The music of Spock's Beard can perhaps best be described as 'Californian prog'. Not only do most of the band members reside in California, but there is also something sunny and optimistic about their sounds, in which the complex sympho of British groups like Yes and Genesis comes together with the American 'adult orientated rock' of Styx and Kansas. For example, the tenth album X opens mainly in
… the last category with as uplifting as tight choral work of the band members in Edge Of The In-Between, to swing into heavier, keyboard-driven regions in the same song. Kamikaze, by Japanese keyboardist Ryo Okumoto, then seems to be a tribute to Yes. Since the departure of founder Neal Morse, drummer Nick D'Virgilio has taken over the lead vocals. He does this adequately (almost neatly) but lacks personality. And that may well be the case for this entire album: it all sounds equally balanced, smooth and virtuoso but lacks character and substance. (MR)more
