Human Feel

[Don]

30 seconds?
Human Feel and City of Hope are(were?) in full length available on the internet(YT)!

Remember a loooong time ago when all that was available was a 30 second clip?! ...the people
who LOVED that 30 second clip were saying to the people that didn't love the 30 second clip ...
"how can you judge a whole song based on 30 seconds." It was very entertaining, to say the
least ...

Well its quite simple you love something on the get go or you don`t ..but seriously.. people should give it a listen with an unbiased approach.

The problem is, Journey has always had the ability to get people hooked with the snippets before. Obviously, this album is going to be different then the norm and not everyone is going to want to go aboard. Sure the concerts will still be attended well because people know that Journey is going to play the dirty dozen regardless but I think album sales are were we are going to see the band take a bite this time around. The first week numbers should be good because of those hardcore "must own everything" Journey fans but after that I think 'No classics' or 'No DVD' pack-in is going to equal less interest for a lot of people who gobbled up Revelation.

Respectfully, allow me to say that I don't quite agree, here. Clear your mind and go and listen to preview clips from any of Journey's albums from your favorite site... not very many really grab me and yet I love so much of what they've produced over the years when heard full length.

You know what I hear in the majority of those old snippets, keyboards and catchy chorus, not so much wailing guitars, thunderous drums or a wall of sound approach we have for these two singles. Really it's a difference of hearing pop and hearing rock. If you are a pop/rock fan, what you hear now is pretty foreign to what you have been used to. One thing not coming right out of the gate this time is a ballad, a Journey trademark.

I'm all for what Neal is trying to do here, I'm just saying I can still have empathy for the fans who are saying this not what they want Journey to be.

[StringsOfJoy]

I liked it...it's more riff-driven than the usual...and I like the change-up in the percussion style from garden-variety Journey...and even compared to "City of Hope"...

...sounded more interesting to me than what we got with Revelation, which was monotonous to me...I hardly played that CD after the first couple of weeks. This sounds like they have taken some risks and are less afraid of being a little eccentric.

I have no idea about the rest of the album...I was a bit concerned after I heard the clips from Vegas, but these two songs have me looking forward to hearing the rest.

Either way, I like that they are trying something different. It's a bit of fresh air...

...plus, I like the way the album is mixed (generally drier even with all the layered tracks: vocals, guitars, etc...and a little less compression!!!)...there hasn't been this much "space" in Journey music since Escape...

...and I didn't mind the Neal Peart lyrical theme about alienation through technology (read the lyrics to "Frontiers" anyway...it's not new ground for Journey either)...and I liked that the lyrics specifically address the darker side of (specifically) the web/virtual/smartphone/"connectedness" phenomenon...and yes "jive" sounds goofy, but it sounds like a Jon-ism...and I don't mind him letting his geek/70s or 80s geezerness showing through...let's face it, none of them are spring chickens, so I'm happy to make allowances for that if they make music I enjoy.

...too long and rambling a post already, so I'm out...TTY(all)L!!!

[JourneyHard]

CORRECTION! CORRECTION! NO JIVE!

HUMAN FEEL

In a jungle of hardware and mass frustration,
Overloaded with way too much information these days,
I am needing more than the virtual world I am seeing,
Could someone just let me talk to a live human being?
While automation and droids just keep on coming,
I wanna unplug right now, I want to just start running,
Caught up in the web as it weaves an illusion,
A network of lies, a giant ball of confusion,

What we’re missing is true emotion,
I get lost in this digital ocean,
What I’m needing right now is human feel

Can’t substitute love and passion,
Show me you care, baby,
Show me reaction,
Coming straight from the heart,
It’s human feel

Rise up! Find some compassion,
It’s not too late,
Don’t give up! What you feel still matters
Don’t wait

Make it real,
Keep it real,
Human feel

Show me reaction,
Don’t wait

Can’t substitute love and passion,
Show me you care, baby,
Show me reaction,
Coming straight from the heart,
It’s human feel

Rise up! Find some compassion right now,
Don’t give up! Show me reaction, Don’t wait

Rise up!
Make it real,
Make it human feel
Rise up! Yeah!
Oh. Ri-i-i-i-i-ise up!
Rise up!
Make it real,
Make it human feel
Rise up! Yeah!
Oh, Rise up!
Rise up!
Oh
Rise up!
Oh, Rise up!
Rise up!

