Neal Morse - Lifeline

[PH]

So this is the place to talk about the new album of Neal Morse.

Lifeline

Well, yes... It's not a concept album this time.
You can download two songs for free from his website:
"Lifeline" and "Children Of The Chosen".

Please let me know what you think! I like it! (Although I must say I had a few moments where I was like "Hey! I know this bit? Oh no, it's a bit different...", but I guess that's part of his signature...
Anyway, the two songs make me want to get the full deal!

1 October 2008 is the official release date! Don't miss it.

[PH]

Ok and then something different.

I was trying to write down the lyrics of the song "Lifeline", but some words are not easy... Perhaps someone else can help me out.

This is what I got so far:

LIFELINE

Maker of the sun and shade
The plans were made before the morning
At a time when no-one knew
He left a clue and sent us a lifeline
It's fine

Then along came a man like me
With everything laid out before him
Then it all came crashing down
The man can drown for thoughts in his own mind (<-- What?)

Like something deep inside my soul
We're sinking fast I was the hole (<-- Neal was the hole?) (by the way, how he sings "hole" sounds like Pink Floyd)
When I was almost out of time

He gave me a lifeline
Right down to my soul
He gave me a lifeline
That I might grab ahold

Suffering was nothing new
My days were few without a letdown
Something down there deep inside
Dissatisfied with everything I'd find (<-- Thanks to ironcow2103)

And in the counties and the sky (<-- LSD part)
Into a dancer running dry (<-- LSD part 2)
He sent a river full of light

He sent me a lifeline
When I was on my own
Far from the borders
He came and brought me home

He sent me a lifeline
When I was down the hole
My world was like an ocean
Raging out of control

Once upon another time
He made my mind a different color
Painted on my destiny
A way between the black and lonely sky
Let's fly

He gave me a lifeline
Right down to my soul
He gave me a lifeline
That I might grab ahold

He gave me a lifeline
When I was cast away
He gave me a lifeline
And I'm alife today

He gave me a lifeline...

[maddox]

1 October 2008 is the official release date! Don't miss it.

I most certainly won't. 

[The Butterfly Man]

After listening to Lifeline for the first time I thought I just heard a song from '?' or 'Sola Scriptura'.

Tom

[ironcow2103]

Dissatisfied with everything I'd fine[/i] (<-- Again, I have no idea what he says here...)

His diction isn't great, but I think it is "dissatisfied with everything I'd find".

Rest sounds same to me as you... (but who am I to know for many years I thought All About Eve said "furry rainbows" in one song, turns out it is "the fair Elaine knows" 

[PH]

His diction isn't great, but I think it is "dissatisfied with everything I'd find".

Rest sounds same to me as you... (but who am I to know for many years I thought All About Eve said "furry rainbows" in one song, turns out it is "the fair Elaine knows" 

Thanks Ironcow! I think you're right, I'll edit it right away!

-Paco

[PH]

Ok, I admit that I'm really scared... Everywhere I read that Neal is repeating himself tremendously this time... And to be honest, that was my first thought when I heard the samples and single edits from his website. I probably end up buying it anyway, but I'm prepared for the worst...


-Paco

[maddox]

So, what do we think of it?

I think it's musically a good album and, basically what you were afraid of Paco, the Neal Morse we know.

This is the music he makes and he makes it good.
No experiments, no abrupt changes or whatsoever, the Neal you knew is the Neal you get on this album.

I can understand why people are almost begging for a change of direction and although there is a difference from all his previous album ( a tiny difference ) they're prayers aren't really answered by mr. Morse.
It's a good choice of him to also write a few shorter songs. Lifeline (the song) is beyond the 10-minute mark and So Many Roads (a grower) is even beyond the 20-minute mark.

Still i have a little unfinished feeling about the album. It's not bad but the short songs are definitely not the best he have ever done.

And the lyrics?

Well, you know who Neal Morse is so the lyrics shouldn't be a problem.

[Teunis]

You have said it all, Maddox. It's the Neal concept we already know. Nothing new, but the music is great, as always. And the lyrics are no problem for me. I'm ready for the next album  .

[maddox]

I'm ready for the next album  .

Already? 

So i guess it didn't impress you much. 

[PH]

Still figuring it all out, giving it a place.
It's got the same high quality as the other Neal Morse albums!
But the accent lies on "same"...

I won't give up!


-Paco

[Teunis]

Already? 

So i guess it didn't impress you much. 

. It did, but I'm ready for a new album with the same (high) standard  .

