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Feel Euphoria

a Studio Release
Release Year:
2003
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Added To Proggnosis on: 08 Jun 2003

Track Listing 

  1. Onomatopoeia (5:16)
  2. The Bottom Line (7:33)
  3. Feel Euphoria (7:20)
  4. Shining Star (4:06)
  5. East Of Eden, West Of Memphis (7:05)
  6. Ghosts Of Autumn (6:53)
  7. A Guy Named Sid:
    1. Intro (3:02)
    2. Same Old Story (4:25)
    3. You Don't Know (3:11)
    4. Judge (3:20)
    5. Sid's Boys Choir (1:09)
    6. Change (5:16)
  8. Carry On (5:20)

    Special Edition Tracks:

  9. Moth Of Many Flames (2:49)
  10. From The Messenger (7:27)

Performer Credits  


Ryo Okumoto
hammond and mellotron
Dave Meros
bass, vocals,
Alan Morse
electric guitars, vocals
Nick D'Virgilio
drums, percussion, vocals

Reviews


review by: MJBradyWell, this cd will be closely examined by reviewers, critics and progrockers everywhere, at least the ones that have followed this bands carreer. As many know this marks the bands first release without the writing, keyboard, and vocal talents of original member Neil Morse, who left the band for personal reasons.

Fortunately, as if by fate, a couple of the remaining members released some decent solo cds prior to the retirement of Morse, both keyman - Ryo Okumoto, and drummer - Nick D'Virgilio, have excercised their own personal musics in recent years with some good reviews to show for it. Albeit, their music was far away from the music of Spock's Beard, it did prove that they were able to carry out some good music both vocally as well as instrumentally.

Now, for the verdict, does Feel Euphoria rate with some of the Beard's better progressive moments? Well, they have decided to do the vocals by commitee, and the trademark Neil Morse sound is not here, as for the music, they still have enough of what remains to sound like the Beard we have come to know. But as has been the case for the bands last couple cds, they are leaning more towards the popier side rather than the progressive quirky music that was offered on the first half of their recording careers.

As far as I can say, this cd should almost be addressed as an entirely different band, with the same name of course, NM's obvious voice, and songwriting skills has left a void that is more than difficult to fill. Yet they do an admirable job of attempting to stay true to the combination of prog and pop that the band was so well known for. I always felt that the band had an odd combination of Beatles meets King Crimson with just a hint of Gentle Giant added for good measure. And as time has past the quirkiness of GG has all but left the bands sounds, and here even the heavier prog elements of KC are disappearing, leaving the influnces of White Album Beatles in place. Whether this is to your liking or not depends on your tastes in the bands many musical personalities. My feelings are that they may have alienated some of their faithfull, while inspiring a new generation of listeners with this cd.

I found that listening patiently would ultimately reveal some intrigue, and it did, though the truely progressive moments are here, they are few and inbetween. I can only imagine the difficulty that the band encountered in attempting to compose, as well as arrange new music without the creative mind of Morse at the helm, for this reason, I can easily give the cd high marks. This is very good stuff, not in the tradition of say; The Light, Beware of Darkness, Day for Night. But definetly a good beginning for what will be a new sound for the band known as Spock's Beard.

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