Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura (2007)

1. The Door
a) Introduction
b) In The Name Of God
c) All I Ask For
d) Mercy for Sale
e) Keep Silent
f) Upon The Door

2. The Conflict
a) Do You know My Name?
b) Party to the Lie
c) Underground
d) Two Down, One to Go
e) The Vineyard
f) Already Home

3. Heaven in my Heart

4. The Conclusion
a) Randy's Jam
b) Long Night's Journey
c) Re-Introduction
d) Come Out Of Her
e) Clothed With The Sun
f) In Closing...

Neal Morse este emblema Cprog-ului, el incetand sa mai fie un crestin oarecare, devenind un mistic. Albumele sale, bazate pe Biblie si rugaciune sunt unice, descoperind un muzician complex, un adept al albumelor conceptuale, atat de greu de scris si de produs. “Sola Scriptura” este o alta dovada a acestui fapt de necombatut. Ca de obicei, la tobe este marele Mike Portnoy. Dupa colaborarea cu Ajalon l-a cooptat pe Randy George la bass, iar la chitara este Paul Gilbert (Racer X si Mr. Big). Albumul este construit pe baza unui rock progressive in maniera anilor ’70, aventuros, imprumutand elemente de la Rick Wakeman. Cu toate acestea este Neal Morse, fostul lider de la Spock's Beard, se intalnesc elemente de pe celelalte albume, intr-un tot inedit.
The Door este o piesa energica, complexa, totalizand 29 minute. Incepe cu o suita de clape, ca mai apoi sa-si “arate” diversitatea. Diversitatea se impune si la voce. Fie ca seamana cu Roger Hodgson, fie ca are efect de calculator, vocea este a lui Neal Morse. Intervine simfonia, suita tipica pentru punctele culminante ale operelor de acest gen. Ca mai apoi sa se incheie, melodios, intr-un ritm lent si elegant. The Conflict incepe in maniera anilor ’80, riffuri sacadate, o voce puternica si o chitara nebuna. Asta nu face decat sa deschida o noua dimensiune a materialui. Refren usor de menorat, bombastic. Intervine jazzul si un pasaj de chitara acustica a la Aranjuez. Incheierea este asemanatoare cu cea din prima piesa, doar ca de data aceasta nu mai da impresia de continuitate. Heaven in my heart este o melodie mai scurta, un fel de balada, avand la dispozitie pianul si vocea, dar si pe Portnoy! Bateristul de la Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Transatlantic si OSI conduce ostilitatile pe anumite parti din The Conclusion. Ultimile minute de pe Sola Scriptura sunt pline de optimism si de credinta, Neal Morse incetand aceasta rugaciune muzicala ajutat de un cor.

Jos palaria. M-a prins din prima.
De luni incoace il ascult, tot mai fascinat.
Are multe din ingredientele unui mare album de progresiv: rock electric, chitara acustica, cor, flamenco, jazz piano, orchestra, orga, power, fusion. Si toate acestea aranjate extraordinar.
Vocea (care este tot a lui Neal Morse) mi s-a parut, la inceput, fara stralucire, dar dupa doua-trei auditii nu am mai spus asta. Este o voce curata, corecta, foarte potrivita pentru un album de Christian Rock.
Unul dintre cele mai bune albume ale ultimilor ani.
Inca o data …jos palaria.

PS: Nu am gasit versurile. Ma intereseaza in mod deosebit. Stiti ceva?

le-am gasit de prin mai multe locuri, le postez aici:

The Door

I - Introduction (instrumental)

II - In the name of God

Giving up the time we've got to live the life completely
Giving over to the lust that rageous in the mind
The Captain fills his place with gold while all the ship is sinking
Calls himself the Bishop-Prince and blood's his favorite wine

Gardens grow as people know and sense the smell of slaughter
Every soul in Saxon senses something's gone awry
The woman's in the wilderness - the beast has nearly got her
Men sorround the Bishop-Prince and sing their bloody cry

In the name of God you must die
All that's not our truth is a lie
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
If you want some teeth just ask why
In the name of God you must die

