Journey Entourage

[Rick]

I never heard anything but the US release, but listening to it a few days ago I thought that the cd would have been exponentially better if they'd cut out "Loved By You" and "Livin' To Do". Those two songs seem to be an anchor right in the middle for me.

I like both songs, but ur right. They throw off the pacing. That's what I like about Rev and Eclipse. Very little filler (for me anyways). Like Escape and Frontiers, it's lean and focused.

"Livin' to Do" is the best song on "Arrival".

This quote alone makes you a candidate to be featured on the A&E show "Intervention".

I think Livin To Do and Signs of Life are the two best tracks on Arrival. I can't decide which I like best, as they are two very different songs.

[koberry]

I disagree. Arrival has more skippers and was trying to be something other than a natural progression for the band. I don't think TBF can hold either albums jock.

I've never been a big fan of Arrival, TBF or ROR. ROR, out of the 3, is probably the most embarrassing. This album cemented Journey's stereotype as a "chick band." Dated grooves, hokey R&B and a giant step back about 20 years. They defined AOR and abandoned their core sound and natural progression for a one man's tyrannical ego. Arrival features great music and mediocre vocals, and TBF features exceptional music and poor vocals (except for the ballads).

Eclipse is kinda like reliving the dream ...

I can agree with that. Eclipse was advertised as such and was done so at the (relative) end of the band's career.. Today's music scene is all but dead for any act over a mere few years old. The difference is that Journey, and their type of music,was on top back then, and that saw them fall off the face of the musical landscape, in terms of sales. While Def Leppard and Bon Jovi continued along the road that Journey paved and each sold 20+ million (worldwide), Journey was swooning to gay songs like Happy To Give, Girl Can't Help It and I'll Be Alright Without You. The only good song with any testosterone in the vocals is Be Good To Yourself ... and it's a dandy.

dan·dy
noun,
a man who is excessively concerned about his clothes and appearance; a fop.

the keyboards are embarrassing

[koberry]

I disagree. Arrival has more skippers and was trying to be something other than a natural progression for the band. I don't think TBF can hold either albums jock.

Im with you. Arrival is more like TBF prt 2 - especially in its original release (before Neal added some last minute rockers)

La la la, can't hear you. There is no Arrival other than the US release!

[koberry]

For me, I wouldn't say horrid because I liked ROR (and I understand why it's not everyone's cup of tea)...but everything else you said was spot on!

I don't hate ROR either, it's just musically boring. Perry's creative decisions during that time reflect a disregard for any of the instruments beyond his voice; the result was that his singing was spectacular, but the rest of the band (and by that I mean the two living members and whatever machine/android/C-3P0 piece of shit they had covering the other instruments rather than Ross and Smith) was restrained.

It's why I prefer TBF to ROR.

They had real instruments on ROR. That's the misperception about that album. The bass and drum parts were conceived on machines, but they were actually played live. Think of it as following a recipe step-by-step, instead of adding a little of this and a little of that to your liking. Not saying this was a better method, but they were indeed real instruments played and recorded.

And I totally prefer TBF to ROR.

No 'feel'

[koberry]

You have to be kidding me. ROR was not a risk. The singles, "Be Good to Yourself," "Girl Can't Help It," and "I'll Be Alright Without You" are not very far afield of previous singles. Sure, some of the album tracks had an 80's R&B vibe, but the singles were pop rock. "Be Good To Yourself" was the highest charting single, and it could have been on Escape alongside "Stone In Love" and "Keep On Running." "I'll Be Alright" is along the same lines as "Send Her My Love" and "After The Fall." They made sure they had the signature singles and took the album tracks in a different, more pop R&B vibe. That wasn't so weird for the band either. Escape was far more of a pop rock album than Frontiers which was almost metal on the album tracks. The only consistency the band has ever had between albums took place from Journey to Next and then Infinity to Departure. Escape to now has been a crap shoot when it comes to albums. You can group a few together, but there hasn't been a straight road. Eclipse is definitely in the Frontiers mold, while Arrival was in the Escape mold. Trial by Fire may be the one album that takes elements of each Perry-era album and mixes them together.

