The Kindness Of Strangers O Fallon MO

The Kindness Of Strangers

Spock's Beard

Metal Blade Records, 1998

REVIEW BY: Duke Egbert

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 07/19/2003

For being someone who likes progressive rock, I don't alwayslike progressive rock.

All right, now, put away the funny jacket whose sleeves tie inthe back and let me explain that one. I like progressive rock'scomplexity, its willingness to take risks and try new things, andthe use of classical instruments and motifs with rock tempos. WhatI don't like is the overblown pretentiousness of 24-minute longsongs with nine parts (usually subdivided with i. those annoying little outline things that ii. no one outside of an English term paper has iii. ever used unless they were iv. just neurotic). Fact is, prog rock rides a thin linebetween self-indulgence and obfuscation, and most bands don't do itwell. (For example, don't get me started on Yes. We could be hereall night.)

Spock's Beard, on the other hand, has gotten it right for a gooddeal of their recording career. In fact, in my opinion, The Kindness Of Strangers, their third CD, was the firsttime they did get it exactly right. While it still has someprogressive rock cliches (long songs with subtitles, enthusiasticuse of the Hammond organ, and quirky lyrics), it's also a tight,well-performed, and intelligent piece of music.

As always, the musical performances are without peer. The lineupof Neal Morse, Alan Morse, Dave Meros, Ryo Okumoto, and NickD'Virgilio are just plain great. The production is tight, the mixis perfect…so it all really comes down to the songs, doesn'tit? On The Kindness Of Strangers, the songs are pretty damn fine."The Good Don't Last" is a nice intro with a couple of funny lines,but the real kick in the pants to get the album moving is theintense groove of "In The Mouth Of Madness," with its blisteringkeyboard solos, jangly guitar, and intense distorted vocals(somewhat reminiscent of ELP). From there, "Cakewalk On EasyStreet,""June" and "Strange World" continue the brilliance. The CDwraps up with "Harm's Way" -- kind of the weak sister on this CD,though still pretty tasty -- and the brilliant, brilliant "Flow,"where Spock's Beard proves that yes, they can do a long multi-partsong and not fall off the tightrope.