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CD/DVD Releases: Neal Morse Live 2-CD Album - November 16

Posted on Monday, November 05 @ 00:53:20 UTC by nightowl

Neal Morse will release a new live 2CD set entitled Question: Live through Radiant Records on November 16, 2007. The set includes on the first disk, the entire ? album performed live with the second disk featuring tracks from One and a bonus track of an encore medley that includes: "We All Need Some Light / Open Wide The Flood Gates / Solitary Soul / Wind At My Back."

As a young musician, Neal?s dream was like many others?to find success in the pop music world. But after years of struggling in the Los Angeles singer-songwriter scene, he realized that his dream would not materialize. Eschewing conventional wisdom, Morse took a courageous step: he about-faced and devoted himself to progressive rock, the music truly in his heart.

The obscure and fiercely competitive genre held little chance of commercial success. Undaunted, he formed the quirkily-named Spock?s Beard with his brother, Alan. They recorded The Light with what money they could scrape together. Against all odds, it was a breakout success, sending shockwaves through the small genre?s community.



Over the next 10 years, Spock?s Beard released 10 critically acclaimed CDs and 2 DVDs, ascending to the top of the prog world. Neal also released 6 CDs and 3 DVDs with Transatlantic, the heralded prog supergroup comprised of the genre?s best musicians. The proverbial wayward son, Neal had finally found the success he sought. On the outside he seemed to have it all. On the inside, however, something was missing. Morse came to realize that for him, embracing the Christian faith was the fulfillment of his spiritual quest. His walk was at once gradual and sudden?and like with so many, completely unexpected. As he continued, his path increasingly revealed more of what his heart had sought all along. Yet he also began to find his career growing at odds with his faith. The rising spiritual tension and increasing commercial success finally came to a head with the release of Snow (2002), Spock?s Beard's (with Morse) magnum opus ... and swan song.

The extraordinary 2-CD rock opera, composed by Morse, was widely acclaimed as the group?s finest. But it was the end of the era. Neal felt God calling him out of his former musical life and into the unknown. He made the agonizing decision to leave both Spock?s Beard and Transatlantic. Despite having finally achieved the success he had long sought, Morse had to begin all over again; musically, emotionally and spiritually.

Neal then embarked upon the most ambitious musical project of his career. Entitled Testimony (2003), it chronicles his spiritual and musical journey in words and music. The 2 CD set (3 CDs for the Special Edition) spans over two hours as one continuous piece of music. It ranges in style from a full gospel choir to hard rock; from a symphony orchestra to contemporary pop. A deftly woven musical tapestry, the album takes the listener on a fascinating journey as unique as the man behind it.

Artistically, Testimony is a remarkable solo achievement, with Neal not only writing, arranging and producing; but singing the lead vocals and performing most of the instruments. Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy performed on drums, with seminal prog guitarist Kerry Livgren (Kansas) on several tracks.

The ensuing world tour was captured on one unforgettable night for the 2-DVD set, Testimony Live (2004). The performance (and tour) won him "Best Rock Tour" from the Dutch Progressive Rock Poll, besting nominees Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, RUSH and others. A remarkably passionate and engaging live performer, England?s Classic Rock Magazine included him in their "100 Greatest Frontmen of Rock" listing.

Morse's next studio album was a conceptual, progressive rock album entitled, One. Mike Portnoy returned to perform on drums (in what is regarded as perhaps his finest performance), with up-and-coming bassist Randy George. They were joined by legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. The result was a band-focused sound, harkening back to Neal?s Transatlantic work. Continuing in the tradition of Snow and Testimony, One proved epic in scope and sublime in nature.

For Morse?s third progressive rock album, he took a new approach, artistically. With a pared down sound, ? (2005) is Neal?s most focused album, musically; yet it retains his trademark compositional style and virtuoso performances. Joining Neal are more of prog?s brightest stars, including Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Roine Stolt (Flower Kings, Transatlantic) and Steve Hackett (Genesis).

Lyrically, Morse creates a mysterious, intriguing storyline that owes as much to C.S. Lewis as Indiana Jones. It?s presented as one continuous story, as the listener journeys in search of the Tabernacle, the biblical dwelling place of God. The album is as much a testament to consummation as an acknowledgement of the mysteries that remain.

Bringing ? to the stage required an outstanding concert band. Assembling some of the finest prog musicians in Europe, the group tears through the entire ? album with the intensity of a new band ? followed by another hour of Neal?s classics. Fusing technical wizardry with musical nuance, balancing the extremes of two ever changing hours and a thousand brilliant moments, musicians and audience unite to create an electrifying musical phenomenon. Unedited, raw, and magnificent, the resulting 2 CD set Question: Live (2007) is Neal at his best ? and his first ever live release. [Well, on CD; there was the previously mentioned DVD Testimony Live -ed.]

Neal's next prog epic was his most daring, stirring passion and controversy. On Sola Scriptura (2007), Morse tells a compelling and sometimes macabre tale of the darkness that inevitably falls when Man elevates himself to God. Focusing on the Church in the Middle Ages, Morse is unflinching in his description of its abuses. Neal frames the issue, though, as just one example of faith separated from its true foundations. The album takes the form of a fast-paced narrative of Martin Luther's dangerous reformation of the Church; an imperfect man trying to bring light to an imperfect institution. The album closes not with an end but a beginning ? for us to consider our world, and feel called to illuminate it.

Disc One: The entire ? album Live!

1. The Temple Of The Living God
2. Another World
3. The Outsider
4. Sweet Elation
5. In The Fire
6. Solid As The Sun
7. The Glory Of The Lord
8. Outside Looking In
9. 12
10. Entrance
11. Inside His Presence
12. The Temple of the Living God

Total Time disc one: 60:22

Disc Two: (From One)

1. The Creation
2. The Man's Gone
3. Cradle To The Grave (With Wil Morse)
4. Help Me/The Spirit And The Flesh
5. King Jesus
6. Reunion

BONUS TRACK:

7. Encore Medley:
We All Need Some Light
Open Wide The Flood Gates
Solitary Soul
Wind At My Back

Total Time disc two: 77:35

[Source: Bill Evans Media, Radiant Records]

Posted in Album Release News