Neal is one of the greatest songwriters of our age. He writes in a thematic,epic style for the most part. When he plays live, he'll go 2 1/2 to 3 hour or more. Watch any of the Morsefest videos. He gives it all every time, usually ending up boards for at least vocally worn out by the end of the show. That's why he is great. That's why his fans love him and why Portnoy left Dream Theater to work with him. You do him a grave injustice to base your opinion on a 5 minute song or a single song plucked from the middle of a 3 hour show. There is really no other artist you can compare him to it you look at the body and sort of work he has released in the last 25 years or so. Neal is a unique talent as anyone who has explorer his work at any depth can tell you. Unabashedly Christian, his music is both uplifting and spiritual and needs to be taken in context wit
This song, while amazing on it's own, can't be fully appreciated out of context. You really need to get the entire album in your head and in your heart. It takes a long time to do but it's soooo rewarding...All of Neal Morse's material is this way.
#painintheask the reason I requested this song over the others was because its by far the easiest to digest from the album. If you want to feel the full impact of the neal morse band then you will have to listen to the full album “the similitude of a dream” but because you guys may not enjoy it to the extent of “HOLY SHIT” (which is totally understandable). But the song on the album that would be the “HOLY SHIT” of the album (at least for me) would be the broken sky/long day (reprise). It is the last song on the album and also the longest one
TSOAD is really overrated. You should have requested some of his earlier material. "Author of Confusion", "In the Fire" or "Solid as the sun" are great "short" songs that stand on their own. Neal shines better on longer songs thats for sure. In that case "The Door" its one of his best.
The song was part of a grander story, the 2-disc album is really meant to be played in its entirety and only has maybe 2 "hard breaks" in it. The video did not look like anything that was official and did not sound like the end was "cut" right. That being said, it does lead into the next song, "Breath of Angels". The Similitude of a Dream is loosely based on the first part of the book "The Pilgrim's Progress..." by John Bunyan. And for reference, their next album The Great Adventure, is loosely based/inspired by an amalgamation of the 2nd half of the Pilgrim's Progress and The "Second Part" (sequel) of The Pilgrim's Progress. I have always thought that Neal's voice was quite interesting. He has a wide range, especially in his ability to have his voice take on different personas at times, but in all honesty (and not to put him down in any way) I don't think that he'll be remembered for his vocal performances. Eric Gillette perhaps has a better voice, and Bill Hubauer comes in at times with some pretty good vocals, as does Mike Portnoy (whose occasional vocals with the Neal Morse band are extremely improved over his Dream Theater vocals). But where Neal and the Neal Morse Band shines is in the writing. Neal's gift is certainly in the lyrics, and the band blows the music away in my opinion. There are plenty of musicians who's voices weren't "the best" (some were at times derided for it), but their music and lyrics made people FEEL something. To me, that's Neal and his bands. Similitude of a Dream really needs to be experienced in its entirety, as does The Great Adventure. But if you want a magnificent stand alone piece, one of their best choices in the Neal Morse / Neal Morse Band collection, in my opinion is "Alive Again". (Don't miss out on Neal's other work as a part of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, and Flying Colors)
The music of Neal Morse is never really driven by the vocals, it is more about the music and the message. Some people don't like him because all of his songs basically have a Christian theme. I don't mind it, as it never comes across as preaching.
Neal Morse is an epic sing writer first, vocalist second. That performance of All Of The Above by Transatlantic was not as good as the studio version. So Far Gone was one part of a double CD concept album that doesn’t necessarily work that well on it’s own. Don’t give up on Neal. Try The Great Nothing or Walking On The Wind by Spock’s Beard. Mike Portnoy has played with Neal for years on several different projects for a very good reason.
#PainInTheAsk ...Neal Morse--The Separated Man and Author of Confusion . #PainInTheAsk ... #SqueakyWheel ... Big Big Train The Underfall Yard! More people need to be exposed to these guys. If you like Prog Rock and you like it in the Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel and even, Spocks Beard, Porcupine Tree and Neal Morse vein, you'll love Big Big Train. They're hardly known outside of the UK and they're amazing.
