The Similitude of a Dream by The Neal Morse Band, from 2016, is a concept album inspired by the novel "The Pilgrim's Progress" by English writer John Bunyan. Mike Portnoy has called this album the best concept album (on par with Dream Theater's Scenes from a Memory) he's ever participated in, and that sounds like a great promise.
This is the second album in the quadrilogy, which began with 2015's The Grand Experiment, continued with 2019's The Great Adventure, and concluded (at least to date) with 2021's Innocence & Danger. Of the four albums, The Similitude of a Dream is my favorite by this band.
The lineup features Mike Portnoy on drums, Randy George on bass, Neal Morse and Bill Hubauer on keyboards, and Eric Gillette on great guitar. Practically everyone sings on this album, with decent results. Guests include a large array of wind instruments, strings, and choirs, underscoring the album's symphonic and orchestral character.
It's a veritable listening marathon, with the album lasting approximately 105 minutes, spanning three vinyls, five hard-edged sides, and one silkscreened.
There are no bad, pointless, or skippable tracks, and I've listened to it several times. There are excellent instrumental tracks like "Overture," "We Have Got to Go," and "The Road Called Home," as well as more adrenaline-fueled tracks like "Confrontation" and "The Battle," which close out the excellent, long closing song, "Broken Sky / Long Day (Reprise)," but my three absolute favorites are "City of Destruction," "The Ways of a Fool," and "Slave to Your Mind."
Musically intricate, interesting, with winning melodies and virtually no weak points.
In my opinion, this band's best album. A must-listen.
Tracklist
1. Long Day (1:42)
2. Overture (5:51)
3. The Dream (2:28)
4. City of Destruction (5:11)
5. We Have Got to Go (2:29)
6. Makes No Sense (4:10)
7. Draw the Line (4:06)
8. The Slough (3:03)
9. Back to the City (4:19)
10. The Ways of a Fool (6:48)
11. So Far Gone (5:21)
12. Breath of Angels (6:32)
13. Slave to Your Mind (6:27)
14. Shortcut to Salvation (4:36)
15. The Man in the Iron Cage (5:16)
16. The Road Called Home (3:24)
17. Sloth (5:48)
18. Freedom Song (3:59)
19. I'm Running (3:44)
20. The Mask (4:28)
21. Confrontation (3:59)
22. The Battle (2:57)
23. Broken Sky / Long Day (reprise) (9:58)
Duration 106:36
LineUp
- Neal Morse - vocals, 6- and 12-string guitars, mandolin, percussion
- Eric Gillette - guitar, vocals
- Bill Hubauer - organ, piano, synthesizer, vocals
- Randy George - bass, bass pedals
- Mike Portnoy - drums, vocals
Featuring:
- Rich Mouser - electric guitars (15) and pedal steel (18)
- Chris Carmichael - strings
- Sarah Hubauer - alto and baritone saxophone (1)
- Bruce Babad - saxophone (14)
- Jim Hoke - tenor and baritone saxophone (19)
- Steve Herrman - trumpet (19)
- Dave Buzard - sound effects (4)
- Spencer McKee - marimba (22)
- Eric Darken - percussion (12)
- Alfreda McCrary - backing vocals (12)
- Ann McCrary - backing vocals (12)
- Regina McCrary - backing vocals (12)
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page
