Morse, Neal - Sola Scriptura

Year of Release: 2007
Label: InsideOut/Suburban
Catalog Number: SPV 79362/IOMCD 269
Format: CD
Total Time: 75:58:00

Ask one hundred prog fans how to define prog and a lot will mention "long epics." I'm convinced we do indeed like long, well structured compositions that contain various atmospheres and ideas. As a critic, however, reviewing lengthy songs can often be a painful experience. However, if you go and see a film and you want to review it, you won't cut it into a zillion and one tiny slices would you? So rather than write about the various subtitles let me try and give you a total view as to what Sola Scriptura is all about. In a nutshell, I'd like to say it sounds like Spock's Beard from "The Doorway" era combined with the best Transatlantic.

Over the years, Mike Portnoy and Randy George not only have become Neal Morse's best buddies, but they also fully understand the direction Neal wants to take. If you took the time to listen to some of the midi files available on Morse's website then you'd know that Neal is able to compose and record every single detail he feels is necessary to be included by himself. The main difference this time around is the arrival of ex-Mr. Big axeman Paul Gilbert whom Neal first got to know courtesy of the Beatles tribute act Yellow Matter Custard. Gilbert adds a much harder edge to the music enabling Neal to concentrate on his singing and playing keyboards. However it's not Gilbert coming up with the goods but Neal Morse only hearing hard rock sounds in his mind for this new album.

The album is based upon the Augustinian monk Martin Luther and his famous 95 theses. Luther sent his 95 theses to the Archbishop after rejecting practices of the Church that he felt were in conflict with the scriptures. On the same day, he posted the theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The Latin words "Sola scriptura" means "only according to the scriptures." This means that one should live only according to the words in the Holy Scriptures and not according to the dogmas announced by clerics.

Unlike most singers in the domain of progressive rock, Neal Morse has this soothing, melodic voice which has your hairs stand up on the back of your hand. Just listen to the end of "The Door," where Paul Gilbert delivers one hell of a solo. This is what real music is all about, powerful, harmonic, melodic. The opening chords of "The Conflict" sound very dark and hard with once again Paul Gilbert's trademark all over it. Certain vocal harmonies remind me of vintage Pink Floyd whilst a sudden classical acoustic guitar evolves towards a Latino feel, which again goes back to Spock's debut album The Light. In fact, all over the album I hear bits and pieces I have heard before or remind me of music whether by Spock's Beard, Transatlantic or Neal's solo work.

Although it was Neal's idea to only include three long epics on this new album, he finally found that there was an important part missing. Sitting at the piano Morse tried to put himself in the place of Luther when he was in his cell at Worms waiting for the court trial. In fact it's kind of the key point of the entire album so Neal wrote a piano based ballad called "Heaven In My Heart." By adding a string section the song gets something solemn, further added to by Neal's wonderful singing. The final track, "The Conclusion" opens in a very complex way with tons of rhythm breaks, some ace bass playing by Randy George and the inclusion of cello in the best ELO fashion. As opposed to the other epics on Sola Scriptura, "The Conclusion" comes across very powerful, full of adrenaline with the use of trombone being integrated in order to give it a stately texture. This really is the great finale of the entire concept, turning the album into yet another masterpiece from the man who has been our God in progland all along. I can't think of any weak points on this album with new elements being discovered after each spin. Must be fantastic should this work ever be done live with a huge orchestra and choir inside a majestic church. I'm convinced the stained glass windows would come alive!

Tracklisting:
The Door: (29:14) Introduction / In The Name Of God / All I Ask For / Mercy For Sale / Keep Silent / Upon The Door // The Conflict: (25:00) Do You know My Name? / Party To The Lie / Underground / Two Down, One To Go / The Vineyard / Already Home // Heaven In My Heart (5:11) // The Conclusion: (16:34) Randy's Jam / Long Night's Journey / Re-Introduction / Come Out Of Her / Clothed With The Sun / In Closing...

Musicians:
Neal Morse - vocals, keyboards
Paul Gilbert - guitar
Mike Portnoy - drums
Randy George - bass

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)
One (2004)
Lead Me Lord (Worship Sessions Volume One) (2005)
? (2005)
Morse Portnoy George - Cover To Cover (2006)
Sola Scriptura (2007)
?: Live (2007)
Lifeline (2008)
Testimony Two (2011)
Testimony 2: Live In Los Angeles (CD/DVD) (2011)
Cover 2 Cover (2012)
Momentum (2012)
Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment (2015)
Neal Morse Band - Alive Again Tour 2015 (2016)
Neal Morse Band - The Similitude Of A Dream (2016)
Neal Morse Band - Morsefest 2015 (CD/DVD) (2017)
Life & Times (2018)

Transatlantic - Live In America (VID) (2001)
Testimony Live (DVD) (2004)
Sola Scriptura And Beyond (DVD) (2008)
Neal Morse Band - Morsefest 2015 (BR) (2017)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: February 20th 2007
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.nealmorse.com
Hits: 5597
Language: english