Eclipse - Your Reviews

by **hoagiepete** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:12 pm

First listen. Solid, but not classic. Will give another few listens before official opinion.

I hate to say it, but, Arnel, as great as he is, is not someone I can listen to over and over. By the time I got through the cd I was kind of tired of his voice. Can't pinpoint why. I'm not a musician so please forgive my lack of knowing the correct words to use, but too many phrases or finishes to a line sound exactly like songs of Revelation.

by **ebake02** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:12 pm

I'm being nosey for a minute, I was reading the thank yous in the booklet and Deen's caught my eye. Who is Deidra Ann I wonder?

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:13 pm

YoungJRNY's review of ECLIPSE

First listen/Mood: I'm feeling right now through the whole concept album is, in a way, triumph. Reflection. It seems Journey re-vamped themselves in this one to a more mature role through their existence and created a grungy but yet, happy mood stemming from success to full-fill their career of directions. I dig it, a true rock out, no limit album created here. Another thing that hit me straight on is how Arnel has become his own man, his own striking voice here. On some songs, I don't even recognize him right out the gates. Stunning approach and vocals when separating himself from the Dirty Dozen

City of Hope: A true Journey 'sounding' anthem here. A rocker that is as melodic as it comes and reminds everyone who Journey is and what they try to accomplish through their music. Whaling vocals, catchy chorus's and untouchable guitar shreds. IMHO, Arnel thrives here and completley sings in a very explosive tempo. There is practically no break from the non-stop action and is very mood-lifting friendly. A true Journey opener on any album and followed their true formula from past albums (take your pick.) A good start to kick off their promised and hyped CD. 8/10

Edge of the Moment: This is where the direction takes a turn immediately. Somehow, I get a "Lincoln Park- Numb" without LP's style of heaviness, esp the way Neal speaks from his guitar. A very sharp guitar in this one gives Edge of the Moment an instant repeat song to go back and listen to numerous times. Not so much dark but more of an "We got some attitude as well.." type statement. A couple more listens will let me have a more complete feel on this one. 7.9/10

Chain of Love: One of my favorites on the whole album. The opening scene kind of takes me back to the "Journey 2001 DVD" where the band was first introduced on stage in Vegas. The mood and mental picture kind of reminds me of a torrential warning of rain approaching while Arnel's vocals crispy memorized though a slight breeze and then a total LEFT HOOK of raw EMOTION of Neal's guitar crashes the party into brute force. Absolute gave me chills. The flow of this song is truly badass. Like City of Hope, a catchy chorus that instantly reminds you that this is indeed Journey incase you have forgotten with a more serious approach to things. 9/10

Tantra: The sleeper for me. I wasn't expecting this song to turn out the way it did. I hear some serious, grieving, bitter-sweet emotion put into this. Maybe a tribute to one's life and a reflection back on a very special time in someone's life. Kind of reminds me of Queen. Could see this as a powerful wedding ballad to set the mood of why we're here to begin with between two people that's been through a roller-coaster that came full circle. Like I said, a sleeper for me. A personal-pleaser. Towards the end though I see Simba (The Lion King) being raised off that mountain. A weird but unique ending sequence. 7.7/10.

Anything is Possible: Another "you can set your mind to anything" feel good message. Speaking directly to the fan and directly to the listener at the helm with some kind of 80's motivation of what could be if you just set your mind straight. Nothing too catchy or nothing too dramatic compared to the other material but still a good song. Seems like a filler. 7/10

Resonate: Neal must of have watching a Texas Chainsaw Massacre or had a terrible nightmare when thinking of a way to hit the gas peddle with this one. That all goes away though in the first minute or so and has an Arrival "Livin' To Do" catchiness. Could defiantly see this on Arrival if the time was right in going back in time to 2001. Nothing really clicking a bell here for me. A typical eb-and flow here. Nothing too new with their approach. However, Resonate has potential to grow on me. 6.8/10.. EDIT: After a few listens, this quickly became a banger for me, esp listening to a top notch headphone and stereo system. So many things happening and is very grandiose in sound. 9/10.

