If "Arrival" hadn't changed....

[The_Noble_Cause]

If Neal didn't have the common sense to slap a few more rockers onto the U.S. version of "Arrival", what would your thoughts have been of the album.

Remember, the original version of "Arrival" contained neither "World Gone Wild", "Nothin Comes Close", and "To Be Alive Again" was unceremoniously relegated as a bonus track.

I think the U.S. version is inarguably stronger, however, the disk could've benefited not only from adding things, but leaving some things behind, too.

Too much fat on this thing. Gotta trim the fat.

[Rockindeano]

I believe the fans complained about the lack of up temp numbers...Good thing it WAS leaked on napster.

Way too many sappy songs. I hate it with a passion.

[heardonthestreet]

I told you guys this a long time ago, but would you listen? Now it's your original idea. Ha!

[The_Noble_Cause]

I told you guys this a long time ago, but would you listen? Now it's your original idea. Ha!

I am stating that the U.S. version of Arrival is stronger than the original.
I fail to see how that was your idea.
Go get laid.

[heardonthestreet]

You stated more than that!

[The_Noble_Cause]

You stated more than that!

Yeah, I also stated the album would be better served by ditching a ballad or two. But I've said that since day one.

[YankeeRose]

I love the rockers and the ballads, so it is a great album to me. Higher Place is my all-time favorite Journey song since I have heard it!

[T-Bone]

Some of the ockers on Arrival were good as well as a few ballads, but it was WAYYYY to ballad heavy after all was said and done. They should lock themselves in a room and listen to the albums from 1978-1983 for about 3 months straight. Maybe they'll understand how to write like that again.

[The_Noble_Cause]

They should lock themselves in a room and listen to the albums from 1978-1983 for about 3 months straight. Maybe they'll understand how to write like that again.

Good advice.

[Paul_UK]

Although its probably a far cry from the band's best work, i still feel its a good album compared to a lot of what else is out there in this genre by other bands.

[*Laura]

I really don`t think that any of us could have an objective opinion about "Arrival"`s musical drive.It depends on the listener`s mood,IMO.
As far as I`m concerned, I like to dive into the sentimental part of the album if I am blue and all, but there were times when I simply skipped the ballads because I was in a "headbanger" mood.
I certainly don`t drive to "Arrival" - I would snooze on the steering wheel.
If they would have left out the ballads it wouldn`t have been a Journey record;I guess Neal wanted to stick with the "formula" but have some balance as well.

[Red13JoePa]

Still would've been an outstanding effort. But at 12 songs, without To Be Alive Again, World Gone Wild, and Nothing Comes Close we would be out some really good rockers.

[yak]

You stated more than that!

Go take a shower!


It was a good enough album for its time. However, Neal needs to take control, and let an album rock. After all, that's where Journey lives.

[Big J]

Actually, I bought the Japanese version. And I love it. I like Nothin' Comes close, but could do without World Gone Wild.

And...I like To Be Alive Again...cutting I'm Not That Way was fine.

Honestly I think the albums in their different versions are about even...

NCC is a great addition and I dont know why it wasnt on the original cut. So it's ballad heavy. At least it was back to sounding like Journey unlike TBF. Arrival is heavy metal compared to that snoozer.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Actually, I bought the Japanese version. And I love it. I like Nothin' Comes close, but could do without World Gone Wild.

I'm the exact opposite. I like both, but could live without NCC - it sounds like something from Bad English. WGW is great, except it opens sounding a heckuva alot like Separate Ways.

And...I like To Be Alive Again...

Whoever decided to make this a bonus track (for the original release) is probably the same idiot that decided to leave "It's Never Too Late" off the initial release of "Generations".

Arrival is heavy metal compared to that snoozer.

Eh, not by much.
Both albums have good rockers, just not enough of them.

[Red13JoePa]

mmmm...as much as I take some of what Double H says w/ a grain of salt, I think he was on to something almost intangible RE: TBF. When the guy asked him about the word association with the record he immediately retorted, "Monotone." TBF does have some flat out smoke, but then there's like some kinda (to me) detatched sense of homoginization about it, even it's good rockers.

[AR]

I like Arrival much better than Generations or Trial By Fire.

As the name says - "It rules!"

[Red13JoePa]

Arrivalrules, welcome back. Curious, did you pick up the domestic retail release of Generations w/ NTL added?

[AR]

Arrivalrules, welcome back. Curious, did you pick up the domestic retail release of Generations w/ NTL added?

I did. I have the domestic as well as the giveaway version from attending the Baltimore show. NTL is possibly the best song on Generations with a nod to Faith and and "Place". Also a fan of "Better Life". Generations is cool, but there is a lot of filler (aka non Augeri/Deen vocal songs) The multiple singer idea with everyone getting a turn failed for me. Also I have problems with the way it sounds. On my system Generations really sounds muddy. Don't understand the production on it at all.

I think Arrival was superior, but the band has frowned on it in retrospect due to non label support. Funny thing is I hate some songs on that disc that people like. Nothing Comes Close is awful IMO. Way too cheesy. Don't understand how anyone likes that one. Now Higher Place, To Be Alive Again, and Signs of Life rank up with the best material the band has ever done. With Your Love was my wedding song so I'm partial to that as well. Wish "Remember Me" would have been included on it.

It's all subjective of course.

Thanks for the re-welcome. Good to be back. My first child was born 3 weeks ago so I haven't had too much time to surf the net lately. Fortunately my wife does most of the work. LOL

[The_Noble_Cause]

Generations is cool, but there is a lot of filler (aka non Augeri/Deen vocal songs)

One of the non Augeri/Deen songs, "Gone Crazy" was intended for Arrival with Steve singing it. They claimed initially it sounded more in the vein of Zeppelin.
As it is, I still think it's a solid track.

[Red13JoePa]

How about that, old pal?

I kinda had the feeling that was originally a Steve-fronted track based on Castronovo's check-in w/ Andrew one time in early 05. He hyped it as "Line Of Fire (I see it)" on crack. And just the mentioning of it that prominently made me wonder if it wasn't originally an augeri voc. As it is I really dig the track. Koolaid anyone?

[AR]

One of the non Augeri/Deen songs, "Gone Crazy" was intended for Arrival with Steve singing it. They claimed initially it sounded more in the vein of Zeppelin.
As it is, I still think it's a solid track.

I enjoyed it more live than I did on the disc. Like most have said, it seems very ZZ Top like. Probably better suited to a Ross solo CD IMO. Hey, if doing stuff like that keeps the band interested I certainly understand that of course.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I enjoyed it more live than I did on the disc.

I'm the opposite.
While i had a fun time with Ross singing "Walks Like A Lady" back in '04, frankly, he embarassed the living shit out of me this year when he sang "Gone Crazy". Him and Neal came out in their dinky bluesman hats and shades....ugh....soo gay.

[Rockindeano]

You really shouldn't resort to the "gay bashing" TNC. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay.

[The_Noble_Cause]

You really shouldn't resort to the "gay bashing" TNC. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay.

Ok. What adjective would you use to describe Ross and Neal's on-stage cabaret act. It was gay. Plain and simple.

[Rockindeano]

No, TNC, it was NOT gay. It was an artful disply of entertaining the audience. You know, the audience who worked long hard hours to buy expensive tickets to see an authentic show.