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Chris Carmichael / violin, viola & background
vocals
Michael Thurman / French horn -
Rachel Rigdon / violin -
Hannah Vanderpool cello -
Dave Jacques / string bass
-Jim Hoke / saxophone -
Neil Rosengarden / trumpet
Bill Huber / trombone -
Glenn Caruba / percussion
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Gene Miller / additional vocals
- Rick Altizer / additional vocals/ Aaron Marshall / background
vocals - Missy Hale / background vocals |
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4.)- The Separated Man (17:58)
I- I’m in a Cage
II- I am The Man
III-The Man’s Gone (Reprise)
IV- Something Within Me Remembers
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1.)-Back to the Garden (4:26)
2.)-Nothing to Believe (3:29)
3.)-Cradle to the Grave (Neal's Voc) (4:55)
4.)-King Jesus (4:48)
5.)-What Is Life? (4:28)
6.)-Where the Streets Have No Name (5:46)
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| The
Review |
There is a lot to write about “One”
mainly because it is a really awesome piece of work.. “One”
finds Neal Morse really hitting stride with what is going
to be “his brand” of progressive music, which is going to
be Christian. I am really tired of the reviews that are stating
how folks don’t want to be preached at while listening to
music, progressive or otherwise. What does it matter what
the subject matter is as long as it is awesome music? It’s
funny how we can listen to artists “preaching” about politics,
world situations, how much they love/hate their mate, or war:
but as soon as religion and “God” get in the picture they
start heaving it. Give it a rest will ya? Words are words,
take ‘em or leave ‘em but don’t criticize a musical work because
you don’t agree with the subject matter.****
“One” is really a “song cycle”
in the truest meaning of the term. The concept of “One” is
a cycle that begins with God’s creation of man (in the fundamentalist
sense, meaning the Garden of Eden, not evolution) and the
“Oneness” of God and man. However, as God gave man a freewill
he eventually chooses his own course, gets pitched from The
Garden of Eden and drifts away from his Creator. Eventually,
man feels really alone and prays to God wondering why he was
abandoned, only to have God answer back that man was not abandoned
he just chose not to listen. So, God just kind of sat back
and waited on man to come back to Him. Finally, in despair,
man realizes he needs God as part of his life and by the last
song in the cycle they are reunited to become “One” again.****
Neal has put together a small but
tight line up of musicians with what is emerging as his rhythm
section of choice; Mike Portnoy, of Dream Theater, on drums
and Randy George on bass. (Randy is multi-talented Christian
musician with a pretty solid resume of studio work including
the likes of Rick Wakeman.) Neal’s “circle of friends” is
pretty amazing and on “One” he brings in the phenomenal guitarist
Phil Keaggy. For those unfamiliar with Phil Keaggy, he can
best be described as the Steve Howe of Christian music. The
man has garnered quite a following outside of the Christian
music circles and is revered by many “famous” guitarists as
the best around today.. Anybody who considers themselves as
a “guitar aficionado” simply must check out Phil Keaggy. If
Christian music turns you off, not to worry, he puts out a
lot of instrumental works, both electric and acoustic. Neal
Morse then plays the rest of the instruments, besides strings
and horns.****
“One” is progressive through and
through, make no doubt about that. In my opinion it was the
best work he has put out since “V” with Spock’s Beard. (Not
including the recently released “?”) As if to prepare listeners
for Neal’s brand of music he opens “One” with “The Creation”,
an 18 minute long number with a very Genesis like beginning
and four separate movements heavy in keyboard and guitar work.
The next song “The Man’s Gone” gives the listener a bit of
a rest with a soft acoustic number about man being cast from
the Garden of Eden to find his way on his own. There is a
slight pause after “A Man’s Gone” and the silence is then
shattered with Mike Portnoy’s manic drumming and a Neal playing
flat out metal guitar on an all out rocker “Master Of Confusion”;
with vocal harmonies reminiscent of Queen and Mike Portnoy
attempting to break his drum skins. The next song “Separated
Man” is probably about the best cut on “One”. An awesome progressive
number divided into four movements with the third movement
actually revisiting “The Man’s Gone”. It starts with a fantastic
acoustic guitar solo by Keaggy at 11:40 and then builds and
builds until it finally explodes with Neal’s electric guitar,
keyboards and orchestra.****
“Cradle to the Grave” lightens things
up a bit once again and is a duet with Phil Keaggy where he
plays the part of God as Neal and God attempt to communicate
but fail. This song actually got some airplay on Contemporary
Christian radio stations. Continuing on with the same pattern,
(fast prog followed by slower traditional number) this slower
acoustic number moves into “Help Me/ The Spirit And The Flesh”
which is trademark “killer” Morse with his signature keyboard
and guitar riffs and contains both great acoustic and electric
guitar solos by Neal. By this time in the CD the lyrics are
getting a bit “preachy” and Neal is leaving no doubts about
where his beliefs lie. There is no doubt you are listening
to a CD by a Christian artist by the end of “The Spirit And
The Flesh”.****
He slows it down a gain with a
softer but more progressive shorter song “Father Of Forgiveness”
and then wraps things up with a final progressive piece titled
“Reunion”. Neal pays tribute to his undying love of the Beatles
as “Reunion” opens up sounding almost exactly like “Magical
Mystery Tour” complete with horns and a pounding drum beat.
I listened to both intros back to back and “Reunion” is so
close to “Mystery Tour” there is no mistaking his intent.****
Finally, while Neal Morse’s Christian
lyrics in his progressive music may not be your proverbial
“cup of tea” you owe it to your self to pick up “One’ for
the brilliance of the music alone. Neal Morse has hit his
stride as a solo artist, and with something he feels is worth
singing about, is producing the finest progressive music of
his career. There is no doubt his religious zeal is spilling
over into his music with incredible, inspired results! And
look at this way, maybe Neal Morse can turn folks who predominantly
buy Christian music into Prog fans!****
GRADE: A
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