Neal Morse, "Momentum" Available Now! - Discuss here!

this as per a recent tweet from Neal! Oh what a great year:

1) Flying Colors released on March 26
2) Morse/Portnoy/George "Cover 2 Cover" release on May 22
3) Neal Morse, "Momentum" release September 11

The only thing that could make this year better would be new Transatlantic album!

Can't wait, enjoy all of Neal's work.

I would like MP to recommend the hiatus thing to Neal. Unfortunately, that's how he makes a living, so I don't see it happening. 
 
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Neal's music. It's just that now I only like moments here and there in his new releases, rather than actually enjoying his whole albums.
 
But hey! Maybe it's just me.

Yeah, it must be. I am still enjoying T2. I just listened to Seeds of Gold about three or four times this week, and the rest of T2, several times the week before.

In the past 7 years, Transatlantic and Neal Morse have been my main source of musical enjoyment. And T2 may be my favorite! Talk about momentum!

Neal doesn't need a break, his music is amazing!

Really looking forward to this! It will contain songwriting by Randy George and Thoughts Pt. 3! I don't think he needs a break either as everything he releases is pure gold.
 
Quick silly question, I've listened to about Neal's complete body of work, except for Testimony. Just wanted to know how much of the original Testimony's music is featured in Part 2? There must be some repeated themes and stuff, but is it a lot? Really need to check out that album soon. 

T2 quotes "Prince in the Power of the Air" from T1 in several places in the album. I understand the T2 also quote "Water" from Spocks Beard's "The Light" (which is the only Neal era SB that I do not have.)

T1 is a really good album. There are some great instrumentals. Neal delves into different types of genres. "Sleeping Jesus" is a great acoustic jam.

Now that I think of it, I may have to spin this today. Thanks for the suggestion;0)

I'm pretty sure that initially Neal didn't carry over many/any parts from T1 but Mike talked him into it. To me it's a perfect amount... Enough to make you recognize certain parts but certainly not overbearing to say the least. I still listen to both those albums probably at least once every couple of weeks.

It is said that MP does some of his Best work ever on this album . Reason enough for me to be pissed we have to wait until Sept

I could never in my wildest dreams be mad at Mister Neal Morse.

^^ Metaldead66

Yeah, that'd by actually the only ''problem'' :)
Never enough of Neals music and Mike's drumming.

Why am I not surprised that no one agreed with me.
 
Well, I just think he's recycling a lot of his formulas lately, with some new stuff here and there.
 
Again, I still love his music.

Feltronc
Why am I not surprised that no one agreed with me.

Well, I just think he's recycling a lot of his formulas lately, with some new stuff here and there.

Lately? That has been a frequent complaint even back in the SB days. I think people are just tired of talking about it. Most of those who have a problem with this have simply moved on and those who are left are probably not going to agree with you.

Yep, so what if he recycles the formula.  I'm over that.  Let him do whatever he wants because every album him and MP put out is fabulous.  I'm also in agreement that T2 just keeps getting better and find myself going back to it regularly.  Really excited about this one too

Reaaally hope this ones about God this time
 
Sarcasm aside, I really dig the guy as a person. Comes across as a fun guy in The Whirlwind album and tour documentary. Love his voice too.

cutsofmeat


Yep, so what if he recycles the formula.  I'm over that.  Let him do whatever he wants because every album him and MP put out is fabulous.  I'm also in agreement that T2 just keeps getting better and find myself going back to it regularly.  Really excited about this one too

I hear a distinct difference in each album. Sure, Neal has is own style of playing prog, just like Stevie Ray Vaugh has his own style of playing the blues, and U2 has their own style. For me, it is the adherence to this style that beings me back.

Taffer


Reaaally hope this ones about God this time

Sarcasm aside, I really dig the guy as a person. Comes across as a fun guy in The Whirlwind album and tour documentary. Love his voice too.

He really does come across a a positive, up-beat guy. That is what I like about his music. There is a lot of positive energy.

proglawyer

Taffer


Reaaally hope this ones about God this time

Sarcasm aside, I really dig the guy as a person. Comes across as a fun guy in The Whirlwind album and tour documentary. Love his voice too.

He really does come across a a positive, up-beat guy. That is what I like about his music. There is a lot of positive energy.

That's what I've been missing in DT's music since "I walk beside you".

Kyo

Feltronc
Why am I not surprised that no one agreed with me.

Well, I just think he's recycling a lot of his formulas lately, with some new stuff here and there.

Lately? That has been a frequent complaint even back in the SB days. I think people are just tired of talking about it. Most of those who have a problem with this have simply moved on and those who are left are probably not going to agree with you.

I know...

Metaldad66


It is said that MP does some of his Best work ever on this album .

 
No disrespect for Mike, as I always love his drum work with Neal, but this is probably said about every album.  Which, really, is probably fine, as he just seems to drum differently on Neal's stuff, and for me, it just works.
 

Kyo


Lately? That has been a frequent complaint even back in the SB days.

 
Yeah, exactly.  Love Neal's stuff - all of it, but there's no doubt that there's not a lot of variety to it.  If you like it - and I do - then that's great.  If not, then you should probably move on to something different. 
 
That's one of the things I love about Flying Colors - Neal's on it, and his presence is felt, but to me, it sounds nothing like SB/Neal/TA.

Expecting this to be epic
 
I was told that Mike  pushes himself on this album, beyond anything he has ever done before

^^^^not only will it be epic, but according to MP's Facebook post there is a 33 minute epic track with "crazy MP prog drumming". 

I jumped off after ?. I absolutely love Testimony and One and ? has it's brilliance also
but doesn't flow as well for me. But after those 3 albums I decided to take a break.
Maybe I will jump back in with this one. If MP truly feels he took it to another level,
exploring some different approaches, it will be worth buying just for that.

