Member:
Dragonflame713
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by Dragonflame713)
Date:
12/8/2004
Format:
CD (Album)
Neal Morse’s previous album Testimony began with a song titled “The Land Of The Beginning Again” and ended with a song of the same name. The album, through very personal lyrics and 2 CDs worth of varying musical styles told the story of his life.
On Neal’s 2004 offering One, once again the listener is presented with a “land of the beginning again” only this time Neal is speaking of the beginning of all things on this Earth. The day the Christian faith believes to be “The Creation”. The days when man with “One” with his God. The cover shows a man wandering in search of the glowing city in the distance, much as mankind is depicted as the prodigal son. No longer “One” with his God, choosing instead the knowledge of good and evil. Presented in epic prog fashion, this is the story of man’s fall and a member of mankind’s attempt to return home and once again become “One” with his God.
Musically this album is reminiscent of Neal’s epic length progressive rock with Transatlantic, and Spock’s Beard’s V, while at the same time the feel of the Testimony album is present as well. The album also at times rocks harder this time around, and yet at the same time is more progressive sounding. This album is full of great arrangements and great melodies, both which have been constants throughout Neal's entire career.
The special guest this time is non other than guitar legend Phil Keaggy, who adds both a electric guitar solo in “The Creation” and a acoustic guitar solo in “The Man’s Gone (Reprise)”. He also sings a duet with Neal in the song “Cradle To The Grave” which is a dialogue between God and the man. Phil sings the part of God, and Neal sings the part of man who is appealing to his God.
The hard rock element that I spoke of earlier is very present in songs such as “Author Of Confusion” which begins with a swirling heavy riff, then descends into an ominous sounding section, then a bouncy Kansas-like section. This song also features some of the Gentle Giant like vocal harmonies Neal used some while in Spock’s Beard, in a section of the song as well. My description of this song is an example of what makes this album such fun to listen to, with how all of these different sections in the compositions all flow seamlessly together!
There is also a ballad on this album entitled “Father Of Forgiveness”, where the traveler of mankind finds forgiveness from his God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. The backing vocals have a gospel like sound, and those who are fans of Neal’s ballads will surely be pleased with this emotional piece of music.
The final track on the album “Reunion” rocks hard in the first of several sections and has a Who kind of feel. With its slashing chords and horns, it brings that Quadrophenia like feel to mind. A violin joins in during the tension building middle section, then the final section (which is entitled “Make Us One”) the song slows and the mellotron enters and a very poignant and beautiful section closes the album. A member of mankind is once again “One” with his God.
Through the power of his faith, and the power of progressive rock Neal has created a masterpiece. One lyrically is an epic journey through the ages, and musically executed with all of the twists and turns in the very best of prog tradition. Both believers and non believers can potentially find much to appreciate with “One”, because after all hasn’t some of the very best prog throughout the years dealt with (to borrow a phrase from Yes) “Wondrous Stories”?
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