Spock's Beard - The Light

One word comes to mind...

...Masterpiece.

That's what The Light is...and masterpiece of prog rock. Spock's Beard plays challenging, beautiful, rockin', and melodious music. They are, in my humble opinion, the best prog band of recent years. Neal Morse (songwriter) is obviously influenced by 70s progressive rock bands, and he deftly wields these influences and straddles the line between modern sensibilities and 70s creativity. The result is awesome.

Song structures seem barely cohesive at first, but subsequent spins reveal that each track is an excellently thought-out song with recurring themes that are reorchestrated for maximum emotional effect. This album only has four tracks (not including the two minute live bonus track at the end), but it clocks in at about an hour. That's the way it should be! Unlike much prog, Spock's Beard's songs are not ridiculously 'self-indulgent'...Morse is concerned with the most important aspect of prog and pop: writing great songs. And he does this admirably. Prog bands with traditional influences haven't sounded this fresh in years. Lyrics get pretty weird at times (Mystic Voodoo Love Dance?) but strangely, it all works and it's all weirdly charming.

Prog fans with an open mind with probably enjoy The Light. It's like the Close To The Edge of the 90s.