Neal Morse has prodigious output, not only significant in volume, but quality as well. Even if I crave the extreme and dark, progressive rock is always welcome as comfort food for my soul: the weird and wonderful where formulae lay shattered as intrepid musicians embark on sonic adventures where dragons live. Well, maybe not always that last part. Of these adventurous musicians, few resonate as well with me as Neal Morse as I have gotten familiar with his work.
Although I like the mind-blowing complexity of prog, where musical lines weave among each other like a 6-highway interchange, it is the interplay of music and deeper concepts that is most attractive. Not all concepts stir me, but Neal Morse’s projects resonate with me, likely due to the infusion of his Christian faith into every part of his output since his conversion in 2002. Depending on the project, faith varies in its prominence, often pondering being in the world and not of the world. Today’s project, Neal Morse Band, takes a less evangelical approach, but uses a classical Christian story line with a modern makeover. This project features frequent collaborators of Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater on the drums, Randy George on bass, Eric Gillette on guitars and Bill Hubauer on keys and vocals.
“L.I.F.T.,” which apparently stands for anything you want it to (I personally landed on names of four of my kids), lands in that rare space that is enjoyable at the first listen, deep enough to continue exploring, and with lyrics that touch unspoken parts of the soul. It lands for me like a philosophical rock opera replete with overture beginning and extended instrumental wanderings to thread the work together. With subsequent listens, even the most disparate parts pull together showing how the whole journey is intentionally crafted, even if it sounds spontaneous.
I see this as one continuous musical statement where the song order matters and a single song on its own loses power disconnected from the whole. The flow is seamless from track to track where each episode is clear in purpose. Without any half-hour opuses in the list and only one track over 10 minutes, it is a relatively accessible album, but for best results it should be listened straight through, which is a little hard in this fast paced-world to find your 70-minutes for prog theater.
The concept is the key. Lyrics, imagery, instrumentation, tonal keys, and tempo all reflect the prodigal son journey where the protagonist starts in wonder of the world he sees, becomes disillusioned and withdraws. What I find particularly touching is how there is a connection between injury, sin, and separation (“Hurt People” and “Withdrawal”) and the impacts on our mental health (“Shame About My Shame”). The discovery and resolution in the latter tracks is quite triumphant leaving a euphoric atmosphere.
I like the songwriting better than the two previous Neal Morse outings I’ve covered. Although there is the underlying Kansasian flavor with the knotted musical lines and mixture chords, there is a wide range of dynamics and styles from the melancholic beginning songs “Fully Alive” and “I Still Belong” to the angsty “Hurt People” to the soul-touching “Shame About My Shame.” There are times where they get into jam session mode, but they aren’t all the same such as the baroque meet prog metal episode in “Hurt People” compared to the “Freebird” ending of “Love All Along.” One of my favorite stops along the way is “Contemplation,” a neo-classical keyboard piece that sounds like an assignment for a graduate music composition class.
The only drawback is the closer goes on just a little too long and I have caught myself leaving before the end of the final act. However, taking the time to listen with lyrics also connects all the various lyrical themes and musical motives through the album. It is a good ending, but it can try the patience.
“L.I.F.T” is a beautiful work and pretty easy to listen to without being easy listening. It has bouts of melancholy, anger, discovery, and triumph through this journey of self-discovery that could even be part of your story. I know it is for me. It kindles in me a joy of discovery in life and reminding me of the love God the Father has for each one of us, a message that I need as I heal from my own hurts. If prog is anywhere in your vocabulary and you enjoy mulling over the deeper things of life, this is a must have!
Rating: 9.5/10
Written by Sean Bailey
Tracklist
1 – Beginning
2 – Fully Alive
3 – I Still Belong
4 – Gravity’s Grip
5 – Hurt People
6 – The Great Withdrawal
7 – Contemplation
8 – Shame About My Shame
9 – Reaching
10 – Carry You Again
11 – Shattered Barricade
12 – Fully Alive Pt. 2
13 – Love All Along
Neal Morse Band is:
Randy George – bass
Mike Portnoy – drums
Eric Gillette – guitars
Neal Morse – keyboards, guitar, percussion, lead and backing vocals
Bill Hubauer – vocals, piano, organ, and synth
Release Date: Feb. 27, 2026
Record Label: InsideOut Music
Discography:
The Grand Experiment (2015)
The Similitude of a Dream (2016)
The Great Adventure (2019)
Innocence & Danger (2021)
L.I.F.T. (2026)
Social Media: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Bandcamp
Video for Fully Alive
Video for Hurt People