Eclipse - Your Reviews

[Michigan Girl]

....and, what the hell are you doing up so late?

I'm always up until midinght or so ...do you pinheads live here?!?! Just waiting
to attack ?!?! Do you take shifts?!?

I give credit where credit is due and that
last release is still boring, incredibly blah, yuk!! ...



Nighty~night!!!:wink:

[Gideon]

....and, what the hell are you doing up so late?

I'm always up until midinght or so ...do you pinheads live here?!?! Just waiting
to attack ?!?! Do you take shifts?!?

I give credit where credit is due and that
last release is still boring, incredibly blah, yuk!! ...



Nighty~night!!!:wink:

I'm neither pinhead nor loon: I'm a "Journeyman." I support the band and the (current and ex-) members of the band only as relates to the band. Perry, Schon, Cain, etc. are neither demon nor angel to me; I don't care about Perry's solo albums nor do I care about Neal or Jon's; I don't care how they are as people. I care about what they have to offer the band.

[Michigan Girl]

Great honest review MG. I find you have the closest ear to mine on this board, LOL obviously......I didn't like Human Feel or Ritual either. But now I'm going to have to go back and have another listen to EOTM and She's A Mystery again.

Thanks, Deb ...I'm proud to be a loon!!

It was a nice review, MG. We're just giving you hell.
Maybe you should lube up?

She knew she was gonna catch shit, but finally got up the balls to post. I commend her. Seriously!
And, MG...we are just giving you shit.

I'm not sure what you mean!! Balls to post?!? When have I been scared?!?
I was just messing with you insane people!! But now I'm confused ...
you commend when an opinion is one you may share, but rip apart if one
has a different point of view?!? This is where you and I butt heads!!
I'm so tired I can't go on ...I'm making little sense right now ...but I have
more to say and I still have to make a sandwich!

[Gideon]

I'm not sure what you mean!! Balls to post?!? When have I been scared?!?
I was just messing with you insane people!! But now I'm confused ...
you commend when an opinion is one you may share, but rip apart if one
has a different point of view?!? This is where you and I butt heads!!
I'm so tired I can't go on ...I'm making little sense right now ...but I have
more to say and I still have to make a sandwich!

The one thing uniting loons and pinheads the world over.

[steveo777]

Great honest review MG. I find you have the closest ear to mine on this board, LOL obviously......I didn't like Human Feel or Ritual either. But now I'm going to have to go back and have another listen to EOTM and She's A Mystery again.

Thanks, Deb ...I'm proud to be a loon!!

It was a nice review, MG. We're just giving you hell.
Maybe you should lube up?

She knew she was gonna catch shit, but finally got up the balls to post. I commend her. Seriously!
And, MG...we are just giving you shit.

I'm not sure what you mean!! Balls to post?!? When have I been scared?!?
I was just messing with you insane people!! But now I'm confused ...
you commend when an opinion is one you may share, but rip apart if one
has a different point of view?!? This is where you and I butt heads!!
I'm so tired I can't go on ...I'm making little sense right now ...but I have
more to say and I still have to make a sandwich!

Was this a girls night out? A little wine, a little posting, a little sammich?

[portland]

Good review. You are not the ass tight snobby bitch I thought you were. Kudos!
Really, I think it was written without bias and you, like everyone else just has some songs you love and
some you don't. Overall, very positive. ....and, what the hell are you doing up so late?

Really.
Someone pm Andrew and tell him MG's account was hacked.

Portland did it!

Nope....but good minds think (hear) the same....

[Jana]

Still loving this album. I listened to it in the car today from the beginning to end. But I have to say this really is an earphones album. There is so much sonically to this album that it's where I really enjoy it most, is listening to it with earphones. My only complaint, so far, is Human Feel. It's the only song on this album that feels too long to me. I really like that song, but just shorter. I like the shorter radio edit better. And Anything is Possible has moved way up for me. I love this song.

