Neal Morse
- One
By Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
As Neal Morse continues to grow personally,
his musical direction determinedly follows. Testimony was his first
solo outing since leaving Spock’s Beard. It gave us a glimpse of
a man eager to share his new life with everyone willing to listen. One
is similar achievement with less stress on the religious points made so
strongly on the previous release.
This CD is a prog-rock masterpiece and
there is no question he has reached yet another level of attainment within
the realm of Christian rock music. Ideally, the words are as strong as
the music. Musically this is the strongest album he has done to date, and
that comes as no surprise to me. Morse is in a creative evolution that
seems to have no barriers or timeline. He is very smart with whom
he chooses to help him deliver his music and message. He employs one of
the best drummers in world Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and a terrific
bass player, Randy George. This album rocks hard, and what I find interesting
is that the latest Spock’s Beard effort Octane is one of their heaviest
albums yet. So as Morse continues to move forward so does his former group,
which is a good thing for us all. However, this is not about the past,
this is the here and now, and it could not be any brighter than for Neal
Morse.
With three songs that are in the magnum
opus mold, this album fits a truly classic prog-rock effort. Nearly 80
minutes of music is very generous, it is equal to another two-album set.
I enjoyed the delicate melodies engineered with the acoustic guitars and
keyboards, and how it built to a zenith then would let loose and start
to rock. This type of approach typifies great prog-rock music, and Morse
most certainly is one of the very best at his craft. What I find amazing
is that he can use primarily the same formula, produce variety, and keep
the listener interested from start to finish, for me that is a monumental
task.
Another great album, another year, I can
only wonder in amazement what this man will come out with next.
CD Info
Neal Morse
- One
Label: Radiant
Records
Rating: 
Tracks:
1. The Creation: One Mind/In a Perfect
Light/Where Are You?/Reaching from the Heart (18:22)
2. The Man's Gone (2:50)
3. Author of Confusion
(9:30)
4. The Separated Man: I'm in a Cage/I
Am the Man/The Man's Gone (reprise)/Something Within Me Remembers
(17:58)
5. Cradle to the Grave (4:55)
6. Help Me/The Spirit and the Flesh
(11:13)
7. Father of Forgiveness
(5:46)
8. Reunion: No Separation/Grand
Finale/Make Us One (9:11)
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Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
is a veteran syndicated music critic, his reviews appear in over 35 publications
world-wide. To read more of Keith’s work visit muzikreviews.com
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