Artist: Neal Morse
Album: Life & Times
Label: Radiant Records
Reason We’re Cranking It: Prog rocker Morse is a classic storyteller, so this venture into singer/songwriter territory fits his creative POV perfectly. Each song off of the album is like flipping the page of a book that you can’t quite put down, and the controlled delivery of each chapter is a reminder that sometimes less is so much more, or in this case, so much Morse.
What The Album Tells Us About Him: Sometimes people get stuck in their ways. When things are working, it’s easy to get comfortable and stay that way. What Morse has done with “Life & Times” is proven that change can be a good thing, and at the same time, that it doesn’t need to be feared. Yes, this album may not appeal to all of the progressive rock fans who have followed Morse in his other musical endeavors (Spock’s Beard, The Neal Morse Band), but he’s growing as an artist at a time in his life when most of us find ourselves going static. That’s an inspiring thing to see… and hear.
Track Stuck On Repeat: The first song you’re introduced to upon hitting play, “Livin’ Lightly” immediately sets the tone for the album as a whole. An upbeat James Taylor-meets-Christopher Cross vibe, the track reminds you of days gone by, embracing your musically-curious youth by spinning dusty vinyl records in your bedroom as the summer sun sinks deep into the horizon. It’s the kind of music you can get lost in, and in the process, find so much more.
Coming To A City Near You: Neal Morse tour dates can be found here.
And that means…