[Hippie]

I'm all for what Neal is trying to do here, I'm just saying I can still have empathy for the fans who are saying this not what they want Journey to be.

And for some of us fans, this sounds like the album we've been waiting for since Frontiers!

We've had some great ballads, now it's time ta get LOUD!!!!

[JourneyHard]

We have been waiting for this for a long time. This would have been perfect in 1986.

Back in 1986, Hard Rock was on top of the music world, but Journey released Raised on Radio which is hands down the least hard rocking album they have ever done (except for Dream After Dream.) A hard rocking ablum in 1986 would have been huge for Journey.

[Arkansas]

We have been waiting for this for a long time. This would have been perfect in 1986.

Back in 1986, Hard Rock was on top of the music world, but Journey released Raised on Radio which is hands down the least hard rocking album they have ever done (except for Dream After Dream.) A hard rocking ablum in 1986 would have been huge for Journey.

Yep. I remember being at a mall record store in Memphis (Peaches?)...back in the day...talking to the guy there about the cover sticker that said "America's Premier Rock Band", and how ROR was doing. He said that it really wasn't a rock record, it was more adult contemporary. I was disappointed that he said that, but compared to all the other rock records out at the time, he was right. Perhaps, that's why Schon called it a 'snooze'. I will also say though, that MTV's Martha Quinn seemed to love the live "Girl Can't Help It" vid, and several on MTV really loved it because it was live & sounded so good.

Another note. When Journey played their ROR tour stop in Memphis, 'RedBeard', then with Rock103, used to do a live report after the show. He said "the mix was mint, and they were rocking harder than ever." That was cool, but they were basically a 3-man supergroup then. Little did anyone know that they'd shelve themselves at the end of that tour.

Interesting to think that Eclipse could have fit in then. Who knows...but probably so.


later~

[annie89509]

Yeah, I had gone back and read many articles and interviews with music critics of the day stating ROR was Journey's 2nd best album (to Escape). The problem with Frontiers was "A" side was front-loaded with all the hits, and "B" side seemed like bunch of fillers (to the ears of many). Of course, revisionary history tells us now that hardcore Journey loathed this album ROR ... but who would have thought then with all the critics' gushing words?

[Saint John]

ROR was embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as TBF, but embarrassing nonetheless. At a time when music was turning the corner and going into the big sounding direction of Def Leppard's Hysteria and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet, Journey was hijacked and forced to record regurgitated R&B vomit from the 60's and 70's. The result? Hysteria and Slippery When Wet went on to sell over 20 million copies each, worldwide, while ROR sold ... 2.

[Jana]

ROR was embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as TBF, but embarrassing nonetheless. At a time when music was turning the corner and going into the big sounding direction of Def Leppard's Hysteria and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet, Journey was hijacked and forced to record regurgitated R&B vomit from the 60's and 70's. The result? Hysteria and Slippery When Wet went on to sell over 20 million copies each, worldwide, while ROR sold ... 2.

U2's Joshua Tree came out in early 1987, and has sold over 25 million albums. When you look at all those numbers you listed and others, the sales of ROR are lackluster (for Journey, it seems) considering the popularity of the band.

[Eric]

ROR was embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as TBF, but embarrassing nonetheless. At a time when music was turning the corner and going into the big sounding direction of Def Leppard's Hysteria and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet, Journey was hijacked and forced to record regurgitated R&B vomit from the 60's and 70's. The result? Hysteria and Slippery When Wet went on to sell over 20 million copies each, worldwide, while ROR sold ... 2.

I'm not sure I could have slept from '84 - '97 if I were Schon and Cain. I toss and turn when I feel like I spent $100 foolishly. These guys lost tens of millions - maybe more.

[NoMoreTails]

Yeah, I had gone back and read many articles and interviews with music critics of the day stating ROR was Journey's 2nd best album (to Escape). The problem with Frontiers was "A" side was front-loaded with all the hits, and "B" side seemed like bunch of fillers (to the ears of many). Of course, revisionary history tells us now that hardcore Journey loathed this album ROR ... but who would have thought then with all the critics' gushing words?

