HUGO SAMPLER

[STORY_TELLER]

This was posted as a response in the "only choice - Hugo" thread, but I thought it was important enough to create a new thread:

FOR THOSE WHO ARE - only familiar with Hugo's tribute band act (a huge career blunder for him because now he's referred to as a tribute band singer) I wanted to show you (and other's) the talent he has for creating original music. I really believe he's the heir apparent to the Steve Perry melodic rock sound. Neal and Jon alone haven't been able to create the same feel in their music without Perry and I really believe if they worked with Hugo (at least at a song writing level) they would recapture that Escape/Frontiers level magic again.

The following is a quickly put together compilation of 4 songs across Hugo's 3 solo albums (apologies for the choppy edits). It contains snippets of two ballads and two rockers (I didn't want to post full songs, that would be illegal file sharing). The thing to pay attention to is these are original compositions, lyrics and melodies created by Hugo. There's emotion in the ballads, there's energy in the rockers. He has the talent to originate new material very much in the vein of a Steve Perry fronted Journey (IMHO). This is what Neal and Jon need to continue to produce music the fans will want to hear beyond the GH album. Without it, they'll always be an oldies act.

http://media.putfile.com/Hugo-Sampler

If Jeremy can originate new music at this level (or greater) then he's got my vote. If all he can do is a spot on karaoke of Perry's artistry then he's the wrong choice. It's not enough to "simply have pipes". Pipes are an instrument, no matter what quality level that instrument might have. Give three artists the same kind of pencil and they'll come up with three different kinds of drawings. What makes an artist unique is what he does with that instrument and that's what the public gravitates to. Journey has to move forward or I won't support it. I want new material. I won't support endless greatest hits tours.

I hear Hugo is now working with Josh Ramos on a new album. I can't wait for that. Wish he could get Smitty on drums, that would really put it over the top! lol... Hugo really needs to leave the tribute band stuff behind and just be an originating artist. He has the talent for it.

[YoungJRNYfan]

Hugo is damn good. That aside, I don't see why people would want to see him in Journey? Talk about living in the past

[Jeremey fan forever]

If Journey started sounding like that, I'd be finished. Simply dreadful.

Folks, after listening, please participate in my unofficial exit poll:

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... hp?t=26107

[Socratic Methodist]

Story teller....

What you have to realize is that Jeremey is a poster here, Hugo is not. So there is alot of support for him here...and rightly so. I've only been here a couple of days but can see that.

Hugo was good on his own, and with Valentine, and Open Skyz......he isn't that good vocally singing Journey tunes.

People will shite on you six ways to sunday as far as Hugo goes.....

They should have chose Chalfant in '91-'92 after the Storm came out....they didn't....and they are nothing now.....

take care, and I hope to have cahts with you, and everyone in the future.....

BUT....I refuse to kiss arse....let that be known.

[STORY_TELLER]

Well, I wasn't looking to "kiss arse", lol... (said with a smile).

I didn't mean to imply Hugo should front Journey. I said Journey should work with him on a song writing level. I agree that his live vocals in the tribute band are thin as hell. He's singing through his middle voice too much. That's sad because as the compilation I posted shows, he can belt when he wants to. I think if he worked with a vocal coach, he could correct that, but alas, it doesn't really matter for the Journey discussion.

The major point of my post was to show what Journey would need to move forward. Originating new material that "sounds like Journey" not "bad english" with stronger vocals is what's needed. Otherwise, they should just reform as Bad English and tour with that.

Hopefully, Jeremy will be able to produce original music with Journey at or above the level of the sampler I posted. If not, well, then it won't be any different from an Augeri fronted Journey (although Jeremy does have stronger pipes than Augeri, I was never a fan of his)

That's my point peeps (all said with a smile)-

[brandonx76]

Good sampler..the best song I've heard with Hugo is 'Why is my heart feeling lonely tonight', from Streetalk. Would've been nice to hear an entire album with that group

[STORY_TELLER]

Good sampler..the best song I've heard with Hugo is 'Why is my heart feeling lonely tonight', from Streetalk. Would've been nice to hear an entire album with that group

Dude, I couldn't agree MORE. I was looking to put that into the compilation, but couldn't find the original song file on my computer. I think I like Hugo for the subtle nature of his vocals. That's something I haven't heard from Jeremy yet. (I said YET so don't flame me, lol! Unlike "the jeremy fan", I'm unbiased and look at all of this objectively.)