MR

this 1996 album hovered right around the top of the album charts when released in 1996 after the band took a decade between studio albums.this one definitely is a lighter effort compared to past releases.all of the members from the best selling era are back together and sadly there was no tour and soon afterwards perry left for good.this is the last release with him on vocals.


some pretty good ballads on this one.

Now we're talking.

Trial By Fire? Easily, in my honest opinion, the brightest spot in Journey's career. Songwriting and musicianship at its peak, with some excellent harmonies and emotional performances from Perry.

"If He Should Break Your Heart" = fantastic.

Gideon wrote:Now we're talking.

Trial By Fire? Easily, in my honest opinion, the brightest spot in Journey's career. Songwriting and musicianship at its peak, with some excellent harmonies and emotional performances from Perry.

"If He Should Break Your Heart" = fantastic.

+1 I'm totally on board with you on this one. By far my favorite Journey cd.

mikemarrs wrote:this 1996 album hovered right around the top of the album charts when released in 1996 after the band took a decade between studio albums.this one definitely is a lighter effort compared to past releases.all of the members from the best selling era are back together and sadly there was no tour and soon afterwards perry left for good.this is the last release with him on vocals.


some pretty good ballads on this one.

The most complete JRNY cd and there best
Easy To Fall killer
Colors of The Spirit blazes
When You Love a Women sweet.
Its Just The Rain
Message of Love
Still She Cries
Castles Burning Dark side
all great tunes

froy wrote:

mikemarrs wrote:this 1996 album hovered right around the top of the album charts when released in 1996 after the band took a decade between studio albums.this one definitely is a lighter effort compared to past releases.all of the members from the best selling era are back together and sadly there was no tour and soon afterwards perry left for good.this is the last release with him on vocals.


some pretty good ballads on this one.

The most complete JRNY cd and there best
Easy To Fall killer
Colors of The Spirit blazes
When You Love a Women sweet.
Its Just The Rain
Message of Love
Still She Cries
Castles Burning Dark side
all great tunes

"Easy to Fall" is one of my favorites, too. That's a showcase performance all around; some truly spectacular interactions between Neal's guitar and Jon's piano. I could break down the whole album, lol.

Great album! I love so many Journey albums for different reasons......but I was so pleased when this came out. I remember I was walking in Dillards at the mall and Perry's voice came out singing Message of Love........I told my husband, that is a new song by Journey! (Remember, we thought the band was total toast at that time) He said no way..........went to the record store.........and the rest they say is history..........

would have been my favorite album if a few more songs had held the tone of "One More" That song was dark and brooding, and one of the heaviest songs they ever wrote. The vocals were gritty and strong and the guitar work was vicious.

Well, Does anyone else think that Don't Be Down On Me Baby, is one Journey's finest ballads?

Perry's vocals were spectacular and Neal's guitar licks are killer. The minor chord on the very last note of the song is magic.
I really believe these guys were thrilled to be back together at this time. What happened after this is speculation.

One question. Perry originally called Cain about reuniting and they all got together to jam/rehearse. I've read Steve Smith's interview at the time in Modern Drummer and he says the magic was instantly back and the old songs sounded great. If his voice was so bad at the time, why would they all have been so anxious to start recording new stuff, knowing a tour would be coming. Would they have gone on if they thought SP's voice wasn't up to par?

Anyway, TBF was magical and the last TRUE Journey album we have.

Love the production on this album, Neal has some awesome moments (shit, everyone in the band sans Ross does), and the layered harmonies are among the best. A good effort, undeserving of the extreme derision I've seen it get. It IS a bit ballad-heavy and it is definitely a mood album. If you wanna roll the windows down and roll down the highway on a hot summer day, you're probably better off throwing on Escape or Frontiers, but when you're in the mood for this style it's GREAT.

I don't know how Colors of the Spirit stayed but I Can See It In Your Eyes got the axe. The only cool part about Colors is Neal's guitar tone on the opening chords. Really neat clean tone.

Oh, now a discussion of TBF...! I told you guys 1 1/2 years ago that it was my favorite album and you all laughed at me.

Well. its still my fav. album and always will be...
I much prefer the older, deeper, huskier, sexier, raspier, richer, more emotional voice on TBF.. than the younger higher voice..
It was never about the high notes anyway.