Critics sucked back then too, as evidenced by your comments about their reviews of ROR. Like Neal said, critics liked Elvis Costello because he looked like them. However, I don't recall any positive reviews on it. I do remember trying to convince friends that Journey was really a rock band who just happen to have a couple of ballads that were the biggest singles only to have this pop fluff Perry directed piece of shit released within days of having them listen to KOR, DOA, EOTB, CR, etc.

[The_Noble_Cause]

ROR was embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as TBF, but embarrassing nonetheless.

I'd take any song off TBF (yes, even the throwaway "Baby I'm a Leavin You") over ROR songs like "Happy to Give", "Eyes of a Woman", and "It Could Have Been You." That stuff barely even passes for Rich Marx-type soft rock. Just dated, depressing, and horrible. Pure shit. Otherwise, I agree with your post!

[Escape Artist]

ROR is my least favorite Journey release and I think a harder rocking Journey could have been HUGE for a short time.

The thing that bugs me the most is Perry bailing after JRNY's worst release, the band never had a chance to "get it right".

Lot's of bands I love have put out a few albums that I simply don't care for but, they usually don't disband. More often than not, bands get back on the horse and redeem themselves. I am looking forward to Eclipse because it is the direction I have wanted Journey to go for a long, long, time.

It won't be perfect but at least it is going in the right direction. IMHO.

[NoMoreTails]

The thing that bugs me the most is Perry bailing after JRNY's worst release, the band never had a chance to "get it right".

Lot's of bands I love have put out a few albums that I simply don't care for but, they usually don't disband. More often than not, bands get back on the horse and redeem themselves.

Regarding these thoughts, its almost as if Perry was deliberately sabotaging the band as he planned to embark on a permanent solo career.....of course Sony called bullshit upon hearing the abortion what was to be called Against the Wall

[Saint John]

The thing that bugs me the most is Perry bailing after JRNY's worst release, the band never had a chance to "get it right".

Lot's of bands I love have put out a few albums that I simply don't care for but, they usually don't disband. More often than not, bands get back on the horse and redeem themselves.

Regarding these thoughts, its almost as if Perry was deliberately sabotaging the band as he planned to embark on a permanent solo career.....of course Sony called bullshit upon hearing the abortion what was to be called Against the Wall

Spot on. I think it's quite obvious that ROR was him transitioning out of Journey. But Against The Wall and FTLOSM were both roundly rejected by fans and labels. They were both garbage. Plain and simple. And like TNC said, so was TBF. People wanted Journey music back ... not Sade meets Seals and Crofts.

[Liquid_Drummer]

Heard both singles as they are on youtube. Love the music, love the vocals, drums and Neal is on fire. Arnel never sounded better and the lyrics were never more LAME !

It has to be Cain writing this drivel. The songs musically kick total ass in every way. I would like them if Arnel got drunk and sang with marbles in his mouth I think. Hoping for better lyrics on the other tunes. I hate listening to a song and feeling like I am at a motivational seminar.

[VirgilTheart]

Heard both singles as they are on youtube. Love the music, love the vocals, drums and Neal is on fire. Arnel never sounded better and the lyrics were never more LAME !

It has to be Cain writing this drivel. The songs musically kick total ass in every way. I would like them if Arnel got drunk and sang with marbles in his mouth I think. Hoping for better lyrics on the other tunes. I hate listening to a song and feeling like I am at a motivational seminar.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think Arnel wrote a few lyrics on the album. I know that he apparently either entirely wrote or co-wrote "She's A Mystery" and "To Whom It May Concern".

[Don]

Heard both singles as they are on youtube. Love the music, love the vocals, drums and Neal is on fire. Arnel never sounded better and the lyrics were never more LAME !

It has to be Cain writing this drivel. The songs musically kick total ass in every way. I would like them if Arnel got drunk and sang with marbles in his mouth I think. Hoping for better lyrics on the other tunes. I hate listening to a song and feeling like I am at a motivational seminar.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think Arnel wrote a few lyrics on the album. I know that he apparently either entirely wrote or co-wrote "She's A Mystery" and "To Whom It May Concern".

One of them he wrote with his brother and another with Neal. After seeing the poetry(?) Pineda posted on his FB wall awhile back, I'm kind of hoping his writing "partners" took the reins in both of these collaborations.

[VirgilTheart]

One of them he wrote with his brother and another with Neal. After seeing the poetry(?) Pineda posted on his FB wall awhile back, I'm kind of hoping his writing "partners" took the reins in both of these collaborations.

