City of Hope: This song seems to be New Journey’s version of Don’t Stop Believing. It certainly doesn’t fit the “Journey with combat boots on” like Eclipse is supposed to be known for, but it seems to provide the same Journey formula that has been around for years. It’s not necessarily a very strong song, but I believe one that was meant to be for radio airplay. It’s certainly Journey enough that you would think some stations will pick it up, but I haven’t heard it played yet. I really like the chorus, the music, the overall feel of the song. When listening to it through headphones, you do seem to catch those layered guitars much better. The verses are kind of, eh! I think the lyrics to the verses were written as an afterthought. Overall, it’s an OK enough song that I’d give it a 7/10.
Edge of the Moment: The music is awesome. I like the intro and the overall dark feel of the song. It does give you the same vibe as Edge of the Blade. I have always really liked “Blade” and thought it should have been given more attention through media and live concerts. Anyways, the song’s flow is just not there for me. I think Cain started out on the right track with lyrics, but somehow, I can’t explain it, the verses just seem to clumsily run into the chorus. The chorus does nothing for me, other than to tell me the title of the song. I know a lot of you cats really dig the song and that’s cool, but it’s one I’d skip over as soon as the first verse starts. I’ m giving that one a 5/10.
Chain of Love: This is probably one the best songs Eclipse has to offer. I think the album should have started off with this song. I love the vibe how it starts off with the piano and Arnel and then jumps into a hard groove. I’m not really sure how Cain has tied the verses into the chorus. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. If I listen to the song solely on the premise of a rock song and ignore the lyrics, then it’s an awesome song. I do like the part of the chorus “There’s no beginning, there’s no end….” With a faint echo of background voices. But, honestly, when trying to make sense of this song, I don’t know if it is something to do with Buddhism or not. I think this is what I have been trying to say about how I cannot connect to these songs. Ok, this is about someone being defined by a chain of love. What does that mean, exactly? Overall, great vibe of a song, one of the best Journey songs on the album, but don’t try to understand the song. Without focusing on the lyrics, I give it an 8/10. When trying to understand the lyrics, it falls to a 6/10. Maybe some songs are just meant to be enjoyed and not understood?
Tantra: I hate this song with a passion. There is no reason for me to respond further than that. It’s a 1/10 for me and you’re lucky I graded it that highly!
Anything Is Possible: This kind of has a B side Raised on Radio vibe to it. I think it’s the most “Journeyish” song on Eclipse. Probably one that could or should have been considered as a radio release. I really like this song. Again, it doesn’t fit the “Journey with Combat boots on” description, but it’s a good, simple song. Simple doesn’t necessarily mean boring. I give this one a 9/10.
Resonate: Probably the best Eclipse has to offer as far as rockers are concerned. I think this is one of the best songs Neal Schon has written in quite awhile. I love the vibe to it from start to finish. Sort of has the Separate Ways vibe in some respects, others, it’s just its own song. As I would have said Chain of Love should have been the lead track on this album, I probably would have made this one the second one. Overall, great song, I’d give it a 9/10.
She’s A Mystery: I haven’t heard this type of acoustic guitar track from Journey since Wheel In The Sky. This certainly has a very early, Perry-era vibe to it. Maybe something from Infinity or Departure? While I have enjoyed the basic Journey ballad for the past several years, one thing missing from all of them is great acoustic work. Again, it’s a simple song, but gets the point across. I like the rocking resolution of the song! I give it a 6/10.
Human Feel: I understand what this song is all about. One of the few times where I feel the verses do a good job of leading into the chorus or main point of the song. However, I don’t really care for this song. I’ve listened to it enough to let it grow on me, and it keeps growing colder. It’s just not a very good song in my opinion. I would definitely consider this filler material. 4/10.
Ritual: Another filler song in my opinion. I don’t like this song at all. I don’t hate it like I do Tantra, but it ranks close to the bottom with Tantra. I don’t know, I suppose I have never really liked the idea of songs conveying this worshipping of another individual. In my opinion, nobody on this earth deserves to be worshipped. I just really don’t like this song from ground up. 3/10.
To Whom It May Concern: This sounds more like a Kansas tune to me rather than anything Journey would do. I could definitely hear Steve Walsh singing this song and making it a pretty decent song for Kansas, but I don’t get this song as a Journey song. I do understand that this must fit the “concept album” vibe, but it’s alright. Arnel doesn’t really do anything special with this song to make it interesting to me. Nobody really does for that matter. I’d say it’s probably a decent song, but a decent filler song. Nothing to write home about. 5/10.
