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This is where it all opens up and changes. Neal Morse is the former frontman of Spock's Beard, the California prog rock monolith. While not his first solo effort, Testimony it is easily his most compelling and provocative. Testimony is a concept album based around Morse's personal testimonial of his life before and after encountering his center, Jesus Christ. Before any of you reach for the mouse button to click off, it might be worth reading a little further to find out why this is musically one of the more engaging progressive rock records in particular and rock & roll albums in general this year. Morse's vision is still one that is sophisticated and sprawling. His attention to detail is even greater and he brings so many elements into his mix that it will make the punters' heads spin. Here, folk, prog, classical, and beautiful singing and arrangements entwine with a challenging, moving, and provocative story. Conceptually, Testimony is divided into five parts over two CDs. Disc one features a gorgeous overture and elements of Laurel Canyon rock that are contrasted with gargantuan tracks loaded with keyboards and strings as the story moves from looking over a life spent in innocence and then loneliness and darkness. Disc two concentrates on the time period after conversion, with themes of transformation, surrender, willingness, and beatitude as well as struggling with doubt -- only to persevere in the wealth and mystery that come with discovering meaning in life.
Production-wise, Testimony is seamless, full of fantastic dynamics and dramatic layering of instruments, voices, and "ambiences." Really, if Brian Wilson were into the big rock & roll business, the textured nuances found here would suit him fine, even if the screaming guitars and progressive jazz horn charts wouldn't. There are many guests on Morse's album: Kerry Livgren, Mike Portnoy, Aaron Marshall, Pamela Ward, Terry White, and Rich Mouser just to name a few. The bottom line is this: Testimony is, as a modern rock & roll album, a solid and engaging work that wears its heart firmly on its sleeve and dwells not in clever ambiguities, but in passion and pathos. As a "Christian rock" record, it lays the land for the kind of aesthetic excellence that should go into a project that uses the gospel as its inspiration. There are no tired clichés, no dumbed-down messages, and no fake exuberance for the praise crowd. The CCM industry will have a hard time co-opting this one because it not only doesn't suck, it reveals just how artistically bankrupt some of their productions really are. This deserves to be heard by fans of Marillion, Yes, ELP, early Genesis, and yes, fans of Spock's Beard. Actually, it deserves to be heard by anyone interested in the power of great music. Sadly, our current critical and cultural climate -- in the media especially -- is too far gone in creating personality cults and endless narcissistic self-referencing to take a record like this very seriously as art. That's too bad; it's our loss. ~ Thom Jurek
Contains 21 tracks.
Former Frontman Of Spock's Beard.W/M.Portnoy,K.Livgren.
Personnel includes: Neal Morse (vocals, guitar); Mike Portnoy (drums); Kerry Livgren.
Neal Morse - Testimony Songs
| 1 | Pt. 3: Transformation | | | |
| 2 | Pt. 3: Ready To Try | | | |
| 3 | Pt. 3: Sing It High | | | |
| 4 | Pt. 4: Moving In My Heart | | | |
| 5 | Pt. 4: I Am Willing | | | |
| 6 | Pt. 4: In The Middle | | | |
| 7 | Pt. 4: The Storm Before The Calm | | | |
| 8 | Pt. 4: Oh, To Feel Him | | | |
| 9 | Pt. 4: God's Theme | | | |
| 10 | Pt. 5: Overture No. 3 | | | |
| 11 | Pt. 5: Rejoice | | | |
| 12 | Pt. 5: Oh Lord My God | | | |
| 13 | Pt. 5: God's Theme 2 | | | |
| 14 | Pt. 5: The Land Of Beginning Again | | | |
Testimony Music Review
Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    List All 45 Reviews Amazing!!!
Master piece
Submitted by rkokisch (Concón, Chile; V region) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Testimony Totally Worth Your Time
Great muscianship, lyrics and theme. Testimony is a must for all progrock fans and spiritually seekers.
Submitted by Michael M. (Spring, Texas)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No My IQ grew listening to it!!
The more I listen to this the better it gets! Testimony is layered with musical and lyrical themes and sub-themes that take music to a new level. Loyal to the complexity of progressive rock as well as often times simple with anthems and choruses, Neal has crafted a magnificant work. Yes, there are overt Christian themes and some have knocked this work because of that. But if you don't mind an honest man's account of his spiritual awakening, then consider the words. If the "preachyness" of it all gets to you, then enjoy the instrumentation of it all!! Any DT fan has got to give it several listens just to hear MP once again prove he's one of the best in the business. I have not heard much of Neal's music before this, and it makes me an instant fan. This is truly what music is supposed to be: good lyrics and amazingly diverse and complex tracks. As a whole one of the best musical works I've ever heard, a masterpiece!!
Submitted by trekearl (Sturgis, MI, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No AMAZING AND UNIQUE
I can not describe in a few lines how good this album is. Now, left apart the religious aspect of it -after all: was wrong with worshiping?-, the musical side is just awesome. I do not feel short of rating it as one of the best ever progressive works. Morse not only shows his mastering of several instruments, but also his obvious hability to compose and structure in a lush and melodic way authentic Symphonic Rock. I really don't care about the detractors tantrums. They should remember that most of the most signicant pieces of music in history (and for the case of all Art Forms) were inspired in Religious Motifs. And that goes Centuries back. You would not detract the Organ Works of Bach just because they were made for God's honoring, would you?. The more I hear and see of Morses work with Spock's Beard and Transatlantic the more reveling of his status of Genius to my humble opinion. I can tell you this because I have listened to Classical Music, Jazz, Blues, and Progressive Rock for more than 30 years. I think I can give this opinion in a humble manner. This is a work of mastery and honesty.
Submitted by torasec (Las Vegas, NV, USA.)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Excellent Music, but it's a tad "preachy"
What can I say? Excellent music. Some of the best prog-rock I have heard, but the message is very "preachy." Neal Morse recently had a spiritual awakening and this album is about it. I bought the album for the music, not the message.
Submitted by thebigking (Springfield, VA)
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