Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis of SPOCK'S BEARD: THE LIGHT | The Daily Doug (Episode 671)

[@runciblemoon1194]

First song on their first album. Heck of a mission statement.

[@headtoheadsw]

Please do The Great Nothing. That is Spock's Beard's masterpiece, and a classical composer, like yourself, will have a LOT to umpack.

[@ryangilby]

This was a great thing to watch. Most of my Spock’s Beard experience has been in a vacuum, without any input from friends about it. I appreciate the musical and lyrical analysis you do.

[@alexandreavelar9696]

What I love about this era of Neal's work is exactly that it's not too extended in the parts, it still carries the delight of a "pop" song (or several songs haha) inside a bigger composition. I really appreciate his work!

[@LSchulz1414]

The guitar work is incredible in this one. What a piece of music…

[@dennismoore3383]

I can't say anything about the song that others haven't already mentioned. But I am always amazed that "The Light" came out when Neal was 35 years old and Alan Morse was even older. The combined discography of Neal's career is mind blowing when you consider it started at age 35. Add in Mike Portnoy recruiting Neal for his new side project (Transatlantic) and all the amazing music that resulted from their friendship. There are many rabbit holes to fall into between those two guys. I'm sure glad I did.

[@adamelliott18]

I've heard of this band but never listened to them until now. Wow, right up my alley. Thanks Doug! 😊

[@tomhill9445]

Get Spocks Beard V. It's got it all.

[@ericolson326]

Transatlantic's "Stranger in Your Soul" is (are?) my favorite 26 minutes of prog.

[@GustavoGFirmino]

Great to see Spock's Beard on your channel !!! Trust me, you will LOVE to listen to these EPIC songs from Transatlantic - All of the Above - Stranger in Your Soul - The Whirlwind (full CD is 1 song really, long listen but totally worth it) You won't regret it. After you listen to All of the above, I am sure you will get addicted to it like you are with Dream Theater now and you'll want to listen to other epics! Ps: Make sure to listen to Live versions!!! The execution is phenomenal!

[@BanniNL1]

Dude look in the background albums on display 😊

[@TerryKrysinski]

@@BanniNL1 Sure,but--has he listened /reacted to them at all? T

[@eyesofchild]

My favorite Beard song. It was my own intro to them, as with many. Also “Go the Way you Go”. I love how hungry, alive, and underproduced they are here. It only accentuates the message of the song to go find yourself using all of what ya got, even if it’s scrappy. Polished Morse for me worked best in Transatlantic’s “Stranger in Your Soul” which offers another look at self-actualization through a more mature lens. Thanks for doing the SB!!!

[@dannovarius]

This song always makes me happy for some reason. A lot of the Spocks stuff just has some real funk to it that makes me smile and want to wiggle about.

[@Mtaalas]

Spock's Beard is awesome! Not enough people remember them or know about them. I came across them purely by accident ~20 years ago when scrolling through (sorry to say) torrent sites and decided to download a discography... I now own all of their albums.

[@catblackburn7486]

This song was my first introduction to Spock's Beard, and I still absolutely love it. And while it's true that the sound is definitely dated and a bit amateurish compared to Neal's more familiar (later) works, it's still an audacious and powerful piece of music that accomplishes exactly what it set out to achieve. Following along with your own analysis, I agree that it's about someone trying on different roles and identities to see which one they truly embody, which is represented in the haphazard and constantly changing musical styles. The transitions aren't always neat and clean, which could be brushed off as amateur songwriting, but also works thematically as our protagonist rigidly rebranding themselves when a particular identity doesn't work out for them. At least, that's one way I like to think of it! Always love to see more SB on the channel. Here's hoping they show up again soon!

[@egroegmcdonald9870]

While I may not subscribe to Neal's Christian faith, I do relate to his constant spiritual search. Which is a constant in both his sectarian and non-sectarian music. Thank you Doug.