[S2M]

This is the litmus test people:

If this album was released by a new group, something without the Journey connection, would you still feel the same? I doubt it. It's all about the Journey Fanboys/Fangirls......anybody who says they would still give the raves reviews is lying through their rose-colored 3D Journey hallucinegenic specs.....

a good 75% of the goodwill sentiments are because it is Journey......

[jrny10]

There are some pretty hardcore fans of the current line-up here, that's for sure.

[Deb]

Great honest review MG. I find you have the closest ear to mine on this board, LOL obviously......I didn't like Human Feel or Ritual either. But now I'm going to have to go back and have another listen to EOTM and She's A Mystery again.

Thanks, Deb ...I'm proud to be a loon!!

I would love to read a review/thoughts from you, song by song of What If.... Good, bad, indifferent. Which do you prefer, how do they compare, etc.?

[Eric]

This is the litmus test people:

If this album was released by a new group, something without the Journey connection, would you still feel the same? I doubt it. It's all about the Journey Fanboys/Fangirls......anybody who says they would still give the raves reviews is lying through their rose-colored 3D Journey hallucinegenic specs.....

a good 75% of the goodwill sentiments are because it is Journey......

I wouldn't give any group the time on an album that I give to Journey...that's true. At the same time, I would be blown away by the opening of "Edge of the Moment", the main riff of "Chain of Love" and the intensity in "Resonate" if I heard any of those on the radio. I would say "Someone" and "Anything is possible" were my kinda tune if I heard them on the radio.

I probably wouldn't have made it to the end of "She's a Mystery" the first time through if it weren't on a Journey album, though. Glad I did!

[Michigan Girl]

Great honest review MG. I find you have the closest ear to mine on this board, LOL obviously......I didn't like Human Feel or Ritual either. But now I'm going to have to go back and have another listen to EOTM and She's A Mystery again.

Thanks, Deb ...I'm proud to be a loon!!

I would love to read a review/thoughts from you, song by song of What If.... Good, bad, indifferent. Which do you prefer, how do they compare, etc.?

That would be a huge pleasure!! I'm already familiar with that one, should be
snappy!! Other forum, if I have time, this weekend!!

[conversationpc]

This is the litmus test people:

If this album was released by a new group, something without the Journey connection, would you still feel the same? I doubt it. It's all about the Journey Fanboys/Fangirls......anybody who says they would still give the raves reviews is lying through their rose-colored 3D Journey hallucinegenic specs.....

a good 75% of the goodwill sentiments are because it is Journey......

Is it any different having made up your mind prior to even hearing it, though?

[Deb]

Great honest review MG. I find you have the closest ear to mine on this board, LOL obviously......I didn't like Human Feel or Ritual either. But now I'm going to have to go back and have another listen to EOTM and She's A Mystery again.

Thanks, Deb ...I'm proud to be a loon!!

I would love to read a review/thoughts from you, song by song of What If.... Good, bad, indifferent. Which do you prefer, how do they compare, etc.?

That would be a huge pleasure!! I'm already familiar with that one, should be
snappy!! Other forum, if I have time, this weekend!!

Cool!

[SilvioRodrigues]

I have listened to Eclipse six or seven times. For me, it's a good album. It's different from any previous JRNY records. Five songs of this album were previously played live (COH, EOTM, COL, Resonate and HF) and I was expecting a hard rock vibe in the whole album, but the rest of the songs gave a balance, and this is good. I don't see an album that will scary the old fans or the casual fans. There are songs that are familiar with the "legacy", like AIP, Someone or even Ritual. It's a enjoyable album, so I have not feel the necessity to skip any song when I'm listening to it.
IMO, the only negative points are :

1) Opening the album with COH . I agree with The Noble Cause said in another thread that Ritual could be a better choice.
2 ) Tantra would be an extraordinary closing to the album.
3 ) Venus is unnecessary, after 3.125.219 solos from Neal...the only thing that grabs my attention on this song is Deen's drumming.

