Neal Morse Discography Review

[Rekko]

Under his solo name

Testimony (2003) 3½
- It is a hyped album among Neal Morse fans but for me it sounds quite uninspiring but only musically. Lyrically it is personal and much about how he found his faith in God after partying many times very late. A double-CD.
- Favorite songs: 1) Sing it High 2) It's All I Can Do 3) Power in the Air

One (2004) 4½
- It is about forgiveness in front of God. For me, it is his first great album.
- Favorite songs: 1) Cradle to the Grave 2) Father of Forgiveness 3) The Creation

? (2005) 3½
- It is a cohesive album. The album has tried to make sound like "Dark Side of the Moon", something more about the album and less about the songs. Sometimes it i hard to tell when the songs changes to the next one. There are still very good songs too.
- Favorite songs: 1) The Temple of the Living God 2) In the Fire

Sola Scriptura (2007) 5
- 76 minutes but only four songs. The album is about Martin Luther. Musically his heaviest album.
- Favorite songs: 1) The Door 2) The Confict

Lifeline (2008) 4½
- Another great prog rock album!
- Favorite songs: 1) God's Love 2) The Way Home 3) So Many Roads

Testimony 2 (2011) 5
- It is a very good sequel. It was the first Neal Morse album I liked.
- Favorite songs: 1) The Truth Will Set You Free 2) Mercy Street 3) It's for You 4) Jayda 5) Seeds of Gold

Momentum (2012) 4½
- The title song is one of his catchiest songs. The last song "World Without End" is over 30 minutes long.
- Favorite songs: 1) Momentum 2) World Without End 3) Thoughts Part 5

Life & Times (2018) 4
- It is a pop album but a very good one. Most of the songs are funny or happy. It includes also a little bit drama and tragedy.
- Favorite songs: 1) He Died at Home 2) Old Alabama 3) If I Only Had a Day

Jesus Christ The Exorcist (2019) 4½
- There are various artists singing on this progressive rock opera; Neal Morse, Talon David, Matt Smith etc. and all the songs are written and produced by Neal Morse. About 110 minutes - there are ballad and heavy songs and poppy moments too. It is a spiritual version of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Time Rice musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" which was released in the early 1970's.

- Favorite songs: 1) The Greatest Love Of All 2) The Woman Of Seven Devils 3) Free At Last 4) Love Has Called My Name (Reprise) 5) Get Behind Me Satan 6) Jesus' Temptation

Sola Gratia (2020) 3½

- A sequel to "Sola Scriptura" goes to the past. I love instrumental parts but the mellow songs are quite boring some of the time. Heavy parts are almost as good as on "Sola Sciptura".

- Favorite songs: 1) In The Name Of The Lord 2) Seemingly Sincere

The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One (2023) 4

- Good melodies - but pretty much what a fan could expect from him.

- Favorite songs: 1) The Dreamer Overture 2) Why Have You Forsaken Me? 3) The Dreamer Overture Reprise

With his band:

The Grand Experiment (2015) 5+
- A fantastic prog rock album with his band.
- Favorite songs: 1) Alive Again 2) Waterfall 3) The Call

The Similitude of a Dream (2016) 3
- A concept album, loosely based on The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. It is a 2-CD album with songs which don't give much new.
- Favorite songs: 1) Broken Sky / Long Day (Reprise) 2) City Of Destruction 3) Overture

The Great Adventure (2019) 4½
- A sequel to "The Similitude of a Dream" but heavier and better.
- Favorite songs: 1) A Love That Never Dies 2) Welcome To the World 3) Dark Melody 4) The Great Despair 5) Welcome To the World 6) The Great Adventure

Innocence & Danger (2021) 3½

- Not much new. There are certain new tricks he is using.

- Favorite songs: 1) Bird On A Wire 2) Beyond The Years

[jaky]

I will listen and revisit all the Neal Morse's solo albums. I will skip his worship albums and Neal Morse Band albums.



