It's Not Too Late

This time I used a special technique: the live review. I put the records into my CD player, take my pencil then push the start button. Open-minded attitude, ready to let my pencil run on the blank paper. Oh God… it's far from metal and I always heard Chris said "OK Dom, it's for you. Could you review it? However I didn't know the first album, I said "OK, it will be done!" But please, don't shoot the pianist! My mission, and I accepted it, is to open your mind to other musical styles. The second album of Neal Morse, famous as the principal writer, vocalist and leader of Spock's Beard and TransAtlantic, is a very big surprise for me. It's Not Too Late is a typical product of American AOR (Adult Oriented Rock). It could be the John Cougar Mellencamp or Toto's brand new album. Built for radio stations with big audiences, what joy it is to put it between my ears for more than one hour of the finest melodies served by an excellent production. Mix up 3 rocks songs, 4 mid tempo, 1 accoustic and 5 slows and you'll obtain a fresh cocktail as we heard at the beginning of the 80's. As far from Spock's Beard or TransAtlantic as nearly as far from Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Bruce Springsteen or Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers for the accoustics songs, you can track Morse's roots by the way of the groove and the add-on to some Beatles' influences. A perfect recipe! Neal not only wrote everything on that album but also played the majority of instruments as well as having produced and arranged all of the tracks. This time he was assisted by his good friend, and fellow Spock's Beard member, Nick D'Virgilio on drums.This album offers the listen a more intimate and personal side of the talented composer. It's Not Too Late is a collection of songs that Neal wrote in the past, the oldest dates back to 1982. You can easily feel the passion and sensitivity that he delivers throughout this album. The piano is omni-present on each track. "It was so cool… we set up the piano in the same room as the drums! The engineer went crazy! But we captured the feeling of these songs much better that way" says Neal.