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'{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Jesus Christ the Exorcist | type = studio | artist = [[Neal Morse]] | cover = Neal_morse_jesus_christ_the_exorcist.jpg | alt = Cover art of the album | released = June 14, 2019 | recorded = | studio = | genre = [[Progressive rock]]<ref name="SPrev"/> | length = 109:59<ref name="ultratop">{{cite web |title=Neal Morse - Jesus Christ The Exorcist |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/5e604/Neal-Morse-Jesus-Christ-The-Exorcist |website=[[Ultratop]] |publisher=[[Belgian Entertainment Association]] |access-date=February 18, 2021 |language=French}}</ref> | label = [[Frontiers Records|Frontiers]] | producer = [[Neal Morse]] | prev_title = Lifes & Times | prev_year = 2018 | next_title = [[Sola Gratia (album)|Sola Gratia]] | next_year = 2020 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = [[Neal Morse]] general discography | type = Studio album | prev_title = The Great Adventour: Live in Brno 2019 | prev_year = w/ The Neal Morse Band)<br>(2019 | title = Jesus Christ the Exorcist | year = 2019 | next_title = [[Sola Gratia (album)|Sola Gratia]] | next_year = 2020 }} }} '''''Jesus Christ the Exorcist''''' (full title: '''''Jesus Christ the Exorcist: A Progressive Rock Musical by Neal Morse''''') is the tenth progressive rock studio album by American vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist [[Neal Morse]], released on June 14, 2019.<ref name="SPrev"/><ref name="Pgbms">{{cite web |last1=Munro |first1=Scott |title=Neal Morse details rock opera album Jesus Christ: The Exorcist |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/neal-morse-details-rock-opera-album-jesus-christ-the-exorcist |website=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=March 20, 2019}}</ref> It is a [[rock opera]] based on the [[Gospel]]s and inspired by ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]''. It features several guest performers, including [[Ted Leonard]], [[Nick D'Virgilio]]<ref name="Pannounce">{{cite web |last1=Munro |first1=Scott |title=Neal Morse reveals prog rock opera project |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/neal-morse-reveals-prog-rock-opera-project |website=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=September 10, 2018}}</ref> and Morse's son Wil.<ref name="SPrev"/> The album was released as a double CD version, a triple vinyl version and on streaming platforms.<ref name="Pgbms"/> On September 10, 2018, a promotional video with audio snippets featuring all guest vocalists was released.<ref name="Pannounce"/> On March 20, 2019, a video for the song "Get Behind Me Satan" featuring Leonard on vocals was released.<ref name="Pgbms"/> It was debuted live in 2018.<ref name="DDMRrev">{{cite web |last1=Hartranft |first1=Craig |title=Neal Morse: Jesus Christ - The Exorcist |url=https://dangerdog.com/2019-music-reviews/neal-morse-jesus-christ-the-exorcist.php#.YC1De3lv-_g |website=Dangerdog Music Reviews |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=June 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name="PSannounce">{{cite web |title=NEAL MORSE To Release "Jesus Christ – The Exorcist" on June 14th |url=http://www.prog-sphere.com/news/neal-morse-jesus-christ-the-exorcist/ |website=Prog Sphere |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=March 19, 2019}}</ref> == Background and recording == The first draft of the musical dates back to 2008, when a friend of Morse called him, said he had watched ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' and that somebody ought to do a new rock opera based on Jesus' life.<ref name="Pgbms"/><ref name="Pannounce"/> Morse spent the next months writing a first version of the opera<ref name="Pannounce"/> and even attempted to have it performed at [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], to no avail.