If
Journey's
"Revelation" teaches us nothing else, it does clearly get across the message that
"no one is irreplaceable". Steve Perry, their most famous leadsinger who sang them into fame and fortune in the 80s, seemed to be the kind of vocalist that comes along once in a band's lifetime. Sure, you can replace him once he leaves, but your band will never truly sound like "
Journey" again. Perry had this incredible range and unique pipes to match, and after his final departure, the band hired Steve Augeri to occupy the mic. Not installed as a true mimic sound-a-like, but meant as a charismatic singer who would suit their musical style and allow
Journey to forage forward into the future, paving a brand new road without the Perry likeness branding.
This approach didn't seem to go so well, as both albums fell rather flat and failed to capture the imaginations of the record buying public. The flat, lifeless songs, sucked to a crisp dryness or else feeling limp and ghostlike, seem to be the issue. By this point, they had watered themselves down into one of those "eww 80s bands" that invited the backlash of scornful public opinion, from the anti-80s protesters, that seemed to be criticizing everything from that era at the time.
Struggling against the angry, bored tides of mainstream radio, they parted ways with their other Steve and for their big tour hired the talents of long-time
Journey fan and showman extraordinaire
Jeff Scott Soto. His stage presence, enduring love for the material and a re-energized band behind him, they played to crowds all over the States and beyond to much acclaim and praise.
Journey were a bit different, but they were *back*. The media and the fans were absolutely loving it. Which put heart back into those following the ups and downs of the band. Little did they know that
Journey was about to make a decision to break that sliver of hope once again.
Against all expectations they let
Jeff Scott Soto go. And many Soto and
Journey fans were disillusioned once again. An announcement of yet another new singer, Arnel Pineda, sparked interest and controversy. He was found by guitarist Neal Schon on YouTube singing covers of their songs. They approached him, got him on board the real ship (why sing covers when you can lead the
*real* band?) and now here he is. Proving that Steve Perry is in fact, replaceable. By a clone no less. Pineda hits the same notes, has the same singing style, and sounds like... well, Steve Perry. On first listen, most people are not even going to know its not Perry if they don't have prior knowledge and haven't heard him sing anything since "Open Arms" and what not.
From the first few keyboard flourishes of
"Never Walk Away" and Arnel's grand singing debut on
"Revelation", the result for this intro piece is usually nothing but gasps of awe and amazement. This is classic, 80s keyboard fluffing, melody layered, guitar bubbling *
Journey*. Not a re-imaging of
Journey, or an update, or modernization. It's
Journey. Period. And anyone that is buying a copy of
"Revelation", this is exactly what they wanted, delivered in pop perfect production and melody sing-a-long overload. It's brilliant, not for what has been changed, but for what has been left alone. It's a step into the past, and what a glorious one it is. Arnel sounds very much like Perry, but has a slight natural feel here, but not enough to be a distraction, or for anyone who first hears this to not realize that it's a new singer.
"Like a Sunshower" follows that opening class act, and comes out raining bits of fluffy sunlight all over the track. Arnel is channeling his best Perry impression and the song floats along as light and sweet as the title suggests.
"Change For the Better" is about sludging through life's path only to confront change and improve the whole situation for a happier future outlook. A bit of Pinela's work perhaps?
"Wildest Dream" is more memorable, tumbling forward in a flurry of drums from Deen Castronova and a crisp guitar riffs dropped in by Neal Schon. Everyone assaults their instruments, there are plenty of solo spots to flaunt each one and this comes across as an interesting track but one that doesn't have the sticky staying power that
Journey is known for.
"Faith in the Heartland" is a retread from their last album "Generations". A new vocalist didn't improve the song much. At its heart, there's a decent track here, but that's all blown away by the repetitious chorus and a running time that seems to never end. The song isn't that long, but it feels like it goes on forever and a day. As if forever wasn't enough.
"After All These Years" is simple and pretty and packs an emotive chorus that can blow you away.
