Customer Reviews

The Whirlwind

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased the super deluxe version with the extra CD and the Making of DVD.
First of all, Bridge Across Forever is one of my fave CD's and Stranger in Your Soul is one of my favorite prog songs.
The Whirlwind CD is very good, and, compared to the other two Transatlantic CD's, is more consistent throughout. Bridge and SMTPe had some weak areas (Temple of the Gods).
One of the things that really stands out on the Whirlwind is the bass and guitar. The fairly well known rumors of grumbling by Roine and Pete over Bridge (and Roine's re-release of his own mix as proof) are not necessary here. The bass is strong with excellent tone! (I actually envy this bass tone). Roine's guitar parts are well executed with good tone, unlike the spacey wah-fest filler from Bridge.
The lyrics are overall very good. Some of Neal's vocals as usual are borderline too high; will be difficult to do live.
My favorite songs are The Wind Blew Them All Away, Rose Colored Glasses, EverMore, and the Finale. Although this is one big song it fits together nicely and some stand up on their own well.
This would be 5 stars.

The bonus CD (CD2) is hit and miss. The first four songs are new, but I really don't like any of them. Lenny Johnson has an interesting feel but it really doesn't go anywhere. For Such a Time is basically like I Can Only Imagine and would play well on Contemporary Christian (CCM) charts. Since I don't like candy-coated CCM, this is not necessarily a good thing.
These songs wouldn't be all that bad, but the Giant Hogweed song is SO GOOD that it makes these look like less than filler. The Giant Hogweed song has interesting parts, dynamics, funny vocals, and a great, fun feel. This song is 5 stars. The CD, however, is about 3 stars.
The Making of DVD is the usual. Not bad but about 15-20 minutes of interesting content in 90 minute DVD.

In short, this record was well worth the wait. It is tremendous in every way. Great melodies everywhere, tons of hooks, lots of great instrumental work, and both a great beginning and finish. Really, while the first disc is technically a 77-minute song, it is really like 12 songs that all run together. Think of it almost like a concept album, where there are recurring melodies and themes, but most of the songs do stand on their own as great stand-alone songs. The bonus disc has four new songs, as well; "Spinning," in particular, is just dynamite; clearly written by Roine Stolt, it has Yes written all over it. It also has four covers, several of which are nice, and several of which are kind of meh. Their cover of Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" is pretty sick; it was laid down in one take, with all four guys doing percussion following the take. It is pretty rad.

I have seen accusations of this sounding like a Neal Morse solo record but with different musicians all over the place, and honestly, that doesn't make any sense at all. I mean, shouldn't it go without saying that the writing style of the primary songwriters, of which Morse is obviously one, are gonna come out in a project like this, regardless of how collaborative the effort is? I mean, songs like "Spinning, "Out of the Night" and "Evermore" would have all fitted right at home on a Flower Kings record, so can we say that too much of the record sounds a Flower Kings record? Roine Stolt and Pete Trewavas quite obviously contributed far more on this record than they did on the first TA records. In fact, Roine Stolt has stated that this record was much more of a collaborative effort than the first two TA records. Plus, the prog rock styles of Morse and Stolt are both so distinctive, that it would pretty difficult for either of them to write a lot of material and have much of it NOT sound like their respective styles.

As for Neal's lyrics, I gotta agree with Matt "5150" completely; Neal's christian lyrics are only heard in a few songs, and even then, they are not as obvious as most of the ones on his solo records. Besides, if the three other guys in Transatlantic, none of whom write religious lyrics on a regular basis, had a problem with his lyrics, simply put, they wouldn't have made it on to the record. Unless I am mistaken, neither God nor Jesus are mentioned on this entire record.

As a believer, I can even admit that Neal does lay it on a bit too thick at times, and there are times where I wish he would tone it down a bit, but I don't see the problem AT ALL with the lyrics on this new TA record. They are not even close to being as overtly religious as the ones on the studio albums he has done since '03. I think if no one knew anything about Neal's beliefs or if he had never written anything before this, no one would have a problem with them, but because we have his past work as a reference, it is causing some people to overreact, thinking that he is going all crazy with the religious lyrics again, when that really isn't the case at all. I think most of the ones that he obviously wrote are broad enough to where you could use your own interpretation, even if Neal had something more narrow in mind when he wrote them.

But I get that some are always gonna be offended by any lyric Neal writes that has anything to do with religion, so my only advice there is this: If you are buying a Neal Morse CD or one that features him nowadays, you are probably gonna get some religious and/or spiritual lyrics. If you can't handle them, don't buy or listen to the damn CD.

As for me, I have already listened to this a ton and don't see me stopping any time soon.

In short, if you are a fan at all of the first two Transatlantic CDs, odds are that you will dig this one like crazy, too.

Radiant Records came through and I received my copy in the mail on 10/26/09 as advertised.

This is unmistakably Transatlantic. The musicianship is superb, as one would expect given the players involved with the project. Interestingly after the fourth listen, I really think that Pete (Bass) shined on this one. All of the players have their brilliant moments, and their collective talents come together to form a very creative and cohesive effort, one which will take many listens in order to fully digest - Just like all good prog.