My favorite songs: EOTM, Resonate and Ritual

[S2M]

This is the litmus test people:

If this album was released by a new group, something without the Journey connection, would you still feel the same? I doubt it. It's all about the Journey Fanboys/Fangirls......anybody who says they would still give the raves reviews is lying through their rose-colored 3D Journey hallucinegenic specs.....

a good 75% of the goodwill sentiments are because it is Journey......

Is it any different having made up your mind prior to even hearing it, though?

Why, who did that? Certainly not me. I made my decision based on hearing it was a concept album, based on the track lengths, and based on the youtube footage....I have no desire to hear Journey do RUSH, Genesis, or try to be a prog band. Take the name Journey off the cover, and it's just another bargain bin squatter....sorry.

[Don]

I have listened to Eclipse six or seven times. For me, it's a good album. It's different from any previous JRNY records. Five songs of this album were previously played live (COH, EOTM, COL, Resonate and HF) and I was expecting a hard rock vibe in the whole album, but the rest of the songs gave a balance, and this is good. I don't see an album that will scary to the old fans or the casual fans. There are songs that are familiar with the "legacy", like AIP, Someone or even Ritual. It's a enjoyable album, so I have not feel the necessity to drop any song when I'm listening to it.
IMO, the only negative points are :

1) Opening the album with COH . I agree with The Noble Cause said in another thread that Ritual could be a better choice.
2 ) Tantra would be an extraordinary closing to the album.
3 ) Venus is unnecessary, after 3.125.219 solos from Neal...the only thing that grabs my attention on this song is Deen's drumming.

My Favorites songs: EOTM, Resonate and Ritual

The only things missing on this album are the slow dance ballads which we didn't want anymore of anyway (We, meaning me and a few of us here in this forum).

[conversationpc]

Why, who did that? Certainly not me. I made my decision based on hearing it was a concept album, based on the track lengths, and based on the youtube footage....I have no desire to hear Journey do RUSH, Genesis, or try to be a prog band. Take the name Journey off the cover, and it's just another bargain bin squatter....sorry.

Are you serious? You base what you think on the music you might or might not like based on track lengths and youtube footage? That's even worse than what you say are preconceived notions by other Journey fans.

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album. There are some prog elements, sure, but Journey's had that in bits and pieces throughout their catalog anyway.

[S2M]

Why, who did that? Certainly not me. I made my decision based on hearing it was a concept album, based on the track lengths, and based on the youtube footage....I have no desire to hear Journey do RUSH, Genesis, or try to be a prog band. Take the name Journey off the cover, and it's just another bargain bin squatter....sorry.

Are you serious? You base what you think on the music you might or might not like based on track lengths and youtube footage? That's even worse than what you say are preconceived notions by other Journey fans.

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album. There are some prog elements, sure, but Journey's had that in bits and pieces throughout their catalog anyway.

Hmmm...let's delve further. How is what I based my opinion on any different than someone who can't wait to hear the album because he heard that Neal was going to shred more, or it was going to be more of a rock album, or there were no 'true' ballads on it?

It seems to me that dissenting opinions, although just as warranted, are looked upon as negative...whereas concurring opinions, based on the same criteria, are looked upon as gospel?

[conversationpc]

Why, who did that? Certainly not me. I made my decision based on hearing it was a concept album, based on the track lengths, and based on the youtube footage....I have no desire to hear Journey do RUSH, Genesis, or try to be a prog band. Take the name Journey off the cover, and it's just another bargain bin squatter....sorry.

Are you serious? You base what you think on the music you might or might not like based on track lengths and youtube footage? That's even worse than what you say are preconceived notions by other Journey fans.

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album. There are some prog elements, sure, but Journey's had that in bits and pieces throughout their catalog anyway.

Hmmm...let's delve further. How is what I based my opinion on any different than someone who can't wait to hear the album because he heard that Neal was going to shred more, or it was going to be more of a rock album, or there were no 'true' ballads on it?

