The Neal Morse Band - Innocence & Dancer

[Stefan]

 

Press release:

NMB are pleased to announce the release of their much-anticipated fourth studio album ‘Innocence & Danger’ on August 27th, 2021.

With NMB’s previous two releases being concept albums, it’s perhaps remarkable that Innocence & Danger is a series of unrelated songs, but drummer Mike Portnoy says “After two sprawling back to back double concept albums in a row, it was refreshing to get back to writing a collection of unrelated individual songs in the vein of our first album.”

Indeed, making this album came easy to the band; while the initial inspiration came particularly from Bill Hubauer (keyboards) and Randy George (bass), the ideas flowed from everybody from there on, as George recalls: “I am excited about the level of collaboration that we achieved on this one. We even went in with a lot of ideas that weren’t necessarily developed, and I think in the end we have something that represents the best of everybody in the band.”

In fact – like its two acclaimed predecessors – Innocence & Danger is a double album by inspiration, rather than design, as Portnoy explains: “As much as we wanted to try and keep it to a single album after having just done two double albums, we wrote so much material that we found ourselves with our third double album in a row! That’s pretty prog!”

There is also plenty: “There's one half hour epic and another that's about 20 minutes long. I really didn't realise that they were that long when we were recording them, which I guess is great because if a movie is really good, you don't realise that it's three hours long! But there are also some shorter songs: some have poppier elements, some are heavier and some have three part acoustic sections. I’m excited about all of it, really.”

The album will be released as a Limited 2CD+DVD Digipak (featuring a Making Of documentary), 3LP+2CD Boxset, Standard 2CD Jewelcase & Digital Album, featuring artwork by Thomas Ewerhard (Transatlantic). Pre-orders start on the 18th June, and the full track-listing is below:

Tracks:

CD 1: Innocence
1. Do It All Again
2. Bird On A Wire
3. Your Place In The Sun
4. Another Story To Tell
5. The Way It Had To Be
6. Emergence
7. Not Afraid Pt. 1
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water

CD 2: Danger
1. Not Afraid Pt. 2
2. Beyond The Years

 

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by Stefan

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Always excited for more Neal Morse Band! 

[Stefan]

For Karpet-Muncher, new song 'Do It All Again'.

 

 

[zacharyamelie]

Great track! 
just not a fan of the keyboard players vocals…not strong enough for this type of genius material. 

[Stefan]

New video for 'Bird On A Wire'.

 

 

[Glen]

Got this lined up for a listen over the weekend 

[auslander]

On 6/22/2021 at 12:20 AM, Stefan said:

For Karpet-Muncher, new song 'Do It All Again'.

 

 

This is really good, immediate prog. The drummer is really good. I wonder who that is... jk.

[Glen]

this is the best prog album I've heard in 4 years since Legend of the Shire was released around this time in 2017.

Disc one is great, but disc 2 'Danger' is stunning. 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Can't wait to sping it today. 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Who here has a physical copy? Does the album really cut off abruptly for you, or is it just the Spotifies?

[auslander]

44 minutes ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

Who here has a physical copy? Does the album really cut off abruptly for you, or is it just the Spotifies?

Not yet but soon to be rectified! Here is a really good review of the album you might like to read.

https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/neal-morse-band-innocence-danger/

 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

34 minutes ago, auslander said:

Not yet but soon to be rectified! Here is a really good review of the album you might like to read.

https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/neal-morse-band-innocence-danger/

 

Ok, so that cold cut was intentional. I hate that. Just like in Dream Theatre's "Pull Me Under." I love that song, and I love this album, but those cold cuts are so jarring, I just can't get behind them. 

[auslander]

36 minutes ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

Ok, so that cold cut was intentional. I hate that. Just like in Dream Theatre's "Pull Me Under." I love that song, and I love this album, but those cold cuts are so jarring, I just can't get behind them. 

Yeah I think I'm with you, I think a fade might have been a better choice, but hey, what do I know!

[Glen]

6 hours ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

Who here has a physical copy? Does the album really cut off abruptly for you, or is it just the Spotifies?

what are u referring to? 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

6 hours ago, Glen said:

what are u referring to? 

The end of "Beyond the Years." It has that long strings outro, and instead of fading out they cut it off abruptly. 

[Glen]

2 hours ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

The end of "Beyond the Years." It has that long strings outro, and instead of fading out they cut it off abruptly. 

oh yeah. didn't notice that. must admit I flicked off 30 secs before the end. 

[Glen]

must be a Spotify thing. I'll ask my mate he has the vinyl

[Glen]

apparently the cut off was intentional according to Portnoy. 

I guess like pull me under, the wall etc. 

[Glen]

anyway, who's listened to this thing?

amazing album.

every prog fan needs to get their ears on this 

Jez?? 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

6 hours ago, Glen said:

anyway, who's listened to this thing?

amazing album.

every prog fan needs to get their ears on this 

Jez?? 

Yup.

[Jez]

On 9/2/2021 at 7:58 PM, Glen said:

anyway, who's listened to this thing?

amazing album.

every prog fan needs to get their ears on this 

Jez?? 

Been listening all week.. lots to digest as usual with NMB. It's another great album, love the mix of the more 'Poppy' tracks and the 2 epics on the second disc...fantastic playing and some stellar Styx like harmonies everywhere. Not too keen on the Simon / Garfunkel cover, but apart from that it's a big thumbs up from me.  

[Glen]

3 hours ago, Jez said:

Been listening all week.. lots to digest as usual with NMB. It's another great album, love the mix of the more 'Poppy' tracks and the 2 epics on the second disc...fantastic playing and some stellar Styx like harmonies everywhere. Not too keen on the Simon / Garfunkel cover, but apart from that it's a big thumbs up from me.  

knew you'd like it.

out of interest which version did you get? digipak or jewel? I'm undecided.

which has the best packaging?

cheers

[Jez]

22 hours ago, Glen said:

knew you'd like it.

out of interest which version did you get? digipak or jewel? I'm undecided.

which has the best packaging?

cheers

I  got the digipack with  the extra DVD which is cool (they do these 'making of' things with all there releases). Personally I don't mind digipacks unlike others, so I would go with that version