Metal Reviews

Samples of their new album have been released online, as well as a few other full song samples I've found on youtube. From the songs I've heard, it sounds like classic Journey and have been listening to them non-stop all day. Arnel, the new vocalist found on youtube sounds brilliant.

Samples http://downloads.walmart.com/swap/LoadAlbumSongList.do?itemId=9911197

Full songs on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6WZBRCvuJM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxkSKVcJ52Q

Great stuff.

Picked up the new album. Journey is back!

I'm one of those pain in the butt Journey purists that believes that until Steve Perry rejoins the band (which I'm sure will never happen) that this just isn't Journey. I would have more respect for Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain if they would just go and find a singer with his own identity instead of searching the world over for Steve Perry "sound alikes".

That being said I just can't bring myself to listen to or buy the new Journey release. I heard soundclips of the re-recorded past Perry era songs and found that to be almost sacrilege.

Steve Perry cant sing anymore.

.....and you can base this claim on what authority?

The countless people that say this, and Perry's most recent performances. Now, he can still sing, of course; but he's nowhere near what he once was. He could never rejoin Journey without lip syncing.

By the way, picked the new album up about an hour ago. $11.88 for 2 CDs and a DVD! Unreal price. Plus, Walmart is selling their remasters for $5! Nuts.

Gave the album a once-through, and it's very good. I wonder how it'll sell for the band. One complaint: The beginning of "Like A Sunshower" is nearly a direct ripoff of Tesla's "Gettin' Better." Solid song all around, and the main portion of the song sounds nothing like the Tesla song, but the beginning is nearly identical.

The re-recordings are solid, too. They have more of a live studio feel, and are basically direct copies of the originals, but since the CD was basically a freebie, I have no complaints.

Regardless of the hearsay can anyone please let me know the last time they saw Steve Perry sing live recently? I would imagine he would have had to perform within the last few years for the assertion to be true that he has lost his ability to effectively sound as he did years ago.

So, when was his last live performance within the last few years? I'm curious to know.

This interview with Herbie Herbet gives pretty good authority on the issue.

http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/h ... rbert.html

Thanks. That was a very insightful interview from Herbie. He gave up some great behind the scenes info that I had speculated on but never had any confirmation. I didn't read anything stating that Steve Perry no longer had the ability to sing well. Upon a little research I found that members of Journey's management team had listened to recent demo's from Perry in March 2008. They said his voice was as fantastic as ever but he had no concrete plans of releasing new material soon.

Another band I'm debating on whether to go and see. I do only really know the hits...

I was surprised when i first listened to it, did not think they would get they're act together. But you gotta give credit to the new singer, classy guy and great voice, he doesn't try to sound like Perry. Great balance of hard rockers with nice ballads. That trademark sound of Journey can clearly be heard on this album, top to bottom is a great release!!! Neil Schon hasn't thrown out this many aggressive solos in a while.


**Also in a year where some old school bands have return to they're glory days, big heads up to the new Whitesnake album, another kicker. Coverdale sounds great and Aldrich does an amazing job on guitars.

Yeah, the new Whitesnake album was a pleasant surprise!

You gotta read into the story about Arnel, he pretty much homeless as a kid. Its pretty hard to hate someone like that, a true rags to riches story.

I can't stand them since Neal Schon said Rush ripped journey off. What bullshit!

It would seem that Neal Schon and Steve Perry do suffer from some very real ego issues. They've both been known to say and do some rather egocentric nonsense.

I, on the other, hand gave this album it's due. I bought it and listened to it (plus the re-recordings) a few times despite my unfounded reluctance to give the latest incarnation of Journey a chance. Arnel is a very talented singer who really puts in a great performance on the new and old material. I was blown away when I watched the DVD and listened to Dean Castronovo (the drummer) sing "Mother, Father" live. Damn, he does a great Perry impersonation but he sang it with incredible passion. If everyone can get passed the lack of Steve Perry then you will realize this really is the best album they've done since Frontiers.

I stand corrected on my earlier assertions against this album and the band.