1. Never Walk Away: Nice opener, well chosen. Backing vocals are perhaps a bit too much on the background. An average rocker, nothing really special about it.
2. Like A Sunshower: This is sounding really like classic Journey. Certain parts however did remind me of the Arrival/Augeri era. Not a bad song.
3. Change For The Better: When I first heard the song I was expecting and hoping for a straight forward rocker with a tasty 'old fashioned' guitarsolo. I was wrong...
I really loved the rhythm change at the beginning. The chorus is like a rock. After the second verse comes the synthesizer part and I was hoping for a guitarsolo after that part, but first there comes the singing again, which I would have scrapped... The solo wasn't what I had expected but after a few times it's actually quite cool. I love the 'bridge' after the solo. This song is one of the better ones of the album. Escape/Frontiers anyone?
4. Wildest Dreams: doesn't grab me at all. It has some cool sounding parts in it but they are only snippets. It did remind me a bit of 'World Gone Wild' of the Arrival album.
5. Faith In The Heartland: Doesn't grab me at all, and I'm really wondering why they've even put this song on their new record? The original didn't really grab me either but it sure did sound a lot tighter and a lot better. I loved the ending of the original 'Faith In The Heartland'. They should've built a cool song around that part IMO. (Hint)
6. After All These Years: I have no clue why people are 'digging' this song. Perhaps you have to be married for that. I dunno. Not a bad song, but nothing special to me either.
7. Where Did I Lose Your Love: Really love this song, BUT... WTF is Jon Cain doing there around 2:24 and 4:04? The piano is totally out of place if you'd ask me! (I'd rather have liked a string slide from Neal's axe) Just Why? I kinda disturbs me a lot every time I listen to it. But apart from that a KILLERSONG!
8. What I Needed: Loved the solo, loved Perry's voice... The song is sort of a mystery to me. I don't exactly dislike it but it's not one of my favorites...
9. What It Takes To Win: Killersong! Not much to add to it... One of my favs on this album. It has rhythm, is solid, straight forward and simply rocks. Loved the intro.
10. Turn Down The World Tonight: Killerballad! This is what one might expect from Journey! Top vocals, top lyrics, top song, top instrumentals, top solo, ... ,top everything!
11. The Journey: Sounds indeed a lot like a 'Late Nite' track. Nice, nice, nice. BTW, am I the only one that recognizes the solo from 'Lifetime Of Dreams' from the 'Arrival' album on this instrumental track? Nice reference
...
Overall I'm in the opinion that this album is giving Journey back its face!
Top songs IMO are 'Change For The Better', 'Where Did I lose Your love', What It Takes To Win' and 'Turn Down The World Tonight'. One or more of these should have been released as singles...
Songs that would not be missed by me are 'Wildest Dreams', 'Faith In The Heartland' and 'After All These Years'.
Btw I love the way how the album is divided between ballads and rockers. Thumbs up for that Journey/Kevin Shirley!
