Neal Morse - Testimony 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Label : Insideout (EMI)
Style : Progressive Rock
Grabber: EAC
Encoder: LAME 3.98.4
Quality: avg. 259kbps/ 44,1kHz
Reldate: 06.01.2011
Street : 05.20.2011
Songs : 16
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Release Notes:
Neal Morse is back! And stronger than ever!
His previous work Lifeline was a little bit disappointing after the
opus of Sola Scriptura, though it contained good stuff. I believe
that the reunion of Transatlantic, the release of The Whirlwind in
2009, and it's success in the prog rock world, were all factors in
Neal's solo music being reinvigorated; because that is what has
happened, and this album, Testimony 2, proves that.
Mercy Street, Nighttime Collectors and Road Dog Blues are also a
very fun songs, the former being very uplifting and opening with
the T2 theme on piano; the latter having great sax work, and moving
the story along into some of the main themes of the album. It's For
You is good, but has that early 2000s mainstream rock feel to it in
the chorus (but doesn't really detract from the song). The rest of
the song has some awesome parts with the sweep picking on the
guitar (is that Neal???) and just some crazy runs ala Is It Really
Happening from The Whirlwind.
Im also a big fan of the string section on this album. It is more
powerful than usual for Neal Morse. The Truth Will Set You Free is
some awesome stuff gong on. I also the overture in this album much
more than on T1, maybe because of the first albums' riffs, but also
the new stuff. And Time Changer is definitely something different
for NM, and has a lot of Rush influence.
I find the album as a whole has very few low points, with my least
favorite being Jayda right now, but it does contain the beautiful
"Sad Theme" that is further elaborated during Crossing Over/Mercy
Street Reprise. I find CO/MS Reprise to be a fitting ending, and
though I usually don't like fade-outs, I think it is appropriate
for the end of the album, and leaves the album open for Testimony 3
if it were to happen. (However I think Neal decided to not end
every album in a bombastic way, with a big final chord, etc...)
The finale of the first disc is one of Neal's best, and is the
first song from this album to get stuck in my head. From the
opening theme played on guitar this time, and Neal talking about
leaving Spock's Beard. But the Crossing Over theme is so catchy and
uplifting, and containing some of his most beautiful work (not to
mention some Genesis influence). The album ends with the "Sad
Theme" and even throwing some more sax in there with the full
orchestra for a very pleasant sound. This song just makes me want
to throw my fist in the air and yell "Yea!"
I love this ending, and is up there with the epic endings of
Stranger In Your Soul, The Whirlwind, ?, One, and Duel With the
Devil.
Seeds of Gold from the second disc is awesome. Those first 2 tracks
are ok, solid slices of melodic rock. But Seeds of Gold, is
just....Gold. One of Neal's best epics, and some ridiculous
clavinet work shows up which really surprised me, not to mention
Randy's incredible bass work. This is a different kind of epic for
Neal Morse, and it's refreshing to hear. Steve Morse plays a
beautiful solo, and reminds me of Dream Theater's epic Octavarium
at times. All the parts are so good that they keep bringing me
back.
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=452552
No coverscans included - nuke it or not - we dont care!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
. CD1
.
01. Mercy Street 05:12
02. Overture No. 4 05:26
03. Time Changer 06:08
04. Jayda 06:05
05. Nighttime Collectors 04:26
06. Time Has Come Today 04:55
07. Jesus' Blood 05:26
08. The Truth Will Set You Free 08:07
09. Chance of a Lifetime 07:02
10. Jesus Bring Me Home 04:59
11. Road Dog Blues 03:07
12. It's For You 05:42
13. Crossing Over , Mercy Street Reprise 11:46
.
. CD2
.
01. Absolute Beginner 04:41
02. Supernatural 06:12
03. Seeds of Gold 25:59
-------
Total
115:13 min