Recent Prog Purchases

I've made a few music purchases lately. I've been delving back to the prog-rock circuit for inspiration. Here are 3 noteworthy...

1)NEAL MORSE-"?"...You can't go wrong with Neal's work. He has taken a christian path with his works now. That's okay. The music is still 100% powerful, epic and incredibly arranged and produced. The former leader of SPOCKS BEARD had us worried for a while back there. When he left the band because he had decided to change his life and follow the teachings of Jesus, we got worried. We thought all he would release was hymn and praise worship(which he does now). But he put our minds at ease with his first "Testimony" and now "?". He gets his message through, and he still rocks!

2)FLOWER KINGS-"Paradox Hotel"...Double album from the Swedish proggers. This band is still in fine form, led by Roine Stolt, and never lets us down with anything they put out. The first disc is okay, but the second disc is phenomenal. I find myself just playing disc 2, but this makes it all the worth the purchase.

3)TRANSATLANTIC-"Building the bridge & Live in America"...This DVD is amazing. First of all Transatlantic is a prog-rock supergroup consisting of Neal Morse(Spocks Beard), Roine Stolt(Flower Kings),Pete Trewavas(Marillion) and Mike Portnoy(Dream Theater). Building the Bridge is a 2-hour documentary on the recording of "Bridge Across Forever" album. If anyone has ever heard this, you would understand why a documentary narrated and told by only the members is so crucial. From the lay downs at Neals home studio, to the recording in Nashville, back to Neals house for overdubs--this is why I love this music. Perfect for the fan.