She's A Mystery: A Southern romantic vibe going on here. This is one of those songs I was talking about to where Arnel's voice is distinguished into his own voice phenomena here. Come to think of it, I really dig She's a Mystery. Like I said, Southern-folk romance and the way Arnel sings it feels so light and so unbelievably clear. I also like the guitar in this. A break from the over-temporized guitar is kind of a breath of fresh air and right when you long for it, BOOM it hits and brings you right back into a rocker mentality. The killer note Arnel hits at 5:36 is mightily impressive! Very cool tune. 7.4/10

Human Feel: A re-hash of Arrival's "We Will Meet Again"? Right back into the craziness. Zips right into a "Jumanji" or some kind of stampede pace, which never really turned me on. The temp of the album flourishes here and continues in the direction of right in your face and a pace that is constant with Deen's very original drum-beat that fits perfectly with Arnel's take on stepping up to the plate with consistency with his pitch while following the lead of the hard music behind him as well as any other angle that comes through. 6.9/10

Ritual: Sounds to me like Eclipse's "Escape" A dancing tempo to where I can see gets the fans off their seats and dancing in the aisles. TWIMC certainly mirror's Escape in some form or fashion. Even Cain's constant piano-strikes are right out of Escape's pages. One that's continuing to grow. Will have to go around a few more listens to gather a full effect on me. 7/10.

To Whom It May Concern: A neat opening and mood. I think the band shows self pride here in showing their softer-side and I feel Arnel delivers a soulful but yet sincere approach to his capabilities. A good song overall. One all can like in different feels on personal emotion, which I think has tons of it. 7.4/10

Someone: I love the fact that even though Journey took a drastic direction of feeling their way around their own horizon, that they ended the album the same way they begun it. A true Journey-sounding mood-lifting anthem that allows you to speed down the highway with the sunroof down and just enjoying the ride and feeling that presents itself. A catchy chorus with a strong sign towards an 80's rock and roll hip-twister. I think, to my own taste's of melodicrock, that this track is impossible to hate even though it could sound very yester-yearish but in a cool way, I dig that about this song. 8/10.

Overall, I get what Journey did here. It sounds very fresh and gives hope to the rock and roll scene and especially to the fans of older bands that can hang with the big boys and produce timless music over and over again. Defiantly more mature and a whole heartily different direction than what we are used to, which is refreshing to me in many ways more than one. I give it an overall 8/10 with some power-emotion invested in it and only a few fillers here or there, which is no biggie.

by **brywool** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:15 pm

Liquid_Drummer wrote:ARNEL SOUNDS FUCKING AMAZING !! You cant pro tools that. He has had training and smoothed out his voice big time. I never had a problem with diction myself. Damn his tenor is sounding fat and full. Arnel doesnt use head voice much does he ? I always seem to hear him in chest voice even in his higher registers.

yeah, he hits some AMAZINGLY high notes and also some very soft ones. The guy is the shit, he really is.
I hear more diction and language things on Eclipse than I did on Revelation, but I could care less. If the guy can hit those notes with that much balls, he's got my vote. He's so NOT a ProTools kind of singer.

Regarding Troubled Child, not nearly as difficult to sing as some of the stuff on Eclipse. Give him a real test... "Where Were You"-

by **Gideon** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:27 pm

YoungJRNY wrote:Resonate: Neal must of have watching a Texas Chainsaw Massacre or had a terrible nightmare when thinking of a way to hit the gas peddle with this one. That all goes away though in the first minute or so and has an Arrival "Livin' To Do" catchiness. Could defiantly see this on Arrival if the time was right in going back in time to 2001. Nothing really clicking a bell here for me. A typical eb-and flow here. Nothing too new with their approach. However, Resonate has potential to grow on me. 6.8/10.

6.8 out of 10? :shock:

That's it? :evil:

by **ebake02** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:30 pm

Saint John wrote:
Liquid_Drummer wrote:
ARNEL SOUNDS FUCKING AMAZING !! You cant pro tools that. He has had training and smoothed out his voice big time. I never had a problem with diction myself. Damn his tenor is sounding fat and full. Arnel doesnt use head voice much does he ? I always seem to hear him in chest voice even in his higher registers.

