Over the years I have reviewed many albums featuring Neal Morse - Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colors, Neal Morse Band and Morse solo albums - and most of the time those were great albums, although mister Morse always has the tendency to repeat himself musically too much and lyric-wise I really have "issues" with his preaching and praying! So, here we are again with a Neal Morse Band album, called L.I.F.T. and it is a concept album, meaning, that is, sad but true - at least for me - spiritually themed; again...; so as a listener you are once again treated to lots of religious/spiritual lyrics indeed. L.I.F.T. is the fifth album of the Neal Morse Band, which still consists of Randy George, Bill Hubauer, Eric Gilette, Mike Portnoy and of course Neal Morse. This new album contains thirteen tracks, of which the last song called Love All Along is the longest, clocking in over eleven minutes. So, unlike their previous album Innocence And Danger (2021) there are no new Morse epics on this new album, which is of course a pity, as Morse epics are always musical prog rock gems for sure! L.I.F.T. kicks off with the almost instrumental song called Beginning and it is a 100% recognisable, familiar Morse song indeed, a track that sounds like songs from Morse albums like Testimony (2003) or One (2004). Follow up Fully Alive is a wonderful prog rock song bringing out the best of the band, as it features great melodies, wonderful vocals, and excellent solos indeed. Next up is the first filler of this album, being I Still Belong; a typical too dramatic, almost corny, Neal Morse ballad. Luckily this mediocre, superfluous song is followed by the instrumental, guitar driven rocker Gravity's Grip, where Eric Gilette and Portnoy really shine, and with Hurt People, one of the heaviest songs Morse ever recorded it gets even better. Hurt People has an amazing heavy blues driven groove and Gilette's lead vocals and especially his guitar solo here is truly second to none, the musical highlight of the album for sure! However, songs like The Great Withdrawal and Shame About My Shame are again too "spiritual" and Morse musically repeats himself here way too much, as the musical themes and melodies in these songs are really too familiar and worn out! Contemplation and Shattered Barricade are nice instrumental prog rock intermezzos, and Reaching is another worthwhile prog rocker indeed; but again songs like Carry You Again and Love All Along are way too sweet, corny, predictable and Morse is again rehashing his old musical ideas way too much; in fact I would almost say that he is edging on self-plagiarism at certain times! Conclusion: Innocence And Danger, their previous album, was way better, as it featured two great epics and only two fillers, whereas L.I.F.T. features no epics, just four great prog rock tracks and three nice instrumentals, so I am kind of disappointed for sure..... *** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