<ref name="TSSinter">{{cite web |last1=Stratton |first1=Lori |title=Divine Light – Neal Morse Explores Spirituality in ‘Jesus Christ The Exorcist’ Prog Rock Opera |url=https://strattonsetlist.com/2020/04/23/neal-morse-jesus-christ-the-exorcist-prog-rock-opera-album/ |website=The Stratton Setlist |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> It wasn't until 2018 that Morse's friend [[Michael Caplan (music executive)|Michael Caplan]] informed him of Frontiers Music slr's interest on the project.<ref name="Pannounce"/> Still in 2018, while getting ready for MorseFest, Morse rewrote the opera<ref name="Pgbms"/><ref name="Pannounce"/> and presented it live during the festival.<ref name="TSSinter"/> As Morse released his previous album with the Neal Morse Band in January 2019, ''[[The Great Adventure (The Neal Morse Band album)|The Great Adventure]]'', he was already preparing the studio version.<ref name="SE!inter">{{cite web |last1=Frazier |first1=Preston |title=Neal Morse on ‘The Great Adventure,’ Sequels and Cruise to the Edge: Something Else! Interview |url=https://somethingelsereviews.com/2019/01/31/neal-morse-great-adventure-interview/ |website=Something Else! |access-date=February 16, 2021 |date=January 31, 2019}}</ref><ref name="KMUWinter">{{cite web |last1=Beaudoin |first1=Jedd |title=The Neal Morse Band’s ‘Great Adventure’ |url=https://www.kmuw.org/post/neal-morse-band-s-great-adventure |website=[[KMUW]] |publisher=[[Wichita State University]] |access-date=February 16, 2021 |date=March 5, 2019}}</ref> The album's plot focuses on important moments of Jesus' life. The main events are [[Miracles of Jesus#Exorcisms|his exorcisms]],<ref name="TSSinter"/> the [[empty tomb]] and [[Resurrection of Jesus|his resurrection]], with the songs also covering other episodes such as [[Baptism of Jesus|his baptism]], [[Temptation of Christ|his temptation]], [[Triumphal entry into Jerusalem|his entry into Jerusalem]], the [[Last Supper]], [[Sanhedrin trial of Jesus|his trial]] and [[Crucifixion of Jesus|his crucifixion]].<ref name="DDMRrev"/><ref name="TSSinter"/> In an April 2020 interview, Morse expressed interest in transforming the album in a theatrical production to be presented in large cities such as New York City, Toronto, Chicago or his hometown Nashville.<ref name="TSSinter"/> ==Track listing== {{tracklist | headline = CD 1 | all_lyrics = | all_music = | title1 = Introduction | length1 = 2:31 | title2 = Overture | length2 = 3:19 | title3 = Getaway | length3 = 2:41 | title4 = Gather the People | length4 = 5:17 | title5 = Jesus' Baptism | length5 = 3:09 | title6 = Jesus' Temptation | length6 = 10:18 | title7 = There's a Highway | length7 = 4:06 | title8 = The Woman of Seven Devils | length8 = 5:42 | title9 = Free at Last | length9 = 5:05 | title10 = The Madman of the Gadarenes | length10 = 7:07 | title11 = Love Has Called My Name | length11 = 4:15 | title12 = Better Weather | length12 = 1:42 | title13 = The Keys to the Kingdom | length13 = 4:48 | title14 = Get Behind Me Satan | length14 = 3:23 | total_length = 63:23<ref name="ultratop"/> }} {{tracklist | headline = CD 2 | title1 = He Must Go to the Cross | length1 = 3:10 | title2 = Jerusalem | length2 = 3:56 | title3 = Hearts Full of Holes | length3 = 3:40 | title4 = The Last Supper | length4 = 3:51 | title5 = Gethsemane | length5 = 7:39 | title6 = Jesus Before the Council and Peter's Denial | length6 = 3:13 | title7 = Judas' Death | length7 =3:35 | title8 = Jesus Before Pilate and the Crucifixion | length8 = 8:17 | title9 = Mary at the Tomb | length9 = 2:45 | title10 = The Greatest Love of All | length10 = 5:00 | title11 = Love Has Called My Name (Reprise) | length11 = 1:30 | total_length = 46:36<ref name="ultratop"/> }} SAUSAGES SAUSAGES THESE ARE THE SAUSAGES OF OUR LIVES == Reception == === Critical reception === {{Album ratings | rev1 = Metal Temple | rev1Score = {{rating|10|10}}<ref name="MTrev"/> | rev2 = Dangerdog | rev2Score = 5.0/5.0<ref name="DDMRrev"/> | rev3 = Sonic Perspectives | rev3Score = 9.3/10<ref name="SPrev"/> }} Marcos Garcia at Metal Temple praised the album's variety of sounds and ultimately called it "an excellent album for Prog Rock and Prog Metal fans, and to all those who have a good musical taste".