Third Degree (Flying Colors album)

Last updated
Third Degree
Third degree flying colors.jpg
Studio album by
Flying Colors
ReleasedOctober 4, 2019
Length66:23
Label Mascot Label Group
Producer Flying Colors
Flying Colors chronology
Second Nature
(2014)		Third Degree
(2019)
Singles from Third Degree
  1. "More"
    Released: August 14, 2019 [1]
  2. "You Are Not Alone"
    Released: August 28, 2019 [2]
  3. "Love Letter"
    Released: September 12, 2019 [3]
  4. "The Loss Inside"
    Released: September 30, 2019 [4]

Third Degree is the third studio album by the American supergroup Flying Colors, released on October 4, 2019 via Mascot Label Group. [1] [5] [6]

Contents

The album was released on digital platforms and also on CD digipack, a limited-edition double-LP, a 180g blue or black vinyl and a limited-edition box set with bonus content such as a 40-page photobook, two coasters and a bonus disc with six bonus songs. [1]

Third Degree's first single and video, "More", was released as the band revealed the album's title, cover and tracklist. [1] The second single, "You Are Not Alone", was released on August 28, 2019. [2] The third, pop rock single "Love Letter", was released on September 12 [3] and the final single, "The Loss Inside", about the process of grieving, had its video premiered on September 30, 2019. [4]

Recording and song information

The album's first sessions took place as early as December 2016, at guitarist Steve Morse's studio in Florida, United States, when seven songs were written. The band wouldn't meet again until December 2018, when three other songs were created. By then, drummer and vocalist Mike Portnoy was already recording his parts at keyboardist and vocalist Neal Morse's studio in Nashville. [6]

"The Loss Inside" is the only song of the album tuned in drop D. Vocalist and guitarist Casey McPherson commented that the song allows him to use "soul" vocals and Steve and Neal to work on "their own version of rock and roll". [7]

"More" is a song about the desperation for "freedom from addiction, consumerism, and lust". McPherson saw "Cadence" as "one of those songs that is such a classic 'product' of us. A strong mix of each of our creative energies in each section to create what we are." [7]

"Last Train Home" was built upon a musical idea that Steve saved for the band. He commented: "I always tend toward a kind of triumphant feel when I do instrumental sections... possibly because I listened to a lot of classical music over the years." He used a 12-string guitar and many "jangly clean guitars with open strings". [7]

Bassist Dave LaRue saw Geronimo as "a bit of a departure for Flying Colors" and it reminded him of Steely Dan. "You Are Not Alone" was seen by McPherson as a follow-up to Second Nature 's "Peaceful Harbor". [7] He wrote the song about the effects of Hurricane Harvey in his hometown of Austin, Texas [8] and his experience rescuing victims. [7]

McPherson described "Love Letter" as influenced by The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jellyfish, ELO, Silverchair. [7] It received a '60s/'70s-inspired psychedelic video. [3]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."The Loss Inside"5:50
2."More"7:09
3."Cadence"7:40
4."Guardian"7:10
5."Last Train Home"10:31
6."Geronimo"5:19
7."You Are Not Alone"6:21
8."Love Letter"5:09
9."Crawl"11:14
Total length:66:23 [5]
Deluxe CD bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Waiting for the Sun"8:55
2."Geronimo" (alternate instrumental version and mix)5:19
3."You Are Not Alone" (alternate instrumental version and mix)4:21
4."Love Letter" (alternate acoustic version and mix)5:12
5."Last Train Home" (alternate instrumental version and mix)11:17
6."Crawl" (alternate instrumental version and mix)7:49
Total length:42:53
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Sonic PerspectivesStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Prog SpaceStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Critical reception

Loudwire named Third Degree one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019. [11]

Sonic Perspectives called the album "a mature, consistent third album which is melodically strong and diverse." and added "This makes for one of the best rock/pop/prog bands of the decade, and is a big colorful feather in the cap of its illustrious members." [9]

The bonus track, Waiting for the Sun, also received praise as Heaven's Metal called the song, "another perfect example of the concerted band effort so prominent on this release. This smooth textured, light-rock anthem, with plenty of guitar flare and lyrical color, is easily worthy of the main release." [12]

Personnel

Flying Colors

Production

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [13] 44
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [14] 62
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [15] 46
French Albums (SNEP) [16] 95
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 16
Scottish Albums (OCC) [18] 28
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [19] 81
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] 11
UK Albums (OCC) [21] 99

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transatlantic (band)</span> Multinational progressive rock supergroup

Transatlantic is a multinational progressive rock supergroup consisting of Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Pete Trewavas and Mike Portnoy. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full-time bands, but disbanded in 2002. They then reunited in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Morse</span> American rock musician

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Morse</span> American guitarist

Steve J. Morse is an American guitarist, best known as the founder of the Dixie Dregs and as the guitarist for Deep Purple from 1994 to 2022. Morse has also enjoyed a successful solo career and was briefly a member of the group Kansas in the mid-1980s. Most recently, Morse became a member of the supergroup Flying Colors.

<i>Systematic Chaos</i> 2007 studio album by Dream Theater

Systematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records, which was sold to their previous label Atlantic Records, through which the band had released their previous studio album Octavarium (2005). The album was recorded from September 2006 to February 2007 at Avatar Studios in New York City, after the band's first break from summer touring in ten years. The lyrics of the album were written by John Petrucci, James LaBrie, and Mike Portnoy about fictional, political, and personal topics, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpha Rev</span> American rock band

Alpha Rev is an American alternative rock band from Austin, Texas, fronted by Casey McPherson. McPherson remains the group's only consistent member. However, historically the core members have also included Zak Loy on lead guitar, Brian Batch on violin and backing vocals, and Dave Wiley on cello.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey McPherson</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1978)

Casey McPherson is a singer and songwriter based in Austin, Texas where he lives with his two daughters. He is currently the frontman of the bands Alpha Rev and Flying Colors, as well as his own solo career. He is a classically-trained pianist and guitarist.

