FLYING COLORS

When this first came out, there was a bit of a shitstorm about it. A lot of people were annoyed that it wasn't as 'prog' as they wanted it to be, but rather more of an Alt-Rock album with prog moments, normally coming from Neal Morse.

Throughout most of the forum discussions, I was sort of left sitting, because I completely loved it. The melodies are fantastic, the range of vocalists is epic and the proginess is still there, but it just isn't the most important factor.

From the bass rumble that opens the album in the amazing "Blue Ocean" to the 12 minute Neal Morse epic "Infinite Fire", the album never really has a dark moment.

The opener, "Blue Ocean" is one of the best songs on there. The bass is very good, in a sort of catchy way, and the vocals are stunning. Casey MacPherson really can sing. The chorus is one of the best on the album and it's one of those ones you can't go without singing at the top of your voice.

"Shoulda Coulda Woulda" and "All Falls Down" are two of the 'heavier' songs on the album, but not heavy in a Dream Theater way, in a better way. They choruses are hectic, but still melodic, and one of the places where Portnoy gets to prove he's Portnoy

"Kayla", "The Storm" and "Forever In A Daze" are the 3 best on the album in my opinion. Not because they are proggy, but because they all have fantastic melodies, and in the world of alt- rock, that's all that really matters.

"Love Is What I'm Waiting For" is one of the weaker moments, going a bit too pop, but not justifying it with a good melody. Still good once you listen though.

"Everything Changes" is a song that I listen to simply to hear that amazing moment when it goes from a regular song into a Neal Morse song, it will leave any Morse fan with an enormous grin.

"Better Than Walking Away" is another weaker song, a bit slow and moany.

"Fool In My Hard" is a nice song with a good Neal Morse vocal in the chorus, nothing too special.

"Infinite Fire" is the one that everyone seems to love. I often get confused by this, because it's nowhere near some of the earlier songs, as if the simple fact that it's 12 minutes makes it better. In any case, it's still a good song, although it sounds more Neal Morse than a collaboration. Casey does some other good vocals here too.

Overall 9/10

Get it if you like melody, no matter what style, if you're a fan of any kind of alt-rock music, and if you want to hear another 12 minute Neal Morse epic.

Don't get it if you're a music elitist who can only appreciate complex music and thinks that Alt- Rock is terrible because there aren't any weird time signatures (aka everyone on the forum who was complaining).