I'd have to agree with your assessment of Neal's voice. It's pleasant, but it's not WOW. His songs and the lyrical interplay with the melody and rhythms are the genius in Neal Morse's music, imo.
How is it that nobody ever suggested Spock's Beard in any of these reaction videos? Have we forgotten about them? Here, check out these gem from them: June Flow Devil's got my throat Made alive again/wind at my back On a perfect day And of course, that monster epic, "the great nothing" #painintheask
The singing obviously isn't what's makes Neal Morse's so great. It's not like it's on the level of Floor Jansen... Apart from Neal Morse being an outspoken Christian, what's overlooked by so many people is what they take for granted: his musicianship and how great and genius he is as a composer and the strength of his fellow musicians. Have a look and listen to "Alive again", the live version. You'll have a jam part where they switch instruments. It might not be noticed by most people as it's not like a spectacular light show or extremely good voice, and that's a shame as it is just as spectacular how they take another instrument and play it VERY well. Anyway... It's a genre of course and if you're more into another, so be it.
The performance in All of the Above wasn't the best, I agree. Also, most Neal Morse music is upbeat and positive, indeed. In fact, All of the Above and other Transatlantic songs helped me through rough times because of its positive vibe and it's lyrics.
Well, Eric Gilette (the guitarist) sings most of this song, Neal sings only a small passage... TSOAD is best listened to in full IMO, not as individual tracks since it's a concept album. Personally I prefer his older material, for the epics you need to go with his longer tracks, but a 30 minute video plus review at the end is probably too much for a youtube reaction video... I wouldn't mind it though.
The Video concert of this album (SOAD) is unbelievably intense and impeccable in musicianship. I think a lot of Neal's voice, especially from the SB and Transatlantic years, but I really enjoy the Spock's Beard albums after he left too, Especially Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep, and his 2nd replacement, Jimmy Keegan's voice didn't let them down. My song vote is a tough decision, but Probably Suite Charlotte Pike (Transatlantic- Bridge across Forever) .
Before you can "speak your truth," you might want to do some further investigation to discover "the truth." Four of the five members of the Neal Morse Band sing lead (as well of harmonies) on this track. If you don't like "his" voice, be sure to watch the live-in-studio performance video so you can match up each voice to the respective musician. Other tracks to consider: "The Great Despair" from "The Great Adventure" (2019) ruclips.net/video/viNCPH6OR10/видео.html , "Separated Man" from "One," a Morse "solo" album with Portnoy and bassist George (2004) ruclips.net/video/nx_n3vbNuqc/видео.html If you are looking for hot bands with a "kick ass" vocalist, you have to start with Deep Purple LIVE. "Highway Star" from "Made In Japan" (1972) -- Mk II lineup with Ian "Jesus Christ" Gillan ruclips.net/video/DyCyhaa5mck/видео.html , and the title track "Burn" at the legendary California Jam (1974) -- Mk III lineup with David "Whitesnake" Coverdale and bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes ruclips.net/video/BxgVpSVpH6Y/видео.html . Reaching a bit further back, The Who's "Live At Leeds" (1970) is essential listening: check out "Young Man Blues" ruclips.net/video/Dkv_Aa45-dc/видео.html , "Summertime Blues" ruclips.net/video/K5jNDQlKDR4/видео.html , and of course "My Generation" ruclips.net/video/PoHCjHtHrVo/видео.html .
That was the studio version but they also have a video of them in the studio where you can see them play and sing, Eric the guitarist sings most of the song until the slower part where the other keyboardist sings and you cant say that they can be any tighter than that. And where else do you find everyone sings in the band. The thing is that Neal has a ministry with his music and thats the focus, if you listen to the message you can tell what they are singing about. His song writing is epic, some of the compositions are very technical and they are all top notch musicians. You cant find christian music with this style, some of his stuff sounds like kansas and yes and many other bands yet he still has his own sound that to me is epic. I dont know what you are looking for to be impressed by, that would tell me more about why you critique the way you do. I mean that with all respect.
Try listening to The Door by Neal, it is a 30 minute epic, with awesome heaviness and soft parts..Portnoy is a beast!!! Neal is amazing, his singing, keys, guitar playing! Please listen to The Door, it is the first song in the album called Sola Scriptura. Please please please, I think you will change your mind about Neal.