Gideon wrote:Now we're talking.

Trial By Fire? Easily, in my honest opinion, the brightest spot in Journey's career. Songwriting and musicianship at its peak, with some excellent harmonies and emotional performances from Perry.

"If He Should Break Your Heart" = fantastic.

Stellar song! Best line "lonely hands, please don't do what you waaaaanna do" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIaBODKuars IHSBYH followed by Forever in Blue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZHEMhE0GXA good stuff right there!

For the most part this album is shit. When You Love A Woman and If He Should Break Your Heart are the only 2 really good tracks, leaving it with a few tolerable ones (Forever In Blue and Message Of Love), and the rest being vocal rubbish. This album showcases that Perry's decision to go into a softer direction with ROR was out of necessity and not creativity. His voice was easily its weakest during this album and the album is lackluster at best. While it's their finest hour musically, it's also the complete opposite vocally. The listener is left with a hollow, thin sounding Perry using studio magic to try and compensate for incredible musicianship. And he comes up way short.

Saint John wrote:For the most part this album is shit. When You Love A Woman and If He Should Break Your Heart are the only 2 really good tracks, leaving it with a few tolerable ones (Forever In Blue and Message Of Love), and the rest being vocal rubbish. This album showcases that Perry's decision to go into a softer direction with ROR was out of necessity and not creativity. His voice was easily its weakest during this album and the album is lackluster at best. While it's their finest hour musically, it's also the complete opposite vocally. The listener is left with a hollow, thin sounding Perry using studio magic to try and compensate for incredible musicianship. And he comes up way short.

LOL, not too darn many things we agree on musically. Hollow? Thin sounding? I hear the opposite, I thought his voice sounds very full-bodied and emotive on TBF. But then what do you know about great vocals......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyMz7Lka5EA

Ehwmatt wrote:Love the production on this album, Neal has some awesome moments (shit, everyone in the band sans Ross does), and the layered harmonies are among the best. A good effort, undeserving of the extreme derision I've seen it get. It IS a bit ballad-heavy and it is definitely a mood album. If you wanna roll the windows down and roll down the highway on a hot summer day, you're probably better off throwing on Escape or Frontiers, but when you're in the mood for this style it's GREAT.

I don't know how Colors of the Spirit stayed but I Can See It In Your Eyes got the axe. The only cool part about Colors is Neal's guitar tone on the opening chords. Really neat clean tone.

hold yer horses now. It is the 2nd best effort by Ross, ESCAPE being 1st. Ross singlehandedly redeems this album. It is soooooooooo ballad over rich-a negative in my book-and Ross masters the sensual bass line requirement not only on this cd but all Journey ballads.

1-800-RossRocks

Saint John wrote:For the most part this album is shit. When You Love A Woman and If He Should Break Your Heart are the only 2 really good tracks, leaving it with a few tolerable ones (Forever In Blue and Message Of Love), and the rest being vocal rubbish. This album showcases that Perry's decision to go into a softer direction with ROR was out of necessity and not creativity. His voice was easily its weakest during this album and the album is lackluster at best. While it's their finest hour musically, it's also the complete opposite vocally. The listener is left with a hollow, thin sounding Perry using studio magic to try and compensate for incredible musicianship. And he comes up way short.

Well it would be a complete understatement to say I disagree, but you're entitled to your opinion. While Perry's voice may be different than in his earlier work, what I love about this album is the fact that it's music written and performed by men in their prime. These are people who have lived life. The songs speak of world weariness, lost love, missed opportunities, regrets and death of a loved one. If Perry's voice is indeed weaker (although I disagree) it's far richer in emotive power and nuance. I never get tired of listening to it. Although, I will grant that if you're looking for a kick-ass rock album, this is not the one for you.

Peartree12249 wrote:it's music written and performed by men in their prime.

Except for the vocals. And if you think that Perry has more emotive power on this album than Escape or Frontiers then I suggest you go listen to Mother, Father, Still They Ride, Faithfully and/or After The Fall.

Peartree12249 wrote: If Perry's voice is indeed weaker (although I disagree) it's far richer in emotive power and nuance.

While the latter is certainly subjective, the former isn't. It is weaker. Period.

