THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Well, this is Spock's Beard's third studioalbum but it isn't so mindblowing as Light or beware of Darkness. The band's playing is damn good as always and Neal Morse is a very innoative songwriter but something makes this album less enoyable as previous two. Maybe the main reason is Morse's new, more straight and popish way to write his songs.

The good don't last beqins with nice cello-playing by Alan Morse and turns to Ryo Okumoto's hammond-melody. Then the whole band starts to play and the music sounds really great. This is the stuff what I excpect from band called Spock's Beard. I don't know why but the little part of the instrumental intro sounds like Tasavallan Presidentti, the great Finnish prog-jazz-band. The way how Alan Morse plays guitar in this part reminds me of the greatest finnish guitarist, Jukka Tolonen. But when the intro is over and Neal starts to sing something goes wrong, and badly." What a f**k! This sounds like some mainstream rock/pop-band from radio, like Greed or something." Yes, the music turns from progressive rock to straight popmusic. When this horrible part is over the rest of the song is ok. This song makes me hope that the second, short track, wouldn't be something like what I just heard.

In the mouth of madness is good, not essential, but still enjoyable and compact song. You can find great drumming by Nick D'Virgilio and quick keybordsolo by Neal. Ryo shows how good mellorton can sound before the chorus.

Cakewalk on easy street isn't very interesting. It is a pop/prog song without any catchy hooks.

June. Huh. I have heard it a few times but I don't still remember how it goes. Sorry guys. I don't consider this song useless becouse it is a ballad. In my opinion it is only uninspired and boring effort from Neal.

Strange world is the third song I always scip ( quess which are the rest two). If it came from radio I would maybe like it but now in this situation I don't want hear it from this album.

But now there is something what I have been waiting for: a real, pure prog epic. Harm's way is the greatest song in this album. Great instrumental intro, a beautiful singing melody from Neal's mouth and marvellous playing by great prog band. Spock should always remember that they are a prog band, not a pop band.

Flow, another epic after Harm's Way and at the moment the longest track on the album. Yes, this is a good one, but not as good as a previous one. It have many skills and good moments but there is one nice surprise: a horrible summer-rock-part what I relly hate. Really.

Spock's Beard's career beqan with two great albums. This record was the beqinning of the little downhill. But maybe this and Day for the Night were the last breathing before mindblowing V.