For a band that has unashamedly composed prog epics of unmatched length, they leave no doubt at the start of this 77-minute epic that you're in for an epic of epic proportions.... ;-)

The opening track starts with a small brass ensemble that transitions to an orchestral flourish before settling into what is essentially the overture for this grand work, introducing the listener to many of the musical themes that we'll hear again in various forms throughout the next hour and a quarter.

In typical Transatlantic style, the recurring themes are catchy, sophisticated, and often turned inside-out to form new and interesting mind excursions. Folks, this is great stuff! It's probably one of my favorite progressive rock albums of the year (just behind the fantastic "Realms of Eternity" by Syzygy). To any naysayers out there, all I can say is that you sound like a baseball fan who is disappointed that the star slugger on your favorite team belted the game-winning home run "only" 400 feet when you were expecting a 500-ft homer instead. Get real, folks - this is some primo stuff.

I like Roine Stolt's increased vocal duties this time around, and I feel like these are the best guitar lines he's laid down since the TFK "Stardust We Are" album. I appreciate the fact that Portnoy is able to de-metalize his drum style for this band, and he really is impressive here. Likewise, Trewavas has his best Transatlantic showing on this cd - his bass is thick, trebly and melodic, and his vocals are great. Neal Morse is great here too - I love his vocals, and if he tends to drag the lyrics back to the edge of Christian music here and there, I'm fine with that. I do believe that the work as a whole shows a nice balance between all four members; and while the message is certainly one that aspires to a higher plane, the listener is not hit over the head with it until (perhaps) the last song (which is still a great one!).

Just a quick nod to the great cd artwork and liner notes - it's even kind of cool that they've been able to work their signature flying space zeppelin into the covers of all three studio albums now. And kudos to the sound engineers for nice separation and mixing - some of the jams and prog workouts here are just fantastic, and made even more so by the production.

The only thing that sort of bothered me (and this is a real nit, folks) is that by the end of the second song, I was pretty durn sure that the whirlwind blew everyone away! and I really did not need one more chorus or song about it to convince me... I got it. Really. (Perhaps some of the other songs could have been shortened or edited a bit as well.) But "wind" is the primary theme of this suite after all, and is integral to the metaphor of the overall message, so let's accept it and move on.

I liked the second cd too, but not nearly as much. I enjoy covers of songs that I've liked, so these are worthy - I think the combination of the two "I Need You" songs was clever. "Spinning" is a fantastic song in the Flower Kings style, while the lyrics to "Lenny Johnson" just seemed a bit clumsy to me. "Lending A Hand" is kind of a cool song in a late-60's spacey-psychedelic-prog style. I'd probably give that disc alone a 3-1/2 star rating, which prohibits me from assigning the entire package 5 stars.

So, please put away your lofty presuppositions about what this comeback cd from your favorite progressive rock band of the past decade SHOULD be, and let it wash (or blow?) over you for what it is - another great, thoughtful collage of masterful songwriting and performing from a one-of-a-kind band. Worthy.

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 8.7/10; Performance = 9.4/10; Production = 9.5/10; CD length = 10/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 9.1 ("4-1/2 stars")

When I saw that Transatlantic was releasing a new album it came as a pleasant surprise. I had thought that the project was dead and buried with Neal Morse's change to Christian music. It took awhile but I'll tell you, it was well worth it. It's amazing that after all this time when I first listened to the opening of Whirlwind, the 73 minute opus, it sounded just like you would expect Transatlantic to sound. These guys have created their own style and even after 8 years it's still unmistakably Transatlantic. Of course there are some subtle and not so subtle changes. Roine Stolt's guitar work has become much more front and center than in the previous albums, and he has also demonstrated that he can rock on this one. He also has a lot more vocals than in the past. It also seems to me that Neal has taken a more supportive roll on this one. I know some felt that Transatlantic's other 2 albums were just another version of Spock's Beard with Neal's presense felt on nearly every song. Well I'm happy to say with this one, that certainly isn't true. This album sounds much more like a whole band effort, rather than just a showcase for 4 very talented muscians. You can really hear Pete's bass and he even has more vocals. Mike's drumming is amazing as usual. The thing I've always liked about Mike Portnoy, is his ability to dial back his playing to fit the progressive nature of Transatlantic compared to the heaviness of Dream Theater. After listening to this album a couple of times the only drawback and it is a minor one, is that Neal still had to slip in some preachiness. Thankfully it isn't a lot, and can be mostly ignored if you so choose. Those of you who like that sort of thing can listen to Neal's solo albums which are way to preachy for me, but as for Transatlantic, I'm glad he kept it to a minimum. All in all a great album. If you like modern prog then this is definitely one you want to pick up.