It seems to me that dissenting opinions, although just as warranted, are looked upon as negative...whereas concurring opinions, based on the same criteria, are looked upon as gospel?

It isn't different...I was looking forward to hearing it because it was new Journey. However, I based my opinion on the new album WHEN I ACTUALLY HEARD IT. Have you heard it yet?

[Rhiannon]

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album.

If memory serves me, did Jon not say it was going to be a "concept album" in some interview way back? Not that any of us were expecting 2112 or Quadrophenia. ...At least I hope to hell not.

[Don]

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album.

If memory serves me, did Jon not say it was going to be a "concept album" in some interview way back? Not that any of us were expecting 2112 or Quadrophenia. ...At least I hope to hell not.

They still call it a concept album in the interviews they do.

[S2M]

Why, who did that? Certainly not me. I made my decision based on hearing it was a concept album, based on the track lengths, and based on the youtube footage....I have no desire to hear Journey do RUSH, Genesis, or try to be a prog band. Take the name Journey off the cover, and it's just another bargain bin squatter....sorry.

Are you serious? You base what you think on the music you might or might not like based on track lengths and youtube footage? That's even worse than what you say are preconceived notions by other Journey fans.

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album. There are some prog elements, sure, but Journey's had that in bits and pieces throughout their catalog anyway.

Hmmm...let's delve further. How is what I based my opinion on any different than someone who can't wait to hear the album because he heard that Neal was going to shred more, or it was going to be more of a rock album, or there were no 'true' ballads on it?

It seems to me that dissenting opinions, although just as warranted, are looked upon as negative...whereas concurring opinions, based on the same criteria, are looked upon as gospel?

It isn't different...I was looking forward to hearing it because it was new Journey. However, I based my opinion on the new album WHEN I ACTUALLY HEARD IT. Have you heard it yet?

Indeed I have....I haven't bought it yet. But since I have every release, import, and otherwise - I will be picking it up. I've listened to each song about 5 times....i kinda liked COL from the youtube clips, but have since changed my mind. The only song I can stand is She's a Mystery....

[conversationpc]

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album.

If memory serves me, did Jon not say it was going to be a "concept album" in some interview way back? Not that any of us were expecting 2112 or Quadrophenia. ...At least I hope to hell not.

Yeah, I think he did but I hadn't even thought of that until after I listened to it several times and then someone here mentioned it. Thinking about it, there is a loose connection in a few songs but, honestly, the songs stand on their own unlike other concept albums I've heard.

[Rhiannon]

BTW, listening to the album, I don't get the picture that it's a concept album OR a prog album.

If memory serves me, did Jon not say it was going to be a "concept album" in some interview way back? Not that any of us were expecting 2112 or Quadrophenia. ...At least I hope to hell not.

They still call it a concept album in the interviews they do.

Um, no.

[Rhiannon]

Yeah, I think he did but I hadn't even thought of that until after I listened to it several times and then someone here mentioned it. Thinking about it, there is a loose connection in a few songs but, honestly, the songs stand on their own unlike other concept albums I've heard.

There's a general theme palpable here and there. But a concept album it is not. That's probably my main disappointment. It may be splitting hairs, but after hearing that I really wanted to see these guys try their hand at a decent rock opera.

[SF-Dano]

Loose connections is correct. Concept album? Definitely not in the traditional sense. I wouldn't really call it progressive music either. Not in the traditional sense there either. That said, I am liking most of what I hear on this album. Fave so far is EOTM.

[Don]

Loose connections is correct. Concept album? Definitely not in the traditional sense. I wouldn't really call it progressive music either. Not in the traditional sense there either. That said, I am liking most of what I hear on this album. Fave so far is EOTM.

That's become my favorite after multiple listens.