[@davidbarker77]

And for those of us who do subscribe to Neal’s faith, we like him too. 😁

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I would have no problem with Neal's religious convictions if he would learn to shut up about them in his songs. But the man is doing nothing else but preaching since he left Spock's Beard. It's so tedious and infuriating because his music is not affected by him narrowing down his lyrical topics.

[@descantiano]

Every beginning holds its own magic - it's so true with this piece of music as well. I like the home-grown, explorative vibe and even the production, it will probably remain my favorite beard song forever, even though (or rather just because) most of it is rather rough and unrefined. The musicianship is already so strong and you can feel it just pours out from the heart. Interesting interpretation of the lyrics, thanks! Musically, you did not even mention the little recurring themes (at least two of them) glueing all the very different sections together. That kind of became Neals trademark of doing these epics, pick a theme from a different, seemingly unrelated section and put it into another section almost unnoticed.

[@heytallman]

I love this song! A few facts that I'm sure sure people have pointed out: The original lyric for the hook was "20th century miracle man" but they thought it sounded too close to King Crimson so they changed it to "all of this in one man" I like the current version better! Originally there were lyrics in the last verse where Neal laughs but he got caught up in how silly this but was and just couldn't help but laugh. He liked it so he just kept it like that. I believe Alan's guitar solo at the end was kept as the exact recording as the original demo because they liked how it sounded and couldn't replicate the sound 100%

[@gerarddip]

Knew this only because I read the CD sleeve when I got the album for Christmas Lol

[@enricopaoli1183]

The first time I listened to Spock's Beard first album I couldn't believe my ears. King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, BillyJoel, Beatles, Kansas all together. Amazing.

[@ericsundt9940]

Neal Morse produces such great material on a consistent basis. It'll be a long time before you run that well dry. A long-play reaction to Similitude of a Dream and/or The Great Adventure would be awesome.

[@ericsundt9940]

Haha... and then the comments at the end that you already did this on Patreon. I guess I spoke too soon. Hopefully that (and more) can make it to KZbin eventually, too.

[@TheAsphyx666]

Yes, yes, yes! So glad you got to this.

[@williamschrom1584]

Like a true gem, multifaceted.

[@TheAnalyst79]

You would love The Doorway from the next album

[@MrBlond777]

Great reaction! This is truly a great and important song from the Beard but I really hope someday you react to The Great Nothing from their album V. It’s one of their best imo. Also Snow is brilliant too. Anything from that album is a must. And just a year after that Neal released Testimony which is also equally incredible. Thx 😊

[@charlieknowlton7003]

That effect on his voice is similar to what King Crimson did with Greg Lakes voice on 20th Century Schizoid Man.

[@dannovarius]

And the original lyrics for the chorus of In one Man was a nod to that song too (something roughly like 21st century Wonder Man. It's a long time since I heard the demo for this song).

[@DaveStubbs-bq6kg]

As always Doug… love your analysis and expertise on these gems. Btw…. just watched your interview with Neal Morse and it was fabulous! I consider Neal the Brian Wilson of Prog!! : ) Oh, and a quick post script- a few months ago, I was walking into a medical building here in Los Angeles area a few months ago, and I bumped into Neal’s brother Alan- the brilliant guitar player for Spock’s Beard. He was heading into a yoga session! Told him I was a huge fan!!

[@naturalverities]

John Entwhistle also played French horn in addition to bass. This song has more hooks than my tackle box! Reminds me a bit of The Tangent, who I highly recommend.

[@Skwidmon]

My first exposure to the band was when they opened for Dream Theeater in '99. They opened with 'At the End of the Day' and I've been a huge fan since the 5th note. Since then I've been lucky enough to hear a great many of their epics performed live, including The Great Nothing, which deserves a spot here. I call Spock's the greatest band you've never heard.

[@zura_21]

Next please, The Neal Morse Band - Beyond The Years

[@The4thDensity]

Great song from Spock's Beard but the The Doorway was always my favourite by them.

[@devynbarat7777]

The Doorway was the first Spock's Beard I ever heard.

[@everlastingarms3065]

Indeed. The Doorway is their "Firth of Fifth" from the piano intro onward.

