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Spock's Beard - Snow CD (album) cover

SNOW

Spock's Beard

 

Symphonic Prog

3.86 | 739 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

infandous
3 stars 2.5 stars really

Once again, an updated review. In this case, I'm going to round up from my original rating, as I think there is some good material on here.

This is not my least favorite Spock's Beard album, as that is reserved for the Day For Night album. However, I can't say I like it that much either. It does have it's moments, but perhaps the formula is wearing thin at this point. Though I don't like the albums without Morse at all, I do commend them for breaking out of the formula......not hard to do since the formula was Neal's.....although, oddly enough, I really like Neal's formula on his solo projects. Go figure.

When I first heard this album, I probably would have given it one star. I admit, I was drawn in by the hype, Mike Portnoy comparing it to Tommy and The Lamb. I figured it wasn't THAT good, but considering their last album was the best I'd heard from them, I was expecting great things. Man, was I disappointed. After giving the album more chances, I decided that it wasn't really a bad album after all.

Overstretched, weak melodies being dragged out over two CD's, certainly. But on the whole some parts come off very well. The concept, lyrically, is pretty well done, and certainly foreshadows the subject matter of Morse's future solo career. But I just don't think there is enough good material to warrant two CDs. And even then, I think what is good is some of the weakest material Morse has ever come up with. On the other hand, some of the vocal melodies and harmonies are quite good. But what's missing is much of the prog bombast and grandness that was present on the previous album. The Overtures are excellent, of course, and there is some fun instrumental stuff and some lovely vocal melodies and harmonies. However, this is not quite enough to shake the feeling that this was a few ideas made to fit a longer format than they needed to.

Still, it's not a terrible album, but one I simply can't give more than two and a half stars to. I'll round up to 3, as I don't feel I can quite say it's a collectors and fans only release, but I also think the good would have made a fine 4 star single CD album, and stretching it to two CD's makes it a half good album. If you are a fan, you probably have it, and if not you should probably get it. If you are just starting to check the band out, start with "V" or "Beware Of Darkness".

infandous | 3/5 |

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