Morse, Neal - Testimony Two

Year of Release: 2011
Label: Radiant Records
Catalog Number: 3984150072
Format: CD
Total Time: 85:43:00

Neal Morse continues on his spiritual journey and shares it with us again on a second installment of his recordings titled Testimony Two, a two disc set. He is joined by his usual stellar performers Mike Portnoy (drums) and Randy George (bass) amongst several other guests including his former band Spock's Beard on the powerful track "Time Changer."

I have always appreciated Neal's music and the tremendous insight into the human spirit based on a solid foundation of faith that he conveys. As most folks know that are familiar with Neal, he is a born again Christian. This event sparked his exit from Spock's Beard and consequently launched a very successful solo career and several recordings with prog rock super group Transatlantic.

Testimony Two is without a doubt the strongest effort to date from Morse. I have covered his solo career very closely and had the opportunity to share my opinion on most of his work to date. I noticed right from the start that the energy level and music is very powerful. This is a very good thing because Neal has a story to tell and a very important message to relay to listeners. This is his story and it is indeed a compelling one. The turning point in Neal's life was when his daughter Jayda was born with a hole in her heart and then was healed by a miracle of faith. I think most people would be shaken by such an event and given a new outlook on life, and then renewed spiritually with all the possibilities presented during such an awakening. It was a huge wake up call for Neal and his family and the reason you are reading this review is because of that little girl and how she was healed.

It really is an amazing story and the music that is found on this recording is equal to the task of telling the tale in the most prolific way. The disc opens with "Part Six" which may seem odd at first; however, if you have Testimony, the first installment, it will make sense. The story continues and unravels in 17 amazing tracks on disc one. As "Overture No. 4" leads into "Time Changer" you know that this album is not going to let up and you are in for a truly great progressive rock experience. One of the more entertaining tracks is "Road Dog Blues," which is self-explanatory. Not only does Neal find freedom in his new found faith, he can share it with his family because he is not on the tour grind any longer with Spock's Beard. I can see Portnoy having the time of his life behind the drum kit on that track.

CD 2 holds three tracks and it's the highlight of the set, all three emotionally power packed tracks. This is Morse and his band at their very best, pumping out prog rock classics "Absolute Beginner," "Supernatural" and the nearly 25 minute tour de force "Seeds Of Gold" to wrap up the session. This set is fantastic and similar to the kind of music and presentation that Neal is accustomed to in recording with Transatlantic.

Neal Morse has made the musical and spiritual statement of his life and career with Testimony Two.

Released in conjunction with Metal Blade in the US (3984-15017-2 142485202); in Europe, released by Century Media/InsideOutMusic/EMI (0505580); limited edition version includes bonus DVD with "making of" documentary (Total playing time DVD: 64:28)

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Tracklisting:
Disc One: Part Six: (22:50) Mercy Street / Overture No. 4 / Time Changer / Jayda // Part Seven: (22:54) Nighttime Collectors / Time Has Come Today / Jesus' Blood / The Truth Will Set You Free // Part Eight: (32:36) Chance Of A Lifetime / Jesus Bring Me Home / Road Dog Blues / It's For You / Crossing Over / Mercy Street Reprise

Disc Two: Absolute Beginner (4:39) / Supernatural (6:11) / Seeds Of Gold (25:59)

Musicians:
Neal Morse - lead vocals, piano, synthesizers
Randy George - bass
Mike Portnoy - drums

Steve Morse - guitar solo (D2:3)
Paul Bielatowicz - guitar solo (D1: 2, D1: 12)
Matthew Ward - background vocals and soulful wailing
Debbie Bressee, April Zachary, Mark Pogue, Mita Pogue - background vocals
Jim Hoke - saxophones
Mark Leniger - solo saxophone
Kenny Barnd - violin (D1: 10)
Chris Carmichael - violin, viola and cello
Eric Brenton - electric violin solo (D1: 3)
Nick D'Virgilio, Dave Meros, Alan Morse - featured vocals (D1: 3)