[@stevenbarnes4002]

I absolutely love this song.

[@jpirard]

The sounds are fantastic

[@rogerhennie8939]

At last. There are a couple of marvellous tracks on Every SB album. This is One of them.

[@brunooliveira6975]

Doug's face trough out this song was perfect. All the perfect reactions that the song deserves.

[@loftlegacy]

An epic. Once heard them play it live with NDV singing and it was utterly magnificent.

[@lucasimmons075]

Only finished the first 2 parts here but man is this good. Never listened to this band but I'm sensing a big influence from early Kansas and that's a huge compliment in my books. Always great to see bands that kept the spirit of prog alive after the 70s

[@Duncan_Idaho_Potato]

I really hope you get to "The Great Nothing" at some point. It's my favorite Spock's Beard epic after "At The End of the Day". And it's no coincidence that they're from the same album. The albums V and Snow are peak Spock's Beard, IMHO. They've done some interesting stuff after Neal left, but those two albums were the pinnacle, I think.

[@rogerhennie8939]

Agree about ‘At the end of the day’.

[@fabioriato]

I think X is right up there with V and Snow.

[@leandronc]

Yes, more Neal Morse! Please do The Great Nothing as well, it's so good!

[@forentertainment3259]

Oh man, love this one

[@halestormtv]

Same. Been waiting all week for this one

[@BenA718]

@@halestormtv Double-same!

[@shyshift]

I saw them play The Light @ Progfest’95 in Los Angeles and they were absolutely amazing. They also did a killer version of Beware Of Darkness by George Harrison in fact they titled their second album after his song. Warning ⛔️ Doug if you ever feel like playing the epic called The Water be aware there’s some very blatant F Bombs in that. Definitely before Neal Morse became a Christian.

[@APlotMusic]

Hey, I was at that show as well! My first prog festival. Talk about a virtually unknown band coming out and blowing the place away!! (Good warning about The Water, too, but I don't think Doug would ever do that one on here, just too vicious and profane in that middle section.)

[@JustOneWillingSoul]

Sit there with your eyes closed and watch the mind without identifying with it no matter what. Eventually it will become clear that you are not the character but Everything and Everyone. At this moment, the visual field with eyes closed will turn from darkness to light. That's what the song is referencing. Cheers! Always a pleasure!

[@BanniNL1]

Okay but remember, after this Ryo is Rock n Roll!

[@marcusbengtson8570]

The first and the best. According to me. Very KAIPA! Blends the new prog, the neoprog with everything else! Awesome! Thank you , Doug, for reacting to this.

[@АнтонЧернецов-д6о]

glad you did this reaction first) it' an epic that starts all epics) but The Great Nothing is THE "epic to end all epics") it's a must as well! but first - Go The Way You Go) as for Transatlantic, start with All Of The Above, and i must warn about you about Stranger In Your Soul, which is a popular request.. This "song" and Duel With The Devil, the other epic on Bridge Across Forever, are like hemispheres of one quasi-concept album, sharing many themes. I recommend to listen to both of them and start with Duel.

[@resynthesizer4565]

Dude ! You do Spock's Beard ! Sweet

[@rdevicsaint]

I prefer the version on the live album "The Beard Is Out There" with Ryo Okumoto added on Hammond organ and additional mellotron. Please do "The Great Nothing' to my ears it is the best thing Spock Beard and Neal Morse have ever done. Magnificent.

[@fabioriato]

Oh, the one that started it all! And we sure can already see (hear) everything that made Spock's Beard unique: from Neal's penchant for long-form mutil-part tracks and quirky composition, to Alan's unimitable guitar sound made more intriguing by his hand picking style, the cutting "Fenderbacker" tone from Dave's bass and finally Nick's mix of excellent drumming and high-pitched backing vocals. Only to be then complemented by Ryo's keyboard wizardry. While there's good reason this one was recommended from a historical point of view, you should really take the time to listen to _The Great Nothing,_ even if it's on your spare time out of the camera. This song is the "epic of all epics" when it comes to SB music. And I'd also highly recommend that you check the entirety of Neal's solo album _Sola Scriptura,_ which I believe is the pinnacle of his career. That one could be done for your Patreon if that's the case, or maybe react to its opening track _The Door_ here, then proceed to listen to the rest of it on your own, I'm sure you won't regret it.

