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The short version: 3.5/5.

The long version: I've had the chance to listen to Whirlwind a handful of times now - not quite a full PRAT, but I think good enough to make some general comments. I went into the listening experience conscious of one thing, and something we probably all ought to keep in mind as we listen: that this is no longer 2001. I can't approach Transatlantic with the same perspective I had in those heady days, or put aside Neal's musical output and his comments on Transatlantic in the intervening years. No album, no matter how good, can recreate a moment in time perfectly. Nor can I can I say I wasn't a bit cynical when I heard about the reunion itself; given Neal's god-given orders to leave the band and the current financial climate (not to mention Neal's less-than-stellar recent solo efforts) I concluded pretty early on this was musical project driven by the need for money and not the need to say something fresh. I may be entirely wrong. My pessimism wasn't soothed when I heard that Neal had dusted off a Christian solo album to remake into a TA album - you know, after 8 years, would it have been too much to ask for something totally new?

Putting aside these concerns, however, I can say that the new TA CD is a modest success. Yes, much of the lyrical content is informed by Christian traditions and evangelical dogma. While Jesus himself does not appear, God does and there are many thinly-veiled references to "him" as the source of forgiveness, glory, and so on. There's plenty of talk, as we've come to expect from Neal, of things being lost then found, things in the dark coming into the light, things being chosen and being cast out. There's lots of talk of heaven, and Neal occasionally falls back on lyrical motifs that we've all heard many times by now in his solo catalog - frozen souls, opening doors, flying high, you know the routine. But on a positive note, there are some refreshingly original lyrics here, too. The vocal harmonies are beautifully recorded and mixed, which helps lift the words up a bit.

Every band member gives a stellar performance, of course, and in the style you've come to expect from each. But this is TA, so less than perfect musicianship is not an option. It's nice to hear more of Pete on the bass, and Mike...well, Mike is Mike, but he does his thing with style and energy, and personally I never grow tired of his drumming. I think Roine's guitar parts are more subtle than on the previous TA releases, which made it harder for me not to think of this as a Neal solo album with guest stars. The music itself is probably closest to Sola Scriptura, not a big surprise since I believe it was written around that same time, but a shade more upbeat.

I'm generally happy with the album, but I think my enthusiasm mostly comes from the fact that TA are recording again. If this were released in 2002, it would have been a major disappointment. But as I said, it's 2009 and after 8 years it's nice to hear the kings of prog play again. I'm looking at this album as a modest, somewhat uneven start for a new phase in TA's career, with (hopefully) more solid albums to follow. I'll be pleased if on subsequent releases, they start with a totally new concept, perhaps write more cooperatively, and push themselves a little further to do something really different.