Holy schnikees.
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| Monday Featured Product |
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Neal Morse
‘So Many Roads’ For $19.99 this week only! |
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THIS IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL LIVE CD FROM NEAL MORSE!
Recorded at some of the best venues in Europe, this contains breathtaking performances handpicked by Neal Morse from a series of concerts with his critically acclaimed European band. Neal says “There’s some really special moments like Jessica singing the angelic section of Spock’s Beard’s “At the End of the Day” and of course the rockin’ “Author of Confusion/I’m the Guy” medley.
I also really enjoy our rendition of the Spock’s Beard classic “Walking On The Wind”. That Euro band rules!” With a cross section of the best of Neal’s career, from Spock’s Beard greats to Transatlantic classics as well as his newer solo work, this is a live album that will please fans to no end.
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| Purchase your copy today HERE! |
Chris Thompson just posted this wonderful shot of the Neal Morse Band (minus Mike Portnoy, sadly), hard at work. So much talent in one room. . . .
According to Neal Morse’s most recent Inner Circle newsletter, the Neal Morse Band–all except Mike Portnoy, unfortunately–will be meeting this coming month to write a follow-up to 2015’s extraordinary THE GRAND EXPERIMENT. Frankly, I thought THE GRAND EXPERIMENT the finest album Morse has written. I write this as a huge fan of everything he does. So very excited to know what NMB comes up with.
Spock’s Beard, THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS (Radiant, 2015). Three disks. 15 tracks and a video documentary by Randy George.
As far as I know, I was the very first person in Bloomington, Indiana, to purchase a copy of THE LIGHT by Spock’s Beard. Though various websites claim the album to have been released in 1995, I have rather clear memories of purchasing it in the fall semester of 1994. I was my final graduate classes, then, preparing for comprehensive exams. It would be no exaggeration to state that THE LIGHT was my soundtrack for exam prep.
As someone born in the summer of love and having heard my first prog in 1971 or so, I had done everything possible to carry the prog torch throughout the 1980s. In college, I even dedicated two years of a radio show (every Friday night, August 1988-May 2000) to prog and what was then called “college rock.” Lots of prog-loving “old guys”—at least old to me—called in from places as far as Chicago (South Bend’s FM waves carried across all of Lake Michigan), excited that someone was still playing the best music rock had to offer. My co-host at Notre Dame was none other than now famous classical guitarist and fellow progarchy editor, Kevin McCormick.
This is a long way of stating: Spock’s Beard wasn’t just prog-influenced or arty rock or pop with prog tinges. It was pure and simple prog. Unadulterated prog. Unapologetic prog. Brazenly prog. In hindsight, of course, one can see that a lot was happening in 1994 and 1995—with releases from Roine Stolt as well as Marillion. In late 1994, however, I had no idea that prog would explode into a third wave, lasting through today as I write this.
And, to be pure, simple, unadulterated, unapologetic, and brazen—Spock’s Beard opened and led this third-wave of prog. They were, for all intents and purposes, the very voice of third-wave prog. And, this latest from Spock’s Beard is nothing less than the autobiography of third-wave prog.
Twenty years later, we sit comfortably in 2015. And, to celebrate what is not only Spock’s Beard’s legacy but, frankly, the very history of third-wave prog, the band has released a “best of,” Spock’s Beard, THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS (Radiant Records, 2015). This gorgeous package is well beyond a “best of,” however, and it invokes far more than mere nostalgia. As much as possible, it really does offer a glimpse of the history of prog over the past two decades.
Looking back, we can now divide Spock’s Beard into three rather distinct parts or phases.
And, yet, no matter what form or manifestation of SB occurs, Neal Morse remains the touchstone and the fountainhead of the group. And, this is not a knock on any past or present member of the band. SB began in pure excellence, and since THE LIGHT, it has done nothing but continue to pursue excellence.
