Neal Morse – The Dreamer – Joseph: Part One

Your intrepid reviewer here has written quite a lot regarding Neal Morse and his myriad of bands, projects, musicals and, as in this case, about his solo career. I can’t really say that I know of any musician except his bandmate in Transatlantic, Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings, Agents of Mercy, The Sea Within, Kaipa Da Capo) that is more prolific, more productive and creative. This guy lives and breathes music. And for that, I couldn’t be more happy about it since I’m a huge fan of his sonic escapades.

But while he has tasted great success by delivering masterpieces with both The Neal Morse Band (NMB) and Transatlantic his solo stuff of late hasn’t quite reached the heights of albums like “Sola Scriptura” and “? (Questionmark)”. Don’t get me wrong here, I really like both his last solo album “Sola Gratia” and the musical “Jesus Christ – The Exorcist” but most of the songs on there just won’t stick in my old, poor thinking sponge. And that is repeated in the beginning of this record as songs like “A Million Miles Away”, “Burning Like a Wheel” and the repetetive “Liar Liar” just doesn’t do anything for me. They’re too generic and lacks the usual Morse flair in both execution and arrangement.

But then “The Pit” kicks in with a dramatic touch that has been nowhere in earshot for the first third part of “The Dreamer…” Suddenly the Morse magic appears with intricate vocal melodies and great instrumentation. Mr Morse handles the lead roll of Joseph and is backed up by the phenomenal Matt Smith (Theocracy, Project Aegis), Morse’s son Will and the equally brilliant Jake Livgren (Protokaw).

And from here on “Joseph…” truly shines, bursting to the seams with inventive ideas and the classic recurring Neal Morse themes intricately woven into this particularly colorful musical garment.
Morse forgoes the heavier approach from NMB for a more dynamic and classic prog vibe. This is much closer to his first solo album (Testimony) that was recorded in the wake of him quitting Spock’s Beard to fully embrace his faith in God. Here it is beautifully done with the acapella song “I Will Wait For The Lord”.

“The Dreamer – Joseph: Part One” is a very good album but while it doesn’t climb the heights of the likes of “Sola Scriptura” or “?” an average record from Neal Morse would be considered an instant classic from other bands/artists. That is the downside for such prolific and insanely talented musicians as Morse himself, the aforementioned Swedish musical genius Roine Stolt and the Netherlands greatest gift to humanity Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, ex-Vengeance, ex-Bodine), they get compared with their own past and almost never against their contemporaries.
Now, go and by the record, it is really good! Ok? Good.

Artist: Neal Morse
Title: The Dreamer – Joseph: Part One
Rating: 7/10
Label: Frontiers Records
Release date: Out now!
Stand out tracks: Why Have You Forsaken Me, Heaven in Charge of Hell, The Dreamer Overture, I Will Wait on The Lord

Radiant Records – The official website of Radiant Records and Neal Morse