LIFELINE

This album has split Neal Morse's fans down the middle. Some consider that he hasn't done anything new on this release, while others acknowledge the same although they don't seem to mind and therefore think of it as another masterpiece. Although I mostly agree with the former kind of fans, I also think that the fact that this album lacks a concept is a major flaw.

I enjoyed the two previous releases because, besides all that great music, they had conceptual meanings to them that boosted the overall atmosphere considerably. Lifeline is a collection of songs and it also feels as such. Most of them are simple, but nonetheless effective, ballads that we've all heard before. Have this been everything the album had to offer then I would have easily dismissed it as another good, but non-essential. The main reason for my disliking is the album's longest track called So Many Roads which just doesn't hold together all that well. That song actually reminds me of the track Water from Spock's Beards debut album that I disliked just as much (although the title track is a killer).

This collection of tracks feels like an up and down slide that in the end doesn't really get us anywhere. I doubt that even fans will want to revisit this experience as much as any of the previous albums. Sorry Mr. Morse but I am extremely disappointed!

**** star songs: Lifeline (13:27) God's Love (5:27)

*** star songs: The Way Home (4:20) Leviathan (6:05) Children Of The Chosen (4:57) Fly High (6:30)

** star songs: So Many Roads (28:42)

Total rating: 2,86