Discography:
Spock's Beard - The Light (1991)
Spock's Beard - Beware of Darkness (1995)
Spock's Beard - The Beard Is Out There Live (1995) (cd/vid)
Spock's Beard - Official Live Bootleg (1996)
Spock's Beard - The Kindness of Strangers (1997)
Spock's Beard - From The Vault - 1995-1998 (1998)
Spock's Beard - Day For Night (1999)
Spock's Beard - Live At The Whiskey and NEARfest (1999)
Neal Morse (1999)
Spock's Beard - Don't Try This At Home (2000)
Merry Christmas From The Morse Family (2000)
Neal Morse and Nick D'Virgilio - Two Separate Gorillas - Live In Europe (2000)
Spock's Beard - V (2000)
Transatlantic - SMPTe (2000)
It's Not Too Late (2001)
Transatlantic - Live In America (2001)
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever (2001)
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever - Special Edition (2001)
Spock's Beard - Snow (2002)
Testimony (2003)
The Transatlantic Demos (2003)
One (2004)
? (2005)
God Won't Give Up (2005)
Lead Me Lord (Worship Sessions Volume One) (2005)
Send The Fire - Worship Sessions Volume 2 (2006)
Morse Portnoy George - Cover To Cover (2006)
Songs From The Highway (2007)
Sola Scriptura (2007)
?: Live (2007)
Sing It High (2007)
One Demos (2007)
Secret Place - Worship Sessions Volume 3 (2008)
Lifeline (2008)
The River - Worship Sessions Volume 4 (2009)
So Many Roads (2009)
Mighty To Save - Worship Sessions Volume 5 (2010)
Testimony Two (2011)
Testimony 2: Live In Los Angeles (CD/DVD) (2011)
A Proggy Christmas (Inner Circle only release) (2011)
Morse, Portnoy & George - Cover 2 Cover (2012)
Momentum (2012)
The Prog World Orchestra - A Proggy Christmas (2012)
Flying Colors - Flying Colors (2012)
Flying Colors - Live In Europe (2013)
Songs From November (2014)
Flying Colors - Second Nature (2014)
Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment (2015)
Flying Colors - Second Flight: Live At The Z7 (2015)
Neal Morse Band - Alive Again Tour 2015 (2016)
Neal Morse Band - The Similitude Of A Dream (2016)
To God Be The Glory (2016)
Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment Demos (Inner Circle March 2016) (2016)
Neal Morse Band - Morsefest 2015 (CD/DVD) (2017)
Life & Times (2018)
Neal Morse And Friends - Morsefest 2016 Storytellers (Pt. 1) - Inner Circle March 2018) (2018)
Neal Morse And Friends - Morsefest 2016 Storytellers (Pt. 2) - Inner Circle March 2018) (2018)
Neal Morse Band - The Great Adventure (2019)
Jesus Christ The Exorcist (2019)
Flying Colors - Third Degree (2019)
Morse/Portnoy/George - Cov3r To Cov3r (2020)
Neal Morse Band - The Great Adventour - Live In Brno - 2019 (2020)
Flying Colors - Third Stage: Live In London (2020)
Sola Gratia (2020)
Neal Morse Band - Innocence & Danger (2021)
Flying Colors & The Neal Morse Band - Morsefest 2019 (2021)
Neal Morse Band - [Morse]Fest 2020 - Lockdown (2022)
Neal Morse Band - Morsefest 2021 (2022)
Neal Morse Band - An Evening Of Innocence & Danger - Live In Hamburg (2023)
The Dreamer - Joseph Part One (2023)
The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two (2024)
Late Bloomer (2024)
Neal Morse & The Resonance - No Hill For A Climber (2024)
Cosmic Cathedral - Deep Water (2025)

Transatlantic - Live In America (VID) (2001)
Testimony Live (DVD) (2004)
Sola Scriptura And Beyond (DVD) (2008)
Live Momentum (DVD) (2013)
Flying Colors - Live In Europe (2013)
Morsefest! 2014 - Testimony & One Live (DVD) (2015)
Neal Morse Band - Alive Again (CD/DVD) (2016)
Neal Morse Band - Morsefest 2015 - ? And Sola Scriptura Live (BR) (2017) Neal Morse Band - The Similitude Of A Dream - Live In Tilburg 2017 (2018)
Neal Morse Band - Morsefest! 2017: Testimony Of A Dream (2018)
Jesus Christ The Exorcist - Live At Morsefest 2018 (2020)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: June 19th 2011
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.nealmorse.com
Hits: 4965
Language: english