So far, the two Neal Morse Band songs you've listened to have been among the "tamer" songs - and both have had Eric Gillette as the lead vocalist, I believe. So I'll toss in (hopefully you will catch this a month late!) one of Neal's "barn-burners" - it isn't quite as happy (as the title kinda gives away), but remember that most Neal Morse Band albums are concept albums - most of his songs (in isolation) are only part of the story! #NealMorseBand "Author of Confusion" Grady in Seattle - studio version from the album "One" ruclips.net/video/e0uFb75wpkE/видео.html - or the live version with a killer drum solo by Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment) ruclips.net/video/7uELofYYSU8/видео.html
If you don't like this song, it's a waste of time to recommend anything else. Your minds are made up already. If you don't like them, you don't like them, it's your prerogative. Music comes down to taste.
Neal is one of the greatest songwriters of our age. He writes in a thematic,epic style for the most part. When he plays live, he'll go 2 1/2 to 3 hour or more. Watch any of the Morsefest videos. He gives it all every time, usually ending up boards for at least vocally worn out by the end of the show. That's why he is great. That's why his fans love him and why Portnoy left Dream Theater to work with him. You do him a grave injustice to base your opinion on a 5 minute song or a single song plucked from the middle of a 3 hour show. There is really no other artist you can compare him to it you look at the body and sort of work he has released in the last 25 years or so. Neal is a unique talent as anyone who has explorer his work at any depth can tell you. Unabashedly Christian, his music is both uplifting and spiritual and needs to be taken in context wit
It's a concept album, so you need to listen the whole album, kinda like SFAM album or the wall album
This song, while amazing on it's own, can't be fully appreciated out of context. You really need to get the entire album in your head and in your heart. It takes a long time to do but it's soooo rewarding...All of Neal Morse's material is this way.
#painintheask the reason I requested this song over the others was because its by far the easiest to digest from the album. If you want to feel the full impact of the neal morse band then you will have to listen to the full album “the similitude of a dream” but because you guys may not enjoy it to the extent of “HOLY SHIT” (which is totally understandable). But the song on the album that would be the “HOLY SHIT” of the album (at least for me) would be the broken sky/long day (reprise). It is the last song on the album and also the longest one
I also might have some nostalgia bias for this song because it is from my favourite album of all time 😂😂
TSOAD is really overrated. You should have requested some of his earlier material. "Author of Confusion", "In the Fire" or "Solid as the sun" are great "short" songs that stand on their own. Neal shines better on longer songs thats for sure. In that case "The Door" its one of his best.
The song was part of a grander story, the 2-disc album is really meant to be played in its entirety and only has maybe 2 "hard breaks" in it. The video did not look like anything that was official and did not sound like the end was "cut" right. That being said, it does lead into the next song, "Breath of Angels".
The Similitude of a Dream is loosely based on the first part of the book "The Pilgrim's Progress..." by John Bunyan.
And for reference, their next album The Great Adventure, is loosely based/inspired by an amalgamation of the 2nd half of the Pilgrim's Progress and The "Second Part" (sequel) of The Pilgrim's Progress.
I have always thought that Neal's voice was quite interesting. He has a wide range, especially in his ability to have his voice take on different personas at times, but in all honesty (and not to put him down in any way) I don't think that he'll be remembered for his vocal performances. Eric Gillette perhaps has a better voice, and Bill Hubauer comes in at times with some pretty good vocals, as does Mike Portnoy (whose occasional vocals with the Neal Morse band are extremely improved over his Dream Theater vocals). But where Neal and the Neal Morse Band shines is in the writing. Neal's gift is certainly in the lyrics, and the band blows the music away in my opinion. There are plenty of musicians who's voices weren't "the best" (some were at times derided for it), but their music and lyrics made people FEEL something. To me, that's Neal and his bands.
Similitude of a Dream really needs to be experienced in its entirety, as does The Great Adventure. But if you want a magnificent stand alone piece, one of their best choices in the Neal Morse / Neal Morse Band collection, in my opinion is "Alive Again".
(Don't miss out on Neal's other work as a part of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, and Flying Colors)
The music of Neal Morse is never really driven by the vocals, it is more about the music and the message.
