Customer Reviews

Split Decision

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Insane. When I normally pick up a new album, I'll give it a few listens over the next week and put it in the rotation for a while. Occasionally something comes along that makes me want to keep playing it over and over like a lab rat hitting the pleasure button. Usually an album like this will wear out its welcome after a week or two and reveal itself as little more than catchy fluff. But sometimes.. sometimes such an album will not only stand up to those repeated listenings, but stay just as strong and vital as before.

I've had a month and a half to live with Split Decision.. and I'm still spinning this one like crazy. "Great Mountain Spirits" is full of the sweetest guitar tone you'll hear from anyone this side of Eric Johnson. Let's not forget the usual top-notch sidemen either - the three weave around each other in a graceful dance starting with the first few seconds of "Heightened Awareness" and never lose the beat. Dave LaRue keeps his place as one of the most underrated bass players in the business; if you still don't know why, take a listen to the Celtic-tinged "Marching Orders." Van Romaine is the perfect anchor on drums, adding touches all over the place yet keeping the beat rock-steady. The only thing I can imagine anyone not liking about the album is its higher-than-usual proportion of slow quiet tunes, hence the title. It's something of a mix between Stressfest and High Tension Wires, along with some touches of everything from classical to Celtic to ambient to heavy metal.

If you like substance over flash, buy this album. It doesn't matter if you worship great guitar playing or if you couldn't tell a fretboard from a washboard. Anything Steve puts out is true music - not shred-fests, not flash playing, but a wonder that'll touch anyone with a pulse.

For someone of Morse's stature in the industry, you'd think he'd be content to just rest on his laurels and crank out sound-alike albums until he retires. Steve shows us again with this record that it ain't gonna happen!

This record is much different than anything I have heard out of him. Overall the record is much simpler than the rest of his work, emphasizing his melodic blues chops when not displaying his softer side with lush acoustic layers and layering of clean guitars - few do this better, by the way. About half the album is mid-tempo or slower ballads, immediately bringing to mind his 1989 solo effort, "High Tension Wires". But this is Steve Morse, so you can expect that most of the songs rock out pretty well at one point or another...it's just that it's a little more subtle. A good thing? I think probably so.

There's a ton a variety on this album, from the hooky opening track which sort of had me waiting for the vocals to come in (HA HA just kidding Steve!), to the one tune where he decides to knock your socks completely off from start to finish, "Mechanical Frenzy". Most of the songs on the first half of the record start with a softer intro part and then morph into something that really moves. The aptly named "Gentle flower, Hidden Beast", for instance, starts out with a Santana feel to it and then rocks into a classic Morse anthem.

It's interesting to note that the album he did before this was Major Impacts - which for the uninitiated, was an album of original music written in the vein of several different infulential artists. That record definitely left a mark on this one, with some of the influences on that record shining through loud and clear - like the Leslie West/Mountain parts in the title track.

There was some things that I had never really heard him do before, like a Shrapnel Records-sounding electric duet in "Busybodies". He uses a LOT of different tones on the record, too; much more than I've ever heard.

One of the great things about Morse as a musician (and a person in general) is that he loves to learn new things and adapt them to what he is doing. This record shows that he really wants to keep changing and improving...so even if the record wasn't really good, which it is, it would be a lot of fun to listen to someone of his compositional and playing ability explore a lot of new and different things.

I guess the record missed the fifth star -heresy!- due to the simple fact that I'd prefer a little less of the softer, more lush stuff and acoustic blues. That boils down to my preferences; I guess I just don't "get it" so much. Having said that, I do think that nobody-and I mean nobody!-does emotive instrumental ballads better ("Four Minutes to Live" from Stressfest still brings tears to my eyes)...but perhaps it's too much of one thing. Your mileage may vary, though, you know?

All in all, a great album with lots of cool stuff to explore. Bottom line: Get this one - especially if you have High Tension Wires and/or Major Impacts.

Call this the mellowing of Morse. Though there is just one single truly acoustic song on the CD, there is a balance struck between ripping rock 'n roll and more introspective but uplifting melodies. In the liner notes, Morse claims he couldn't make up his mind whether to go with the rock band concept or explore his more mellow side instead, hence the title "Split Decision."

The resulting song cycle offers plenty of variety, a pleasant and engaging blend that drives the listener through many moods. The opener, "Heightened Awareness" is a heavy duty rocker, followed by the uptempo baroque ditty "Busybodies" in which Morse and bassist Dave LaRue play in unison throughout. "Marching Orders" encompasses the nature of the CD in a single song, starting out slightly jazzy and subdued, ultimately morphing into a raging assault. "Mechanical Frenzy" combines speed metal riffs with southern rock leads as well as Morse ever did with the Dregs, then out of left field, LaRue takes over with a bass lead.