[profsur]

I think it's another neal' best album. I still admire his sound and his drummer like portnoy.

Just wait for 2 years...after Solar Scriptula.

Finally, Please , PH or anyone ,I want another song lyrics especially "my way home" coz  I'm not fluent in english.

[Nicky007]

Solar Scriptula

That's also a way of seeing it 

Nicky.

[PH]

Welcome Profsur!

I think it's another neal' best album. I still admire his sound and his drummer like portnoy.

It's still a very good album. I agree. But when I compare it to his other albums, I must conclude that it's his worst. But that's ok.
All of his albums grab me by the throat. This one doesn't. That's fine. I don't expect every album to grab me like that, but with Neal, I had a certain expectation.

Just wait for 2 years...after Solar Scriptula.

We'll see. But I have to say that I think that Sola Scriptura is much better.

Finally, Please , PH or anyone ,I want another song lyrics especially "my way home" coz  I'm not fluent in english.

I hope you have a booklet with your copy?
I'll write it up later anyway.

-Paco

[funkster]

I am thinking about getting some Neil Morse albums and was wondering whether tis is the best place to start ?l

[PH]

Hmm...
I guess you better start with Testimony, his first proper solo Progressive Rock album.
Then build on that, with his second album One.
Then ?, Sola Scriptura and Lifeline.

You get the idea.

Another option is to start with Lifeline, because I think it represents what Neal Morse's music is about.
It's got most of the elements from the earlier albums.
But it's not my favourite album. I think that's because of that Lifeline seems more like a mix of extractions of all the other albums. Making it feel like some sort of "Best of"...

So what IS my favourite Neal Morse album then?

I have no idea...


-Paco

[Iggy]

Hmm...
I guess you better start with Testimony, his first proper solo Progressive Rock album.
Then build on that, with his second album One.
Then ?, Sola Scriptura and Lifeline.

You get the idea.

Another option is to start with Lifeline, because I think it represents what Neal Morse's music is about.
It's got most of the elements from the earlier albums.
But it's not my favourite album. I think that's because of that Lifeline seems more like a mix of extractions of all the other albums. Making it feel like some sort of "Best of"...

So what IS my favourite Neal Morse album then?

I have no idea...


-Paco

I agree with Paco.

[PH]

I agree with Paco.

Me too!

[maddox]

Me not. 

Testimony is nice, no question about that but to be honest: The second cd just shouldn't have been recorded.
The first cd is a killer, no doubt about that but after that it just drags on and on.

No, for me i'd say that you would have to start with either One or ?. Those two albums are essential in any prog/rock/metal/whatever collection.

I wouldn't pick Sola Scriptura or Lifeline to start with. Not that it's bad but especially Sola is too difficult if you are not acquainted with mr. Morse from Mars.
You should get them after you heard and was amazed and shocked by the brilliance of One and ?.

Just my two pennies. 

[PH]

Testimony is nice, no question about that but to be honest: The second cd just shouldn't have been recorded.
The first cd is a killer, no doubt about that but after that it just drags on and on.

You have a p... oh wait...

Testimony is nice, no question about that but to be honest: The second cd just shouldn't have been recorded.
The first cd is a killer, no doubt about that but after that it just drags on and on.

You have a point there.
Actually, Testimony seems like a logical answer to Spock's Beard's Snow. And I can imagine it can be a bit too much indeed.

[maddox]

You have a point there.
Actually, Testimony seems like a logical answer to Spock's Beard's Snow. And I can imagine it can be a bit too much indeed.

I agree. I always say that Testimony is the sequel to Snow.

[Manatee]

I agree. I always say that Testimony is the sequel to Snow.

Sorry to semi-hijack the thread, but I've been meaning to ask this for quite some time, and it's related:  What can any of you tell me about Snow?  I've heard one song from it several times, and it's awesome, but I'm kinda lukewarm on the other Spock's Beard stuff I've heard (no full albums though).  The one song is Long Time Suffering.

[maddox]

Sorry, Manatee.

You can't ask us anything about Spock's Beard.

This is a topic especially designed for Neal Morse.

[Manatee]

Sorry, Manatee.

You can't ask us anything about Spock's Beard.

This is a topic especially designed for Neal Morse.

But but ... I'm an Imperator now - as I recall, that gives me license to run amok!   And if you limit me, how will I ever become a Sicko?

Plus, actually it's a topic especially designed for Neal Morse's Lifeline.  You talked about Testimony, which is different.  Hah!