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Lifeline | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 1, 2008 | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 69:35 | |||
Label | Metal Blade Radiant Records | |||
Neal Morse chronology | ||||
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Lifeline is the seventh studio album by Neal Morse. The album features performances from Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums and Randy George (Ajalon) on bass, as well as special guest appearances including Paul Bielatowicz on guitar and Paul Gilbert (Racer X and Mr. Big), who features on a bonus cut. Live drummer Collin Leijenaar plays on the bonus track "Set the Kingdom".
Neal and his band first performed the title track, Lifeline, live at the Night of the Prog Festival on the Loreley, Germany. It was also played at a concert in Trondheim, Norway, with a local band.
It was later announced that the album would be released on October 1, 2008. Unlike many of his previous releases, Lifeline is not a concept album.
All songs written by Neal Morse except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Lifeline" | 13:28 |
2. | "The Way Home" | 4:20 |
3. | "Leviathan" | 6:04 |
4. | "God's Love" | 5:28 |
5. | "Children of the Chosen" | 4:55 |
6. | "So Many Roads" I. "So Many Roads" II. "Star for a Day" III. "The Humdrum Life" IV. "All the Way to the Grave" V. "The Eyes of the Saviour" VI. "So Many Roads Reprise" | 28:43 |
7. | "Fly High" | 6:31 |
Total length: | 69:33 |
A special edition was released with a CD of bonus material, including covers of four "pretty cool songs by pretty uncool bands" as well as two original songs. "Set the Kingdom" actually ends at 11:00 and is followed by silence before the hidden track.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Crazy Horses" (The Osmonds) | 3:40 |
2. | "Lemons Never Forget" (The Bee Gees) | 6:37 |
3. | "The Letter" (Joe Cocker version) | 4:17 |
4. | "What's So Funny" (Elvis Costello version) | 4:43 |
5. | "Sometimes He Waits" | 5:23 |
6. | "Set the Kingdom" | 13:31 |
7. | "I'm a Heavy Metal Long-Haired Blue Bearded Tattooed Jew" (Hidden track) | 4:37 |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Dwarf | (Negative) [1] |
Progressive Melodies | [2] |
TheProgFiles | [3] |
Unlike the majority of Morse's work, reception for the album has been mixed to positive.
Radu Catrina of The Dwarf found it to be "an abrupt drop in quality" from what he considered previous excellent releases, and refers to Lifeline as "a descent into the often mind-numbing abyss of Christian rock". [1]
According to Neal Morse's official website, TheProgFiles.com reportedly wrote: "Hands down, nobody in the industry does prog better than Neal Morse." [3]
Technical personnel
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Neal Morse is an American singer, musician and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1992, he formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Alan and released an album which was moderately successful. In 1999, he joined Dream Theater's co-founder and then drummer Mike Portnoy, together with Flower Kings' Roine Stolt and Marillion's Pete Trewavas they formed the super-group Transatlantic. In 2002, Neal Morse became a born again Christian, left Spock's Beard and began a Christian rock solo career, releasing many progressive rock concept albums about his new religious faith. In the meantime, he continued to play with Transatlantic and formed three new bands with Portnoy, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors and The Neal Morse Band.
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