"Where Did I Lose Your Love" presents thick riffs, a heavy heart and a smooth mood striking atmosphere. The riffs are so beautiful, crystal and pure. Schon slots them in after the chorus and other impact milking moments that seem the perfect match to the high flying vocals. The chorus is instant, hooks to hang your hat on, 1986 style. One of the highlights of the album, as the marriage between vocals and Schon's guitars seem so starry eyed magnificent.
"What I Needed" skids the tempo building to a halt, but a soulful one. A ballad of careful emotions, soft footfalls in a painfully quiet, abandoned manse. A place where love used to bloom, is only darkened by despair, loneliness and gloom. The voice layers down like sheets of sparkling rain that clouds up the grey hued skies. Cain's hard fought bab
y "What It Takes to Win" comes next, spooling out in abrasively clean cutting knifeslice guitars and thick textures of pianos set off those passion sparkling vocals so naturally. A blazer of a
Journey track that sees that slight touch of modern updating, but not in a negative way.
"Turn Down the World Tonight" is a gorgeous big ballad. Pitter patter pretty keyboards, ringing guitars, soaring vocals - everything is locked into place to scream
"Power Ballad!" but with genuine emotion and an
"in love" romantic warmth. So storybook beautiful it can give you chills. Finally, a five minute plus excursion into the instrumental side of things, mainly a showcase for Neal Schon and his hot guitar licks. It has the rawness and backdrop of a tribal ritual, whether grassland, jungle or rainforested it's hard to tell, but that naked stripped feel is there as a backdrop for the guitar antics. Titled
"The Journey (Revelation)", it does indeed feel like a free floating journey of sorts, the strings have been cut loose and allowed to wing it unhampered and wild. Yet alone, it is not one that is captivating enough for multiple listens. Ah well...
Also included as a curiosity and nothing more, is a
"Journey Greatest Hits as sung by Arnel Pineda". While it *is* a fun experience hearing how Arnel replicates Steve Perry's original vocals in these copy tribute renditions, hearing these second rate regurgitations of the classics more than once seems like overkill. Why hear these (as true as they are) when the originals are nearly identical? Therefore the replay value of this second disc is nil, and has a more of a
"YES he can sing it just LIKE Perry" proof rather than being any kind of real added bonus. There have been suggestions that they redid these so they would have licensing control of the songs and can now farm them out with few the wiser, since they are so near pitch perfect to the originals. It makes sense and it is nice to have them included here instead of being issued as a separate album (what a cash sink waste that would be).
"Lights" impresses me the most, since I've heard it hundreds of times and has been a steadfast favorite, and Pineda does a very nice job, just a few glitches in the vocals here and there. Little nuances that only someone who knows every second by heart would catch. This disc also has a less slick feel than the
"Revelation - new material disc" has, likely to recapture the studio feel of those older songs.
Wal-Mart's issue of the album has a 2008 LIVE! DVD in addition to the double audio discs. Frontiers' European version includes an exclusive bonus track, and is the one reviewed here. So
"Let It Take You Back" is this version-only piece and is another rocker, though a restrained one in a sense. There is tons of effects used before the knock-out chorus, making the transition seem overly disjointed. Not a bad track, but it definitely takes the backseat to the other songs. Thus the bonus track status one would assume.
Overall this
Journey two pack is a nice set of songs, new material and a cd of classics that should placate the older fans that frothed at the mouth over drudgery such as "Generations". Let it be known that it was not the fault of Steve Augeri, he is a great singer in his own right, but what he had been given to work with was not even a patch on the songs that were hand picked for Pineda.
"Revelation" is a harvest of bountiful music that has the true
Journey heart firmly intact. Such tracks as the moody grower
"What It Takes to Win", the sorrow soul from
"What I Needed", that shock of past glory come to present light in
"Never Walk Away", or the simple softness of
"Like a Sunshower", these are all fantastic additions to the
Journey legacy and Pineda's vocals seem a fine fit for the music. Those that were disappointed in "Generations" or even "Arrival" will be in seventh heaven here, and with its high profile release status, should beckon a few more fans to the fold.
"Revelation" is everything the title suggests the listener believe, and more.
Written by
Alanna Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Show all reviews by AlannaRatingsAlanna: 7.5/10Members: 7.5/10 - Average of 1 ratings.
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