Not surprisingly—and with no small amount of joyous wonder and love and appreciation for all that is prog and SB—Neal Morse has penned a brand new track for this album release, “Falling for Forever,” making something special even more so. Neal Morse, being so utterly Neal Morse, has written an 20:02 (interesting number—the date Neal left SB) minute epic, pulling together all of the members of SB over its two-decade history. Epic and charitable—the very essence of Neal Morse.
And, featuring every single member who has ever graced a SB album, “Falling for Forever” is exactly what you’d suspect—with the usual Morse prog twists, turns, and surprises—from the band. It is a thing of prog glory. Instruments driving and pounding here, there, and everywhere. Multiple voices—of the the human type—proclaiming beautiful things. And, of course, the song, though complete with beginning and ending, soars and falls and cascades and lingers and explodes. It’s all so very Neal Morse, so very SB, so very third-wave prog, so very incredible.
Not surprisingly, Radiant has done every single thing right with this release. In addition to the brand new track, “Falling for Forever,” the album also remixes and remasters fourteen of SB’s “best” tunes. Every SB album is represented on this retrospective, and even to my very poor ear, the remastering sounds perfect, bringing out a number of things that were toned down in previous mixes. The packaging is superb, and Randy George’s documentary about the history of SB 1.0 is an insightful and moving look at the creation of the band, its sound, and the unexpected departure of Morse in 2002.
There’s little doubt that 2015 has been a great year for prog. As a release, despite it being a retrospective, THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS holds its own even against original releases this year. As an artistic package of love, appreciation, and history, it is unparalleled. Yes, I love Neal Morse. But, I love Neal Morse for the very things that make him loveable—he so very much respects the art and the artist.
THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS is nothing if not a very revelation of the man’s soul.
To order, go here: Radiant Records.
There have been quite a few CD/DVD/Blu-Ray combos released in the prog world recently, so here’s a rundown of the best of the bunch.
An outstanding performance by the boys from Norway. Even through tricky time signatures that require lockstep coordination of playing, Gazpacho delivers an emotional and beautiful show. Jan Henrik Ohme’s vocals are spellbinding – delicate and tremulous one minute, powerful and commanding the next. While he’s caressing the microphone, his bandmates play their hearts out. Songs I thought I knew take on new meaning and accessibility. This set is a perfect introduction to someone curious about this somewhat enigmatic and definitely magical group.
As light as Gazpacho is dark, Glass Hammer has been riding a high for the past few years – Ode To Echo and The Breaking Of The World are both instant classics. Double Live features the best cuts from those albums, as well as a terrific rendition of the epic “The Knight Of The North”. Steve Babb and Fred Schendel have been together so long they are telepathic onstage. Aaron Raulston is excellent on drums while Kamran Alan Shikoh has matured into an astonishingly inventive guitarist. Carl Groves is the best male vocalist GH has ever had, and Susie Bogdanowicz steals the show with her performance. No fancy camera work here – the music and performance are strong enough to speak for themselves.
Spock’s Beard: The First Twenty Years
This is a fine collection of Spock’s Beard tracks. The first disc features the best of the “Neal Morse Years”, while disc two has six tracks from Beard versions 2 and 3 (featuring Nick D’Virgilio and Ted Leonard) and a new epic featuring a big reunion of everyone. You might think that losing your lead vocalist and sole songwriter would mean the end of a band, but the Beard is nothing if not resilient. The songs from the post-Morse era certainly hold their own against anything from the first six albums. I wish they had included “The Great Nothing”, but there’s only so much space on a compact disc! Of course, long-time Beard fans want to know how the new epic, “Falling Forever” stacks up. To my ears, it’s a pleasant listen, but not particularly memorable. It’s clear that Neal’s path has diverged from the Beard’s, and each camp has its own strengths that don’t necessarily mesh into a powerful whole anymore. The DVD features performances from 1997’s Progfest interspersed with contemporary interviews of the band. It’s illuminating for the hardcore fan, but not essential.
