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Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late
Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late
Released: 2001
Label: Radiant Records
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 60:57


Reviewed by: Gary Carson, November 2002

Neal Morse returns with solo album number two with It's Not Too Late. Neal's heavy project load of Spock's Beard and supergroup Transatlantic has left him scant time to put out more music - but here is more!

If you enjoyed his debut solo disc then you will (or should) enjoy this piano-oriented "sequel." If you are a fan of Neal's irreverent, honest, and generally weird (read: witty) lyrics, then you'll also enjoy this immensely. I get the feeling that his lyrics are semi-autobiographical, but maybe that is just the aural passion and honesty with which he sings. It's Not Too Late is even more relaxed than his first solo disc (which I didn't think was possible). As you can imagine, Neal's vocals and the piano are in the fore, with every other instrument in the background, [and] with the keys being handled by Neal himself. And he is quite the handy man, creating an upbeat and generally happy pop/rock sound. The disc has a semi-live atmosphere about it, too - as if they just went to the studio, set up the equipment, and just pressed the record button and this was what came out of it. Short introductions by Neal at the beginnings of some tracks can also be heard. It's kind of weird, but that's Neal I guess.

Of course, if you have a penchant for loud and heavy guitars (of which there aren't any on this disc) and if you have an abject loathing of pianos then forget this.

Singer/song-writer Neal Morse is a marvel and this shows off what he is capable of. This disc is so much more and there is so much waiting for anyone who bothers to wrap their ears around this release.

PPO Rating: 8/10

[This review originally appeared at the ProgPower Online review site; see also Bobo's and Marcelo's reviews -ed.]

More about It's Not Too Late:

Track Listing: 1. It’s Not Too Late (6:26) / All The Young Girls Cry (4:59) / Leah (4:02) / The Angels Will Remember (4:33) / So Long Goodbye Blues (4:39) / The Change (4:40) / Broken Homes (3:58) / Oh Angie (3:19) / The Eyes Of The World (George’s Song) (4:09) / You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Like Me (5:10) / I Am Your Father (4:19) / Something Blue (4:23) / The Wind & The Rain (6:09)

Musicians:
Neal Morse – Keyboards, vocals

Guest musicians: Nick D’Virgilio

Contact:

Website: www.nealmorse.com
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Discography

Spock's Beard:

Solo:

with Nick D'Virgilio:

Transatlantic:



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