|
| |
|
|
|
Review Summary: Second Nature is not the album we were expecting from Flying Colors, but it will appease hardcore fans of Portnoy, Morse(x2), and LaRue who were yearning for more prog this time around. Hear the first few bars of the new Flying Colors album, and you might think you're listening to a sequel to Transatlantic's 2014 album "Kaleidoscope". All the usual Portnoy / Morse tropes are there - the soft pianos, erupting guitar leads, Portnoy's driving drum grooves, and Morse's synth patches - these sounds are at least 20 years old now. Four minutes into the record, and you're still not out of the instrumental. It's clear that the new Flying Colors album does not follow the same dialed down "prog pop" approach as the record. This time around, Flying Colors throw down all of the token retroprog bits.
Months ago, drummer Mike Portnoy revealed on twitter that the band were going to write and record Second Nature without a producer. This makes sense. If the debut album featured a musical style that was set apart from each individual member's typical musical approach, Second Nature is more aptly titled, as it sees each member revert into musical habits that have defined the majority of their careers: There are a handful of Neal Morse "epics" here - complete with religious lyrical content and cheesy synth patches; Steve Morse's guitar leads populate the album with "solo album" frequency; there's a song that sounds like a direct Muse ripoff (something that seems to have followed drummer Portnoy everywhere he goes); there's an ambient folk ballad, which sounds like it could have been on the last Alpha Rev album.
There album isn't bad. But it is far more of a mixed bag. While the self-titled album was perhaps too sterilized by outside producers, Second Nature over-corrects by allowing each individual member to go unchecked. The album is dynamic and full of great melodies, but it lacks focus and consistency. At times, like when the full-on retroprog song "A Place In Your World" begins, it feels like the band have a "prog" button they can use at any time to morph into Neal Morse's solo project, or vintage Spock's Beard.
At times, it feels like Flying Colors have become an alternate version of Transatlantic, made to be lapped up by the same legion of retroprog fanatics - legions who have forgotten that progressive music is supposed to challenge listeners, not just dazzle them with a handful of tropes and musical acrobatics. It's a shame to see Flying Colors already turn away from carving out a new style for a different audience, but at the end of the day I'd imagine their hands are tied. A band featuring Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, Neal Morse, and Dave LaRue is going to want retroprog, and that's exactly what they're getting with Second Nature.
| other reviews of this album |
CamWJohnson (3)
Promising more chemistry, Flying Colors go further into their prog roots with their sophomore studio...
|
|
Album Rating: 3.0
Yeah not too surprising. Might check it out cause I'm into "retroprog" like that.
| | |
"There album isn't bad" should be their?
This comes as no surprise, never had any interest in this group or Transatlantic, screams 'wankery' and 'cheesy' to me, not interested in the so-called prog that just rehashes, like you said, 20-year old ideas to a formula.
Really good review, easy and engaging read, pos'd.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
lol I gave this a 3.5 half way through the final epic, and then this dude starts singing all hipster ala Mumford and Sons and bumped it down. I liked "One Love Forever", but there are so many questionable choices in here.
| | |
Friday lives
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Their debut had some great tracks, but after jamming this one, for me it just fails where the debut succeeded. They put more prog; but it's lesser-quality prog/wankery prog (nothing reaches Infinite Fire here for me). They put more cheese, and that's just bad. And they put more catchiness, and once again it fails most of the time, where tracks like Kayla and The Storm succeeded
Good review, this sits at a 3 for me too after one listen
| | |
This is the best review I've read of this release yet! You are spot on. This sounds more like a Neal Morse solo album then a follow up/continuation of the first masterpiece. It's missing the "fun" of the first release. Where is the "pop" and the sing-along choruses like "Kayla" and "The Storm"? Don't get me wrong....I LOVE prog, and Second Nature is by no means a bad album, just not what I was hoping for in terms of their "prog-pop" they gave us on the first CD. I could have just put in the last Transatlantic or Neal Morse CD. I am left ultimately un-thrilled :-(
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Once digested, this is so much better than their debut and Kaleidoscope
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
this album rocks
| | | Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off
I couldn't agree more on your review and the points you've made. Pos'd
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Not quite as accessible as their debut, less standout songs, but more consistent and overall a better album.
Meanwhile, vote for your favourite FC song right here:
http://www.thetoptens.com/flying-colors-songs/
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Not quite as accessible as their debut, less standout songs, but more consistent and overall a better album. [2]
I'd tend to agree with this. Great album, it seems really overlooked seeing as the 1st got a reasonable amount of attention. I mean, only 17 votes?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This was my personal favorite of 2014
| | |
Their first album was boring as hell.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yeah, their first wasn't that good. This one is so good, especially after the first track. Lots of great harmonies and melodies and shit.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Their debut had its moments, and although this one might be more consistent I still think they haven't
really found their distinctive sound. Plus, they got slightly cheesier
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Album rules. The only weak point I found is ''Lost Without You'' and even there, there are sweet passages. I think I just don't like how the song starts.
Bumped up to a 4.5. I'm listening to their first album atm.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
right on Jethro....this record kicks ass!
debut, not so much
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
album has great flow.......first song is probably my least favorite
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yeah I agree for the flow. We couldn't say that much about the first album where we find a bunch of decent songs that seemed to be put randomly into the setlist. Songs are also more harsh, less polished. I prefer their new sounding/production for sure. I was disappointed while I revisited that self titled. I find my 3.5 really generous. I think the best moment is the last few minutes with that guitar melody. Too little too late...
And about the first song of Second Nature, it takes time before something interesting happens, but when it does with the thick bass entering, followed by the instrumental sequences, it's getting awesome. I don't particularly like the vocal lines save for the gorgeous chorus...a 4/5 mainly for its overall instrumental parts.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
well the last song certainly makes up for it....absolutely love the final 5 or 6 minutes of it in particular
| | | |
|
| |