Neal Morse (1999)  3½



This was his actual solo debut. Testimony 1 is debut as Christian proge artist. Album is mostly pop but there is also one long song that you could call the proge stuff. There are good songs but also material that doesn’t convince me much. Everything Is Wrong is one of the worst songs he has ever done. He doesn’t have many songs that sinks under mediocre but this the one. Landslide and Nowhere Fast (the chorus is terrific and this the song that radios could play) are great songs. Emma was chosen part of his best of collection. It is story of Neal Morse’s childhood crush who died later. A Whole Nother Trip is a rather good proge song but far away from his best efforts.



Best songs: 1) Landslide 2) Nowhere Fast  3) Emma


It’s Not Too Late (2002) 4



Surprisingly great pop album. There are many memorable songs.


Best songs: 1) The Change 2) I Am Your Father 3) The Angels Will Remember


Testimony 1 (2003)  3½

 This was his first solo album after he left Spock's Beard. You can call it his Christian solo debut album. There are many good and also great songs. Unfortunately, it is too long. He should make it at least 30 minutes shorter. His testimony is convincing and he is a great musician but his best albums are yet to come.

Best songs: Somber Days, Power In The Air, Sing It High, Sleeping Jesus

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One (2004) 4½

I was on the Christian camp where was a man who was a big fan of Neal Morse's music. He put me to listen One album that sounded very much like a Peter Gabriel's Genesis.
It was a nice surprise. Later, I bought this album and it still a great album. 

Best songs: 1) Cradle To Grave 2) The Creation 3) Reunion
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? 2005  4

 This is not easy album to get in to. For me, it has always been album that I am listening often. Still, it was nice to revisit and listen once again. It is like one long song. Works better when you listen whole album. It is also a rather heavy sounding. 

Best songs: Temple of Living God, Sweet Elation

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Sola Scriptura  (2007)  4½

It used to my favourite album. But time has done its job. Feeling of wonder and sharpness are not into same level at least what comes to The Door song. There are only four songs.
It is based on Martin Luther's life. Genesis influences are even too obvious. Still, it is very strong album from start to end.

Best song: The Conclusion

Lifeline 2008  4

I liked about a little more when I got it birthday present from my friend. I lived 2008-2009 in the States. Longest songs have lost their edge and they are not sounding so great what they used to. Lifeline and So Many Roads are still good songs but they are not bringing anything new that's why you will get bored sometimes when you are listening to them.
Shorter slow tempo songs are easily the best ones. 

Best songs: 1) Children of the Chosen 2) God's Love 3) Fly High


Testimony 2 (2011) 5

It takes couple songs when it really starts. So it has a slow beginning with good songs. Jayda is first great song and it has grown to me. Then comes many terrific songs. Album have four classic songs and one of those is the closing track Seeds of Gold that secures the high rating.

Best songs: 1) It's For You 2) Jesus' Blood 3) Seeds of Gold 4) Truth Will Set You Free



Momentum (2012) 4½

It has lasted time very well. It sounds fresh and he is returning also his more pop-oriented songs that is good. Of course, proge’s presence is strong and there is one of his longest songs World Without End.

Best songs: 1) Smoke and Mirrors 2) Freak 3) World Without End



Songs From November (2014)  3½

There are many good songs and it is different album from proge master.

Best songs: Daddy's Daughter, Frowers in a Vase

Life & Times (2018)  2½

It left me cold and his strength is not composing pop songs because he makes those too similar. Sounds like Songs From November part 2 but weaker songs.

Best song: He Died At Hone


Jesus Christ The Exorcist 2019 4½

Finally, Neal Morse was ready to make a theme album Jesus' life. He is surely the right person for that. Mostly, he has succeeded a wonderful way. This is like a spiritual version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. Musically, it lacks a little bit it but lyrically it is so much better. 

Best songs: Hearts Full Of Holes, The Woman Of Seven Demons, Greatest Love Of All, Gethsemane