• Welcome to The Audio Annex! If you have any trouble logging in or signing up, please contact 'admin - at - theaudioannex.com'. Enjoy!
  • HTTPS (secure web browser connection) has been enabled - just add "https://" to the start of the URL in your address bar, e.g. "https://theaudioannex.com/forum/"
  • Congratulations! If you're seeing this notice, it means you're connected to the new server. Go ahead and post as usual, enjoy!
  • I've just upgraded the forum software to Xenforo 2.0. Please let me know if you have any problems with it. I'm still working on installing styles... coming soon.

Neal Morse Band's next album 2016

Flint

Flint

Prodigal Son
Superstar
Mike Portnoy is a legend in the world of Prog Rock. He has contributed the drums, vocals and writing to dozens of the best Prog albums to ever be released - and that includes the those from the classics like Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, et. al.

Mike recently posted this to Facebook:


NMB Album Update (and some bold words from yours truly...):

This selfie was snapped at the end of last night's session where we listened to playback of the entire new Neal Morse Band album from start to finish (only my drum tracks are finished so far)...
WOW! I am absolutely speechless....

As much as I initially fought against the idea (for very obvious reasons), it has grown into a double concept album....

I usually never say this about new albums I make, but I honestly feel this album is an absolute masterpiece...and probably in the top 3 of the most defining albums of my entire career (along with DT's Scenes From A Memory and TA's The Whirlwind)

I'll just say this: If you think you've heard the Prog Album of 2016, you ain't heard NUTHIN YET!!!! Wait til you get a load of this..
(the album is slated for release approx Sept/Oct...more news coming soon!!)
Click to expand...

For this man to make such bold claims means that either he has lost his edge, or this will be one of the greatest prog record ever. I am on pins and needles for it to be released.
 
Finally! The first video/single from this highly anticipated album is online! I am very impressed so far.

 
Not bad but...

It runs a good 90-120 seconds too long. Went from interested to bored stiff part way through. Last 50 seconds is a completely disjointed tack-on.

IMHO.

Jeff
 
It is called Prog Rock... the songs are long.

In fact, most of Neal's albums play as one long song where the music never stops, much like a good Yes album or his other bands like Transatlantic or Spock's Beard. That makes it difficult to make a pop single from any given section.
 
Flint said:
It is called Prog Rock... the songs are long.

In fact, most of Neal's albums play as one long song where the music never stops, much like a good Yes album or his other bands like Transatlantic or Spock's Beard. That makes it difficult to make a pop single from any given section.
Click to expand...
Yes but...

Good prog rock songs don't become boring by repetition half way through. I was not criticizing the genre (which I like - remember I grew up with this stuff!) Rather I was critiquing the particular song that you posted.

By coincidence I have recently acquired a large selection of prog rock albums (mostly on Blu-ray audi0 and DVD-A) by the likes of Gentle Giant, Genesis, Yes, King Crimson etc. - in 5.1 surround - some of it having been remixed by Steve Wilson (genius) - and I am thoroughly enjoying it all.

Jeff
 
JeffMackwood said:
I have recently acquired a large selection of prog rock albums (mostly on Blu-ray audi0 and DVD-A) by the likes of Gentle Giant, Genesis, Yes, King Crimson etc. - in 5.1 surround - some of it having been remixed by Steve Wilson (genius) - and I am thoroughly enjoying it all.

Jeff
Click to expand...
I hate you.
When's the GTG??
 
Neal released a second promotional video for their new album. I like the artistic and thoughtfulness of this new album quite a bit - but it bores our Canadian friend.

 
Flint said:
Neal released a second promotional video for their new album. I like the artistic and thoughtfulness of this new album quite a bit - but it bores our Canadian friend.

Click to expand...

I will be buying this when it comes out.
 
Flint said:
Neal released a second promotional video for their new album. I like the artistic and thoughtfulness of this new album quite a bit - but it bores our Canadian friend.

Click to expand...
This may surprise a lot of people but I actually dig this track. A lot!

Do the vocals remind anyone else of Dennis DeYoung?
 
Flint said:
Neal released a second promotional video for their new album. I like the artistic and thoughtfulness of this new album quite a bit - but it bores our Canadian friend.

Click to expand...
Sorry, what was that?

I'm back home now after a trip to the ER. Seems I must have played that track while sitting at my desk. I dozed off after a couple of minutes (that's when my head smashed into my keyboard and paused the song) knocking myself out and opening a large gash in my head. Apparently the loss of blood drove me into shock. Mostly crazed, when I came to I wandered bloody and half-naked out onto the road and was hit by a passing three year old on a trike who thought I was a live prop for our front yard Halloween decorations. A couple of hours later the kid apparently mentioned this to his parents who came out and found me face down, hypothermic, in the rose bushes. They called 9-1-1 and I was rushed to the ER. The attending doctor was amazed I'd survived. He asked what had happened and all I could say, in halting monotone, was "Boring...Prog...Rock." "I hear you man" was his reply.

Jeff
 
JeffMackwood said:
Sorry, what was that?

I'm back home now after a trip to the ER. Seems I must have played that track while sitting at my desk. I dozed off after a couple of minutes (that's when my head smashed into my keyboard and paused the song) knocking myself out and opening a large gash in my head. Apparently the loss of blood drove me into shock. Mostly crazed, when I came to I wandered bloody and half-naked out onto the road and was hit by a passing three year old on a trike who thought I was a live prop for our front yard Halloween decorations. A couple of hours later the kid apparently mentioned this to his parents who came out and found me face down, hypothermic, in the rose bushes. They called 9-1-1 and I was rushed to the ER. The attending doctor was amazed I'd survived. He asked what had happened and all I could say, in halting monotone, was "Boring...Prog...Rock." "I hear you man" was his reply.

Jeff
Click to expand...
Now THAT'S an author's imagination!
 
I am posting this here, but my reason for posting it is this...

Mike Portnoy, one of the best prog rock drummers working today, is actually playing the tracks in the video clips - I think he is playing what he thinks is the final track. Why? Look at his hand technique, how hard he is actually hitting, the care and consistency of his grip, and the total lack of emoting (dancing and making faces to the music). He is demonstrating good, classic, matched grip rock drumming technique. I wish I had a student right now to share this with, because most don't believe me when I try to convince them that playing properly should be their first priority and showmanship should come later and only employed with performing live or for the camera.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top