The Seperated Man is still my all time fav Neal song to this day. I could listen to that song on repeat over and over and never get tired of it.

Just listened to the final ruff of the 33 min epic on the upcoming @nealmorse CD...WOW!! Those of you lookin for a fix of some "crazy" MP prog drumming are in for a treat!! This has some of my most insane playing EVER!!! Coming Sept 11th... #MPin2012

Come on Sept!!!

emtee


I jumped off after ?. I absolutely love Testimony and One and ? has it's brilliance also
but doesn't flow as well for me. But after those 3 albums I decided to take a break.
Maybe I will jump back in with this one. If MP truly feels he took it to another level,
exploring some different approaches, it will be worth buying just for that.

You owe it to yourself to get the SE of T2. "Seeds of Gold," alone, is worth the price of the CD. Like Painted Skies, Seperated Man is one of my favorites, however, T2 might have climbed into the #1 position. It is such a great album.

I've always felt like I there is some kind of strange love-relationship between Sola Scriptura and me. For me it is beyond almost everything I've listened to; a masterpiece of pure musical genius, from start to finish. You know that feeling when a melody just goes straight into your heart? The beautiful melodies, Neal's voice and passion, mixed with the whole conceptual feeling of the album and the crazy instrumental parts that have more Prog than lots of stuff - it just seems perfect to me. People seem to find it very good, but they aren't as obsessed over it as I am.  

I guess when I order Momentum I'll also order Sola Scriptura and T2.
 
Might as well own them all right?!

True! But if you had to decide between Lifeline and Sola Scriptura, I'd really recommend the latter, because Lifeline really seemed a bit stale. 

emtee


I guess when I order Momentum I'll also order Sola Scriptura and T2.

Might as well own them all right?!

Keep your eyes open on the Radiant Records website, sometimes they run specials selling in bundles. I think that , currently, they are selling Lifeline along with the Special Edition of Snow. But definitely get the T2 Special Edition.

Mikes Schieaybude


I've always felt like I there is some kind of strange love-relationship between Sola Scriptura and me. For me it is beyond almost everything I've listened to; a masterpiece of pure musical genius, from start to finish. You know that feeling when a melody just goes straight into your heart? The beautiful melodies, Neal's voice and passion, mixed with the whole conceptual feeling of the album and the crazy instrumental parts that have more Prog than lots of stuff - it just seems perfect to me. People seem to find it very good, but they aren't as obsessed over it as I am.  

In my estimation, Sola Scriptura is Neal's "Prog-metal" CD. It starts off very heavy, has several Paul Gilbert solos, and has some many crazy instrumental passages. But it also has some very beautiful melodies like "All I Ask For" and the flamenco inspired "Two Down, One to Go". But what is really amazing about this album is how Neal uses different styles of music like a painter uses paint to create the mood and develop the "Concept". For instance, the aforementioned "heavy" parts are used to express the idea of the evil within the heirachy of the Church at the time of Martin Luther. Simply amazing.

Rhino2112


^^^^not only will it be epic, but according to MP's Facebook post there is a 33 minute epic track with "crazy MP prog drumming". 

Indeed
 
Mike gets his news from me
 

Can't wait for this album! Neal has recently become my #1 favourite songwriter.
His music is just such a respite and change from alot of what's out there. He's so uplifting, inspiring and I always feel happy and brighter after listening to his songs. What a great man, and what a great talent.
 
Also agree about T2 - it's been growing on me even more lately! Loving it more each time.

proglawyer

Mikes Schieaybude


I've always felt like I there is some kind of strange love-relationship between Sola Scriptura and me. For me it is beyond almost everything I've listened to; a masterpiece of pure musical genius, from start to finish. You know that feeling when a melody just goes straight into your heart? The beautiful melodies, Neal's voice and passion, mixed with the whole conceptual feeling of the album and the crazy instrumental parts that have more Prog than lots of stuff - it just seems perfect to me. People seem to find it very good, but they aren't as obsessed over it as I am.  

In my estimation, Sola Scriptura is Neal's "Prog-metal" CD. It starts off very heavy, has several Paul Gilbert solos, and has some many crazy instrumental passages. But it also has some very beautiful melodies like "All I Ask For" and the flamenco inspired "Two Down, One to Go". But what is really amazing about this album is how Neal uses different styles of music like a painter uses paint to create the mood and develop the "Concept". For instance, the aforementioned "heavy" parts are used to express the idea of the evil within the heirachy of the Church at the time of Martin Luther. Simply amazing.

There are some very heavy parts, heavier than anything he's done, but those are only few parts and I wouldn't call them metal. The instrumental madness and beautiful melodies definitely dominate on the album. Agreed what you said about the different musical styles underlining the concept. Genius.
 
@ Ink: Same here, he's my favorite songwriter as well. The things you mentioned plus the fact that he does this in the Prog genre with long epics, crazy instrumental parts and all those things that we love about Prog. Incredible.
 
Can't wait for the new album. 

Happy to see some Sola Scriptura love here! My favourite pure-prog album.

Sola has really aged well since its release.  I don't go back to it often but when I do it always sounds better than before.  
Crazy 33 minutes of drumming eh?  If it's anything close to Author of Confusion then count me in!  Also in agreement on Separated Man, fantastic from start to finish.  That was a highlight when they busted it out on last tour

The Seperated Man has one of the best acoustic jams! I would love to hear a whole album like that!

The live version of The Separated man from the T2 tour is just SO GOOD!! Really gave me a new appreciation for the song, and is definitely my favourite from One.