The Great Adventure

I felt like this album had more of a “theme” with the actual music. The guitar was a huge stand out and was absolutely my favorite part. This album is also heavier which I greatly enjoyed and felt was missing with the last album.

I gave it 3 stars because of the musicianship. Has it’s moments, but it’s not the beast “Similitude” is. IMO I’ve been a big Neal Morse/Mike Portnoy fan since Spock’s Beard and Dream Theater.

Impressive. That's all you can say after seeing what Neal & the gang accomplished. I had my doubts when I heard they were doing another 2 disc saga. At first listen I thought it did not measure up and not as many Eric 5 star solos. Only took another listen to realize it had even stronger material as far as dynamic energy and vocal gems + Eric is just as great in his axework. Its just blended more into other stellar musicmanship. Its amazing how Neal can combine heavy prog with chorus hooks and catchy melodies. I thought Vanity Fair was odd but soon was a favorite with the catchy "Cardboard People" chant and the creative carnival solo on the end. This album is just solid. SOAD had a few songs I could skip - but this is all great stuff. You can hear new sounds & combinations & vocal harmonies that set it apart from SOAD- yet you can shuffle the 2 and it sounds like they were made to merge. Probably my only complaint would be that if you like to shuffle your albums- these discs arent made to transition nicely from song to song. Neal needs to put some airy stuff between songs for playlist lovers :). Highlights so far- Overture 1, Welcome to the World, Hey Ho, Child of Wonder, Great Despair, Vanity Fair, Freedom Calling, A Love that Never Dies, ...

Yet another masterpiece Neal bringing the multitudes to the Lord Best band in the world for the last 10 years

This album is nothing short of phenomenal! It’s definitely the darker version of similitude of a dream but from a different perspective. Each of the transitions are great from each song to the next with multiple themes brought back from similitude. The good thing here is that the band doesn’t overdo the callbacks but makes them even more fresh while combining them with each of the new sections.

I love Neil, but these albums are so long that it is too much to focus on. I love sola with four songs, And I like ONE. I feel I should have to live in a cabin all alone to listen to these

Another masterpiece by the band. A great follow up to SOAD. Love the album from beginning to end!

Feel-good prog rock that speaks to the adult soul, and fills it with a sense of life. Top three cuts are The Great Adventure, The Great Despair, and A Love That Never Dies.

Thanks, boys, for another memorable prog adventure!

Similitude of the dream is one of my all-time favorite records, so following up that masterpiece would be no small task. The band never sounded better and delivers in this follow-up record. How lucky I feel to have two more hours of great music to listen to. Can’t wait to see them live in March.