[@NorthWolfe]

Just before you start, this has to be the most underrated Album of all time. "The Beard Is Out" shows what a true masterpiece should be like, perfect music, composition, and lyrics. It is a shame that personal issues kept their output scarce and obscure. They could, should, have been at least as big as Dream Theatre, Cheers. PS: Thank you so much for divulging this masterpiece to the masses.

[@NorthWolfe]

Guess I got the wrong album out. I suggest you do the live version from "The Beard Is Out". More musicians, better recording, and better integration of the various sections, IMO. Also, the guitars and keyboard take much more of a front stage, and his vocals sound much richer. The guitar work is just out of this world in the live version. As you said, this recording either sounds old or a bit too flat.

[@HollowGolem]

@@NorthWolfe Yeah, the live versions from _The Beard is Out There_ is spectacular. It's my preferred way to listen to the tunes off their first album, because the early production isn't that amazing, but the composition and performance is top notch. "The Water" is also great.

[@arpeggioblues5924]

IMHO.. the triumvirate of 21st centrury Progrock is these top notch bands : "Spock's Beard / Dream Theater / Porcupine Tree" bar none, these are the prime movers of the style. IMHO

[@EixtremeDrummer]

These guys are complete musicians, specially Neal Morse and Nick D'Virgilio.

[@svartmetall]

Do like me a bit of SB...'V' is one of my favourite modern prog albums. Doug - I'd love to see you react to 'The Great Nothing' :)

[@kamukameh]

I was so in delight when I found Spock's Beard, they are such an amazing prog-band! Here's a song of mine (an improvisation with lyrics I wrote as a teenager in the 00's): kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5vagWSgZbqkoc0

[@stevematalavage3532]

Hope you get to Jaws of Heaven at some point. One of my favorite epics of the Beard.

[@arpeggioblues5924]

YAY.. finally some serious "Spock's Beard" (only been waiting for over a year.. thanks Doug..) You MUST do the rest of the "the Light" those four pieces tie in to the full story.. you just finished Act I... three more 'must here songs from Spock's Beard "Into the Mouth of Madness" "Gibberish" "June"

[@takethetimecollectibles]

Like the band, this song has evolved a lot over time. It started out epic, but only got better. I highly recommend checking out the "Spock's Beard & Neal Morse - The Light - Live at 3RP Festival 2008" version for yourself. Also, if you have not already done so, you MUST do a full album reaction / review of SNOW. Thanks as always for your entertaining and informative reactions. Have a great day brother!

[@tomhill9445]

One of my favorite bands. I found them when V was new. Thanks to the old YESWORLD chatroom. Actually it was Transatlatic first but that sparked my interest in the members other stuff. So The Flowerkings were found also. Perhaps my favorite band.

[@michaelhintz6187]

More Spock’s Beard! Song…. A Guy Named Sid.

[@АнтонЧернецов-д6о]

A Flash Before My Eyes!!

[@mikewright3614]

I see similitude and great adventure! When will you be doing those albums?? More Neal Morse band please!

[@porgy29]

I got into spocks beard a bit later in their career, around V and Snow and discovered this as I was working backward through their catalog. On one hand, this clearly showed where they had room to improve, but on the other hand it demonstrated their great agility to come up with great hooks in a prog context and paint a picture with different sonic colors. It is a bit rapid fire at points and some of the themes of the song could maybe have lingered a little longer (even if maybe that requiered cutting one or two) but the cores of most of the parts are so solid.

[@JohnBrown-no4od]

Hopefully, you'll review The Great Nothing at some point in the future. It really is special.

[@HazardGoat]

When you get a chance, check out The Water from the same album. You get to hear a pre-born again Neal dropping all of the f-bombs. That song also has a heavy Kevin Gilbert influence.

