NEAL MORSE – The Restoration- Joseph: Part Two

Neal Morse hardly needs any introduction to the prog rock aficionados out there, and his impressive back catalog speaks for itself. Personally, I favor his work with the amazing Flying Colors but that is a story for another day. The Nashville-based musician and songwriter is undoubtedly a virtuoso and his latest output, the second instalment in the musical Joseph narrative, picks up where its predecessor The Dreamer – Joseph: Part One left off, which means that Morse delivers an ambitious piece of work that is epic in scope and packed to the rafters with creative arrangements, stunning melodies, and heaps of dramatic qualities. Variety is definitely a word that comes into play throughout, but the sequencing of tracks works incredibly well and listening to the album does invite the listener to embark on an inner journey. The heavier and slightly more bombastic compositions such as the riveting ‘Dreamer in the Jailhouse’ and the rousing ‘I Hate My Brothers’ with their infectious vocal melodies, anthemic choruses, and near-perfect ebb and flow leave nothing to be desired and are two of the album’s standouts. At seventy-five minutes long and full of layers and nuances it certainly can be a lot to absorb, and it does lose a bit of momentum and steam when the twelfth cut titled ‘Freedom Road’ rolls around the corner, but the overall result is utterly impressive to these ears.

There is no faulting the crisp sound of the LP either, and the plethora of renowned guests who appear on the disc all bring something noteworthy and substantial to the proceedings and help Morse bring the story to life in vivid detail.