I think you nailed it with the winding path metaphor. You're right about how BGTY, GCHI & IBAWOY continue in the vein of their core sound (by and large). But otherwise, Dan really nails how the R&B stylings are such a huge departure (no pun)

[kgdjpubs]

I never heard anything but the US release, but listening to it a few days ago I thought that the cd would have been exponentially better if they'd cut out "Loved By You" and "Livin' To Do". Those two songs seem to be an anchor right in the middle for me.

I like both songs, but ur right. They throw off the pacing. That's what I like about Rev and Eclipse. Very little filler (for me anyways). Like Escape and Frontiers, it's lean and focused.

"Livin' to Do" is the best song on "Arrival".

This quote alone makes you a candidate to be featured on the A&E show "Intervention".

I think Livin To Do and Signs of Life are the two best tracks on Arrival. I can't decide which I like best, as they are two very different songs.

Those two are my favorites on the album also. Signs of Life for the pure Journey pop rock song, and Livin' to Do for the great blues non-pop ballad (with more than a passing similarity to Neal's work on Jimmy Barnes' Too Much Ain't Enough Love for the searing guitar lines that rank as some of his best guitar work).

[koberry]

I never heard anything but the US release, but listening to it a few days ago I thought that the cd would have been exponentially better if they'd cut out "Loved By You" and "Livin' To Do". Those two songs seem to be an anchor right in the middle for me.

I like both songs, but ur right. They throw off the pacing. That's what I like about Rev and Eclipse. Very little filler (for me anyways). Like Escape and Frontiers, it's lean and focused.

"Livin' to Do" is the best song on "Arrival".

This quote alone makes you a candidate to be featured on the A&E show "Intervention".

I think Livin To Do and Signs of Life are the two best tracks on Arrival. I can't decide which I like best, as they are two very different songs.

Those two are my favorites on the album also. Signs of Life for the pure Journey pop rock song, and Livin' to Do for the great blues non-pop ballad (with more than a passing similarity to Neal's work on Jimmy Barnes' Too Much Ain't Enough Love for the searing guitar lines that rank as some of his best guitar work).

Yes! Absolutely love Too Much Ain't Enough Love.

Gotta say, it's great to be a fan of this band and the music they put out together/separate... there's often something new and tasty. What a shame if they were like so many 80's icons who just disappeared into the mist...

[RobbieG]

Don't know about now, but when I was close to these guys, they had no one "protecting" them. Neal had Aaron bumping around with him during the "hazy" yeas, but no one knows who Neal is. It's Neal Schon, not Neil Diamond. Big difference.

Deano I don't ever recall you being close to the band? I remember you as a groupie and I have been around the band many years. From the beginning a matter of fact. You must be dreaming? When I read your comment I said OMG you got to be kidding me. Just wanted to set the record straight for everyone.

Looks like Dean was the one lipping all along. How you getting out of this one pal?

He can not Steve.

[ebake02]

LETS GET IT ON!!!!

[Glenn]

Don't know about now, but when I was close to these guys, they had no one "protecting" them. Neal had Aaron bumping around with him during the "hazy" yeas, but no one knows who Neal is. It's Neal Schon, not Neil Diamond. Big difference.

Deano I don't ever recall you being close to the band? I remember you as a groupie and I have been around the band many years. From the beginning a matter of fact. You must be dreaming? When I read your comment I said OMG you got to be kidding me. Just wanted to set the record straight for everyone.

Sorry Les, but that's not the case. I witnessed it first hand as did many others. Deano for the summer of 06 was as close as a non-employee of the band or management could be.

[Argus]

Don't know about now, but when I was close to these guys, they had no one "protecting" them. Neal had Aaron bumping around with him during the "hazy" yeas, but no one knows who Neal is. It's Neal Schon, not Neil Diamond. Big difference.

Deano I don't ever recall you being close to the band? I remember you as a groupie and I have been around the band many years. From the beginning a matter of fact. You must be dreaming? When I read your comment I said OMG you got to be kidding me. Just wanted to set the record straight for everyone.

Sorry Les, but that's not the case. I witnessed it first hand as did many others. Deano for the summer of 06 was as close as a non-employee of the band or management could be.

Well, Andrew's diary gives Les more coverage than Deano http://www.melodicrock.com/Journey-LA2006/tourdiary.html