Some people don't like him because all of his songs basically have a Christian theme. I don't mind it, as it never comes across as preaching.
#painintheask Neal Morse - The Door
Words Words Everywhere yessss
YES!!!!
Neal Morse is an epic sing writer first, vocalist second. That performance of All Of The Above by Transatlantic was not as good as the studio version.
So Far Gone was one part of a double CD concept album that doesn’t necessarily work that well on it’s own. Don’t give up on Neal. Try The Great Nothing or Walking On The Wind by Spock’s Beard. Mike Portnoy has played with Neal for years on several different projects for a very good reason.
Bb 106 yes, Mike and Neal produce some of the best music together!! Hopefully we can get some more listens on this channel.
You should definitly go with The Door, then. It has my favorite guitar solo ever. To be fair, any of his epic songs are great.
SB - The Light, In The Mouth Of Madness, At The End Of The Day, I'm Dying.. TA - We all need some light, Duel With The Devil
Thoughts (Part 2) has great vocal harmonies!
You realize 4 members of the band share lead vocals?
"The great adventure" or "Welcome to the world" from the new album. Killer Tracks!
#PainInTheAsk ...Neal Morse--The Separated Man and Author of Confusion .
#PainInTheAsk ... #SqueakyWheel ... Big Big Train The Underfall Yard! More people need to be exposed to these guys. If you like Prog Rock and you like it in the Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel and even, Spocks Beard, Porcupine Tree and Neal Morse vein, you'll love Big Big Train. They're hardly known outside of the UK and they're amazing.
The whole "One" album!
I'd have to agree with your assessment of Neal's voice. It's pleasant, but it's not WOW. His songs and the lyrical interplay with the melody and rhythms are the genius in Neal Morse's music, imo.
How is it that nobody ever suggested Spock's Beard in any of these reaction videos? Have we forgotten about them? Here, check out these gem from them:
June
Flow
Devil's got my throat
Made alive again/wind at my back
On a perfect day
And of course, that monster epic, "the great nothing"
#painintheask
The singing obviously isn't what's makes Neal Morse's so great. It's not like it's on the level of Floor Jansen... Apart from Neal Morse being an outspoken Christian, what's overlooked by so many people is what they take for granted: his musicianship and how great and genius he is as a composer and the strength of his fellow musicians. Have a look and listen to "Alive again", the live version. You'll have a jam part where they switch instruments. It might not be noticed by most people as it's not like a spectacular light show or extremely good voice, and that's a shame as it is just as spectacular how they take another instrument and play it VERY well. Anyway... It's a genre of course and if you're more into another, so be it.
The performance in All of the Above wasn't the best, I agree. Also, most Neal Morse music is upbeat and positive, indeed. In fact, All of the Above and other Transatlantic songs helped me through rough times because of its positive vibe and it's lyrics.
The Whirld Tour 2010 (Live From Shepherd's Bush Empire, London) had a MUCH better rendition of All of the Above than the Live in Europe one.
This is a Song as part of a Whole Album About The Classic Book "Pilgrims Progress."
#Painintheask
#OSI A triple shot introduction to Mike Portnoy's side project
Office of Strategic Influence
ruclips.net/video/9ZlV9dlL_rc/видео.html
What you saw was the Band Transatlantic from autumn 2001. The Neal Morse Band is a different group, just portnoy is also in both bands.
Well, Eric Gilette (the guitarist) sings most of this song, Neal sings only a small passage...
TSOAD is best listened to in full IMO, not as individual tracks since it's a concept album. Personally I prefer his older material, for the epics you need to go with his longer tracks, but a 30 minute video plus review at the end is probably too much for a youtube reaction video... I wouldn't mind it though.
"The Door" would be an epic reaction!!
Which singer didn't you like? There were 3 singers on that song.
The Video concert of this album (SOAD) is unbelievably intense and impeccable in musicianship. I think a lot of Neal's voice, especially from the SB and Transatlantic years, but I really enjoy the Spock's Beard albums after he left too, Especially Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep, and his 2nd replacement, Jimmy Keegan's voice didn't let them down.
My song vote is a tough decision, but Probably Suite Charlotte Pike (Transatlantic- Bridge across Forever) .
