X (Spock's Beard album)
Encyclopedia
X is the tenth studio album by American
progressive rock
band Spock's Beard
. Similar to what Marillion
did for Anoraknophobia
, the album was funded by pre-orders
of a limited edition
of the album before the album was recorded. Those who ordered the album's "Ultra Package" had their names listed in the CD booklet and included as part of the track "Their Names Escape Me", which is exclusive to the limited edition. The album was released independently in May 2010. A retail and digital release with Mascot Records was released in August 2010. This album is the last studio album recorded with former drummer and vocalist Nick D'Virgilio
, who left the band on November 18, 2011 to focus on other commitments.
Additional personnel
Production
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard is a progressive rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal and Alan Morse. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar...
. Similar to what Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
did for Anoraknophobia
Anoraknophobia
Anoraknophobia is Marillion's 12th studio album, released in 2001. Following the success of their previous North American tour, underwritten by the band's fans themselves, Marillion turned to their fans to finance the making of Anoraknophobia, asking them to pre-order the album before it was even...
, the album was funded by pre-orders
Pre-order
A pre-order is an order placed for an item which has not yet been released. The idea for pre-orders came when people found it hard to get popular items in stores due to their popularity. Companies were then given the idea to allow people to reserve their own personal copy, before the release, ...
of a limited edition
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
of the album before the album was recorded. Those who ordered the album's "Ultra Package" had their names listed in the CD booklet and included as part of the track "Their Names Escape Me", which is exclusive to the limited edition. The album was released independently in May 2010. A retail and digital release with Mascot Records was released in August 2010. This album is the last studio album recorded with former drummer and vocalist Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
, who left the band on November 18, 2011 to focus on other commitments.
Track listing
- "Edge of the In-Between" (Dave MerosDave MerosDave Meros , is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard...
, John Boegehold) – 10:30 - "The Emperor's Clothes" (Alan MorseAlan MorseAlan Morse is a guitarist for the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He is the brother of Neal Morse, who left the band in 2002. Morse is married to Kathryn Morse and has two children, Julia and John. He has recorded with many artists including Chad & Jeremy, Spencer Davis, Neal Morse, and Ryo...
, Neal MorseNeal MorseNeal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
, Larry Kutcher) – 6:01 - "Kamikaze" (Ryo OkumotoRyo OkumotoRyo Okumoto is a rock keyboardist, best known for his work with progressive rock group Spock's Beard. He joined the band in 1996 and has been a member ever since. When singer and keyboardist Neal Morse was in the band, Ryo played Hammond Organ and Mellotron on the albums...
) – 4:15 - "From the Darkness" (Nick D'VirgilioNick D'VirgilioNick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
, Alan MorseAlan MorseAlan Morse is a guitarist for the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He is the brother of Neal Morse, who left the band in 2002. Morse is married to Kathryn Morse and has two children, Julia and John. He has recorded with many artists including Chad & Jeremy, Spencer Davis, Neal Morse, and Ryo...
) – 16:53- I. "The Darkness"
- II. "Chance Meeting"
- III. "On My Own"
- IV. "Start Over Again"
- "The Quiet House" (Meros, Boegehold) – 9:13
- "Their Names Escape Me" (Boegehold, Meros) – 8:51
- "The Man Behind the Curtain" (Alan Morse, Stan Ausmus) – 7:44
- "Jaws of Heaven" (Meros, Boegehold) – 16:22
- I. "Homesick for the Ashes"
- II. "Words of War"
- III. "Deep in the Wondering"
- IV. "Whole Again"
Personnel
- Nick D'VirgilioNick D'VirgilioNick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
– lead and backing vocals, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, additional guitarsGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Alan MorseAlan MorseAlan Morse is a guitarist for the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He is the brother of Neal Morse, who left the band in 2002. Morse is married to Kathryn Morse and has two children, Julia and John. He has recorded with many artists including Chad & Jeremy, Spencer Davis, Neal Morse, and Ryo...
– guitars, backing vocals - Ryo OkumotoRyo OkumotoRyo Okumoto is a rock keyboardist, best known for his work with progressive rock group Spock's Beard. He joined the band in 1996 and has been a member ever since. When singer and keyboardist Neal Morse was in the band, Ryo played Hammond Organ and Mellotron on the albums...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Dave MerosDave MerosDave Meros , is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals, additional keyboards
Additional personnel
- John Boegehold – Additional keyboards, guitar, vocals
- Jimmy KeeganJimmy KeeganJimmy Keegan is a drummer. He has played with artists such as Santana, as the drummer on the song "Primavera" on Santana's hit album Supernatural and with John Waite, and is the current drummer for the Progressive rock band Spock's Beard, having replaced original drummer Nick D'Virgilio in November...
– Backing vocals
Production
- Rich Mouser – Recording, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...