Ouch. I haven't seen this "poetry" you mentioned. So it's bad, huh?

[Don]

One of them he wrote with his brother and another with Neal. After seeing the poetry(?) Pineda posted on his FB wall awhile back, I'm kind of hoping his writing "partners" took the reins in both of these collaborations.

Ouch. I haven't seen this "poetry" you mentioned. So it's bad, huh?

It makes Perry look like Roger Waters.

[slucero]

I just listened to the "Radio edit" of Human Feel...

AP's vox are stellar... he's really singing well.. sonically - well recorded.. good production...

But ironically the song in no way measures up.... the song is just farking boring...

Then I listened to City of Hope (radio edit)... which is better, songwriting-wise... and again well recorded.. good production. but also again... it still doesn't measure up to Arnel's vocals...


The songs are falling short... they sound "generic"... whoulda thunk...

[Rick]

I just listened to the "Radio edit" of Human Feel...

AP's vox are stellar... he's really singing well..

But ironically the song in no way measures up.... the song is just boring...

Then I listened to City of Hope (radio edit)... which is better, songwriting-wise... but again... it still doesn't measure up to Arnel's vocals...


The songs are falling short... whoulda thunk...

This begs the question. Arnel sounds just amazing on the Youtubes I've heard. At the end of the last tour, he was beginning to get fairly raspy and even dodging notes. Did he have some vocal work done in his off time?

[slucero]

No.. just a lot of rest and a good warmup/rest regimen before the tracks were laid.. I hear pretty disciplined singing on the tracks... no wild ass screaming.. nothing that gets his voice into areas that are iffy...

AP may not have had to do many retakes.. but I'm sure he was told to keep it "controlled".. at least thats what I'm hearing on these two songs...


The thing with AP.. is that he's naturally all power... which is indicative of a good ability to "push" air.. but his tone is also better.. which tells me he's learning to relax his body more when he sings... watch SP singing... when he's going for those soaring notes... his neck muscles show little strain for the effort.. cause its all technique... diaphragm pushing air, not neck muscles constricting the throat to get into that higher range... thats why SP looks so relaxed when he sang... and how he could still be a finesse singer even at the top of his range...

AP is still learning that part of the technique I bet.

[Saint John]

I cant help but thinking Arnel met with a vocal coach during their year off. His voice is stronger and his technique is much better.

[slucero]

I cant help but thinking Arnel met with a vocal coach during their year off. His voice is stronger and his technique is much better.

Agreed. His tone is much improved.. especially in the higher ranges.. he keeps his tone "round". It doesn't "thin out"... like it would if he was simply constricting his throat to get those high notes.

If he can get that technique down... his voice will start to get that pliable silky quality SP's voice had... and then AP can really work on the finesse side of singing which is where (IMHO) he has the most upside...



It's that technique that allowed SP to do those "hell tours" in the 80's...

[Rick]

No.. just a lot of rest and a good warmup/rest regimen before the tracks were laid.. I hear pretty disciplined singing on the tracks... no wild ass screaming.. nothing that gets his voice into areas that are iffy...

AP may not have had to do many retakes.. but I'm sure he was told to keep it "controlled".. at least thats what I'm hearing on these two songs...


The thing with AP.. is that he's naturally all power... which is indicative of a good ability to "push" air.. but his tone is also better.. which tells me he's learning to relax his body more when he sings... watch SP singing... when he's going for those soaring notes... his neck muscles show little strain for the effort.. cause its all technique... diaphragm pushing air, not neck muscles constricting the throat to get into that higher range... thats why SP looks so relaxed when he sang... and how he could still be a finesse singer even at the top of his range...

AP is still learning that part of the technique I bet.

Just coaching then? He's clear as a fucking bell on those high notes. Good for him. That dude has one serious set of pipes. I'm a huge fan of his. He undertook a veritable monster, vocally, and has done it amazing justice.

[Rick]

I cant help but thinking Arnel met with a vocal coach during their year off. His voice is stronger and his technique is much better.

Much stronger and more defined. His naysayers have got to be licking their wounds. ANY band would have been lucky to get this guy.

[slucero]

No.. just a lot of rest and a good warmup/rest regimen before the tracks were laid.. I hear pretty disciplined singing on the tracks... no wild ass screaming.. nothing that gets his voice into areas that are iffy...

