Light

Spock's Beard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metal Blade
• ASIN: B00000AD94
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,288 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Light: The Dream/One Man/Garden People/Looking Straight Into the Light

2. Go the Way You Go

3. The Water: Introduction/The Water/When It All Goes to Hell/A Thief in ...

4. On the Edge

Editorial Reviews

Voted best band of the American progressive scene, members have played and/or recorded with Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Tears For Fears and Genesis. This album was listed as one of the best in 1996 by some of the prog magazines around. Four tracks: 'The L

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best prog I've ever heard, April 8, 2001

By 

Erin Palmer (USA, land of freedom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Light (Audio CD)

Until I bought THE LIGHT, my favorite album ever was Yes' CLOSE TO THE EDGE. I didn't think anything would ever usurp what I considered the pinnacle of music in all its forms. I also loved Genesis, Gentle Giant, some ELP (though they were too much at times), some King Crimson, and even some Rush. More than twenty years later, THE LIGHT is released, and it becomes my favorite album ever. As a woman who works very long hours with few friends who share my taste in music, I think it's hard finding excellent progressive music of the 70s caliber. I was lucky to buy THE LIGHT on a whim after reading something about it. Spock's Beard is of the same quality and originality that I loved in the 70s.

I love Neal Morse's voice. His vocal stylings are very pop influenced, making for very catchy melodies amid the complex compositions. The difference between Spock's Beard and other progressive bands is that Morse is a very humble songwriter, staying away from the pretentiousness that other bands indulge in. He exercises peerless songwriting in the genre. Spock's Beard has all the things I love about this kind of music: complex, multifaceted compositions, lots of mellotron and Hammond organ and piano, chunky Rickenbacker bass, and memorable vocals.

My favorite song here is the 24-minute epic The Water, a wonderful story of a man's defeat and rebirth. It reminds me of Pink Floyd at times, Gabriel-era Genesis at others. The other songs are reminiscent of Fragile/Yes Album Yes and Genesis.

I have all of Spock's Beard's cds now, and they are all excellent. But I recommend starting with THE LIGHT, which is my favorite.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All of this in one man?, June 17, 2003

By 

Reverend_Maynard (Glasgow, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Light (Audio CD)

This is a fantastic debut album from a challenging, original and essential band. I approached Spock's Beard from a prog angle, but really, there are enough fine hooks and sumptous melodies on this record to keep most people happy. The band play music with all the structure,intelligence and virtuoso aspects of prog, but with incredible harmonies and gorgeous, summery pop sensibilities incorporated. The most incredible thing is,it works: indeed, it is rare to hear a band sounding so fully formed on a debut album. Neal Morse (the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumental mastermind of the group) imbues each piece with a distinct sound and texture which was to expand throughout the bands career. One may find the lyrics a tad obtuse and over the top at times (sometimes the bizzare imagery reminds me of another great band, Mr Bungle), and as this is a self financed first effort, the production and overall sound quality is a bit lacking, although still perfectly listenable, but these are merely minor observations. The stunning quality of the songwriting and musicianship on offer here makes for a modern classic: the multi-sectioned title track, with its weird images and constantly shifting musical focus is nothing short of a masterpiece: what other band could flow through the dreamy 'garden people', the melodic 'looking straight into the light', and the spanish tinged 'senor valasco's....' so effortlessly? Rounding off the album we have the delicate 'Go the way you go', encompassing smooth musical divesity and a particularly memorable hook, the Epic 'the water' which moves from mellow opening sections into an aggressive (for Spock's) centrepiece and an uplifting conclusion: the whole piece reads like a cyclical tale of death and rebirth. Finally, 'On the edge' brings one back form the uncharted depths of euphoria only Spock's can travel with a catchy and concise closing piece.
This is almost a flawless album: prog fans should snap itup instantly, you will not be dissapointed to hear the spirit of Yes, Genesis and all the greats more than alive and well in modern times. Anyone else should buy it as well: highly recommended to rock fans, although there are no heavy guitars or screaming to satisfy those of a metal persuasion. Sorry guys.
A modern masterpiece.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good New Music, August 10, 2005

By 

Richard G. Johnstone - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Light (Spec) (Audio CD)

Spock's Beard is one of the very few new bands i like. They were clearly influenced by bands like Yes and Gentle Giant, and this album is almost as good as many great progressive rock albums from the seventies. It's good to see that some people can still compose great tunes with complex rhythms.
The highlight of this album for me is the title track, 'The Light'.