Neal Morse is, hands
down, one of my favorite musician and songwriter, and even though I don't share
his religious beliefs I respect him for his views. His solo career has tree
branches: the all-out progressive rock side, the singer/songwriter side and the
worship series. I have no clue what his worship albums sound like, and this new
album "Songs from November" is only the third one exploring the
singer/songwriter side of things, you could say this is the follow-up to "It's
Not Too Late" (2001).
A small warning: fans, who
are looking for a full-blown progressive rock outburst need to stop reading!
This is a soft and mellow rock album that has more in common with artists like
Joe Cocker and Billy Joel. This album has strings to pop rock,
gospel and classic rock, and it's not a religious album, more of a spiritual and
emotional album.
The core of this album is
direct, catchy and accessible rock songs, perfectly played and produced. But
even your average prog rock fan (?) should think twice before purchasing this
new solo album from Neal Morse. I like it, but I am also a big fan of Neal
Morse!
Best moments: "Heaven
Smiled", "Tell Me Annabelle" and "Daddy's Daughter".
