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This is a slightly older release by Christian artist Neal Morse. Neal was formerly with neo-progressive rock group Spock's Beard and the supergroup Transatlantic. As the singer and predominant writer of those groups, he restarted a genre of music made most popular in the seventies by bands like Yes, Genesis and ELP. Fortunately, he also greatly influenced by the pop sensibility of The Beatles and thus his music is a little more modern, a little fresher and definitely more light hearted than some of the old school dinosaur bands of time's gone past.
Neal writes big sweeping epics that are really suites of songs linked together to make great epic songs, many lasting 20 minutes or more. He uses that elongated style to create thematic albums that are often singular concepts that run through the whole album. This particular CD is about the creation of man by God, man's fall from grace and his reunification with God. In one track you can expect to hear not only great musicianship in typical rock music formats, but he veers into jazz, acoustic, latin and symphonic music. He improvs particularly well at the piano and at the acoustic guitar. His voice is passionate and unique though he does tend to wear his love for John Lennon right out on his sleeve sometimes. The music here is not an immediate post grunge blast of 3 minute pop. It's thoughtful, spiritual and considerably rockin' music that may take several spins to really find everything that he's doing in each song.
There are some great musicians on this album aside from Neal who can play nearly every instrument. There is also Phil Keaggy, renowned Christian singer, songwriter and guitarist. On drums is percussion powerhouse Mike Portnoy of the mighty mighty Dream Theater and a host of other metal and progressive rock acts. On bass is Randy George of the Christian progressive rock band Ajalon who is a fine guitarist and singer as well as bassist. With such a line up, even if you weren't a big Christian fan, you know the music is going to be top notch.
The Creation opens the disc with a long suite of music about God and Adam and Eve in the garden. The end where God searches for the hiding shamed pair is extremely powerful and along the way you twist and turn through an incredible variety of music. From there you work your way through to the final epic tracks where there is reunion between man and God. At eighty minutes across several tracks, you know you are getting your money's worth on music.
The special edition, if you can track it down on e-bay or amazon, has the rest of the tracks that couldn't fit including one stand out track that should have been front and center on the main disc, King Jesus which just a real celebration.
This disc is for fans of classic rock styles, but with an updated modern sound by some amazing players. It rewards the listener with great music and with a good sound spiritual message that is never cloying or superficial - it's passionate and he means it. Well worth a look, and if you like that one, Neal's previous release Testimony might even be better.
I give this one a definite 4 out of 5 stars for solid musicianship and a positive message in a fresh old school rock style.
- Eddie
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