... the overall recording and mastering on this record is par for the course for 2011. Nice and clear with a great mix but just mastered too damn loud like everything else now.

"We did NOT "Chop up" and "Perfect" this record, Quantizing, editing, Auto Tuning, Fixing performance on the computer..... that was not part of the agenda of this record.
This record, is as human as you can possibly make a record these days, and if we put it under the microscope, there are lots of pick noises, moments where it might rush a bit, and lay back a bit, Arnel's vocal may crack a little, or fall naturally off Pitch... It's part of the experience the Band, and Kevin want you to have with this record. to really hear these guys, and their musicianship. Like a concert, or an experience...It's full of alot of really cool "Honest" musical moments, that really show you just how great these guys are. There's nothing "Clinical" about this record, So... it's not bound to be "Perfect."

This is something I appreciate more than anything else on this album. I prefer to hear all the little "extras" that are part of recording an album, it's music in its more real form. Everything is so OCD perfect anymore that you can't tell what's real and what isn't

Website · by **steveo777** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:31 pm

YoungJRNY, great review. This is more proof that everyone feels differently about the songs. I give some higher scores than yours and some of your higher ones, I give lower scores too. Is the album a winner overall? Hell yes! It's a great album and I think there is something for everyone, but it's not grandma's Journey for sure.

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:35 pm

Gideon wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:Resonate: Neal must of have watching a Texas Chainsaw Massacre or had a terrible nightmare when thinking of a way to hit the gas peddle with this one. That all goes away though in the first minute or so and has an Arrival "Livin' To Do" catchiness. Could defiantly see this on Arrival if the time was right in going back in time to 2001. Nothing really clicking a bell here for me. A typical eb-and flow here. Nothing too new with their approach. However, Resonate has potential to grow on me. 6.8/10.

6.8 out of 10? That's it?

I heard the potential right away but is much more of a slower-paced rocker in some sense as I was waiting to hear MORE from it. I dig it no question but I'm going to make a prediction and predict this one will certainly grow on me over-time. For right now, the very few listen's I gave it, I ranked some other tracks a tad higher.

by **RedWingFan** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:36 pm

Great reviews Matt and Travis!!! Appreciate the time you took to jot your thoughts down.

by **ForceInfinity** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:43 pm

So I actually went down a slightly different path to getting Eclipse, purchasing it through Amazon.com. The nearest Walmart was some 20 miles away and this just seemed an easier way to go (Walmart's aren't very popular in Portland metro, especially south of the Columbia). So overall, I'm really digging the album. I like that the album rocks out much harder than they have in a long time and they've branched out into some different directions. For me, the stand outs are Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love and Resonate. Maybe it's easier for me to pick the least favorites: Human Feel and to a lesser degree Tantra.

With Tantra I don't fully get that song, but maybe I just need to sit down and listen to it a few more times on the earbuds. I've had stuff I didn't get turn out to be keepers before (Dream after Dream came to mind). Could happen here...

I also don't fully get the hate toward "To whom it may concern". Perhaps it's because the lyrics resonate somewhat with my feelings toward faith and toward life. It's not conventional Journey sure, but it has some shades from Trial by Fire mixed in (I keep thinking I hear a little of So Easy to Fall in there). Following with what others suggested (I think Andrew was one of them), I might try grafting Venus onto the tail end of TWIMC with some crossfade action and see what comes out. Having listened to both, it sounds like it's possible to string em together as one track and make it work.

I was thinking if I resequenced those last 3 so that I have TWIMC/Venus running as one song and have Someone as the closing track, the album would seal the deal much better to my mind.

Overall I'm glad they took some chances and tried something different. I'm of the belief that if you don't branch out or try something a little different, you grow stagnant and stale and you get left behind as the rest of the world passes you by and that you really do grow old. I know in the software engineering career (which I belong), if you just chuck the same old shit year after year, you get left behind and your career dies as the young kids leave you in the dust. I think in this case, Journey sounds more alive to my ears than they have in a long time.

*drops 2 cents in bucket and exits stage left*

by **Liquid_Drummer** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:46 pm

steveo777 wrote:
Liquid_Drummer wrote:
Rockindeano wrote:
VirgilTheart wrote:
Hmm. I consider Arnel's voice to be rather full in comparison to Perry .