Someone: I think Cain & Schon was listening to the song Escape when they wrote this song. It seems to have that vibe until it reaches the chorus. I hear a lot of Red 13 in the chorus; maybe it’s the echoing “Let someone love you” that the backing vocals are doing. It’s not a bad song at all. It’s one of those songs that I picture Steve Augeri singing more than Arnel Pineda for some reason. I think this song should have been on Arrival or better yet, Generations. It would have helped that album out a lot. Like the Pinheads used to say about remaking Augeri songs with Pineda, I’d remake this one with Augeri (not to say he’d come back to Journey, just that I’d rather hear Augeri sing this song.) I still don’t see this song fitting the combat boots remark, but this is straight up Arrival/Generations/Red 13 style of Journey. 7/10
Venus: Um, it’s an instrumental. 5/10.
Overall: As you can see, I rate about half the album 60% and greater, the other half, 50% and worse. So, I don’t see the 100% score on this album. Actually, if I go by percentages per song and find the average, I’d wind up grading Eclipse around 58%. I there are about 4 songs on the album (as I had stated a few weeks ago) that I’d enjoy listening to on a regular rotation, but the rest I would seriously get bored listening to.
The Good: I liked the idea that Neal Schon made a guitar driven Journey album. It’s probably the type of album that Journey should have made after Frontiers. Even though Raised on Radio had hits, I think Journey would have had even more hits making an “Eclipse” like album back in the late 80’s. The musical aspect of the album is excellent and rocking. Probably more like a Schon side project, but I like guitar driven music and this album delivers in those regards.
The Bad: For the most part, the lyrics. A lot of songs don’t have any meaning to me whatsoever. Even the songs I gave high marks on, the lyrics could use more work. I don’t have a connection to these songs, other than just the musical aspect of them. I hate the “concept” album deal. I think when you write a concept album on ideology or some aspect thought of hope and faith, then you’re only targeting certain audiences in your fan base. Not a lot of people subscribe to the ideas of Buddhism. Yeah, we all get faith and hope, but how is that a different concept from what Journey has written about in the past decade? And, while we’re on the subject of lyrics, please leave off that freakin’ “State of Grace” line. It has to be code for something, because that line is way over-used. Just leave it off. Bury it. I don’t care what you do with it, just get rid of it. I’m tired of hearing about something being a “state of grace” every time I put in a 2000’s era Journey CD.
The players: Neal Schon: He gets an ‘A’ for finally having his chance of making a Journey album the way he wanted it to sound like. He took the lead and musically was remarkable on Eclipse. But, he gets an ‘F’ for his Botox injections. Dude, you look like the Joker. Give it up! Grow old gracefully like normal people. Nothing wrong with a few age lines here and there, and some gray hair. You’re not 30 years old.
Jon Cain: As stated before, lose the “State of Grace” line. I think you need that third song writer (or second lyrist) to help on your songs now. I don’t feel any connection at all with those song lyrics. I can sing along with Don’t Stop Believing, Open Arms, Separate Ways, etc.. and I know what those songs are about. These songs are kind of abstract and I feel you have a disconnect with your audience. Some of your fans are going say they have a strong connection with your lyrics, but that’s because they smoke weed. He gets a D.
Ross Valory: Um, hi Ross!
Deen Castronovo: I would actually love to hear more lead vocals from you. YOU have the voice for Journey. I would have been thrilled if you had been made lead singer after Augeri had stepped down, but I understand you’re a drummer first. I’m not too keen on drumming, so I can’t really make the same comments as what others have said. But, I think Deen brings a lot to Journey.
And last but not least, Arnel Pineda. Well, this is where people label me as a “hater”, because I’m not a Pineda fan. I think the man has the pipes and I think he has an amazing voice. But as what someone else said earlier, he’s not an artist. There are people in this world that can play the musical instrument as well as anyone else, but they’re not artists with that musical instrument. Pineda always leaves me with something missing about his vocals. Sometimes I do get the “reading the lyrics from a song sheet” vibe in his vocals. As far as vocal mechanics go, he’s amazing. As far as using his voice in a very artistic way like Perry could, and even Augeri, he fails to deliver. I think this is going to continue holding Journey back until Pineda learns how to “paint a picture” with his vocals, rather than just sing. I remember seeing a recent BBC interview with the guys from Journey, and Schon was going about how he was looking for a singer who had the R&B soul in his voice, this and that, etc… I don’t hear any R&B in Pineda’s voice. Maybe that’s what is missing? I don’t hear diction issues as much, but I do hear singing that impresses me in some aspects, and leaves me very disappointed in other aspects. That is my opinion. It’s nothing personal, and I really think those who label guys like me “haters” because we’re not in love with Arnel Pineda seriously need to grow up.
Well, that’s my review. Like or hate it, makes no difference to me.
Now you're over-analyzing my grading scale! Please go back to smoking weed!