The pearl is trodden underfoot into the muck and mire
We'll take the Roman Gods except the names will all be changed
The woman's fed by ravens and her feet are in the fire
Cold and bare she's holding there 1260 days

In the name of God you must die
All that's not our truth is a lie
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
We won't let a sleeping dog lie
In the name of God you must die

And the Captain calls
If they won't pay they're soon be scratching the dungeon walls
From the highest height to the tenement halls - it's true
Look out we're coming for you

In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die

III - All I ask for

Free me - know me
Only you can make the morning mine
Lowly - humbly
As the sunlight lights the way

This is all I asked for
This is all I wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I asked for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And be there ever after
You know my heart: you know it's true

Bravely, strongly - You have left the veil of death behind
Something drawing me out into your way

This is all I asked for
This is all I wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I asked for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And to be there ever after
You know my heart: you know it's truth

All I want is you

Oh God I seek the glory that's from you and from you only
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
I seek your light through the veil of life
Please come and make me holy
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
(This is all I ask for)
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
(To live a life that's pleasing to you)
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
Only you

IV - Mercy for sale

In the name of God you must pay your penance
If you don't well that's a crime
If you want to buy your way to Heaven
We'll indulge you every time
Would you like to come?
We'll eat in secret
My water's stolen but it's fine
If you want know much more about me
Take a look in Proverbs 9

Mercy, mercy we're selling mercy
We are Christ and we'll bless you well
People crying Lord have mercy
But they've gone in through the gates of hell
It's true, look out we're comin' for you!

If you think the whore is only history
Are there those who teach her lies?
Wherever they believe what came out from her
That same spirit is still alive

Mercy, mercy we're selling mercy
We are Christ and we'll bless you well
People crying Lord have mercy
But they've gone in through the gates of hell
It's true, look out we're coming for you!

V - Keep silent

How can I keep silent when I know the truth?
How can I stand idly by with the previleged few?
There's criminals in power; the keepers of the lie
They say you've got salvation when they know you're gonna die

I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?

What is it that binds me? What can keep me down?
And in my very heart of hearts who shall wear the crown?
But as I read and as I bleed, oh, my heart is fixed
And if I follow blind men, well, we'll all fall in the ditch

I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?

Oh Lord I can't justify what the ones above me do
Oh Lord I can testify nothing more or less will do
And I'll be your witness in the wild
The dragons stands in front of me
The virgins been defiled, Oh God...

How can I keep silent when I know the truth?
I ask myself one question: What will Jesus do?

I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?

VI - Upon the door

Sometimes comes a moment when there is no escape
A man by candlelight reads: "The just shall live by faith"
And a rushing ray of light comes and hits him at the core
I will write my words upon the door

History is hinged on him playing of the role
The dawn was coming after the dark night of the soul
The simple act has changed our world forever more
I will write my words upon the door
I will write my words upon the door

Martin saw the jailer with the woman in her bed
With simple words of life he struck the seventh head
The witness stands before the dragon and the whore
I will write my words upon the door
I will write my words upon the door

The Conflict

I - Do you know my name

God took the Promised Land and put it in my bloodstained hand
I can sell you grace for your soul or you'll burn in hell far below

I'm your priest, I'm your king, I'm a Saint
This love your enemies thing's down the drain
Tell me, do you know my name?

Look I got two big horns like a lamb
Even though Peter was married I can't
Look I've got great big armie like a General
I may have a mistress but at least I'm a hetero

I'm your priest, I'm your king, I'm a Saint
This love your enemies thing's down the drain
Tell me, do you know my name?
Tell me, do you know my name?
Tell me, do you know my name?
My name...Tell me...

