Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment

For the first time ever prog icon Neal Morse came into a recording session with his long time friend and collaborator Mike Portnoy, Randy George, Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette...with NOTHING! He had no prepared material at all. Neal comments, "I wanted to see what it would be like to create freely in the room with no preconceived notions. It was quite a risk!" On previous albums, like the Testimony album for example, Morse had the entire album written in advance. "I used to be rather paranoid about whether things would turn out in the short space of time we had available...so I would fill all the space in advance!" This album was totally different. "I made a lot of room for the other guys to create and express themselves and the result is outstanding! We wanted to experiment, do something a bit different, and see what everyone is capable of...we found out...in SPADES!" The results are obvious! This was a "grand experiment" that produced something far beyond anyone's expectations!

The Grand Experiment will be released in 3 formats:

• Single Disc
  
• 3 Disc Special Edition Digipak (containing the main disc, bonus audio disc featuring 3 unreleased studio tracks and 2 live tracks from the phenominal [Morse]fest weekend, and a "making of" documentary DVD in special packaging)
  
• LP + 2CD Set (containing main disc, and bonus audio disc)
  
  

Plus only at Radiant!:

• The Grand Experiment / KaLIVEoscope Special Edition Bundle (The Grand Experiment 3 disc Special Edition Digipak + KaLIVEoscope Special Edition for one low price!) *included in the first 100 autographed copies!
  
• The Grand Experiment / KaLIVEoscope Deluxe Edition Bundle (The Grand Experiment 3 disc Special Edition Digipak + KaLIVEoscope Ltd. Deluxe Edition Box Set for one low price!)
  

The main disc, contains 5 tracks, including 2 long prog epics that are sure to be favorites for years to come, as well as 3 shorter songs including the catchy title track "The Grand Experiment." Mixed by Rich Mouser.

Track Listing:
 
Main Disc:
1. The Call
2. The Grand Experiment
3. Waterfall
4. Agenda
5. Alive Again
 
Bonus Disc:
1. New Jerusalem (Freedom Is Coming)
2. Doomsday Destiny
3. MacArthur Park
4. The Creation (Live from Morsefest)
5. Reunion (Live from Morsefest)

The Grand Experiment Official video:



The Grand Experiment will be released on February 10th, 2015

Great review: http://www.tollbooth.org/index.php/home/music-reviews/1421-neal-morse-band-the-the-grand-experiment

Pre orders have started here:

http://www.radiantrecords.com/products/547-the-neal-morse-band-the-grand-experiment.aspx



This will be a good year for music!

KaramKaram wrote:This will be a good year for music!

Me parece.

I plan on checking it out....wasn't impressed with his last album ''Momentum" ..hope this is better!

I love Neal Morse...but I don't like his recent singles. "Shine" was the worst song on Kaleidoscope, so hopefully behind that silly hard rock song there's lots of epic prog. "Neal Morse Band" I assume refers to a growing participation in songwriting from the other members.

You are correct, Friday13th this time the album was written from scratch and all of the musicians wrote their part, this time Neal wanted to do the Grand Experiment and get what the other musicians brought to the table.

Shine is a great song for me , and knowing the story behind the lyrics gave more power to it. I loved it Kaleidoscope and it is my favorite album from Transatlantic.

Sounds good!

Looking to get back in the groove shortly with my namesake.

Neal Morse Code wrote:Looking to get back in the groove shortly with my namesake.

Crack the Neal Morse Code?

You betcha!

KaramKaram wrote:The Grand Experiment Official video:

That's an awesome song, IMO. This album is going to be really good.

I'll admit I was singing the chorus "it's a GRAAAAAND EXPERIMENT, USING EEEEEEEV'RY ELEMENT" in the shower this morning.   I dunno, I like when Neal and the band really push themselves and here everything sounds so ordinary. It's an intro to the "grand experiment" maybe, but let me hear the epic "Alive Again" and then I can say if the band has delivered on their promise.

I'm surprised at myself,  but I liked it. Kinda reminds me of Styx (pre Mr. Roboto).

NM posted this interview on his FB page

http://progarchy.com/2015/01/17/a-grand-experiment-indeed-morse-conquers-all/

metaldude wrote:I'm surprised at myself,  but I liked it. Kinda reminds me of Styx (pre Mr. Roboto).

Yeah I thought so too and being a Styx fan this is something I may pick up. If I really like it I will get the vinyl version.

KaramKaram wrote:NM posted this interview on his FB page

http://progarchy.com/2015/01/17/a-grand-experiment-indeed-morse-conquers-all/

Looks good, and it sounds like the bonus disc is a must.

KaramKaram wrote:NM posted this interview on his FB page

http://progarchy.com/2015/01/17/a-grand-experiment-indeed-morse-conquers-all/

What an great review.

Markus1987 wrote:

KaramKaram wrote:NM posted this interview on his FB page

http://progarchy.com/2015/01/17/a-grand-experiment-indeed-morse-conquers-all/

What an great review.

That's what I thought, looks more like a review than an interview...

So is this an EP or an album of long songs?

MikeInFla wrote:So is this an EP or an album of long songs?

It's an full length album. And by the way, two of the tracks are going to be real prog rock epics (at least according to the length of these tracks )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Experiment_%28album%29

Released today, so far, I am in love

Glad to hear, but I'm still waiting for some kind of stream. Even my love for Neal Morse doesn't compel me to buy before hearing. It's not from bad luck, either. The one time I pre-ordered an album before hearing it was As the World Bleeds which is my favorite album ever. Gotta keep my 100% pre-order satisfaction scorecard. 

Get the SE as there are 2 new tracks that for some reason were not included in the main disc

This song I like

Looked like a fun video to make.  Album arrived yesterday!

I listened for the first time today. Wow, very impressed! More than most Neal Morse albums. He has soooo many!!!