCERTS! The Good Don’t Last * Thoughts II * Stranger In A Strange Land Open Wide The Flood Gates * In The Name of Love * Carie * June Looking For Answers * Solitary Soul * Wind At My Back * The Doorway DOLBY DIGITAL SOUND Running time is Approx. 4 hours!! (240 min) REGION FREE NTSC COLOR
Make sure and get your copy this week here.
You can find more information on
 [Morse]fest 2016 here.

My Prog Book Library Grows

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rock2 Comments

Look what just arrived from Amazon.  Should go nicely with my Kerry Livgren autobiography.

image1

Teaser Video: Eric Gillette’s 2nd Album

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
The second album forthcoming from Eric Gillette. His first was absolutely stunning, and this one looks even better! Congratulations Eric and Chris Thompson!
 

Look What’s Become of Me!: MorseFest 2016

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments