Addendum: Special shouts out to the incredible Rich Mouser who so beautifully mixes Spock’s Beard, he’s a true master! To Dave Meros whose mighty bass is the heartbeat of the band, he’s one of their secret weapons. And to Alan Morse whose pick-less unique style of guitar playing gives the band a signature sound. Given that we did this episode totally off the cuff and I didn’t even access my notes, I missed giving these 3 guys their deserved praise, so wanted to make sure it was mentioned here. Also - check out the bands cover of Yes’ “South Side of the Sky” on the Snow bonus disc - one of Neal’s best vocal performance ever, the band totally kills it!

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Here’s the link to South Side Of The Sky: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hJeTqtZrlLeXn6Q.html

I discovered Neal Morse from Sola Scriptura in 2007. That inspired me to go back and listen to everything and pretty much immediately made Neal Morse my number one all time favorite musician.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I think he might be mine too!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Yup, yup. #1!!!!!!!

Of course you knew I'd be here. I found Spock's Beard just before covid. Started with The Light, Then worked linearly until Noise Floor. Scott, I'm with you on The Oblivion Particle. I spent an entire year with these thirteen albums, as it became an obsession. It was my entry into modern prog, which I still love. The only thing to cure me, was a sideways obsession with Transatlantic. Now I'm working my way through Neal Morse solo and band albums.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Oh yeah!!!

I had a cold introduction to the band. I'd never heard of them before I went to see them live; a friend invited me along to see them at the Marquee Club in London...saying to me "you love Yes and prog...you'll love these guys". Well, they were touring in support of the V album so I got to see them for the very first time performing At The End Of The Day. I bought the album the next day, I was that impressed. Absolutely my favourite Y2K prog band.

@TheProgCorner

6 ай бұрын

I love Neal. 👍👍👍

Thanks for this video guys. It made me even more appreciative of the quality of the entire SB catalogue. You can just randomly pick any of the 13, and have a great time enjoying the great music. What an incredible band, in each of the three eras.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Love all three eras!!!

Love Spocks Beard and Neal Morse. I first heared Spocks Beard when their debut was being championed by the now defunct Classic Rock Society in the UK. They regularly put on gigs and played music inbetween the artists performing. Saw Spocks Beard there twice as the society promoted their own gigs. Great memories of seeing some great bands there in the 90's- John Wetton, Rick Wakeman, The Flowerkings, Arena, Mostly Autumn, Big Big Train, Threshold, Kino, It Bites, Saga, Ken Hensley, Pallas and so many more. They reintroduced me to prog rock music that I thought had finnished in the 70's. Anyway, here's my top 5 Spocks albums: Snow V Beware of Darkness The Light Day For Night Would like to see a follow up rating the Neal Morse albums including all of his side bands and projects.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I might have to do a MEGA-NEAL episode!!!

@robertwatt4248

Жыл бұрын

​@@TheProgCorner you might have to do it in two or three parts given the amount of the stuff he's released, solo or otherwise ! 😂

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

A Neal marathon!!!

LOVE THIS BAND!!

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

We do too!!! 👍👍👍

What a great video guys! I would have a very hard time ranking these guys so I appreciate your ability to give it a go. Lets hope we haven't seen the last from them it would truly be a shame if it were over. Long Live The Beard!

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

For sure!!! One of the most important bands in PROG’S glorious third act!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, may they live long and prosper! Glad you enjoyed it.

Absolutely awesome show!

@TheProgCorner

9 ай бұрын

Woo hoo!!!!

@user-wi2dt1vc4h

9 ай бұрын

@@TheProgCorner , i must say why I love the Beard so much. To me this is one of the sincerest bands on the scene. They never made the same album twice. They never took any direction that their fans wanted. They never cared about the money or the fame. They just did what they wanted to.. And this thing always works the right direction. It's just Spock's Beard in their own parallel universe!

@TheProgCorner

9 ай бұрын

I love it!!!! Long live the Beard (and Pattern-Seeking Animals.)

Thank you Scot loved 🥰 your video of the top spocks beard albums having been a long time fan of there music 🎶 since there neal morse days I quite agree with your choice that’s there number one Is v and at the end of the day and there great nothing is timeless music 🎶 nothing comes close them days are gone and to me the only album 💿 that’s comes close now is probably x mind you I absolutely love snow ❄️ and I don’t think there as ever been a double album as brilliant as that so many great tracks thanks and of course prog on cheers 🥂 mate

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Spock’s Beard rules!!!