Are you on coke? Steve Perry has by far the strongest/heaviest/huskiest voice of all the past singers and the current one. Go listen to him speak at the HOF ceromony in Hollywood. Just talking you can tell how powerful it is. I dare you to throw any Pineda recording/song up against any song off Frontiers. It would pale considerably. When are you Tards going to ever learn- Pineda will never be as good as Perry in anything singing whatsoever. Nothing.

Notice I never challenged you on your Pineda v Augeri argument? Hell, I have a much stronger voice than that fucking clown.

Arnel COULD NOT sing Trouble Child with the power and fullness that Perry did. I could go on.

Horse shit. Arnel can sing anything Perry sang. No doubt in my mind about his vocal range.
Whether he could "deliver" as well, is a different question.

No he can not. He is very humble and says so him self back when he chatted on his own website. Deen sings the songs he sings because Arnel cant do them without running himself ragged. That was a couple of years ago. After his obvious training and this new found tenor power is has now that is even more consistent than before judging by the boots he may be able to pull off more than he could before. I dont think he could sing Mother Father. Too much head voice needed and Arnel does not spend a lot of time there.

by **StevePerryHair** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:48 pm

RedWingFan wrote:
StevePerryHair wrote:I can see why people like Tantra. It's very dramatic, and a different escape from the other sounds in the album. BUT, ALL I can think of is "DISNEY MOVIE" when I hear it! I can totally picture that song in some animated film in a love scene or something!!!! Or being used at Disney World! And I don't know why, but each time, that is where my mind went!

If I remember correctly this is the song that had me wondering if they'd written it during a 72 hour bender of watching Planet Earth or Animal Planet.

Your review pretty much summed up my feelings after Andrews samples were posted.

Are you sure you aren't thinking about Human Feel? The intro on that reminded me more of an animal planet or Lion King kind of thing maybe....

by **ForceInfinity** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:49 pm

YoungJRNY wrote:YoungJRNY's review of ECLIPSE

To Whom It May Concern: Sounds to me like Eclipse's "Escape" A dancing tempo to where I can see gets the fans off their seats and dancing in the aisles. TWIMC certainly mirror's Escape in some form or fashion. Even Cain's constant piano-strikes are right out of Escape's pages. One that's continuing to grow. Will have to go around a few more listens to gather a full effect on me. 7/10.
.

So Young. I tried listening to TWIMC and I couldn't quite get the Escape reference nor the dancing tempo as the tempo of this song wasn't really that fast, nor on the same level as Escape. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed TWIMC (and especially the lyrics), but it struck me as a almost a Mother Father/So Easy to Fall style of ballad rather than a uptempo rocker like Escape (which Someone was much closer to matching I think)

by **Liquid_Drummer** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:56 pm

brywool wrote:
Liquid_Drummer wrote:ARNEL SOUNDS FUCKING AMAZING !! You cant pro tools that. He has had training and smoothed out his voice big time. I never had a problem with diction myself. Damn his tenor is sounding fat and full. Arnel doesnt use head voice much does he ? I always seem to hear him in chest voice even in his higher registers.

yeah, he hits some AMAZINGLY high notes and also some very soft ones. The guy is the shit, he really is.
I hear more diction and language things on Eclipse than I did on Revelation, but I could care less. If the guy can hit those notes with that much balls, he's got my vote. He's so NOT a ProTools kind of singer.

Regarding Troubled Child, not nearly as difficult to sing as some of the stuff on Eclipse. Give him a real test... "Where Were You"-

He sings his ass off on Tantra. I just dont like the twinkle toes intro/outro (CAIN !!!!!!! I say it like kirk says Kahn!!!! as my wife runs from the house !). Love the song once it gets going though. His best recorded vocal work yet IMHO that is truly Arnel being himself.

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:57 pm

ForceInfinity wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:YoungJRNY's review of ECLIPSE

To Whom It May Concern: Sounds to me like Eclipse's "Escape" A dancing tempo to where I can see gets the fans off their seats and dancing in the aisles. TWIMC certainly mirror's Escape in some form or fashion. Even Cain's constant piano-strikes are right out of Escape's pages. One that's continuing to grow. Will have to go around a few more listens to gather a full effect on me. 7/10.
.