[kgdjpubs]

This is the litmus test people:

If this album was released by a new group, something without the Journey connection, would you still feel the same? I doubt it. It's all about the Journey Fanboys/Fangirls......anybody who says they would still give the raves reviews is lying through their rose-colored 3D Journey hallucinegenic specs.....

a good 75% of the goodwill sentiments are because it is Journey......

considering I probably listen to more obscure bands than anyone else save yourself, yea, I would still like it. The name on front means nothing to me. Perfect? Of course not, but I think it does more things right than wrong. Of course, you're also talking to someone who thinks Raised on Radio is the best Journey album, which is another outcast in the Journey catalog. Both of them deviate from the typical "Journey" album. That said, I can totally understand why some people won't like either album, but both work for me.

[marco17]

Okay, I have listened to Eclipse enough to add my review. First and foremost, I have and do support all the recent incarnations of Journey, but to me Journey is probably in my top 5 favorite bands, so I would not consider myself a diehard fan.

Overall, I think it is a good effort. I don't feel that it is a classic like some may feel, nor do I think it is an album that will likely appeal to the masses, but I never had the impression that was Neal and Company's intent with this release. I think that it stacks up well with any post-Perry releases, granted with Red 13 and Generations crumby productions, it doesn't take much. That said, I did like Red 13 and Generations [I know shoot me], understanding what the band was aiming for at the time. I think Arnel does a fine job and there are some vocal acrobatics that Steve Augeri would not have done, but their voices and styles are different, not to mention age at this point, so you are talking apples to oranges, in my opinion, even though everyone wants to constantly compare. I get the same vibe as I did on previous albums, and can close my eyes and still see a healthy Augeri led band release this album. That's no diss to Arnel, he's got amazing chops, with some variations, I think Neal and Jon just produce a certain type of song these days, regardless to the vocalist, and frankly the vocalist is interchangeable as long as they can crank out the dirty dozen on tour. Here's my track by track analysis for what it's worth.

City Of Hope: Okay, some aren't getting why the opened with this. I think it screams of Journey wanting to keep the listeners attention with something that has a more classic Journey sound, so those not interested in updated Journey don't hit next or turn it off. A lot of comparisons to FITH.. yeah, i get that, but personally... better production on the Augeri version of FITH, and I'll take that over COH any day.
Edge Of The Moment: Like it, but I think it sounds more like what you would expect on a NS solo rock record.
COL: Same at EOTM, updated Red 13 type track, better production than Red 13, obviously. Good track...funny side note, it downloads to iTunes as Cain of Love...
Tantra: Hate it...next....Dare I say, to me it makes Butterfly seem like a classic!
Anything is Possible: Arrival sound, updated, but classic Journey sound.... Music 90%, lyrics 40% [cheesy to me]
Resonate: Love it, favorite track on the CD hands down...
She's a Mystery: Like it a lot...not sure I like the left turn where Neal rocks it out at the end. Sounds like two songs squished together.
Human Feel: Okay like it... Can totally hear Augeri singing this, where I can't envision Perry. I think this has a Journey meets Tall Stories vibe to it....
Ritual: Another updated Journey-ish track... growing on me...
TWIMC: Hasn't grown on me... sounds very current Bon Jovi balladish with Neal's style of guitar playing.. Can't put my finger on it, but isn't doing much for me, sorry.
Someone: Journey being Journey in 2011... Feel the chorus starts strong and could go to better places, feels like they half-assed the chorus
Venus: Ok... so.. As if Schon hasn't ripped his way through most of the tracks he has to add this at the end to just prove that he's a great guitar player... Signs of an inflated ego... maybe, maybe not... dump it and put something better on.

Overall, personally I'd give it somewhere between a 85%-90%. I think it definitely has it's Red 13 moments with much better production. I think there is a nice balance between new and classic songs. Vocally Arnel does a nice job and like Arrival, Red 13, Generations, & Revelation before, you hear the post Perry vocalists sounding more like themselves then trying to channel their inner-Perry.

Agree with everyone that the packaging is cheap and horrible. Okay, that's all... let the spear chucking at my review commence.