If you could have made one change to Journey's sound...

[Red13JoePa]

Wings is The King Of Confrontation today.

[ohsherrie]

Wings is The King Of Confrontation today.

Wonder who pissed in his corn flakes.

[conversationpc]

DEPARTURE (the album) is NOT progressive. I'm arguing that Homemade Love with its odd time signature and Someday Soon are Progressive songs.

I don't know ANY progressive rock fans that would consider either of those songs to be progressive. "Homemade Love" is just simply a straight ahead rock song, regardless of its time signature and "Someday Soon" just sounds like a standard pop song.

[jrnychick]

Sorry Matthew--but I would basically re-do ROR. That album was way too ballad-heavy, and sounded too much like a Perry solo record. Too much pop, drum machine, and keyboard. Not enough Neal, and there was no rock and roll attitude.

I don't think ROR was INTENDED to have rock and roll attitude. FRONTIERS was and it did. The "theme" or "motif" of ROR was VOCALS, pop, drum machine, and keyboard. Of course, it sounds like a Perry solo record - he produced it. Nevertheless, to me it sounds like JOURNEY and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

All of the things you just said about ROR support why I don't like it, and that's why I would have changed it.

Why try to change ROR into something that it's not nor intended to be...?

Why not appreciate it for WHAT IT IS?

I posted my opinion because of the thread title. That's the one thing I would change if I had the chance. I love everything else the band has put out. In my opinion, ROR is the clunker in the catalog. I don't appreciate rap music for what it is, so why should I have to appreciate ROR? Why is my opinion being trashed when the purpose of the thread to discuss what we would change about Journey's sound?

First of all, I'm not trashing your opinion. I simply asked a question regarding your opinion. If you're going to have an opinion then I think it's only right that you be open to questions regarding it!

If you don't like rap music for what it is then that's fine, too but you can't change it or ROR into something that they're not.

But the title of the thread is asking what change you would make to Journey's sound if you could. Sheesh.

[Matthew]

Sorry Matthew--but I would basically re-do ROR. That album was way too ballad-heavy, and sounded too much like a Perry solo record. Too much pop, drum machine, and keyboard. Not enough Neal, and there was no rock and roll attitude.

As Red said...there are only two ballads on that record...far fewer than on some other Journey records...but yes, it doesn't have much in the way of rock and roll attitude.

But does every Journey record have to have the same 'attitude' and style?

ROR was a smooth but melancholic record. Frontiers was driving and aggressive, almost metal at times. Escape was grandiose, epic rock music at its finest. Departure had a strong bluesy feel about it.

The point is that Journey pushed their sound as much as possible between Departure and ROR. They took risks in those days. Fyre was absolutely right when he said that Journey BADLY need to rediscover that same spirit now and so do we as fans. More than anything else I want to be surprised by Journey again.

As for Deen - well, I disagree with Fyre about him sticking to the drumming. "A Better Life" was by far the best track on Generations and it would be a shame if he wasn't used on the next album - as long as he can develop more of his own sound rather than simply imitating Perry, which he's very good at in concert.

I absolutely agree with everything you have said, except for the part about Frontiers being metal. Hard rock in some parts, yes, but metal, no. I do love the fact that every Journey album has a different "feel." That keeps things interesting for the fans. It just happens that I didn't like the feel of ROR. We're all entitled to have our favorites or not-so favorites.

Fair enough, Jrnychick - and as for Frontiers - well, it is Journey's heaviest album but yes, saying it was 'almost metal' was over-stating it a bit.

[Rockindeano]

As for Deen - well, I disagree with Fyre about him sticking to the drumming. "A Better Life" was by far the best track on Generations and it would be a shame if he wasn't used on the next album - as long as he can develop more of his own sound rather than simply imitating Perry, which he's very good at in concert.

A Better Life, the best song on Generations? What?

He'll be used on the next CD, and he will be his own guy too.

[Aaron]

There are a few changes I would make but, since you're requesting only one I'll narrow it down. I would shit can the keyboard parts and replace them with a heavy, rock, overdriven rhythm guitar to complement Schon's lead. I'm talking about a Seymour Duncan bridge pick up, volume knob on 10, tone knob full tilt, reverb cranked, KILLER rock rhythm guitar. I think it would give Journey a lot more punch on the rock side.

Over the years, if you could have made one change to Journey's sound, what would it be?

Mine would be to keep Neal away from Floyd Rose-style tremelos. His tone is so smooth early on, especially on "Infinity". I thought he still had good tone in the 80s but I think it suffered a bit when he started going with Floyd Rose-style bridges.

[Matthew]

There are a few changes I would make but, since you're requesting only one I'll narrow it down. I would shit can the keyboard parts

No way! Cain needs to invest in a huge new keyboard rig and blast out some grandiose synths like he used to! No-one can tell me Rubicon and Ask The Lonely don't rock and Cain's keyboard parts were way up front in the mix.

In fact...I'd like to see a keyboard SOLO on the next record...and make it a long one too!

[*Laura]

In fact...I'd like to see a keyboard SOLO on the next record...and make it a long one too!

You MUST be joking,right?

I love Cain and all,but please....leave the piano/keyboard long solo thing for his,well...next solo record!Seriously.

[Matthew]

In fact...I'd like to see a keyboard SOLO on the next record...and make it a long one too!

You MUST be joking,right?

I love Cain and all,but please....leave the piano/keyboard long solo thing for his,well...next solo record!Seriously.

I'm deadly serious! Let Amadeus have his moment in the spotlight!

[*Laura]

In fact...I'd like to see a keyboard SOLO on the next record...and make it a long one too!

You MUST be joking,right?

I love Cain and all,but please....leave the piano/keyboard long solo thing for his,well...next solo record!Seriously.

I'm deadly serious! Let Amadeus have his moment in the spotlight!

Gotcha!

[SusieP]

I wouldn't really want to alter anything - because it's all part of the history/evolution of this wonderful band.
There are songs I don't care for as much as others, but that's just a personal thing.

But if I was pushed to change something, I suppose it would be to drop the keys of the more vocally 'punishing' songs by a tiny bit - then maybe SP's voice wouldn't have 'become toast' so soon or at all, and maybe, just maybe we'd have had the 'classic' line up a bit longer.

Just a thought.

[ohsherrie]

I wouldn't really want to alter anything - because it's all part of the history/evolution of this wonderful band.
There are songs I don't care for as much as others, but that's just a personal thing.

But if I was pushed to change something, I suppose it would be to drop the keys of the more vocally 'punishing' songs by a tiny bit - then maybe SP's voice wouldn't have 'become toast' so soon or at all, and maybe, just maybe we'd have had the 'classic' line up a bit longer.

Just a thought.

And a good thought it is Susie.

[SusieP]

I wouldn't really want to alter anything - because it's all part of the history/evolution of this wonderful band.
There are songs I don't care for as much as others, but that's just a personal thing.

But if I was pushed to change something, I suppose it would be to drop the keys of the more vocally 'punishing' songs by a tiny bit - then maybe SP's voice wouldn't have 'become toast' so soon or at all, and maybe, just maybe we'd have had the 'classic' line up a bit longer.

Just a thought.

And a good thought it is Susie.

Yes, if only................

[Red13JoePa]

A Better Life, the best song on Generations? What?

He'll be used on the next CD, and he will be his own guy too.

What do you mean?
HE'S writing it, not Schon/Cain? you're shitting me.