My immediate favorite track on the album, "Great Mountain Spirits" is one of the stately mid-tempo rockers, with multi-layered guitars over booming bass and drums. The only instruments credited in the liner notes are guitars, bass and drums, but if that's not a flute and keyboards I'm hearing in this song, then it is some pretty stellar guitar synths! Nice. Soon, the CD then slows down to a jazzy, sometimes meditative tempo for several tracks, including the brilliant and enthralling "Moment's Comfort," another track where virtuoso Morse makes room for a Dave LaRue bass solo.

"Split Decision" is one of the most fully satisfying CDs of 2002.

Steve Morse has been a brilliant and innovative musician for so long that his formidable talents are taken for granted. On "Split Decision", Morse explores a variety of tones, textures, and styles. Morse has continually redefined the power trio in the last 10 years or so, exploring such musical forms as bluegrass, jazz, rock, and classical music within this musical form. Only Rush has stretched the musical boundaries of the power trio as much as Morse.

"Split Decision" is somewhat of a departure for Morse, incorporating more ethereal textures than his previous work. His collaborators, drummer Van Romaine and bassist Dave LaRue are just about the best rhythm section working, and they ably execute Morse's multifaceted musical visions. This CD is a cross between his early solo work on "The Introduction" and later solo works such as "High Tension Wires" and "Stressfest." The first half of the CD contains the heavy-hitting, finger twisting lines that we have come to expect from Morse. The second half contains more atmospheric, but no less stunning, music. Morse continues to grow as a musician, a rare and admirable trait.

As a long time Steve Morse fan, I would say that this album ranks high among all of Steve's solo and Steve Morse Band albums. Steve's versatility and virtuosity both in composition and performance are well showcased, and all of the tracks are consistently strong without being repetitive. The musicianship on this CD is astounding - but we've come to expect that from the Steve Morse Band. This CD won the "back-to-back" test for me - the first time I finished listening to it, I went right back to the beginning and cranked it again. Highly recommended!

great cd! steve morse over the years has attained a fan base from everyone from 70's rock fans,to the present and never loosing his ear for melody.the 1'st half of the cd starts with more heavy metal style songs,and the 2'nd part ends with more melodic less agressive pieces,that are alot like the older dregs songs day,long slow distance etc.steve stayed true to form here with great guitar playing without going overboard with guitar solos that are too long and boring,like some other rock virtuoso's.also unlike alot of other instrumentalists steve's music is not depressing,and he doesn't fire the other members of the band every year,and the band members he kept van romain and dave larue are also very talented musicians,this cd is one of steves best,if you were interested in steve' music this,high tension wires,or the introduction would probably be the best to start with.

Another terrific album from the maestro - it doesn't get better than this, unless it is 'Southern Steel' or 'Coast To Coast'. :) My favourite track on the album is 'Heightened Awareness' - one monster rocker. The quieter second half of the album is also fantastic. Not one weak track on the album. :)

pefect cd with a perfect format! on the 1st 6 songs steve demonstates his speed and technichal ability.''not only is steve a great guitar player,but like kerry livegren-ex kansas guitarist,steve's gutar itself has a very nice,and distinct sound to it. the last six songs kinda harken back to pieces like night meets light,long slow distance,hereafter etc.from the dregs day'spractically non existant in these day's of commercial(fast food)rock.i myself like the dreamier pieces,and would be just as happy if he only putall of his ability into into 3 or 4 agressive metal songs pulling no stops and displaying his technical vertuocity,along with some new things he picked up,and ending with 3or 4 dreamy lapses into the abyss.even though this band is from the soth the last 6 songs are really nice to sit by a fire,and watch the snow fall down,and the 1st 6 really shows what he can do (they really liven up a room)not only a cd for all seasons,but even as popular as he is i think more and more virtuoso-guitar players are really looking at steve morse now.''it's about time!''ive been a fan since 89 if you've just heard of steve,or are a deep purple fan coming over to his music,if you can only buy one cd for whatever reason,to check it out etc..this is the one to buy it's one of his bes releases if not the best since the introduction 18 years ago.....

All I can say is strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a wild ride! This CD is amazing! This is without question one of his best efforts. The trio of Morse on guitar, Van Romaine on drums and Dave LaRue on bass puts out a phenominal sound. They are one of the tightest bands you'll ever hear. Period. From the opening track "Heightened Awareness" to the final track of "Natural Flow", Morse shows you why he's one of the best guitarists in the world. For all you Morse and guitar fans out there, get this CD! It rocks!

To be honest with you, the music is right up my alley. I love guitar insturmentals. I bought it after listening to some mp3's on Steve's website, was very excited to get it. On the website, Steve had an interview with the producer and he went on and on about how they spend weeks and days positioning the mics on the drums and this and that. After listening a few times I really started to be bugged how it was recorded or "mastered". The drums are almost completely lost in the mix. This was very disappointing. I really like the tunes but the sound of the "mix" just ruined it for me.