5 Stars
Spock’s Beard (a name that all you Trekkies will understand) was formed in 1992 by the Morse brothers, Neal and Alan. They hit the headlines with their debut album ‘The Light’ in 1995, setting the template for Spock’s Beard with long epic songs—one album with four songs with precise and clever musicianship combined with glorious harmonies plus a dollop of humor.
Things rolled along nicely for ten years, not exactly setting the world of music on fire but growing in maturity all the while, with Neal Morse on lead vocals and keyboards, Alan Morse on guitar, Nick D’Virgilio on drums, and David Meros on bass.
Roy Okumoto was drafted in 1996 as the live keyboard player but has stayed and made a nest for himself in the band. He also gives the band an active focal point in the live show.
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Then after their sixth album, ‘Snow’ (2002), Neal Morse announced he was leaving the band as he had recently converted to Christianity and wanted to pursue his beliefs in his music without burdening the band.
As Neal Morse was not only the keyboard player/lead singer/chief songwriter, this was a profound blow. But the guys in the band reshuffled the pack, and Nick D’Virgilio stepped out from behind the drum kit to take over singer and front-man duties for live shows. (The Genesis of this idea could’ve come from another progressive rock band.) Spock’s Beard continued without a blip.
Despite dwindling album sales and attendance in the live arena, things carried on in their mirror-mirror world.
But then, in 2011, Nick D’Virgilio announced he was leaving the band.
Ted Leonard and Jimmy Keegan were drafted in on lead vocals and drums, respectively.
Spock’s Beard continued.
Until Jimmy Keegan left in 2006, which gave an opportunity for Nick D’Virgilio to come back in the fold as drummer and backing vocalist for all studio work, but he declined to go out on the road. Mike Thome was now filling the live drums stool.
More complicated than the storyline to the Mirror-Mirror episode of Star Trek.
This leads us to this album, ‘Noise Floor,’ released in 2018, received great media acclaim and moderate album sales. Writing credits are now pretty much spread throughout the band, with the songs much in keeping with the original theme. But a little shorter these days.
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Opener “To Breathe Another Day” is a great way of allowing all the elements of the band to show off their finer talents.
“Have We All Gone Crazy Yet” is the central track of the piece and flaunts a bouncy beat laced with humorous lyrics and soaring solos.
“Box of Spiders” is an intricate instrumental progressive rock masterpiece written by Roy Okumoto.
Tacked onto the end is a bonus disc of four songs bluntly called ‘Cutting Room Floor.’
In football parlance, Spock’s Beard will never win the Premiership but are a steady mid-table team worthy of your support, with moments of sheer brilliance to keep you coming back for more.
Written by Mott the Dog from the Bridge of the Enterprise on Pattaya’s Darkside.
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