Spocks Beard and Related

Yes, Spock's Beard have recorded some great albums, especially their last (lol) record : 'Snow' (I don't regard their very last album as a Spock album). By the way, does anyone in the forum know about another great artist that mastered Spock's 'Beware of darkness' : Kevin Gibert, he has one of the best voices I ever heard in the pop-prog music and is (was, RIP) a talented artist. Songs such as 'simpler times', 'In every line', 'goodman badman' feature sublime voices and no less fantastic keyboard work. Other songs such as the incredible 'another day' or 'blank page' and 'when strangers part' are beautiful balads. Just before he died, he had renewed his links with Spock by working with NDV (Spock's drummer) cf 'Thud' or 'Live at the 'Troubadour'.It's really a shame he died so soon (he was maybe 30 years old). To come back to Spock's and relatives work, I think the peak of Spock's musical ideas was reached with 'Testimony' : all the ingredients of Spock's music are there (except maybe the canon vocals à la Gentle giant) : latin sections, poignant choirs, pop-rock passages, symphonic sections. Neal Morse also brought his unique voice to one of the many Ayreon projects (actually I don't remember on which one it was). Apart from Neal Morse, Ryo Okumoto has also recorded solo albums, the last one featuring members of Toto (a band that is often underrated to my mind : their first record 'Toto' is a very good blend of jazz-rock and pop, and 'the seventh one' features great vocals and excellent rhythm section by the late Jeff Porcaro) and the incomparable Simon Philipps on drums. There are some nice tunes on this record but overall it's not to recommend to you, Spock's Beard fan. Transatlantic is a great supergroup, and even better on stage (their 'Live in America' is one of the best live performances I ever heard from a progressive band). I saw Flower Kings on stage recently, but I must admit that these guys don't impress me as much as Spock. In fact, apart from their truly prog songs (the amazing opening track on 'Unfold the future' for instance), they have released some 'crappy' songs (probably remains of Roine's attraction for the pop market in the eighties). That's all folks !

danbo wrote: Yeah Starship, I'm into TA and SP. I haven't picked up all the SB disc yet, but I'm working on it. Unfold the future from TFK is a bit weak and hard to listen to the whole thing. Something else you may want to check out is, The Tangent "The Music that Died Alone." It's my selection for the 2003 Prog disc of the year. Also, check out Syzygy, "The Allegory of Light" Great Prog.

Cheers Danbo.

I will look out for some sound clips from The Tangent and see what they're like, same with the other band you mention. Is there a way of pronouncing that name?

StarshipTrooper wrote: danbo wrote: Yeah Starship, I'm into TA and SP. I haven't picked up all the SB disc yet, but I'm working on it. Unfold the future from TFK is a bit weak and hard to listen to the whole thing. Something else you may want to check out is, The Tangent "The Music that Died Alone." It's my selection for the 2003 Prog disc of the year. Also, check out Syzygy, "The Allegory of Light" Great Prog.  Cheers Danbo. I will look out for some sound clips from The Tangent and see what they're like, same with the other band you mention. Is there a way of pronouncing that name?

I have The Music That Died Alone now. It is now on constant play. What a superb find. Cheers.

Hey Starship,

Another band which I've gotten hooked on is Salem Hill. They are not as prog as SB, but the vocals are great, the musicianship superb and the lyrics are interesting and thought provoking. They've got a new one called "Be" and Robbery of Murder.

Starship, While you're at it, check out "Yellow Matter Custard"

http://www.progressiveworld.net/yellowmattercustard.html

Morse, Portnoy, Paul Gilbert and Matt Bissonette covering Beatles tunes. You may like

I didn't think it was bad... I just didn't think it was Beard. Lyrically or sonically. Big Change. They should have changed the name or something. When PG left Genesis and PC took over vocals, the music was still Genesis and Collins was not all that different from Gabriel (I'll get beat-up form that one). The next disc will tell the tale. The boys had to show it wasn't the Neal Morse Show. They showed some great chops but they also proved that SB was, is, whatever, Neal Morse.

Strickly my view.

NEXT

danbo wrote: Starship, While you're at it, check out "Yellow Matter Custard" http://www.progressiveworld.net/yellowmattercustard.html Morse, Portnoy, Paul Gilbert and Matt Bissonette covering Beatles tunes. You may like

I have Yellow Matter Custard. It sure is a fun album. I bought it about 4 weeks ago and I reckon they have certainly done those songs justice.

As for Feel Euphoria. On first playing, I hated it. It was to much of a change from Neal Morse. Now I have played it many times, I find I do like it but agree the next album is going to be the big make or break for me. I just hope Neal Morse doesn,t make another Christian based album next time. Musically, Testimony is ok-ish but lyrically not my cup of tea.

Danbo. Please...no more recommendations well not just yet. Right, where do I find the Salem Hill clips?

You are a gentleman. Thanks very much for those links.

Coincidently, I have Spocks Beard playing through Delicious Agony right now. I assume this is the best radio station for prog.

Hammar wrote: What do you think about the last album from Neil Morse? And can Spock's Beard still do the effort without him?

On his last solo effort, N Morse proves that he is the soul of SB, as the music is in the style of the earlier SB albums. "Testimony" is a great album, I think even better than Spock's Beard. About the new direction SB took, I think their music will surely appeal to a wider range of people but hard-core fans of SB, such as myself, won't follow them anymore. (David and Goliath)

I have to totally agree with you StarshipTrooper about Neil Morse and his Testimony. His message is more important than the music and it doesn't work for me. I think it's ok and his melodies are beatiful, but I miss the real progressivness from the Spock's period. Maybe the album is too long? When that said, I agree with Lucas, this is the real Spock's Beard....