Spock's Beard:Octane // a review

[3-LockBox]

Where to begin...I'm amazed that anyone who claimed to dislike Feel Euphoria but liked Octane, when the two are so similar. Save for a few clunkers, FE is a good album, IMO. This new album, Octane, fixes one major problem that FE had; the 'epic'. The first seven tracks comprise a suite called 'A Flash Before My Eyes'_- It's a very good epic from start to finish; its better structured, much more cohesive story-wise and not contrived like 'A Guy Named Sid' from FE. Hell, 'Flash' may even be considered brilliant, in its own, Dream Theater-ish sort of way.

But the regular songs here pale in comparison to songs like 'East Of Eden', 'Shining Star', or 'Ghosts Of Autumn'. I'd even say 'The Bottom Line' is a better extended song than anything I hear on Octane. Yes, FE had its share of contrived, rushed, and very boring songs, but nothing as embarissing as 'As Long As We Ride'; a very generic rocker you might hear on the latter-day versions of Journey or Doobie Bros. I hope they stay away from any more attempts at AOR like that.


All in all, it might still be worth the price of admission for the 'Flash' suite, a couple of the instrumental tunes and the *mostly acoustic 'There Was A Time'. I didn't get the bonus disc edition, so I can't comment on these.

But it looks like Spock's Beard will find their way without Neal. I hope it works out for them, they deserve it. I'll continue to support them, too, as long as they ride (yeesh!)

*edit-(I actually had this song confused with another, but its still a good song)