AP may not have had to do many retakes.. but I'm sure he was told to keep it "controlled".. at least thats what I'm hearing on these two songs...


The thing with AP.. is that he's naturally all power... which is indicative of a good ability to "push" air.. but his tone is also better.. which tells me he's learning to relax his body more when he sings... watch SP singing... when he's going for those soaring notes... his neck muscles show little strain for the effort.. cause its all technique... diaphragm pushing air, not neck muscles constricting the throat to get into that higher range... thats why SP looks so relaxed when he sang... and how he could still be a finesse singer even at the top of his range...

AP is still learning that part of the technique I bet.

Just coaching then? He's clear as a fucking bell on those high notes. Good for him. That dude has one serious set of pipes. I'm a huge fan of his. He undertook a veritable monster, vocally, and has done it amazing justice.

Natural ability isn't enough... look at SP.. who was(is) and alto-tenor and had a higher base range than Arnel... its the technique and discipline that makes the difference...

When I hear AP on YT clips and he's wailing like a banshee... I still hear him in chest voice... literally all the way through his range... with some discipline and training he'll probably ADD range to his chest voice ... AND be able to "bridge" to head voice... the same way SP did... listen to SP on Winds of March, at 2:17 he sings "In your eyes..." and carries that note all the way into head voice... effortlessly..

What I'm hearing is a more controlled and mature singer... now he just needs better songs to sing..

[Rick]

No.. just a lot of rest and a good warmup/rest regimen before the tracks were laid.. I hear pretty disciplined singing on the tracks... no wild ass screaming.. nothing that gets his voice into areas that are iffy...

AP may not have had to do many retakes.. but I'm sure he was told to keep it "controlled".. at least thats what I'm hearing on these two songs...


The thing with AP.. is that he's naturally all power... which is indicative of a good ability to "push" air.. but his tone is also better.. which tells me he's learning to relax his body more when he sings... watch SP singing... when he's going for those soaring notes... his neck muscles show little strain for the effort.. cause its all technique... diaphragm pushing air, not neck muscles constricting the throat to get into that higher range... thats why SP looks so relaxed when he sang... and how he could still be a finesse singer even at the top of his range...

AP is still learning that part of the technique I bet.

Just coaching then? He's clear as a fucking bell on those high notes. Good for him. That dude has one serious set of pipes. I'm a huge fan of his. He undertook a veritable monster, vocally, and has done it amazing justice.

Natural ability isn't enough... look at SP.. who was(is) and alto-tenor and had a higher base range than Arnel... its the technique and discipline that makes the difference...

When I hear AP on YT clips and he's wailing like a banshee... I still hear him in chest voice... literally all the way through his range... with some discipline and training he'll probably ADD range to his chest voice ... AND be able to "bridge" to head voice... the same way SP did... listen to SP on Winds of March, at 2:17 he sings "In your eyes..." and carries that note all the way into head voice... effortlessly..

What I'm hearing is a more controlled and mature singer... now he just needs better songs to sing..

That's talent most singers will never realize. Arnel goes into his head voice at times, but not seamlessly, like Perry did.

[SYNCH]

Just coaching then? He's clear as a fucking bell on those high notes. Good for him. That dude has one serious set of pipes. I'm a huge fan of his. He undertook a veritable monster, vocally, and has done it amazing justice.

Natural ability isn't enough... look at SP.. who was(is) and alto-tenor and had a higher base range than Arnel... its the technique and discipline that makes the difference...
When I hear AP on YT clips and he's wailing like a banshee... I still hear him in chest voice... literally all the way through his range... with some discipline and training he'll probably ADD range to his chest voice ... AND be able to "bridge" to head voice... the same way SP did... listen to SP on Winds of March, at 2:17 he sings "In your eyes..." and carries that note all the way into head voice... effortlessly..
What I'm hearing is a more controlled and mature singer... now he just needs better songs to sing..

That's talent most singers will never realize. Arnel goes into his head voice at times, but not seamlessly, like Perry did.

I first noticed it when they toured Hawaii. He is sometimes late on some of the songs and sounds like he is taking the song richer, with more content, not sure how to describe it. I actually asked Brywool if there was a timing issue as I'm just not used when the phrasing is changed differently. What if Arnel can change voices from chest to head and back seamlessly, will he sound like Steve?