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Read the Ross Valory interview (2005)
Live Journey pics (2005)
Genre
Melodic rock / classic rock
The Good
Disc 1: "Never Walk Away" begins with
one of those riffs where you'll say to yourself, 'oh, that's definitely Journey.'
New vocalist Arnel Pineda
falls
right
into line with his band mates giving a great vocal performance. Yes, he
sounds a little like Steve Perry, but he does have his own voice. The harmonized
chorus pushes the track over the top. "Like a Sunshower" opens
with a riff similar to "Lights," but that's where the similarities
end. The track is a powerful and emotional ballad sure to strike a chord
with the lovelorn.
"Change for the Better" has all the energy and catchy-ness of
the 80s arena rockers that you grew up with.
"Wildest Dream" is
a cornerstone for drummer Deen Castronovo. Never did I hear such skin
work stick out and not bury
the melodic-ness of the track. "After All These Years" is another
touching ballad. Only this time Jonathan Cain adds the extra emotion
with his tender
piano tones. "Where Did I Lose Your Love" sounds like a long-lost
Steve Perry era track. Guitarist Neal Schon is on his game here. If that's
not
enough guitar for you, Schon takes center stage for the instrumental "Revelation
(The Journey)." Disc 2: To celebrate their return and to get you better prepared for the
upcoming live shows, Journey have re-recorded some of their classic hits
with Pineta putting his own spin on them. Although Arnel is a dead-ringer
for Perry on the opening track "Be Good To Yourself," he manages to make
the rest of the material his own. Songs included are "Wheel in the Sky,"
"Lights," "Don't Stop Believing," "Open Arms," "Stone in Love," "Only the
Young," and more.
Disc 3: Journey's first performance in the
U.S. with Arnel is chronicled on the third disc (DVD). You're not just getting
a little sampler here, you're
getting a full show with 14 tracks of Journey classics and new tracks mixed
in. The DVD is well shot and the sound and picture quality are top-notch.
The re-vamped line-up looks to have been playing together for years, and
are truly having a great time up on stage.
The Bad
Disc 1: NOTHING!
Disc 2: I've said it once and I'll say it again, re-recording old material
is a bad idea. Music is the soundtrack of our lives. When you hear a song,
you associate it with a memory in your life. You remember the song the
original way you heard it, and it's just not acceptable any other way (except
live really). Even if Journey re-recorded these songs with Steve Perry,
it still wouldn't be the same. Journey come off a bit cover band on the
remakes. The quality isn't as over-produced
as
the
originals,
and
the
bands
seems
to
be going
through the motions. Pineta is giving it his all though. Perhaps a live
CD of the classics would have been a better idea.
Disc 3: Nothing notable.
The Verdict
After all these years, and all the line-up changes, Journey still know how
to write great music. The new music on Revelations is a hit from top
to bottom.
Rating:
DISC 1:  out
of 5
DISC 2: out
of 5
DISC 3: out
of 5
Related Reviews:
Journey - Frontiers [Reissue]
Journey - Live in 1981 Live DVD
Journey - Generations
Neal Schon - I on U
--George Dionne
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JOURNEY