<i>The Whirlwind</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Transatlantic

The Whirlwind is the third studio album by the band Transatlantic, released on October 23, 2009. It is available in three formats: a standard edition, a double disc special edition and a deluxe edition with a 105-minute making-of DVD.

<i>Testimony 2</i> 2011 studio album by Neal Morse

Testimony 2 is a progressive rock concept album by Neal Morse. It was released on 23 May 2011, as a continuation of his first Christian prog album (Testimony) and contains three sections detailing the composer's life and conversion to Christianity. Neal returns with his normal solo-album bandmates Mike Portnoy and Randy George, but he also features many guests, including a vocal reunion of Spock's Beard in the song "Time Changer", which focuses on Neal's past with his original band.

Flying Colors is an American supergroup composed of Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Casey McPherson, Neal Morse, and Steve Morse. The band's mission, chartered by executive producer Bill Evans, is to combine complex music with accessible songwriting. Flying Colors, on Mascot Label Group, has released three studio albums, and three live albums, to commercial success and critical acclaim.

<i>Flying Colors</i> (Flying Colors album) 2012 studio album by Flying Colors

Flying Colors is the debut studio album by the American supergroup Flying Colors, released on 26 March 2012. It debuted at No. 9 on Billboard's Hard Rock chart, and No. 11 on the BBC's Rock Album charts. The album art is based on the artwork Blown Away by artist and sculptor Jim Bond, as photographed by John Coombes.

<i>Momentum</i> (Neal Morse album) 2012 studio album by Neal Morse

Momentum is the ninth progressive rock album by Neal Morse, released in September 2012. The album features Mike Portnoy on drums and Randy George on bass. The title track "Momentum" was released in late July 2012, along with a music video. Guests include Eric Gillette and Bill Hubauer who would later found The Neal Morse Band with Morse, Portnoy and George.

<i>Kaleidoscope</i> (Transatlantic album) 2014 studio album by Transatlantic

Kaleidoscope is the fourth studio album by progressive rock band Transatlantic. It was released on January 27, 2014.

<i>Second Nature</i> (Flying Colors album) 2014 studio album by Flying Colors

Second Nature is the second studio album by the American supergroup Flying Colors, that was released in Europe on September 29, 2014, in the US on September 30, and in the UK on October 6. On August 19, Loudwire premiered the video for the album's first single "Mask Machine". Soon after, Classic Rock premiered the song for Europe. On September 22, the entire album began streaming on the Prog magazine website.

<i>The Similitude of a Dream</i> 2016 studio album by The Neal Morse Band

The Similitude of a Dream is the second studio album by progressive rock supergroup The Neal Morse Band, released on November 11, 2016. It is a concept album, loosely based on The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and follows Christian, who is tormented by spiritual anguish and told he must leave the City of Destruction to find salvation in the Celestial City.

<i>The Great Adventure</i> (The Neal Morse Band album) 2019 studio album by The Neal Morse Band

The Great Adventure is the third studio album by American progressive rock supergroup The Neal Morse Band, released on January 25, 2019 via Metal Blade Records and Radiant Records.

<i>The Absolute Universe</i> 2021 studio album by Transatlantic

The Absolute Universe is the fifth and final studio album of the progressive rock supergroup Transatlantic, released on February 5, 2021, by Inside Out.

<i>Sola Gratia</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Neal Morse

Sola Gratia is the eleventh studio album by American progressive rock vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist Neal Morse, released on September 11, 2020. It marks his return to Inside Out Music.

<i>Jesus Christ the Exorcist</i> 2019 studio album by Neal Morse

Jesus Christ the Exorcist is the tenth progressive rock studio album by American vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist Neal Morse, released on June 14, 2019.

<i>Innocence & Danger</i> 2021 studio album by The Neal Morse Band

Innocence & Danger is the fourth album by American progressive rock group The Neal Morse Band, released on August 27, 2021. It is Morse's twelfth progressive rock studio album overall.

<i>Troika</i> (DVirgilio, Morse & Jennings album) 2022 studio album by DVirgilio, Morse & Jennings

Troika is a collaborative album by progressive rock/metal musicians Nick D'Virgilio, Neal Morse and Ross Jennings under the moniker D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings. It was released through InsideOut Music on February 25, 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Munro, Scott (August 14, 2019). "Flying Colors return with new album Third Degree and reveal new single". Louder Sound . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 Munro, Scott (August 28, 2019). "Flying Colors launch video for new single You Are Not Alone". Louder Sound . Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "FLYING COLORS Featuring MIKE PORTNOY, NEAL MORSE, STEVE MORSE Release "Love Letter" Lyric Video". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . September 12, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "FLYING COLORS Feat. MIKE PORTNOY, STEVE MORSE, NEAL MORSE: Music Video For 'The Loss Inside' Song". Blabbermouth.net . September 30, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Flying Colors - Third Degree". Apple Music . Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Flying Colors reveal first single "More" from new album 'Third Degree'". The Prog Report. August 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Flying Colors track-by-track guide to new album Third Degree". Prog . Future plc. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "Flying Colors – Third Degree (Album Review)". The Prog Report. September 26, 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Sonic Perspectives Review" . Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Prog Space Review" . Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2019". Loudwire . Townsquare Media. December 5, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Heavens Metal Review" . Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Flying Colors – Third Degree" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Flying Colors – Third Degree" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Flying Colors – Third Degree" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 41, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Flying Colors – Third Degree" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Flying Colors – Third Degree". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Flying Colors – Third Degree". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.