So Young. I tried listening to TWIMC and I couldn't quite get the Escape reference nor the dancing tempo as the tempo of this song wasn't really that fast, nor on the same level as Escape. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed TWIMC (and especially the lyrics), but it struck me as a almost a Mother Father/So Easy to Fall style of ballad rather than a uptempo rocker like Escape (which Someone was much closer to matching I think)

Whoops, I defiantly screwed that up bigtime. I think Ritual and TWIMC ran together to me for some reason and I mixed my order up with the songs. Actually, the "Escape" reference is to "Ritual." I've been repeating and mixing them so I'm still brushing up, haha my bad.

EDIT: I actually edited my overall review and put down the right songs for each "Ritual" and "Whom It May Concern." May make more sense now.

by **ForceInfinity** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:06 pm

YoungJRNY wrote:
ForceInfinity wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:YoungJRNY's review of ECLIPSE

To Whom It May Concern: Sounds to me like Eclipse's "Escape" A dancing tempo to where I can see gets the fans off their seats and dancing in the aisles. TWIMC certainly mirror's Escape in some form or fashion. Even Cain's constant piano-strikes are right out of Escape's pages. One that's continuing to grow. Will have to go around a few more listens to gather a full effect on me. 7/10.
.

So Young. I tried listening to TWIMC and I couldn't quite get the Escape reference nor the dancing tempo as the tempo of this song wasn't really that fast, nor on the same level as Escape. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed TWIMC (and especially the lyrics), but it struck me as a almost a Mother Father/So Easy to Fall style of ballad rather than a uptempo rocker like Escape (which Someone was much closer to matching I think)

Whoops, I defiantly screwed that up bigtime. I think Ritual and TWIMC ran together to me for some reason and I mixed my order up with the songs. Actually, the "Escape" reference is to "Ritual." I've been repeating and mixing them so I'm still brushing up, haha my bad.

Ah yes, I can definitely buy the Escape/Ritual comparison. I've been playing the other tracks to death today as well and am enjoying what I hearing :-)

Website · by **steveo777** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:14 pm

So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:17 pm

steveo777 wrote:So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

I think there is mixed reviews due to the fact of the originality of the path they took rather than giving into their fans and their own "comfort" zones. After the success of Revelation (Newly found singer, rags to riches story, Dirty Dozen/DVD) that pressure was ON for this album, a concept album mind you so considering the stakes were high, I see a lot of positive feedback. I certainly think it'll stand the test of time and will blow Revelation out of the water creativity and quality wise.

Website · by **steveo777** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:21 pm

YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

I think there is mixed reviews due to the fact of the originality of the path they took rather than giving into their fans and their own "comfort" zones. After the success of Revelation (Newly found singer, rags to riches story, Dirty Dozen/DVD) that pressure was ON for this album, a concept album mind you so considering the stakes were high, I see a lot of positive feedback. I certainly think it'll stand the test of time and will blow Revelation out of the water creativity and quality wise.

I feel like this is an album people will be listening to in 20 years and Revelation won't get there.

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:29 pm

steveo777 wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

I think there is mixed reviews due to the fact of the originality of the path they took rather than giving into their fans and their own "comfort" zones. After the success of Revelation (Newly found singer, rags to riches story, Dirty Dozen/DVD) that pressure was ON for this album, a concept album mind you so considering the stakes were high, I see a lot of positive feedback. I certainly think it'll stand the test of time and will blow Revelation out of the water creativity and quality wise.

I feel like this is an album people will be listening to in 20 years and Revelation won't get there.

The cool thing is, is that Revelation and Eclipse are two VERY solid CD's in a row for Journey, especially with a crisp and fresh new lead singer. You can tell they found their niche together so it won't hurt to pop in Revelation one day and Eclipse the other and have a better appreciation of the things they try to do different. After the whole debacle of the DL Tour and with JSS in '06/07, it's sweet to see the band release what they have released when many people written them off so early after tape-gate and JSS. They flourished in their re-bound.

by **S2M** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:31 pm

YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

I think there is mixed reviews due to the fact of the originality of the path they took rather than giving into their fans and their own "comfort" zones. After the success of Revelation (Newly found singer, rags to riches story, Dirty Dozen/DVD) that pressure was ON for this album, a concept album mind you so considering the stakes were high, I see a lot of positive feedback. I certainly think it'll stand the test of time and will blow Revelation out of the water creativity and quality wise.

