Lifeline

There has been some undeserved critisism thrown at Neal's latest album "Lifeline" lately. True it's not as progressive as Sola Scriptura, Neal's last studio album. But who cares, Lifeline is an emotional declaration of Neal's Christian faith, delivered in a heartfelt and truly rocking way! Sure it may be a little lighter than Sola and more song-oriented but the progressive elements are still quite evident throughout. This is especially true in songs like "So Many Roads" and the title track. There a certain 70's Styx meets Kansas vibe throughout the album with elements of Rush and early Dream Theater thrown in for good measure.

The production is top notch and Mike Portnoy's drumming is phenomenal as usual. Neal handles all the guitar and keyboard parts and I have to say that I'm impressed, I didn't know Neal could play lead as well as he does. "Leviathan" is a fun heavier quirky styled rocker that kind of reminds me of the Galactic Cowboys or the Flower Kings. There's also some nice acoustic ballads like "Gods Love." The song "So Many Roads" is the longest and most emotive song on the album, there is plenty of solos and instumental breaks on this 28 minute opus.
I know that some of Neal's fans don't dig the Christian lyrics, but being a Christ follower myself I am so happy that Neal provides top-notch progressive rock that just so happens to be Christian. Good Christian rock bands are few and far-between, let alone good prog bands. I'm a musician and I love bands like Dream Theater, Rush, Genesis, Symphony x etc. So one could imagine how overjoyed I am to discover someone like Neal Morse, especially since he's so frickin good!!! God Bless!!!

once again Neal puts out a great cd. the first time i listened to track 1 "Lifeline" i had stuck in my head. ive listened to this cd over and over. very impressed

I don't know if Neal will ever top "Testimony", with it's orchestrations and work from guitar genius Phil Keaggy. That said, this is a very good album, with plenty of prog elements, and inspirational lyrics. Recommended.

God Bless You, Neal.

I am a long time fan of Neal Morse, Spock's Beard, and Transatlantic music so my leanings towards epic, powerful, emotion-evoking music is clear. However, I believe some of the reviews have got it right; Neal's done this before. There is a level of predictability in most of the songs that lacks freshness. Don't get me wrong; I'd buy it again because I'm a fan, but my expectations are tempered. If you are new to Neal, any of his prior 4 releases are excellent representations of his musical prowess with ? and Sola Scriptura topping the list. This felt a little more like Neal 'light'. I will continue to track Neal's music but, given he is a musical genius, I hope he can change directions as he goes forward like Spock's Beard did in their early releases. If you are a hard core fan, just get it. If you are more fickle, look to other Neal Morse releases for the true progressive rock masterpieces. Good luck!

Well...what can be said about LIFELINE? Neal Morse's newest release is a bright, melodic musical excursion that not only showcases Neal's brilliance as a musician and songwriter, but also contains some of his very best songs ever recorded. There's much to be said about his prior releases, and it was hard to imagine Neal topping the sheer grandiosity of `Question Mark'. In a way, he really doesn't. But LIFELINE takes listeners to a new place, one brighter, cleaner, and more melodic. Neal's familiar hallmarks are all over LIFELINE, but they're used in a way never before heard. LIFELINE could very well be Neal's crowning achievement, one that will give him the recognition he deserves.

The opening title track LIFELINE is a grand piece familiar in tone and structure to ONE'S opening track, The Creation. However, LIFELINE carries a better melody and production, offering a more fulfilling listening experience. The song is a journey of melodic rock and progressive timings, with a midpoint rock jam driven my Neal's heavy guitar riffs.

Way Home is the first of three AOR-type songs that are truly magical in every sense of the word. It's truly astounding that Neal continuously comes up with beautiful and unique melodies, on each and every release. But here, with Way Home, God's Love, and Children of the Chosen, we have a trio of AMAZING songs that could very easily delight any listener. Neal's music transcends genres, and these songs are proof of this. They are SO GOOD. Think of Way Home as a new June, and Children of the Chosen as new and improved Wind at my Back.

So Many Roads is this album's epic piece, calling upon Neal's lighter past epics, like Stranger in my Soul, or The Great Nothing. There's some great, melodic jams here, but nothing like the metal-esque ones found on Sola Scriptura. The songs on LIFELINE are not heavy. And four of the seven aren't even prog. They're just great songs that indicate Neal is still growing, as impossible as that may seem, given his past accomplishments. Listeners of his music are truly lucky to have him.

In a nutshell, LIFELINE may very well be Neal Morse's brightest star in the sky.