THE WHIRLWIND

Okay, I've been listening to this on constantly since yesterday morning. I love The Whirlwind. Like Porcupine Tree's The Incident, the title track is a group of pieces thematically and technically joined together into one long epic. And, for the most part, unlike the latter, this piece flows effortlessly between the many sections. If it wasn't for the track numbers changing on th CD player, I would hardly notice the transitions. And the writing and musicianship is spectacular, as you would expect from this supergroup.

The only fault I find on the first disk is the final track, Dancing With Eternal Glory / Whirlwind (Reprise), which I assume was tacked on to the piece to satisfy Neil Morse's obsessive faith. The piece is both musically and lyrically banal, and does not fit thematically with the rest of the piece. At each listen, I have found it cringeworthy.

So, 4 stars for disk one (it could have been 5).

The bonus disk has some moments. After an inauspicious start, Spinning turns into a nice 6/8 jam. Lenny Johnson sounds like it wants to be a John Lennon song. For Such A Time should be on a Morse solo album. Lending A Hand is okay, but forgettable. The Return Of The giant Hogweed is impressive. Portnoy's drums at the end are just amazing. A Salty Dog is just as maudlin and unbearable as the original. I need You is a clever mix of America and The Beatles, and Soul Sacrifice is a great jam (let it play to the end).

3 stars for disk two.

3.5 total, rounded up.