I feel like this is an album people will be listening to in 20 years and Revelation won't get there.

The cool thing is, is that Revelation and Eclipse are two VERY solid CD's in a row for Journey, especially with a crisp and fresh new lead singer. You can tell they found their niche together so it won't hurt to pop in Revelation one day and Eclipse the other and have a better appreciation of the things they try to do different. After the whole debacle of the DL Tour and with JSS, it's sweet to see the band release what they have released when many people written them off so early after tape-gate and JSS. They flourished in their re-bound.

They wrote them off because of how they treated Jeff....Neal & co. have absolutely no integrity. NONE.

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:33 pm

S2M wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

I think there is mixed reviews due to the fact of the originality of the path they took rather than giving into their fans and their own "comfort" zones. After the success of Revelation (Newly found singer, rags to riches story, Dirty Dozen/DVD) that pressure was ON for this album, a concept album mind you so considering the stakes were high, I see a lot of positive feedback. I certainly think it'll stand the test of time and will blow Revelation out of the water creativity and quality wise.

I feel like this is an album people will be listening to in 20 years and Revelation won't get there.

The cool thing is, is that Revelation and Eclipse are two VERY solid CD's in a row for Journey, especially with a crisp and fresh new lead singer. You can tell they found their niche together so it won't hurt to pop in Revelation one day and Eclipse the other and have a better appreciation of the things they try to do different. After the whole debacle of the DL Tour and with JSS, it's sweet to see the band release what they have released when many people written them off so early after tape-gate and JSS. They flourished in their re-bound.

They wrote them off because of how they treated Jeff....Neal & co. have absolutely no integrity. NONE.

That's a whole different story so I don't want the review thread to turn into a bashing thread that happened 5 years ago (wow!) but regardless, everything worked out for the better and people are back to enjoying what Journey brings to us and that's simply their music. That's what I'm onboard for, Journey music. Nothing else, nothing more.

by **Ehwmatt** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:35 pm

koberry wrote:
Good review. I tend to think that Eclipse is greater than the sum of its parts. Wondering, while at a glance your scores seem to average out to 6-ish/10, does the disc in its entirety measure higher than that for you? Or is it pretty much meh?

What a great way of describing it. Yes, I'd say so far as a whole the disc would maybe be an "8." I definitely see myself playing it as much as TBF and Arrival... which means not quite as much as the classics, but quite often.

Website · by **steveo777** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:37 pm

S2M wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:
YoungJRNY wrote:
steveo777 wrote:So, do you guys think this album is going over better than Revelation? I mean here at MR.

I think there is mixed reviews due to the fact of the originality of the path they took rather than giving into their fans and their own "comfort" zones. After the success of Revelation (Newly found singer, rags to riches story, Dirty Dozen/DVD) that pressure was ON for this album, a concept album mind you so considering the stakes were high, I see a lot of positive feedback. I certainly think it'll stand the test of time and will blow Revelation out of the water creativity and quality wise.

I feel like this is an album people will be listening to in 20 years and Revelation won't get there.

The cool thing is, is that Revelation and Eclipse are two VERY solid CD's in a row for Journey, especially with a crisp and fresh new lead singer. You can tell they found their niche together so it won't hurt to pop in Revelation one day and Eclipse the other and have a better appreciation of the things they try to do different. After the whole debacle of the DL Tour and with JSS, it's sweet to see the band release what they have released when many people written them off so early after tape-gate and JSS. They flourished in their re-bound.

They wrote them off because of how they treated Jeff....Neal & co. have absolutely no integrity. NONE.

