SECOND FLIGHT: LIVE AT THE Z7

It's probably the first time I'm rating something as "Collectors/fans only" because this release is indeed only for the ones who are crazy about this band and their material, which, in my opinion, sounds as a mediocre cover on all those great prog rock bands from the 70s.

Despite the indisputable performance skills and good mixing quality, this release left me with a feeling like I've just listened to another Transatlantic live album with those very very predictable drum fills from Mike Portnoy. And I still consider him to be one of the best modern drummers.

Perhaps the only thing that really haunted me was the "Colder Months" / "Peaceful Harbor" medley.

Sorry folks, didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings.

The first cd of Flying Colors was done by Steve Morse and Neal Morse as the second was the results of the collaborations of each member which gives more variety and quality in the music. The music is still song/vocals-oriented almost AOR and Pop with progressive elements. The most progressive and longer tracks are "Open up Your Eyes" and "Mask Machine" with more complex time signatures. Neal Morse's keyboards while not having a major role like in his solo career bring some atmosphere in the music, also McPherson does most of the singing. We are in front of talented musicians here. Dave Larue in the first song add some interesting bass lines to the melody. Steve Morse's guitar solo are abundant and melodic. "The fury of My Love" starts as a ballad with piano and vocals and develop the melody in the Beatlesque fashion. I didn't enjoy the acoustic medley from Casey McPherson repertoire. There's plenty of typical classic pop rock songs on the edge of hard rock that includes a welcome little rhythm change for Progressive listeners., but don't expect another Transatlantic or Spock's Beard type of music. Some tracks have too much simplicity, for example, "Kayla" and "Shoulda Woulda Coulda", I suspect some humor in the latter, but "Cosmic Symphony" is quite different and enjoyable. This concert is well presented with 24 cameras in high definition with two types of surround sound.

Listening diary 22nd March, 2021: Flying Colors - Second Flight (progressive rock, 2015)

Potentially the pinnacle of the careers of both Morse & Portnoy, although I might be one of the only ones on the planet with that opinion. Second Nature is a momentous aligning of the stars, as somehow all the potential they've had as songwriters coalesced into a genuinely exceptional achievement, entirely bound together by Casey MacPherson. This live recording also contains the best of their quite underrated debut record, and most importantly a spellbinding performance of Alpha Rev's "Colder Months" by Casey - and the moment where he transitions into "Peaceful Harbour" might be one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard on a live record. I made a comment yesterday about how Morse often fires and misses at some kind of spiritual depth - his roots in Christian Contemporary Music often undermine these attempts. But give those sorts of melodies which are often cheesy to the point of being unbearable in his own music to a singer like MacPherson, and they can turn to pure gold. The midsection of "Cosmic Symphony" is genuinely touching, something neither Morse nor Portnoy have ever truly achieved in their other bands, no matter how often they try.

8.9 (4th listen)

Part of my listening diary from my facebook music blog - www.facebook.com/TheExoskeletalJunction