[@claudioas]

very Yes

[@FRANKCARFORADESIGN]

Dunno why, but I'm getting a Styx "Paradise Theater" vibe in the first 5 minutes... One of my favorite SB songs, btw.

[@tamaspolyak5564]

Others have already said almost everything, but you said you didn't like the effects on Neal's voice. It was an open homage to King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man. As others said, Neal's original lyrics said "21st century miracle man", but Alan didn't like it and suggested "All of this..." instead, hence his credit on the song. his only credit until the Day for Night album.

[@rafael_moreira]

Just great, Doug. For more Spock's Beard/Neal Morse content! Also, Id love you to react to East Coast Racer from Big Big Train... a modern prog jewel imo.

[@runtt01]

I will go out on a limb and say that distorted vocal is an ode to King Crimson's "Twentieth Century Schizoid Man".

[@reactions4u438]

Doug has got to check out neal morse band's "similitude of a dream" and "the great adventure". I am certain he would love it a lot

[@Chromee]

one of the backbones when prog born again

[@williamschrom1584]

Oh, and by the way, love the outro.

[@gthobaben]

Not their best, but what a start for a band. All the ingredients are there, but he works out the proportions over time.

[@ChrisDidGood]

You need to listen to Moon Safari. They released their first album in 10 years a few months ago but I would recommend the song Sugar Band from their previous album called Himlabacken vol. 1.

[@sidecardog5244]

Try The Water. Especially the F+ck You section. Very un Morse like. The only song he ever did with cussing (and it's quite a lot:) Could be wrong, but it sounds like he is exploring the Freudian self (ego, id, and the superego). The superego is the light.

[@garywright7686]

I always felt that the "People's Garden" lyrics were a play on "peoples guarding - guarding peoples" - but that's just me.

[@garyvanremortel5218]

I am Senor Velasco. I drink my milk with Tabasco...You should do a listen to England's Poisoned Youth, based on A Picture of Dorian Gray.

[@raymondregis6219]

I agree with your interpretation. Many of his lyrics with SB feel like abstract images with vague links to recognizing a higher power. I prefer the Healing Color of Sound as SB epics go. Nothing like a bit of synethesia.

[@sidecardog5244]

The Mommy Comes Back section is such a pleasure to hear (and see:)

[@ryanb1617]

Please do The Water from the same album. It's even better.

[@ThomasPMorgan]

Gotta try the milk with Tabasco, must be a real kick. Liked the reaction to "At the End of the Day" also, one of their best songs. Need to do "From the Darkness" from the album X next. Also, you must do Big Big Train again, either the "East Coast Racer" or "Victorian Brickwork", both have great horn accompaniment

[@fabioriato]

I second the recommendation for _From the Darkness,_ but would like to add _Jaws of Heaven_ too. X is such an underrated album.

[@awaken77]

I am a senior Valasco, i drink my milk with tabasco - that's the goofiest line ever

[@NPazable]

I feel like whatever was supposed to be after "stand back..." Before Neal just laughed instead was slightly more goofy, unfortunately we'll never know

[@ethanrine8869]

For your next Iron Maiden reaction, please do Aces High!!

[@TheHumanFactor_gp]

@Doug Helvering, you could give a try to some music from Presto Ballet. Very good american Prog band

[@quag311]

Man in the Mountain giving me mad Wii Sports theme vibes. 🤣🤣

[@alexandreavelar9696]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Beatles-esque flavour to some parts, which remained through the years in Neal's style.

[@adityoarihatmoko5933]

Waiting for Neal Morse Testimony Live reaction.....

[@yves6180]

I suggest you the album, Double dimple from Triumvirat and the album Moonmadness from Camel

[@davidtaylor9008]

The first two Spock's Beard albums were the first albums I ever ordered off the internet (directly from the band), so they'll always have a bit of a special place in my own personal musical history. The Light is definitely the standout track from the first album, and while it isn't as polished as many of Neal Morse's later longer songs, it's got a raw energy and sense of urgency that's lacking from some of his later, more formulaic pieces. This album really misses Ryo's keyboards, though.