II - Party to the lie

Who is this who challenges the ruling of the crown?
Father we must crush him and he never will be found

We must find a way, the man will surely pay
And when there's nothing left to try...
He must take it back, this is the only way
We can't be party to the lie
Party to the lie

Something burns inside of me that you don't understand
I'm under the authority of God and not of man

God will make away. He will decide my fate
And whether or not I live or die
I won't take it back, this is the only way
I can't be party to the lie
Party to the lie

God will make away. He will decide my fate
And whether or not I live or die
I won't take it back, this is the only way
I won't be party to the lie
Party to the lie

III - Underground

Sun turns as black as the day
Night turns a cold steel gray
I want to stay
Where the sun cannot be found

Friends cover me in the night
In a castle of warm colored light
Here I will stay tucked away
I'm underground

I thought I was coming to die
And that's what tey're thinking outside
But I will stay lost
'Til it's safer to be found

Writing the book in the day
In words that my people can say
Here I will stay tucked away
I'm underground

IV - Two down, one to go

The woman's found a place to go
Where she's gone to nobody know
But Martin's words are like wild fire
Spreading fast as pine on the pyre
Two down, one to go

Columbo sailed in '92
Guttenberg did his thing too
And Calvin came on right away
The human clock reads a whole nother day
Two down, one to go

The woman fled into the dark
From the darkness of man's heart
But she's coming from her hideaway
And I believe she still is today
Two down, one to go
Two down, one to go
Two down, one to go

V - Vineyard

A wild boar has entered in the vineyard
We'll burn his books and skin him alive
And we'll do him like all the rest
He never more will rise

You are Babylon the destroyer
You destroyed the truth with all of your lies
And will go down to the grave
And never more will rise

A wild boar has entered in the vineyard
We'll burn his books and skin him alive
And we'll do him like all the rest
He never more will rise

VI - Already home

I stand accused I'm beaten used and tired
They took on my words and threw them in the fire
As they cast me down there's something found within me
They can grind me to dust but life is just beginning

There is a truth that I'm feeling: love full of healing
Somewhere I've never known
As I surrender completely: pure and it's easy
Like I'm already home
I'm already home

Take me away I want to stay by the water
If I pass on won't you tell my sons and daughters
When I am gone you all must go on believing
Lay down you life 'cause love is what gives it meaning

There is a truth that I'm feeling: love full of healing
Somewhere I've never known
As I surrender completely: pure and it's easy
Like I'm already home
There is a place full of knowing: like it was snowing
Waking me up at last
And as the pages keep turning: yielded and yearning
Washing away the past

There is a truth that I'm feeling: love full of healing
Somewhere I've never known (Already home)
As I surrender completely: pure and it's easy
Like I'm already home (I'm already home)
There is a place full of knowing: like it was snowing
Waking me up at last (Already home)
And as the pages keep turning: yielded and yearning
Washing away the past(I'm already home)

Oh God
I seek the glory that's from you and from you only
Oh God
I seek the glory that's from you
I'm already home...

Heaven In My Heart


All of me is down and the waiting days are over
I must face the crowd on a dark and dreary day

But there's something burning inside me
There's something deep within my heart
Telling me go on through
I am here with you, no matter where you are
So in my hour of pain and sorrow
Please, Jesus, walk me through the dark
'Cause if I die with him I will rise again
With heaven in my heart
Oh God, help me to have heaven in my heart

My God he has a plan and I can do no other
God help me, here I stand, this is the only way

But there's something burning inside me
There's something deep within my heart
Telling me go on through
I am here with you, no matter where you are
So in my hour of pain and sorrow
Jesus will walk me through the dark
'Cause if I die with him I will rise again
With heaven in my heart

When he comes to find me I'll have my hand to the plow
Like he said his kingdom lives inside us here and now

Something's burning inside of me
There's something deep within my heart
'Cause when my Saviour died
I was crucified with him on the cross
So they come and they may kill me
But they cannot kill what's in my heart
'Cause when I died with him
I surely rose again
With heaven in my heart

I've got heaven in my heart
Heaven in my heart
And the world can't take it away

Oh God help me
Though I walk through hell give me heaven in my heart

The Conclusion

I- Randy's jam (Instrumental)

II - Long nights journey

Come out of her my people...

