MR

Rate it from 1-10.

1 sucking, 10 ruling.

I gave it a 6. I liked the raw energy, in-your-face presentation (at least on the second version) of the album. It had a Sammy Hagar feel to a few of the songs, and could have just been a kick-ass album.

To me, the thing that detracted from it was the vocals. Not Jeff's singing abilities, but that fact that he crams 3 times the amount of words into a phrase, then what is needed. It almost seems at times like he just can't get enough words into the songs, and it really brings the album down for me. The songs needed more room to breathe.

I am a HUGE Talisman fan, but this was a totally different beast. I think a little trimming down on the lyrics, maybe a little better production with more time in the studio, and better marketing from management would have made this a MUCH better album. I do realize one thing though...Neal paid for this out-of-pocket! I tip my hat to him for taking a chance, and I think this is more along the lines of what he personally preffers to play. It's just a shame that this didn't turn out to be more.

7 1/2-8.
VERY solid indeed.
Highest Ground, New Position, Alive, Peephole, My Sanctuary, Praise, Friends 2 Lovers all ballz out rock.

Castronovo's speedball/metal drumming are missed on the rerelease for me.

9 1/2

one of my favorite albums of all time-by anyone. Neal and Jeff together just can hardly be beat. through in Marco and Virgil and there ya have it.

PRAISE
My Sanctuary
James Brown

then, list them all cuz there is not a single squeaker.

After review I give it a 4 as there were only 4 good songs IMO.

Another World-Smokin!!
Highest Ground-Great Rocker
Peep Hole-Dark Red 13, good song
Coming Home-Journey W/JSS great song

The rest either seemed like Garage Band Material or Just not well thought out.

Since 78 wrote:After review I give it a 4 as there were only 4 good songs IMO.

Another World-Smokin!!
Highest Ground-Great Rocker
Peep Hole-Dark Red 13, good song
Coming Home-Journey W/JSS great song

The rest either seemed like Garage Band Material or Just not well thought out.

It's a killer album, but it isn't for everyone and it's not an instant gratification soap suds release. It has dirt and grit and substance. But - also a sound that isn't for all. Completely non-commercial aside from a couple of tracks.

Andrew wrote:It's a killer album, but it isn't for everyone and it's not an instant gratification soap suds release. It has dirt and grit and substance. But - also a sound that isn't for all. Completely non-commercial aside from a couple of tracks.

you mean ALIVE, right. good song, but not in the same vein. and that's ok too. but hardly garage band.

4 KILLER tracks:

New Position
Alive
My Sanctuary
Coming Home

I didn't go for the re-recorded version. Are the two versions that different? Been so long, I can't remember what was being said.

I still have a brand new sealed black cover (Deen) copy.....

This CD grew on me......

hoagiepete wrote:I didn't go for the re-recorded version. Are the two versions that different? Been so long, I can't remember what was being said.

yup several added songs. (i'd have to dig) drumming is different.

Maui Tom wrote:I still have a brand new sealed black cover (Deen) copy.....

This CD grew on me......

this cd had me at hello.

drew!! James Brown buddy. now come on. it ROCKED live. one of the best live songs I have ever seen. amazing.

hoagiepete wrote:I didn't go for the re-recorded version. Are the two versions that different? Been so long, I can't remember what was being said.

re release is much better. virgil is much better than Castronovo on this cd.

I love Comin Home. It has a Journey sound to it, the guitar lead/chords are really cool

Rated it at 1, and thats being kind. Where was the zero vote?
Still remains to this day as one of the most overhyped sack of crap i have ever heard. Thank the lord i never bought it, and had it given to me for diddly squat.
It also remains as the ONLY cd i have ever thrown out in the garbage. Hateful release. Just my opinion of course.

Lula wrote:

hoagiepete wrote:I didn't go for the re-recorded version. Are the two versions that different? Been so long, I can't remember what was being said.

re release is much better. virgil is much better than Castronovo on this cd.

Yes..Virgil can play circles around most..I did like Deen's style of drumming better on New Postition though....Too bad the production quality of that version sounded like a demo.

also, the production is better on the re release.

I give it a nine +. Love just about every song on this one. One of my all-time favorite CDs ever. This CD is played almost exclusively in the Lotus. GREAT driving fast music.

being a huge neal fan, i still only give this a 7 very good record, but not what was expected, i would compare it to hardline, or a step below, a couple of solid songs, would have still loved to hear the hagar/schon/satch stuff with mA back ups.
4/5 solid songs, and the rest will take the pure journey/perry people a little time to injest.

I will agree that if you are more of a Journey fan that tends to lean towards the songs like Open Arms & Faithfully, then you probably won't warm up to this Soul SirkUS CD. I've been one of those Journey fans that always screams for more rockers and would love to hear more of the obscure/hard stuff at a Journey concert. I cringe whenever Journey releases a CD and there are only a handful of hard stuff. Although they are great songs, if I never hear Open Arms or Faithfully in concert again, that would be fine with me. So to me (although not exactly the same type of music) Soul SirkUS signifies all of the rockers that Journey has left off of their releases.

KenTheDude wrote:I will agree that if you are more of a Journey fan that tends to lean towards the songs like Open Arms & Faithfully, then you probably won't warm up to this Soul SirkUS CD. I've been one of those Journey fans that always screams for more rockers and would love to hear more of the obscure/hard stuff at a Journey concert. I cringe whenever Journey releases a CD and there are only a handful of hard stuff. Although they are great songs, if I never hear Open Arms or Faithfully in concert again, that would be fine with me. So to me (although not exactly the same type of music) Soul SirkUS signifies all of the rockers that Journey has left off of their releases.

ken, did you write this or did I? wow. my sentiments to the letter.

Great album. Not for everyone. But a great rock and roll album none the less.

Ah, the good old days when I both admired and respected Neal Schon.

This is one of my favorite CDs by far..love it, so I rated it a 10.

Alive, New Position, Coming Home, My Sactuary all rock.

As much as I love Deen, I thought the Virgil version was better, then add Marco, Neal and Jeff - WOWZA!, GREAT BAND!

(Crazy)Dulce Lady wrote:

hoagiepete wrote:I didn't go for the re-recorded version. Are the two versions that different? Been so long, I can't remember what was being said.

yup several added songs. (i'd have to dig) drumming is different.

Yep, I have both versions, the first version has Deen on drums, black album cover, the 2nd has Virgil on drums & there are 2 of these, one has a yellow album cover with a DVD, & the other has a green album cover but no DVD (if I'm not mistaken).

I give it a 9, great rock album.

good album. Never dug peephole though. The rest is awesome.

Sadly I just couldn't get into it despite several attempts. Average at best to me at least.

Lula wrote:

hoagiepete wrote:I didn't go for the re-recorded version. Are the two versions that different? Been so long, I can't remember what was being said.

re release is much better. virgil is much better than Castronovo on this cd.

Disagree. After learning and loving the Deen version, Virgil's drums seemed to over-populate the songs. His drumming is fantastic and sounded great on the added songs. But on the familiar songs it sounded like he was filling every inch of space. Sometimes songs need space, room to breathe. Deen gave that.

brywool wrote:good album. Never dug peephole though. The rest is awesome.

I love Peephole by itself. But it does feel out of place on the CD. And JSS does his best Sammy impersonation on that one! As he does his Perry impersonation on Coming Home...

Why were Deen's existing drum parts re-recorded?

finalfight wrote:Why were Deen's existing drum parts re-recorded?

If I remember correctly, he was sick and not able to tour for the album and so they re-recorded with the new drummer.