Neal wasn't the lead vocalist on this, guitarist Eric Gillette was. Neal and keyboardist Bill Hubauer also sang.
Before you can "speak your truth," you might want to do some further investigation to discover "the truth." Four of the five members of the Neal Morse Band sing lead (as well of harmonies) on this track. If you don't like "his" voice, be sure to watch the live-in-studio performance video so you can match up each voice to the respective musician.
Other tracks to consider: "The Great Despair" from "The Great Adventure" (2019) ruclips.net/video/viNCPH6OR10/видео.html , "Separated Man" from "One," a Morse "solo" album with Portnoy and bassist George (2004) ruclips.net/video/nx_n3vbNuqc/видео.html
If you are looking for hot bands with a "kick ass" vocalist, you have to start with Deep Purple LIVE. "Highway Star" from "Made In Japan" (1972) -- Mk II lineup with Ian "Jesus Christ" Gillan ruclips.net/video/DyCyhaa5mck/видео.html , and the title track "Burn" at the legendary California Jam (1974) -- Mk III lineup with David "Whitesnake" Coverdale and bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes ruclips.net/video/BxgVpSVpH6Y/видео.html .
Reaching a bit further back, The Who's "Live At Leeds" (1970) is essential listening: check out "Young Man Blues" ruclips.net/video/Dkv_Aa45-dc/видео.html , "Summertime Blues" ruclips.net/video/K5jNDQlKDR4/видео.html , and of course "My Generation" ruclips.net/video/PoHCjHtHrVo/видео.html .
#neilmorse Get Behind Me Satan
That was the studio version but they also have a video of them in the studio where you can see them play and sing, Eric the guitarist sings most of the song until the slower part where the other keyboardist sings and you cant say that they can be any tighter than that. And where else do you find everyone sings in the band. The thing is that Neal has a ministry with his music and thats the focus, if you listen to the message you can tell what they are singing about. His song writing is epic, some of the compositions are very technical and they are all top notch musicians. You cant find christian music with this style, some of his stuff sounds like kansas and yes and many other bands yet he still has his own sound that to me is epic. I dont know what you are looking for to be impressed by, that would tell me more about why you critique the way you do. I mean that with all respect.
Try listening to The Door by Neal, it is a 30 minute epic, with awesome heaviness and soft parts..Portnoy is a beast!!! Neal is amazing, his singing, keys, guitar playing! Please listen to The Door, it is the first song in the album called Sola Scriptura. Please please please, I think you will change your mind about Neal.
So far, the two Neal Morse Band songs you've listened to have been among the "tamer" songs - and both have had Eric Gillette as the lead vocalist, I believe.
So I'll toss in (hopefully you will catch this a month late!) one of Neal's "barn-burners" - it isn't quite as happy (as the title kinda gives away), but remember that most Neal Morse Band albums are concept albums - most of his songs (in isolation) are only part of the story!
#NealMorseBand "Author of Confusion" Grady in Seattle - studio version from the album "One" ruclips.net/video/e0uFb75wpkE/видео.html - or the live version with a killer drum solo by Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment) ruclips.net/video/7uELofYYSU8/видео.html
Spock's Beard.. The Light... try it you'll love it
No, that's not the ending. It segways into another song that actually "makes sense" in it's concept & application, in context.
Neal Morse - Author of Confusion
Wow
.you shoul listen to 'i am willing .' studio version .this blow me away .
Yo what's up yall should check out the band hell yeah song thank you very good tribute song to dime bag and the military
this song sounded to me like journey/ i enjoyed it /i was sad it ended so quick
Myrath - Under Siege. Prog with arabic influence. I think you´ll love it. If you can, go for the official video.
#painintheask
Never veer off to the left.
Do something different, The Ramones , She’s the One (official video)
You have to do Spock's Beard now... #spock'sbeard
Actually u just listened a song that belong to 3 hours of 2 concept album. And these 2 albums is not about making you wow about vocals.
If you don't like this song, it's a waste of time to recommend anything else. Your minds are made up already. If you don't like them, you don't like them, it's your prerogative. Music comes down to taste.
You do know Neal didn't sing this one...right?
I have to say Mr Morse is not my favorite.