Cannot argue with this V is genius I also would put the Light higher. One of my favourite bands ever. Bought tickets for January.

@TheProgCorner

7 ай бұрын

So we know who’s drumming?

@mellotronin54

7 ай бұрын

@@TheProgCorner Yeah Mike Thorne.

@TheProgCorner

7 ай бұрын

That’s what I thought. A great drummer who can sing the high harmonies. A unicorn, in other words…

Realmente disfruté mucho este video. Acabo de inscribirme porque apenas descubrí a Scot. Un abrazo desde Ciudad de Mexico

@TheProgCorner

7 ай бұрын

¡Muchas Gracias! 🇲🇽🇺🇸🇲🇽🇺🇸

Heck yeah Snow! My favourite Spock's Beard and my favourite album fronted by Neal Morse!

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

So good!!!!!

The fact the Neal albums aren't on the usual streaming services is a major bummer, would love to listen in 24 bit if possible.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Neal has his own streaming service, Waterfall. I don’t have it but I’ve heard it’s good…

@nyifnbr18

Жыл бұрын

@@TheProgCorner Love Neal/SB/TA/FC but do not need a 24-7 service, that dog don’t hunt.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

🙏🙏🙏

This was a really fun listen. I'd have a very tough time ranking all the albums myself, as I give just as much weight to the Nick-fronted era and almost as much to the Ted-fronted era. In fact, although 2 of the first 6 albums (V and KOS) are definitively in my top 3, a couple of the others (BOD and DFN) are closer to 13. (Unpopular opinion I know; the other albums that came later are just THAT GOOD!) A few songs that didn't get much of a mention on the video that deserve some extra attention: Ghosts of Autumn, Quiet House, To Be Free Again, and Beginnings. Also, while I don't disagree that As Far as The Mind Can See is a little uneven, give Pt. 4 - Streams of Unconsciousness another try. If I had to pick one song as my personal soundtrack, this would be a leading contender.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Ghosts Of Autumn is sooooo good!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Good to see the love for the latter eras! Yes, Beginnings is kinda special, isn't it?

I discovered Spock's Beard after Nick left so I had a lot to catch up. On the other hand I was lucky enough to see and hear them perform Snow at the Lorelei festival in Germany with Neil and Nick a number of years back.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

That must have been a great show!!! I’ve seen the video!!!

@bobvermeulen491

Жыл бұрын

@@TheProgCorner It was, man. I had tears running down my cheeks at the end of the gig. 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I bet!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Two performances of Snow. Ever. Glad you got to be at one of them. (I actually know someone who went to BOTH!)

sorry Gentlemen, I have to disagree... THE LIGHT should totally be up there as one of the Top 3 SB albums, the first time I heard that first weird piano chord I was hooked for life, and you're absolutely right about Go the way you go ;-) apart from that: THANX FOR ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO Scot and Scott (Y)

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Mikey!!! I’m loving At The Circus!!! What a cool album.

@starquake9162

Жыл бұрын

@@TheProgCorner THANX Scot (Y) really appreciate it ;-)

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

What’s this about NDV being At The Cirque? 😉

@starquake9162

Жыл бұрын

@@ScottAMedina a little misleading, I confess.... my current album is called At The Circus ;-)

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

And it’s really good!!!!! 👍👍👍👍

Fave band of the 1990s! Watched 4 live shows in Basel, Switzerland. 1)The Light 2) SB V 3) Beware Of Darkness 4) Kindness Of Strangers 5) Snow 6) Day For Night

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Nice!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Lucky man!

The first album I heard was Feel Euphoria so I hadn't even heard of Neal Morse. I was hooked after 3 listens and since then have enjoyed all the Spock's Beard albums, but that was the first one.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

The first one I hear is often my favorite. No matter what!!! 👍👍👍

Octane (with bonus disc!) is one of the favs

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I love them all…

@user-wq8ex5vc2i

Жыл бұрын

@@TheProgCorner ok) curious how you would rank them beside Transatlantic and Neal solo albums

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I’m tempted to do a Neal “mega” ranking!!!