This is my perpetual advice: When musicians of this caliber offer a bonus disc in a special edition with a new recording, always buy it. Especially if the additional cost is only a couple of dollars. In the case of Transatlantic, you already know that what they choose to record is going to be worthwhile, and in the case of The Whirlwind, it certainly is!
Fans of the supergroup have waited many years for this album. Now that its here, its time to rejoice. Most fans already know that Neal Morse and Roine Stolt are openly Christian. It is quite likely that Mike Portnoy and Pete Trewavas are as well. Despite some sniveling about Christian references by those inclined to look for them like censors parsing every phrase for any hint of what they so detest, Transatlantic manages to steer clear of any overt declarations of Christian faith. But the lyrics do reflect the moral sensibilities of the musicians who comprise the band and are both vaguely reverent and positively joyous in tone.
The Whirlwind is a glorious twelve-part progressive opus that is spectacular in scope and quite stupendous musically. It certainly covers a lot of musical territory in its more than an hour and a quarter in length. The more times you listen, the more you will hear something you missed the last time around. One thing you'll hear is that each musician has an equal voice in shaping the music. What each brings to Transatlantic from their "day jobs" makes this an unforgettable album and easily one of the best progressive albums of the new millenium.
The second disc is a treat you shouldn't miss just to save a couple of dollars. On it, Transatlantic covers four songs written by members of the group, one Genesis tune, one from Procol Harum, one from Santana, and an America/Beatles medley. Additionally, there is a short "secret" song at the end not mentioned in the package. Of these, my favorites are the covers of Procol Harum's A Salty Dog and Santana's Soul Sacrifice.
This satisfying package includes an attractive booklet containing the lyrics and a picture and statement from each of the group's members. More pictures and album information are included on the six-panel digipak that houses the booklet and the two discs. If you like progressive rock, this is a mandatory acquisition. Get this special edition while its still reasonable and still available.

I only have the basic version of this album, so I can't comment on disc 2 or their Genesis cover. But the original music on disc 1 is their best to date. I really wish I could have got them doing this live in LA a few weeks ago. The musicianship is tight, and I found the drumming and bass especially so, driving through all of these tracks.

As to some of Morse's lyrics? Give it a rest. Those of us who listen to prog music listen to weird spiritual and other worldy lyrics all the time. And yes, Morse's solo work of the last few years is profoundly Christian. So there are some very spiritual lyrics on this album, but nothing overtly Christian. And so what? It is the total piece that works together and makes some powerful music.

Unlike Asia and other "super groups" Transatlantic is well grounded, solid musically, and they obviously enjoy working together.

This is an excellent example of modern prog/metal rock.

This is a disc that will climb inside and take root, if you let it. After several listens, I have found this to be a masterpiece of cohesion and instrumentation. I am of course referring to the first disc/song. The second disc is throw-aways and covers, thus the deduction of 1 star. The Genesis cover, however, is amazing!

The Whirlwind is fantastic, but so much is going on, you can be overwhelmed upon first listen. Like anything worthwhile, this will take a while before you can savor all of the fine pieces that add together to make a brilliant sum of it all. I can now, after repeated listening, finally understand the finale that I used to think was far too religious. I now appreciate it for what it is, the best way to conclude the journey that this song takes us on.

Inspired and magnificent, this is prog as it should be.

SO many good memories of the initial offerings by Transatlantic left me extremely skeptical. My caution was indeed unwarranted as this band, which is so excellent on so many levels, has indeed once again given us something that will last for a very long time. The 77 minute title track worried me at first but after several listens it fit together perfectly! The vocals and bass have taken on a much more enjoyable and prominent role and the guitar and drumming as usual are as interesting as Roine's vocal style. It's rare that you can lose yourself in modern music and this disc is truly the exception. There is flow throughout the entire piece, periods of beauty as well as periods of intense musicianship. Parts 1 through 4 of Whirlwind are exceptional and the rest of the piece does not disappoint at all, as this piece takes us on a journey that in my opinion makes us forget all of our daily distractions. Other reviews have focused on lyrics which they think are too geared towards religion and to that I say who cares what you think of what the lyrics say because the music is flawless. The bonus disc of 4 originals and 4 covers is absolutely fantastic! I love "Spinning" and its' similarity to vintage Yes and "Lenny Johnson" is a personal favorite for its beat and wonderful lyrics. "Salty Dog" is so damn wonderful and emotional due to the interpretation by the band as well as the passing of Mike's dad that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this. "Hogweed" is wonderful and "Soul Sacrifice" brought me back to some wonderful teenage years. Thank you Transatlantic! If you tour, I will be there!!!

So, here we have Transatlantic in a whirlwind of a recording. CD 1 is simply stunning both musically and lyrically. I would advise anyone who is at all familiar with Prog Rock or Transatlantic to buy this on the strength of CD1 alone. It is awesome listening. It begs for another listen. More and more! The second CD of covers or other songs is hit and miss. The Genesis cover of Hogweed I thought could have been better considering who we are listening to. Hogweed gets a C+. I would actually give the whole of CD2 a C+. I just don't like covers normally. (Or at least I was led to think these are covers of previously covered songs). Yet, Transatlantic DOES NOT disappoint at all with the Whirlwind. It is just so exciting to listen to. It is oneof those pieces you can listen to again and again and hear different things each tme. Buy it!