Spock's Beard

I looked back a few pages and did not see this mentioned. So I apologize if this has been mentioned before.

Anyways, what is everyone's opinion on Spock's Beard? They are easily one of my favorite bands and I love all their albums. My favorite would be Snow, with V and Kindness of Strangers not far behind.

Good album choices! I agree the post Neal stuff has been rather hit or miss, but the self-titled album has them back on track. If I remember correctly, Dave said he'd be upset if a new album wasn't out this year.

They were one of my first prog bands aside from the classics such as Yes, ELP, King Crimson and Genesis. I liked them a lot for a while then stopped liking them and I have recently rebounded into what I think my equilibrium will be. V is an excellent album followed closely by The Light, then Beware of Darkness and Kindess of Strangers are still great. Snow, which I once loved, is now merely OK. Their other releases all only have a couple songs that I actually like while the rest is simply OK or worse.

I like Spock's Beard quite a bit.  I have to credit them, Dream Theater, and the Flower Kings with expanding my interest in progressive rock music.  I had been listening to Rush, Yes, and ELP for a long time, but it was these newer bands that really brought me into the prog rock fold.

This is a band i have been meaning to check out for some time ( so much music ,so little time). any recommendation for a starter album....

Eraserhead wrote: V would be the album to start with

Eraserhead wrote: V would be the album to start with

Seconded.

V is a great album.  Personally, I love the Beard.  Like rushfan4 I was drawn to modern prog by the same three bands.  Honestly, The Beard is great but I've kind of grown bored with them as of late.  I think I listened to too much of the Beard now I'm on overload.  I'm certain that they'll jump back into my listening rotation soon.

I did see them last year at 3RP and they sounded fantastic. 

Looking forward to the new album, the three post Morse albums were kind of hit and miss for me.  I like the thought of epic darkness.

I used to think they were terribly unoriginal (though I really liked them anyways), but having listened to a lot more different prog bands by this point, I can say that they actually sound utterly unique and original to my ears. Sure, they draw from Gentle Giant and so forth, but I've never heard a band that came before them that they really pull much from. Post-Neal is hit or miss, I agree, with the self-titled being the highlight. Post-Beard Neal is also kind of hit or miss. I liked their collaborations together a lot. Their sense of quirk and humor gives them a big advantage over a lot of pretentious and stuffy prog bands from the 70s till now. Those are my thoughts. A good band, though not as flashily prog as some would prefer, but quite entertaining and clever nonetheless.

Spock's Beard were the first "3rd Wave" prog band I ever heard (back in about 1997) and when I first heard "Walking On The Wind" on the radio it completely blew me away. It was certainly the best prog song I'd heard since 1977.

So, a love affair commenced with the mighty Beard from that point and I remember being as excited about seeing them in London in 1999 (I think) as I was about seeing Genesis for the first time in 1980. And, boy were they an amazing band live with Neal Morse at the front or what. Totally exhilerating.

When Neal left after the Snow album came out, it was literally the saddest I've been about any departure from any band (I was too young for Gabriel leaving Genesis ).

The Flower Kings had kinda been sneaking up on me by then and after Neal left Spock's Beard, TFK took over as my current favourite band. I do still have a lot of affection for SB although I don't really get on with the post-Neal albums too well.

I'd be as excited about a Spock's Beard reunion tour with Neal as I would a 5-man Genesis reunion to be honest

Cheers

Nov

Nov wrote: Spock's Beard were the first "3rd Wave" prog band I ever heard (back in about 1997) and when I first heard "Walking On The Wind" on the radio it completely blew me away. It was certainly the best prog song I'd heard since 1977. So, a love affair commenced with the mighty Beard from that point and I remember being as excited about seeing them in London in 1999 (I think) as I was about seeing Genesis for the first time in 1980. And, boy were they an amazing band live with Neal Morse at the front or what. Totally exhilerating. When Neal left after the Snow album came out, it was literally the saddest I've been about any departure from any band (I was too young for Gabriel leaving Genesis ). The Flower Kings had kinda been sneaking up on me by then and after Neal left Spock's Beard, TFK took over as my current favourite band. I do still have a lot of affection for SB although I don't really get on with the post-Neal albums too well. I'd be as excited about a Spock's Beard reunion tour with Neal as I would a 5-man Genesis reunion to be honest Cheers Nov

Nov,

I have the good fortune to live in Pittsburgh, home to a fantastic little prog festival called 3rp, (gearing up for it's second year if I understand correctly).

Last year, we had both 'Spock's Beard' and Neal Morse in the line up. 

Sure enough, Spock's Beard played 'The Light' with Neal Morse as their encore. 

I still get goosebumps thinking about it.

You'll note my avatar, I AM the catfish man.

Roland