Maybe true, but as much as some people disagree with their actions, really, they did the fans a favor.
JSS is not Journey material and none of us really understand what really went on behind the scenes.
Something happened between him and the band that I don't really understand. If there needed to be
a correction to a bad hiring decision, it was better done sooner than later, rather than have them tour
with a bad fit for the next couple years. Had that happened we might not still have the band.

by **S2M** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:40 pm

No one is bashing them, Trav...just responding to a point YOU brought up in the previous comment. YOU asserted that people had given up on them after TAPE-GATE and JSS. I just replied.....

by **Journey/Survivor** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:41 pm

A lot of Neal's guitar playing on Eclipse reminds me not only of his playing on the first 3 Journey albums at times. But at times it reminds me of his playing on the "Schon & Hammer" CD "Untold Passion."

And some of Neal's playing on "Tantra" and "To Whom It May Concern" reminds me of some of his playing on his "Voice" CD. Particularly on his remake of "From This Moment On."

by **YoungJRNY** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:43 pm

S2M wrote:No one is bashing them, Trav...just responding to a point YOU brought up in the previous comment. YOU asserted that people had given up on them after TAPE-GATE and JSS. I just replied.....

True I in-cooperated JSS in my post , but my main point or focus wasn't even close to the JSS-happening and mis-handling. It was on the sheer fact that they overcame a dark period which brought us to the last several years of re-bounding which all resulted to the Eclipse/Revelation album.

by **Ehwmatt** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:44 pm

Journey/Survivor wrote:A lot of Neal's guitar playing on Eclipse reminds me not only of his playing on the first 3 Journey albums at times. But at times it reminds me of his playing on the "Schon & Hammer" CD "Untold Passion."

And some of Neal's playing on "Tantra" and "To Whom It May Concern" reminds me of some of his playing on his "Voice" CD. Particularly on his remake of "From This Moment On."

It's funny you say that Bill because as I said, I've done most of my listening to Eclipse on a cross-country road trip from Denver to Cleveland. Anyway, once I hit about Toledo on the turnpike, I found myself pining for some old school Journey after I listened to a lot of Eclipse over lots of the USA. So, I threw Kohoutek, Nickel and Dime, Topaz, and Of a Lifetime on. I think the whole mood of Eclipse made me want to hear those tunes.

by **Don** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:48 pm

Ehwmatt wrote:
Journey/Survivor wrote:A lot of Neal's guitar playing on Eclipse reminds me not only of his playing on the first 3 Journey albums at times. But at times it reminds me of his playing on the "Schon & Hammer" CD "Untold Passion."

And some of Neal's playing on "Tantra" and "To Whom It May Concern" reminds me of some of his playing on his "Voice" CD. Particularly on his remake of "From This Moment On."

It's funny you say that Bill because as I said, I've done most of my listening to Eclipse on a cross-country road trip from Denver to Cleveland. Anyway, once I hit about Toledo on the turnpike, I found myself pining for some old school Journey after I listened to a lot of Eclipse over lots of the USA. So, I threw Kohoutek, Nickel and Dime, Topaz, and Of a Lifetime on. I think the whole mood of Eclipse made me want to hear those tunes.

That's funny, I actually bust out TBF now after I listen to Eclipse. I immediately go straight for the rockers which I feel are really heavier/ darker than anything I hear on Eclipse.

by **Ehwmatt** » Wed May 25, 2011 2:50 pm

Re: People knocking Anything Is Possible for being "cheesy" or "motivational." This is Journey people, the same band that is famous for a little anthem called Don't Stop Believin. It's good, uplifting music that gives us an escape from our boring (at best) or stressful (at worst) lives and gives us something to wake up to, drive to work to, go home to etc. It doesn't need to be deep or introspective. It's an escape from reality, just like a ridiculous action movie where one man takes down 40 bad guys with a single pistol. If you don't like the music, fine. I'm no blind Journey cheerleader. But to sit there and pretend like a song like Anything is Possible is a disgrace to this supposed once-noble band because of its lyrics is just disingenuous given the band's past catalogue.

Along that action movie analogy, it'd be like someone who has seen and loved all of Arnold's movies from the 80s and 90s, going to see a new Arnold movie, and bitching that it was "unrealistic" because it featured Arnold killing a bunch of bad guys all by himself. Come on people.

MR

Eclipse - Your Reviews

Who is online