dt_opeth_death
10-09-2004, 08:36 PM
http://www.planetizz.net/transatlantic/Images/Jpgs/baf.jpg
TransAtlantic is the supergroup composed of:
Neal Morse - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Organs, etc. (Spock's Beard)
Mike Portnoy - Drums, Vocals (Dream Theater)
Roine Stolt - Guitars, Vocals (The Flower Kings)
Pete Trewavas - Bass, Vocals (Marillion)
Bridge Across Forever is the second album by TransAtlantic, the follow up to 2000's SMPTe. It was released in 2001.
The band is the creation of Mike Portnoy, who, in 1998, originally wanted a side project with Jim Matheos (Fates Warning), Morse, and Trewavas. However, Stolt joined the band in 1999, and it worked out wonderfully.
This CD is comprised of only 4 songs, but still runs for 76 minutes and 48 seconds. Here's a breakdown of the songs:
1. Duel with the Devil
This prog epic begins with a bit of orchestral music before taking the listener on a musical journey with 5 sections (that sounds a little cheesy, but oh well). The lines beginning with "Motherless children, wandering nowhere..." are extraordinarlily memorable; you will probably be singing this song even after the 1st listen. The musicianship on this epic is incredible, and though the song clocks in at 26:33, to me it seems like it takes less time than one of those crappy Linkin Park songs because of the outstanding songwriting and orchestration.
10/10
2. Suite Charlotte Pike
This song is a quirky tribute to the Beatles. It begins with a little jam outtake, and at the end of this little jam some of the band members can be heard saying "Whazzzzup" (yeah, remember that? I guess that beer commercial was still popular in 2001). Anyway, this song goes on 5 sections of odd lyrics, such as "Her lips were ruby red. She had a pretty head. Not even once did she miss Sunday school, remember what mama said, 'Stick to the rules'." However, it is a very entertaining listen, but not quite up to par with the previous song.
9/10
3. Bridge Across Forever
The title track maybe the only letdown of the entire disc. Thankfully, it only lasts for 5 minutes and 1 second. It's not a bad song at all, it just takes away from the spirit of the rest of the CD. It only consists of Neal playing the piano and singing a ballad of sorts. It can be enjoyable, but why have some of the greatest musicians and artists of all of music only to have just one of them on a song. If they felt the need to play a ballad, at least they could have added the rest of the instruments...
6/10
4. Stranger in your Soul
Ah...fond memories. Again, it is an epic that starts out with a very similar string arangement as began Duel with the Devil, just in a different key. However, this song right away begins with a more rockin' attitude, ushered in by some great Portnoy drumming. After a little slow down in the 1st movement, the CD reaches its peak of heaviness in the second part, "Hanging in the Balance". This section is truly brilliant. It is actually faily heavy (which is good because I love metal), but not in the spirit of fun and rock 'n' roll. The lyrics are also very enjoyable at this point, as the last word of the preceding line is the same word as the 1st word of the next line (just buy the CD to understand what the hell I'm talking about). Anyway, throughout the 6 parts of this song, beautiful harmonies and melodies are created, and portions of the 1st and 2nd tracks are brought back to give the disc some unity. This epic may be even better than the 1st!
10/10
Overall
I would recommend this CD to just about anyone. If you are a metal fanatic and worried about how I mentioned the Beatles and how it's only classified as progressive rock, please buy the CD. I had the same worries, but I think anyone can appreciate the original and attention-holding music here. If you don't like how there are only 4 songs and that Stranger in your Soul is 30:00 long, still buy the CD, because Morse, Portnoy, Stolt, and Trewavas make the time fly by.
Overall Rating
10/10
Visit the TransAtlantic website at: http://transatlanticweb.com/
This was my first review. I hope it didn't suck. :naughty:
TransAtlantic is the supergroup composed of:
Neal Morse - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Organs, etc. (Spock's Beard)
Mike Portnoy - Drums, Vocals (Dream Theater)
Roine Stolt - Guitars, Vocals (The Flower Kings)
Pete Trewavas - Bass, Vocals (Marillion)
Bridge Across Forever is the second album by TransAtlantic, the follow up to 2000's SMPTe. It was released in 2001.
The band is the creation of Mike Portnoy, who, in 1998, originally wanted a side project with Jim Matheos (Fates Warning), Morse, and Trewavas. However, Stolt joined the band in 1999, and it worked out wonderfully.
This CD is comprised of only 4 songs, but still runs for 76 minutes and 48 seconds. Here's a breakdown of the songs:
1. Duel with the Devil
This prog epic begins with a bit of orchestral music before taking the listener on a musical journey with 5 sections (that sounds a little cheesy, but oh well). The lines beginning with "Motherless children, wandering nowhere..." are extraordinarlily memorable; you will probably be singing this song even after the 1st listen. The musicianship on this epic is incredible, and though the song clocks in at 26:33, to me it seems like it takes less time than one of those crappy Linkin Park songs because of the outstanding songwriting and orchestration.
10/10
2. Suite Charlotte Pike
This song is a quirky tribute to the Beatles. It begins with a little jam outtake, and at the end of this little jam some of the band members can be heard saying "Whazzzzup" (yeah, remember that? I guess that beer commercial was still popular in 2001). Anyway, this song goes on 5 sections of odd lyrics, such as "Her lips were ruby red. She had a pretty head. Not even once did she miss Sunday school, remember what mama said, 'Stick to the rules'." However, it is a very entertaining listen, but not quite up to par with the previous song.
9/10
3. Bridge Across Forever
The title track maybe the only letdown of the entire disc. Thankfully, it only lasts for 5 minutes and 1 second. It's not a bad song at all, it just takes away from the spirit of the rest of the CD. It only consists of Neal playing the piano and singing a ballad of sorts. It can be enjoyable, but why have some of the greatest musicians and artists of all of music only to have just one of them on a song. If they felt the need to play a ballad, at least they could have added the rest of the instruments...
6/10
4. Stranger in your Soul
Ah...fond memories. Again, it is an epic that starts out with a very similar string arangement as began Duel with the Devil, just in a different key. However, this song right away begins with a more rockin' attitude, ushered in by some great Portnoy drumming. After a little slow down in the 1st movement, the CD reaches its peak of heaviness in the second part, "Hanging in the Balance". This section is truly brilliant. It is actually faily heavy (which is good because I love metal), but not in the spirit of fun and rock 'n' roll. The lyrics are also very enjoyable at this point, as the last word of the preceding line is the same word as the 1st word of the next line (just buy the CD to understand what the hell I'm talking about). Anyway, throughout the 6 parts of this song, beautiful harmonies and melodies are created, and portions of the 1st and 2nd tracks are brought back to give the disc some unity. This epic may be even better than the 1st!
10/10
Overall
I would recommend this CD to just about anyone. If you are a metal fanatic and worried about how I mentioned the Beatles and how it's only classified as progressive rock, please buy the CD. I had the same worries, but I think anyone can appreciate the original and attention-holding music here. If you don't like how there are only 4 songs and that Stranger in your Soul is 30:00 long, still buy the CD, because Morse, Portnoy, Stolt, and Trewavas make the time fly by.
Overall Rating
10/10
Visit the TransAtlantic website at: http://transatlanticweb.com/
This was my first review. I hope it didn't suck. :naughty: