Lifeline

Neal Morse | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metal Blade
• ASIN: B001DHC7TQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,943 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #70 in Music > Christian > Hard Rock & Metal

Editorial Reviews

Neal Morse is a prolific American multi-instrumentalist and progressive Rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is known for his musical versatility,his writing and recording output. The album features performances from Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums and Randy George (Ajalon) on bass as well as special guest appearances including Paul Bielatowicz on guitar and Paul Gilbert (Racer X and Mr. Big) who features on a bonus cut. Neal and his band played the title track, 'Lifeline', live at at the Night of the Prog festival in Loreley, Germany.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Neal's new cd needs a lifeline unfortunately., September 30, 2008

By 

Danny j. "gtr man" (fredericksburg,va) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lifeline (Audio CD)

I love Neal's work,the man is brilliant BUT,He missed it with this one.Neal should take a break and seek some new direction . I feel he's repeating himself badly with this cd.{I hate to say it}Neal is getting into a rut. He really needs to bring in an outside producer and some different musicians{especially in the drum area...sorry Mike you are great but your playing isn't "fresh" on this recording}This cd does have a few good moments, but, there's just too much familiar riffs and arrangments that won't allow me to give more than 2 stars.Neal,you're still a genius to me anyway...just try something new for your next one.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but far from his best, October 10, 2008

By 

Brian Zino "lover of big stories, big music, ... (New Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lifeline (Audio CD)

Does Neal Morse break new ground with his latest Christian prog-rock album? Maybe a little, but not in any significant way. That said, is it good? Is it worth your time and money? If you're a fan of Neal Morse or the symphonically retro brand of 21st-century prog-rock, I'd say certainly.

Lyrics: Neal loves him some Jee-zus, and that's what he sings about here. Frankly, the concepts of his last three solo albums have approached ideas of faith and Christianity from more interesting angles than the more straightforward worship going on on this album, but there are still some interesting ideas/metaphors and turns of phrase. (Full disclosure: As a practicing Christian myself, I am inherently more sympathetic to Neal's core message than perhaps the general public might be, so take the above with an appropriate grain of salt.)

The three highlights for me are the rockers. "Lifeline" starts out with the standard Neal Morse opening: several minutes of high-energy instrumental work, heavy on the synths and mellotron, with Mike Portnoy and Randy George (as usual) laying down one of the fattest-sounding rhythm sections in the business. The verse-chorus stuff in this song is solid, and the instrumental breaks are fabulous. "Leviathan"'s heavy, slightly funky sound is something new and interesting for Neal (the "maybe a little new ground" I referenced above. And the (apparently obligatory) epic, "So Many Roads", does showcase some fine examples of Neal's facility with thematic development. (Digression: I'd rather have obligatory epics than obligatory ballads, that bane of 1980s rock. ^_^)

The remaining four tracks are relatively straightforward pop/rock tunes and ballads, punched up nicely by the aforementioned Portnoy/George rhythm section. Of these songs, "The Way Home" and "Fly High" are the stronger tracks, with more interesting songcraft on display. "God's Love" and "Children of the Chosen" are rather more wet, being kinda generic overall. The fact that they're right next to each other (and, together, right before "So Many Roads") is perhaps the album's biggest weakness.

Overall, I don't think my opinion of "Lifeline" will ever rise to the level of passionate adoration I have for my favorite Neal Morse albums ("ONE" and "Sola Scriptura"), but I can see it turning up regularly in my listening, especially those three fine rockers.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Time for something new, September 30, 2008

By 

BB (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lifeline (Audio CD)

First, let me say that I am one of Neal's biggest fans. I loved everything he's put out. That being said, this album is just "ok". Neal is getting VERY repetitious. I was able to predict his arrangements and melodies on most of the songs. Some of his riffs on this CD have been used before on previous CD's. One major problem is Mike Portnoy. Mike is one of the best rock drummers ever, but he's doing the same stuff over and over now. How many times does he have to do that alternating ride/china beat? Time for Neal to make a change in the drum department. Rod Morgenstein I think would be a good fit. Since Neal has already worked with him it's a possibility. Leviathan is the only song on this CD that I feel Neal branched out a little, though it still contains a riff previously used in Author of Confusion from the ONE album. The sax solo on So Many Roads is awesome also.

As predictable as this CD is though, it still blows away 99% of Christian music currently out there. Definitely still worth a purchase.