Peartree12249 wrote: Although, I will grant that if you're looking for a kick-ass rock album, this is not the one for you.

Thanks for that nugget of information, Captain Obvious.

mikemarrs wrote:this 1996 album hovered right around the top of the album charts when released in 1996 after the band took a decade between studio albums.this one definitely is a lighter effort compared to past releases.all of the members from the best selling era are back together and sadly there was no tour and soon afterwards perry left for good.this is the last release with him on vocals.


some pretty good ballads on this one.

Great Album, love every song...INCLUDING "Baby I'm Leaving You".......

OOOOOOOOOONE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE

ProgRocker53 wrote:OOOOOOOOOONE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE

+1,000,000

Saint John wrote:

Peartree12249 wrote:it's music written and performed by men in their prime.

Except for the vocals. And if you think that Perry has more emotive power on this album than Escape or Frontiers then I suggest you go listen to Mother, Father, Still They Ride, Faithfully and/or After The Fall.

Peartree12249 wrote: If Perry's voice is indeed weaker (although I disagree) it's far richer in emotive power and nuance.

While the latter is certainly subjective, the former isn't. It is weaker. Period.

Peartree12249 wrote: Although, I will grant that if you're looking for a kick-ass rock album, this is not the one for you.

Thanks for that nugget of information, Captain Obvious.

Your welcome Major Bummer

Peartree12249 wrote:Your welcome Major Bummer

That made me laugh. Thanks.

Saint John wrote:

Peartree12249 wrote:Your welcome Major Bummer

That made me laugh. Thanks.

Anytime

It was pretty good, Perrys last attempt, and he sounded good. I doubt he could have done a live tour, but i like the Cd. Trail By Fire is one of the best songs if ever heard them do, the bass drivies the song, Neals leads are scarey, and Perrys vocals haunt the shit out of me.Ive never heard any song like that ever .Id give that Cd a 10 just for the originallity of that song.

A very underrated Journey album in my opinion, although it did go platinum. I think it has one of the best Journey ballads ever with "When you love a Woman". The vocals and especially the songwriting is very mature on this album. Its a real shame I hardly ever hear any radio stations play any of Journey's singles from this album. Some high points on the album include: "When you love a woman", "Message of Love", and my favorite "If he should break your heart" (very underrated song).

Saint John wrote:For the most part this album is shit. When You Love A Woman and If He Should Break Your Heart are the only 2 really good tracks, leaving it with a few tolerable ones (Forever In Blue and Message Of Love), and the rest being vocal rubbish. This album showcases that Perry's decision to go into a softer direction with ROR was out of necessity and not creativity. His voice was easily its weakest during this album and the album is lackluster at best. While it's their finest hour musically, it's also the complete opposite vocally. The listener is left with a hollow, thin sounding Perry using studio magic to try and compensate for incredible musicianship. And he comes up way short.

Ironically, I agree with most of what you said, just not the concluding statement: it's the showcase achievement by every member of the band that makes this album so remarkable. Perry (and to a lesser extent, Neal) wasn't hogging the spotlight.

Perry's swan song. 'nuff said.

StoneCold wrote:Perry's swan song. 'nuff said.

That was ROR, for the simple fact that on TBF, the rest of the band actually got to play their instruments.

Perry's voice was toast. "Can't Tame the Lion" would have been much more impressive with circa '81 Perry vocals. The rest, eh.

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:Perry's swan song. 'nuff said.

That was ROR, for the simple fact that on TBF, the rest of the band actually got to play their instruments.

Wikipedia:

Swan song has become an idiom referring to a final theatrical or dramatic appearance, or any final work or accomplishment. It generally carries the connotation that the performer is aware that this is the last performance of his or her lifetime, and is expending everything in one magnificent final effort.

StoneCold wrote:

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:Perry's swan song. 'nuff said.

That was ROR, for the simple fact that on TBF, the rest of the band actually got to play their instruments.

Wikipedia:

Swan song has become an idiom referring to a final theatrical or dramatic appearance, or any final work or accomplishment. It generally carries the connotation that the performer is aware that this is the last performance of his or her lifetime, and is expending everything in one magnificent final effort.

Ah, sorry, I usually use that expression when referring to their last "great" performance. More or less a solo.