Now you're in my wheelhouse. It was a joy to see the appreciation you two showed for this great band. Alright, let's talk about my differences with your opinions. I am a Neal fan. I love all his stuff. I also like NDV's voice, but only in a harmonizing way. I don't like his voice as lead. His drumming is impeccable. Other than "X", I just didn't care for the direction the band went after Neal. Like you said, it went away from prog and toward the rockier side of music. Their version of a rockier Beard wasn't to my taste. The Ted Leonard version of the Beard was more to my liking. I liked his voice better, and the music was better too! Now my ranking: The Light V Beware of Darkness The Kindness of Strangers Snow Day For Night Brief Nocturns The Oblivion Particle X Noise Floor Feel Euphoria, Octane, SB (tied for last because I never listen to these at all)

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I love NDV and I love his voice!!! But yeah, for SB nothing can beat Neal Morse!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Funny…NDV has the most trained and skilled voice of all 3 of them. He’s never off-tune! But Neal’s voice has that special emotional quality that is from the heart.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Indeed!!!

@LightBeamer777

Жыл бұрын

@@ScottAMedina I agree with this sentiment!

1. Snow 2. V 3. Beware of Darkness 4. The Light 5. Kindness of Strangers 6. Day for Night 7. The Oblivion Particle 8. Noise Floor 9. Feel Euphoria and I'm not so familiar with the others so won't rank them. I will say that bonus material on some editions is definitely worthwhile and probably does inflate my ranking. Snow might have been equal with V if I didn't have the bonus disc.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Definitely!!!

Hi, Scott. Do uou now if Spocks Birds are still in activity as a band?? I have no news since long time.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

They are on hiatus so we shall see…

@asdfzxcv3617

Жыл бұрын

​@@TheProgCorner Thank you. I love that band, I hope in a their new album.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I would not hold your breath!!!!

@1914sweet

7 ай бұрын

Touring Europe this spring with Ted at front.

@TheProgCorner

7 ай бұрын

I heard!!!!! Maybe we’ll get a new record after all!!!

The Kindness Of Strangers is my personal favorite

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Mine too!!!

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Right on! You're in the mouth of madness!

@paulayers1111

Жыл бұрын

@@ScottAMedina that song feels like a prequel to “gibberish” for me. Melodically and even conceptually speaking gibberish is like having things in your mouth

It's nearly midnight, I'll be back!

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Nighty night…

I remember stumbling across their first album in the 90's and giving it a listen in the store. I didn't buy it back then, but abot 2 years later when "The kidness of Strangers" was new I bought it just because I remembered my impressions from "The Light". That was a decision I never regreted, turned me into a huge fan. Until Neal lost his mind to some rambling evangelical priest and turned himself into a witnessing progger and left the band. It was kind of already lingering in "Snow". Too bad that happened. They were never the same without him. And his solo work I can only stand in small doseages. Still great music, especially the "?" Album which I consider an absolute masterpiece. But I have the strong urge to shake Neal and scream: "FIND A NEW TOPIC TO SING ABOUT!!!"

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it can be a bit much at times but, like you said, when the music is that good…

@ScottAMedina

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, but their last one Innocence and Danger is perhaps the most "secular" album since V!

"Nobody listens to Neal Morse anymore". Guess that's why NMB and Transatlantic had 2 Prog albums of the year recently.

@TheProgCorner

7 ай бұрын

You are preaching to the choir.

Interesting

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Are you a Spock’s fan?

@ProggyGoat

Жыл бұрын

I am, Scott. I don't have that much, though. I have a great Compilation CD of the Neal Morse era, Noise Floor and BN, all of which I love 😊

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

Great band. You know I love Neal Morse!!!

@ProggyGoat

Жыл бұрын

I have a few Neal Morse Band and Neal Morse solo albums; always confused as to which is which 😂

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

I love them all. I’m such a fanboy!!!

I feel like Noise Floor belongs where the name suggests... it IS the noise floor.

@TheProgCorner

6 күн бұрын

It’s not great.

@coltonbeatty6117

6 күн бұрын

@@TheProgCorner Also, I agree with you, as opposed to your guest, about The Oblivion Particle.

@TheProgCorner

6 күн бұрын

@@coltonbeatty6117 Love that one!!!!

I put X top 5.

@TheProgCorner

7 ай бұрын

It’s a good one!!!!

"their "#1 track on Spotify" should have an asterisk by it given the fact none of the Neal Morse-led albums are on Spotify..i.e. no "The Light" no "The Doorway" no "The Great Nothing" no "Long Time Suffering" etc.

@TheProgCorner

Жыл бұрын

You are correct!!!!! I should’ve mentioned that!!!