I saw the light of a thousand angels taking it on the chin
I saw a hundred demons raging suffering blights upon there skin
Just as the woman lay deep in quicksand ready to take the dive
I saw some men with tatooed foreheads
I saw them laying down their lives

But before she dessapeared I heard them cry
They set her on a wing bound for the sky

It was a long night's journey
A long night's journey into day
Such a long night's journey
A long night's journey into day

I saw an angel come down from heaven glorious as the sky
Crying that ' Babylon has fallen and every nation has drunk her wine'
My children will not be stooped within her tricked by her sorcery
It's time to come out of her my pople
It's time to set the captives free"

And then I saw a woman bright and clear
The marriage of the Lamb is almost here

It was a long night's journey
A long night's journey into day
Such a long night's journey
A long night's journey into day

III - Re-introduction (Instrumental)

IV- Come out of her

Giving up the life we had now Jesus is around us
Filled up with the Holy Ghost we're ready now to fly
But spiritual captivity it still is all around us
I believe the time has come to stand up and to cry

Come out her - There's a place where your spirit can fly
Come out of her
MY PEOPLE!

Not just from the Mother but the daughters of the harlot
Everything that comes from her it must be left behind
Her rituals and teaching smells of death and bloody scarlet
Like Martin did before us let the scripture be our guide

Come out of her - There's a place where your spirit can fly
Come out of her my people
Come out of her - The angel was suddenly cry
Come out of her my people
MY PEOPLE!

V - Clothed with the sun

Bravely, strongly
Watch the woman step into the light
Gleaming, leaning
On the arms of the one she loves

This is all I ask for, this is all I've wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I ask for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And to be there ever after
You know my heart you know it's true

She's clothed with the sun
My beloved is only one
And her glory has just begun
Can you see her with you eyes?

She's prepared herself just for him
(By the grace of God she's alive!)
She has overcome all her sin
(By the grace of God she's alive!)
Let the day of lamb begin
(By the grace of God she's alive!)
Can you see her glory rise?

VI - Closing

God can change the world with just one willing soul
Who will stand up for the truth and give him starring role
So come into the fullness and open up the door
Maybe it is you he's looking for
Maybe it is you he's looking for...

Am pus mana pe el, in sfarsit Ce-mi place cel mai mult este partea intrumentala, de altfel nici conceptul nu se lasa mai prejos, chiar educativ. Este o combinatie perfecta de pasaje din diferite peridoade ale prog-ului. Are un aer vintage desi in acelas timp suna foarte modern. Alterneaza in parti line/"agresive", sau mai exact enegice, de fapt tot albumul emana o energie fantastica, fara a fi intr-adevar agresiv, ci o segmentare perfecta a schimbarilor de ritmuri...

Pentru mine este unul dintre cele mai bune albume prog ale anului 2007 si unul din preferatele all-time.

Perfect de acord cu voi , o surpriza placuta spre mirarea mea chiar un album remarcabil al zilelor noastre. Un MUST HAVE al progului.

da e foarte bun, impreuna cu ? cel mai bun de la el. Mult mai lucrate si mai inchegate decit orice Spock's Beard din ultimii ani.

^ Asculta Spock's Beard-ul nou, e cu totul altceva. Morse se repeta de multi ani incoace si din punctul meu de vedere nu mai e amuzant. Am ascultat si asta cu scriptura, si ala cu semnul de intrebare, si mi se par albume compuse cu reteta in fata, cam atat.

Mie mi-a placut Testimony, mi s-a parut ca se aude entuziasmul unei noi formule cautand o forma de exprimare un pic diferita (dupa ce Snow imi paruse un pic obosit). Ideea mea e probabil ca Morse poate fi un tip grozav daca nu-l lasi prea mult intr-un singur loc, ci ii prezinti contexte noi - altfel se plafoneaza.

E adevarat ca multe teme si chiar pasaje se repeta pe albumele lui. Vad ca preferintele sunt diverse. Poate ca momentul in care ii descoperi muzica da senzatia maxima de placere, aceasta incepand sa se piarda treptat, dupa descoperirea repetitiilor.

Pe la inceputul verii am dat o tura prin o buna parte din albumele lui. Cele care m-au atins initial ("Sola Scriptura" si "One") raman in continuare in frunte iar cel mai slab mi-a parut "Is Not Too Late" iar dupa el "Testimony" care pe mine nu prea m-a impresionat.

Ramane un muzician foarte bun si care se cere urmarit.