<ref name="MTrev">{{cite web |last1=Garcia |first1=Marcos |title=Neal Morse - Jesus Christ the Exorcist |url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/n_2/neal-morse-jesus.htm |website=Metal Temple |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> Dangerdog's Craig Hartranft praised Morse for writing an accurate musical about Jesus, comparing it favorably with ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' due to what he perceived as "lack of Biblical and theological accuracy" in the 1970 rock opera. In terms of music itself, he said "you will love everything about this two CD work. The compositions are expressive and exspansive, moving between heavier melodic rock to symphonic rock to larger canvases that instill both drama and transcendence" and recommended the album for both followers and non-followers of Christ.<ref name="DDMRrev"/> Scott Medina from Sonic Perspective remarked the [[blues progression]] of "The Woman of Seven Devils" and called the material of the album "consistently top-notch throughout" while pointing out that "not only is there no filler during the course of two hours, on the contrary there is an embarrassment of riches with more musical ideas and skilled execution than most bands can dream of."<ref name="SPrev">{{cite web |last1=Medina |first1=Scott |title=Neal Morse – Jesus Christ The Exorcist (Album Review) |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/neal-morse-jesus-christ-the-exorcist/ |website=Sonic Perspectives |access-date=February 17, 2021 |date=June 4, 2019}}</ref> === Commercial reception === ==== Charts ==== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Wallonia|136|artist=Neal Morse|album=Jesus Christ the Exorcist|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 17, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|100|artist=Neal Morse|album=Jesus Christ the Exorcist|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 17, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany4|64|id=318689|artist=Neal Morse|album=Jesus Christ the Exorcist|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 17, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|86|artist=Neal Morse|album=Jesus Christ the Exorcist|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 17, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardChristian|39|artist=Neal Morse|rowheader=true|access-date=February 17, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRock|5|artist=Neal Morse|rowheader=true|access-date=February 17, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|94|artist=Neal Morse|rowheader=true|access-date=February 17, 2021}} |} ==Personnel== '''Vocalists'''<ref name="MTrev"/><ref name="SPrev"/> * [[Neal Morse]] as [[Pilate]], [[Demon]] 1, [[Disciple (Christianity)|Disciple]] 1 * [[Ted Leonard]] as [[Jesus]] * [[Talon David]] as [[Mary Magdalene]] * [[Nick D'Virgilio]] as [[Judas Iscariot]] * [[Rick Florian]] as [[Devil in Christianity|The Devil]] * [[Theocracy (band)|Matt Smith]] as [[John the Baptist]] * [[Jake Livgren]] as [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[Caiaphas]] * [[Mark Pogue]] as [[Israelite]] 1, [[Exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac|the Madman of the Gadarenes]], [[Pharisee]] 2 * [[Wil Morse]] as Israelite 2, Demon 3, Pharisee 1 * Gabe Klein as Demon 2, Pharisee 4 * Gideon Klein as Demon 4 * [[Julie Harrison]] as Servant Girl '''Instrumentalists'''<ref name="MTrev"/><ref name="SPrev"/> * Neal Morse — keyboards, guitar * Paul Bielatowicz — lead guitar * Bill Hubauer — keyboards * Randy George — bass * [[Eric Gillette]] — drums, guitar solo on "Jesus Before Pilate and the Crucifixion"<ref name="SPrev"/> '''Technical personnel'''<ref name="PSannounce"/> * Neal Morse — producer * Rich Mouser — mixing ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Nealmorse}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Similitude of a Dream}} [[Category:2019 albums]] [[Category:Frontiers Records albums]] [[Category:Musicals based on the Gospels]] [[Category:Neal Morse albums]] [[Category:Rock operas]]'