Morse, Neal: Testimony 2 – Live in Los Angeles (CD/DVD)

As the original leader of L.A.'s Spock's Beard, Neal Morse was a crucial member of the 1990s progressive rock resurgence. Showcasing exceptional skills as a vocalist/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist (he's a damn fine drummer, too), Spock's Beard was arguably the best prog band of its time. Around the turn of the century, Morse decided to leave the band and focus on a much more religiously focused solo career. Several months ago, he released the incredible Testimony 2, a direct continuation from his 2003 magnum opus, Testimony. Recently, Morse released Testimony 2 – Live in Los Angeles, a live CD/DVD companion set to the album. Despite less than engaging sights, it's a terrific collection, and fans of Morse shouldn't hesitate to check it out.

In 2002, while finishing Spock's Beard's masterpiece, Snow, Morse felt a calling to leave the group in order to focus on a solo career that would combine his devotion to progressive rock with his devotion to Christianity.

While his departure undeniably changed the dynamic of Spock's Beard (as well as angered many fans), the group has been quite successful artistically in its second phase. Meanwhile, Morse has released several outstanding solo records in the last decade; Testimony was the first post-Spock's Beard release, and it contained the first five parts of his autobiographical journey. Almost a decade later, Morse put chapters six through eight together for Testimony 2, and like its predecessor, it weaves religious sentiment into beautiful, catchy melodies and astoundingly complex music. On Testimony 2 – Live in Los Angeles, Morse performs the entire album (as well as several other epic pieces) with great precision and passion.

Joining Morse is the original "Testimony" band which appeared on both Testimony albums; perhaps the most famous member is drummer and co-Transatlantic eccentric, Mike Portnoy (who, like Morse, also founded one of today's biggest prog bands, Dream Theater). Also on the stage are bassist Randy George and the father/son duo of Eric and Nathan Brenton. The musicianship is impeccable and the musicians are highly enthusiastic and excited, making the performance equally pristine and welcoming.

As for the setlist, well, you can simply check below. The first set consists of Morse solo classics, including "Lifeline," "Leviathan," "Sola Scriptura," and a medley of songs from the original Testimony. This initial bunch of songs would be enough to fulfill the expectations of an entire concert (most of the songs are long), but of course, Morse is quite the showman, and thus he and his band only need to take a brief intermission before returning to perform Testimony 2 in its entirety.

Honestly, not much needs to be said about the actual replication; these are dedicated masters of their craft, and so, save for a few different timbres and improvisations, every note is identical to its studio counterpart. What's truly special about this collection is seeing and hearing how overjoyed and emotionally involved Morse is in his music; he frequently jumps around and smiles as he plays, and most songs are complemented by a joke and a story. The most poignant moment comes when Morse recollects the inspiration for "Jayda," a touching tale of how his daughter was born with a defect in her heart, only to have it heal itself miraculously. I saw Morse perform in New York in May, and just about every member of the audience had a tear in his or her eye during the song; months later, watching it on television, it's still quite affective.

Really, Testimony 2 – Live in Los Angeles is almost perfect; however, seeing as the DVD is responsible for auditory and visual entertainment, a flaw does stand out. Considering the complete lack of set design, the awkward close-ups of the band, and the infrequent shots and sounds of the audience, it feels a bit like watching a rehearsal for a show rather than the actual show. Granted the music sounds fantastic, but it usually feels a bit too isolated, as if the band is performing to an empty room. This is even more noticeable when compared to the simultaneously released Transatlantic CD/DVD box set, More Never is Enough, which couples the top-notch sounds with plenty of spectacle on stage and applause off stage. While it may be unfair to compare the two, seeing as both products contain the same two musicians (Morse and Portnoy), identical package layout, and the same materials (3 CDs and 2 DVDs), they feel like two halves of a collective whole, and thus it's hard not to judge them against each other.

All in all, Testimony 2 – Live in Los Angeles is a must own for fans of Morse, and really, the genre in general. The main reason why Morse is such an incredible artist is that he brilliantly blends religion into phenomenal songwriting and musicianship. Even genre fans who are wholly disinterested in Christianity can still find plenty to love about his magnificent melodies and complicated compositions. Rather than openly preach to convert, Morse simply shares his personal stories and heartfelt enthusiasm, and just about every listener can identify with his spiritual freedom and humanistic messages. Morse represents exactly what an artist should be: he is entirely in love with his music and his inspiration. He crafts masterworks so that he can share his joys with others, and this collection is a great reflection of that. It's truly endearing to watch him play.

Disc 1:
1. Lifeline
2. Leviathan
3. The Separated Man
4. Sola Scriptura

Disc 2:
1. Seeds of Gold
2. Testimony 1 – Part 5
3. Reunion

Disc 3:
Testimony 2:
Mercy Street
Overture No. 4
Time Changer
Jayda
Nighttime Collectors
Time Has Come Today
Jesus' Blood
The Truth Will Set You Free
Chance Of A Lifetime
Jesus Bring Me Home
Road Dog Blues
It's For You
Crossing Over/Mercy Street Revisited

DVD 1:
T2 Concert Part 1 Plus Neal Morse REUNION with Spock's Beard

DVD 2:
T2 Concert Part 2 Plus Tour Documentary

Added: January 21st 2012
Reviewer: Jordan Blum
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
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Language: english

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