album review: flying colors [2012]

Flying Colors, a fresh and unique collaboration created by five of the highest caliber musicians today brings the listener an unexpected fusion of folk, pop, prog rock and metal, each element presenting itself in just the right moment. An idea was brought to life by executive producer Bill Evans, to create a new band including virtuoso musicians with proven musical chemistry, and a pop singer who could channel this into a very accessible musical form. Even though this album is now 6 years old, for me it's one of those that really is timeless, and I find myself going back to it over and over again.

Mike Portnoy [drums, vocals], Dave LaRue [bass], Steve Morse [guitar], Neal Morse [keyboards, vocals] and producer Peter Collins were selected for the project, and all agreed to embark on this adventure together. Struggling to find just the right pop singer to bring it to life, Mike Portnoy brought multi-talented singer/songwriter Casey McPherson [lead vocals] to the table, and he turned out to be the perfect fit.

This debut album has the perfect blend of stylistic contrasts, any music lover would enjoy the journey and discover individual songs [or in my case, the entire album start to finish] that resonate and make you crave listening over and over again. The quality of musicianship is so highly excellent, from the simplistic parts to the complex, it leaves the listener begging for more. Particularly striking is the perfect combination of classic progressive rock solos and song structures, with soaring, gorgeous melodies and harmonies in the same album, some lasting for three minutes, and the finale for twelve. And when it grooves, it grooves your freaking face off.

“Blue Ocean” is our opening track with a restless, continually moving bass line that continues during the extent of the song followed by strong harmonies, embellishing the vocals and setting a precedent for the rest of the album. The underlying bass groove sets the stage for the first guitar solo so perfectly. For those who are unfamiliar with guitarist Steve Morse, he shows off his technical prowess from his first notes with a magnificently crafted solo, the first of many: compositionally perfect, absolutely clear with perfect tone amidst the flying notes, embellishing a soaring melody, not for a second taking away from it. Known for his “stylistically diverse compositional skills and guitaristically encyclopedic virtuosic abilities”, he demonstrates this throughout the entire album – it’s no wonder countless musicians have deemed him one of the most talented guitarists of our time, including John Petrucci [my personal favorite].

Launching directly into “Shoulda Coulda Woulda”, Mike Portnoy displays some of his finest signature drum fills throughout this entire song, particularly in the extended ending. One of the heavier numbers, the catchy guitar riffs chug all the way through this one, keeping a strong steady groove, while the vocals still lighten the edge. A pleaser for the hard rock and metal fans to be sure, or for anyone who longs for those full fledged drum solos that Portnoy loves to deliver.

While being the most poppy in the mix, the two songs that follow, “Kayla” and “The Storm” are truly two of my favorites, and they are the first ones that initially caught my earbuds. “Kayla” opens and closes with a classical sounding guitar lead line, and although some of the solo parts are simple, they are beautiful, with the initial melody coming back multiple times before the vocals return. Neal Morse does an incredible job with the backing vocals, presenting tightly knit harmonies that add an inspiring dimension. Portnoy’s ability to cut back and then really drive a song to its climax is truly evident here, the fills are present just where they are needed to drive it forward and he has such a sensitivity to the dynamic and emotional flow of the song, making it that much more powerful. In a similar vein, “The Storm” gives me goose bumps nearly every time I get to it. Not only is it musically striking even in its formulaic pop structure, but is also culturally relevant due to the struggles of life we all experience – these lyrics are ones everyone can relate to. The musicianship of each player is even more striking in these simpler, catchy and addictive songs where you realize excellence is possible in any genre, given the right combination of players to take on the job.

Two love songs fall next in line, “Forever in a Daze” and “Love is What I’m Waiting for”. Both short and sweet, but each contains their own dose of character. “Forever in a Daze” is a quirky song with a surprising and funky breakdown in the middle of it. “Love is What I’m Waiting for” begins with a dominant piano rock sound, but what I love most is definitely the wailing solo in the middle of it, and the numerous times we hear “hey!” in the background to close it out. Thanks, Mike.

Another particular favorite of mine, “Everything Changes” takes more time to develop musically and draw the listener in, it’s one of the more progressive songs they bring to the table. The string patches and the harmonic melodies in the opening allow you to be engaged in the many layers and sounds of the piece. Another gorgeous combination of short guitar lead lines, and a perfectly executed extended solo at the peak of the song, Steve Morse leaves me completely and totally satisfied and yet longing for more all in the same moment. As in every other song, the vocal melodies fit the music they accompany to perfection, both as equal players towards the same goal. In fine progressive rock fashion that we know and love so well, we get a fulfilling recap of the beautiful solo and epic drawn out drum fills.

Another slow song, “Better than Walking Away” the guitar and the vocal melodies truly complement each other, it’s almost as if they are playing a duet between them. The guitar passages that follow the verses truly complement and add to what has just been sung. Even when the guitar repeats the verses as an instrumental, Steve executes it so beautifully, adding his own special touches.

We discover the heaviest hitter of all towards the end of this album, “All Falls Down”. As a lover of technical music myself, I was pleased to discover this song includes fast and speedy passages from every player – everyone was up for the challenge! The verses take it back in tone, although the drums and bass really keep the pace up even when the texture thins out for a moment or two. This song shows a most impressive display of chops and technical ability, their chance to show off an incredible tightness within the lineup, without being overly excessive. Would be an extreme delight to see any of these played live from the stage, along with seeing Portnoy’s kit again, my most favorite to behold in the entire world.

“A Fool in My Heart” brings Portnoy’s vocals to the front and center, an enjoyable treat! The slow groove on this one allows for some memorable melodies and a somewhat jazzy guitar solo in the middle. A sweet and happy tune is the perfect setup for the final twelve minute masterpiece to follow.

The final song, “Infinite Fire” draws you in a little bit at a time, before crushing you with the full volume soaring instrumentation. Another extended prog journey, I especially love the big bright choruses with harmonies and echoes and many layers of sounds. This one also includes a very different and contrasting middle instrumental section with keyboard and guitar solos trading off – every bit as progressive and diverse as you might have hoped. Albeit a long song, it goes by in a flash. It truly is the grand finale to an impressive collection of songs by an incomparable set of musicians.

Flying Colors – one of the most surprising and brilliant albums I have heard recently, and I haven’t been able to put it down. Such a unique collection of songs that I believe any music fan would enjoy, and I’ve already been so thrilled to share it with friends and received such an amazing response. The musicality is undeniable, the songs are so melodic and captivating, the solos are in a moment technical and in the next so simple in their beauty, you can discover something new with each and every listen. It’s fresh, it’s original, it delivers in every way an album can deliver. If you love good music, there’s no doubt in my mind, you’ll absolutely love Flying Colors.