[@ianwhite6812]

Dear old Robert "Mow-g" turns in his grave every time someone talks about his "Moo-g" synths...

[@devolve42]

I triple-dog dare you to do Allan Holdsworth's "Devil Take the Hindmost" or "Sixteen Men of Tain". Quadruple-dog even.

[@coltenbystrom9973]

I know that a little while ago you reacted to a JoJo’s theme song and I would love to hear your reaction on an impressively well-some fanmade opening by a guy named Nico Bellisario. The opening is called Go Beyond and will be listed as a JoJolion OP. If possible, I think you would love this piece, especially if you liked Giorno’s Theme (Il Vento D’oro).

[@HollowGolem]

Yeah, the production on this debut album isn't great. Thankfully, between their first two studio albums, they put out a live album called _The Beard is Out There_ that, for me, has the definitive version of every song it features (except their cover of Hendrix' "Fire," I guess) There's even video of the show, so you can see them as they were in the mid 90's and what kind of live shows they put on in early days.

[@bartcusveller6132]

About time

[@LACaradoc]

Hey, Doug, is that a Virgin Steele album behind you?

[@plexyglass429]

Id love if you did fleeting joy from red dead redemption 2. That game has other songs like American venom May I stand unshaken And "braithwaite manor theme" That I'd absolutely love to hear your thoughts on

[@franckb8279]

Masterpiece. Love their first album, when they were still creative and not full of prog clichés.

[@filipezanini413]

You should react to "the riddle" by nik kershaw. It is one complex pop sing from the 80's. Perhaps you already know it. Totally unconventional melody

[@jakelm4256]

Spock’s Beard is corny. But I sure do enjoy the hell out of them.

[@joakimskurk]

Is this from a youtube video? Audio quality of the song is really bad.

[@deborahhuckstep2379]

Sounds like, to me anyway, a combo of Yes and Kansas.

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

Spocks Beard? Are the named after the Evil Spock from an....alternate dimension???....in the OG Star Trek show?

[@patrickcampbellhatesthesoup]

Yes.

[@Ahuka]

The instrumental work is good, but they could use a good singer.

[@AmandaBrecc]

OMG he's a doctor too. Nothing against that. Different topic. OPERATION MNDCRIME. Did he really know what was going to be on the platter today, lets think. Just in the "Revolution Calling" I used to trust the media lyric, that was then, who is the media today? Is Doug media? Lyric, "everybody using everybody making that SALE, who is everybody now? How many Dr. X are there NOW? When did music change? do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-and back to do do-ne-tu-mi fa-lo-mi-tu and back to dough.

[@AmandaBrecc]

Cancel culture, when one types in one thing and somebody else has taken over the algorithm?

[@AmandaBrecc]

Sorry, I have two places, one here, and one on facebook. Congrats on the doctorate, I didn't know you had achieved it it must be recent. Nothing wrong with learning in fact I encourage it. I didn't get do the music thing, when the class had music appreciation or class, I was told it was better if I went to the library and wrote a couple thousand word report. A kid at seven, until junior high with a voice like Ronnie james dio, like a chainsaw yet could hit the notes. Like the joke guy singing the hokey pokey like Bon Scott, for real. Born Free, Annies Song, Both Sides Now, etc. I had skills, when I got to Junior High, the vocal teacher had us doing scales and he saw real skills and invited me to sing choir. Then he found I didn't know what I was supposed to know about notes and all that, He was angry at me for messing around and wasting my time in class, remember, writing reports, funny thing which is not so funny. The teachers still gave me the test of which I had not a clue, how well did I do, welllllllllll.@Tele-gram-Doug_Helvering.

[@williamschrom1584]

Sounds a bit like Triumvirate

[@BenOnBass]

Day One of requesting Doug to review Elliott Smith - Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands

[@jenniferwettervik4495]

Hi Doug! Have you had the time to listen to Ren’s new album yet? Would love a reaction to Money Game Pt. 3!