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Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard CD (album) cover

SPOCK'S BEARD

Spock's Beard

 

Symphonic Prog

3.36 | 395 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Lofcaudio
3 stars I am a huge Spock's Beard fan, but have not been willing to give the post-Neal Morse albums a try. Well, due to many reviews calling this album a "return to the former days", I figured it was worth giving this version of the Beard a chance.

First of all, losing Neal Morse as a vocalist does not seemed to have hurt the band at all. Nick D'Virgillio's vocals are outstanding and work very well. But the overall songwriting has taken a noticeable hit, in my opinion. On this self-titled album, there are some very good songs...and there are some very bad songs. And to reiterate what has been said numerous times, the current lineup does not seem to be able to make truly progressive music like they were able to when Neal was the primary songwriter. Whether this is good or bad, you be the judge.

I'll be somewhat brief in this review by dividing the songs up based upon whether I thought they were good, average or bad and then designate whether I would consider them "prog."

Good: On a Perfect Day (prog) Skeletons at the Feast (prog) All that's Left (not prog) With Your Kiss (prog) The Slow Crash Landing Man (not prog)

Average: As Far as the Mind Can See (prog) Rearranged (prog) Hereafter (not prog)

Bad: Is this Love? (not prog) Sometimes They Stay, Sometimes They Go (not prog) Wherever You Stand (not prog)

I think it is worth pointing out that the song "On a Perfect Day" is outstanding and is a wonderful start to the album. But due to the inconsistency of the rest of the album (and the painful additions of the three "bad" songs), I don't feel that this album warrants anything higher than 3 stars. I noticed that Gatot's review mentions many of the songs sounding like Toto and I must say that I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Who would have thought that the Beard would turn into Toto?

Lofcaudio | 3/5 |

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