July 16 - 23: Spock's Beard

Spock's Beard: 1992- Present

Current Members:

Alan Morse: Guitar (Vocals, Theremin, Cello)
Ryo Okumoto: Keyboards
Nick D'Virgilio: Drums and Vocals
Dave Meros: Bass

Former Members:

Neal Morse: Keyboards and Vocals



Discography:


Studio albums

The Light (1995)
Beware of Darkness (1996)
The Kindness of Strangers (1998)
Day For Night (1999)
V (2000)
Snow (2002)
Feel Euphoria (2003)
Octan (2005)
Spock's Beard (2006)


Live albums and compilations

Official Live Bootleg/The Beard is Out There (1996) (recorded 1995)
From the Vaults (1998) (rarities - From the Vaults, Series 1)
Live at the Whisky and NEARfest (1999)
Don't Try This At Home (April 2000) (recorded 1999) (live)
Nick 'n Neal live in Europe - Two Separate Gorillas (October, 2000) (From the Vaults, Series 2)
Don't Try This @ Home Either (2000) (recorded 1999) (live - From the Vaults, Series 3)
There and Here (2000) (live - From the Vaults, Series 4)
Gluttons for Punishment (2005) (live)


Videos

Spock's Beard Home Movie (Video, 1998)
Live At The Whisky (Video, (1999)
The Making of V (Video, May 2001)
Don't Try This At Home (2 DVD Set, November, 2002)
The Making Of Snow (DVD, 2004)





This week I have chosen one of my favorite Progressive Rock bands, Spock's Beard. As I take a retrospective on all the Progressive music I have listened to, I consider Spock's Beard to be one of my most unique encounters. For me, they have managed to create this pure 'Spock' sound through three main consepts: Remembering The Beatles, composing powerful guitar and keyboard leads, and including personal religious views as lyrical inspiration.





1. Remembering The Beatles

The Beatles accomplished a level of creativity that still runs strong 40 years later. Their music has the ability to draw out the gamut of emotions, and infact does so in a single song. An example.."A Day in the Life" off "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band": This song starts off with a melancholy feel as John talks about blowing minds out in a car and what not...Eventually the song progresses into a disturbing qualm from the constant crescendo of the symphony and Pauls lingering "on on on..." Finally, with content, I accpet the following progression; an up-beat jitter that makes me want to atleast do something. The greatest thing about all this...is the fact that you get repeat it all over again. I first noticed Spock's ability to do this when I heard the epic song "The Light" off their debut album "The Light". See..I would gladly map out the many changes in this song, except that it is a 15:32 musical rollercoaster. It even ends up in a Spanish style passage..."I am senor Valasco, I drink my milk with tobasco". On top of all this, Spock includes the simplistic Beatles-esc chord changes that we know and love. "Strange World", from "The Kindness of Strangers" is a song that I feel most exemplifies this.

2. keyboard and guitar leads

This, my friends, is what makes Spock's Beard this week's choice. Their leading riffs are by far the most prominent in music today. Their is not much i can say that can't be said by listening, so do yourself a favor and please check this out. If you want my personal suggestions on where to start then I say listen to, "In The Mouth of Madness", "Made Alive / Overture", and "At The End Of The Day"

3. Lyrical Inspiration

I am usually not one to put equal emphasis on lyrics, but this is an acception. Neal Morse (former singer of Spock's Beard) is by all means a spiritual man. He takes a great deal of lyrical influence from his born again christian experinces. I can see both good and bad sides to this. Many people do not enjoy being preached to through an art form, but for me, I say sing what you believe in...his lyrics only make the music that much more powerful. Neal does an excellent job of giving hope and meaning through his lyrics, he is quite the uplifting composer.

"Now I somehow have understanding

Like I've never had before in my life

Do you know what that's like,

I think you know what it's like

To love beyond words"