Flying Colors: Second Flight: Live at The Z7
Phenomenal growth from this band. As mentioned in the interviews included in the Blu-ray, the first album had the members somewhat tentative about critiquing each other, while during the recording of Second Flight they were much more collaborative. This is set is a terrific performance that showcases the talents of each member. Casey McPherson is a very confident frontman, and an amazing vocalist. Steve Morse’s guitar work is jaw-dropping good, and Dave LaRue almost steals the show with his bass solos. Mike Portnoy is, as usual, controlled chaos on the drums. Neal Morse plays more of a supporting role in this group, keeping in the background for the most part. “Cosmic Symphony” and “Mask Machine” are highlights, while the segue from “Colder Months” into “Peaceful Harbor” is one of the most beautiful musical moments I’ve ever heard. The quality of the Blu-ray is top-notch, both in sound and video. An excellent choice for the prog fan who enjoys the likes of Boston, or even classic Journey.
Which brings us to the big release of the year: Rush’s R40 Live. I have every live DVD Rush has released, and this isn’t the best performance. But there is something so special about this show that it will probably be the one I return to most often. There were times I caught myself thinking, “Gosh. they are looking old!”, but then I had to remind myself they’ve given of themselves so generously for 40 years. 40 years! How many bands have kept the same lineup for that long, and are still talking to each other? ZZ Top is the only one that comes to mind. The fact that this show is from Toronto makes it even more moving.
This is a top of the line production, with every possible camera angle a fan could ask for. The sound on the Blu-ray edition is outstanding; there are two surround mixes to choose from: front of stage or center of hall. The show itself is masterful – it is a trip back in time from Clockwork Angels all the way to “Working Man”.
The animated intro is hilarious – I had to go through it practically frame-by-frame to catch all of the visual puns. Every album and tour is name-checked somewhere in it. The initial stage set is very elaborate, but as the band goes back into their history, you can see workers slowly dismantle it. At the start of the second set, Alex is front of a huge stack of Marshall amps, and we’re transported to the 1970’s. By the time of the encores, Alex and Geddy are down to single amps on chairs in a high school auditorium.
My only quibbles are selfish – I wish there was at least one track from Power Windows/Hold Your Fire, and I don’t know why the bonus tracks at the end couldn’t have been inserted into their proper places in the concert video. Other than that, it’s a very good setlist.
What comes through most clearly as the concert progresses is the love and respect Alex, Geddy, and Neil have for each other. They look like they’re having the time of their lives, and they’re so glad to have several thousand fans along with them. Thanks for the ride, boys. It’s been a great one.
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This just in! 2 Amazing Releases!
Spock’s Beard Releases “Best Of” Collection with a NEW track written by Neal Morse featuring all members of Spock’s past and present!
Legendary Californian progressive-rockers Spock’s Beard are set to release ‘The First Twenty Years’ collection on November 20, 2015. Arriving as a special 2CD & DVD package, it includes a selection of the best tracks from their entire career, as well as a brand new 19-minute long track titled ‘Falling For Forever’ that features every member of Spock’s Beard past and present performing, including Neal Morse (who also wrote the track), Nick D’Virgilio & current vocalist Ted Leonard. All the tracks have also been re-mastered by long-term collaborator Rich Mouser, and the DVD portion of the release will include rare footage of the band in the 90’s, featuring vintage live performances from Progfest ’97 as well as the band rehearsing and recording “The Kindness of Strangers” album.
Pre-orders begin Now!
And..
In 2014, on the 8th show of their fall tour, Flying Colors took to the stage at Switzerland’s storied Z7 venue, and on film, captured a breathtaking live performance. With their critically acclaimed sophomore album Second Nature out for only a week, the concert recorded an exceptional rarity: band and audience, together, discovering an album for the first time. Release date November 13, 2015 We have bundled these 2 great releases in a special package and the first 200 people to pre-order this bundle will receive an exclusive signed frameable graphic signed by ALL seven members of Spock’s Beard past and present!
Pre-Order NOW!!!
Don’t miss your chance to get these 2 great releases at a great price and the free signed rare collectors item!
Get your Bundle HERE
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