W.E.T. - the album Journey should have made but couldn't

[jrny10]

Listening to this really brings it home just how wrong it was to let go of JSS. He knows Perry inside out, even putting in some For the Love of Strange Medicine-isms here and there on the W.E.T record. In short, he was the right man for the band. W.E.T. beats Revelation all across the board really. The production, the songs, everything. And still, imagine the difference in budgets.

Revelation sounds like Journey trying to sound like the band they once were, but failing. It just sounds too watered down. The cardboard sounding drums, Neal's shredding and sound totally out of control... it just becomes very empty on feeling. Add the fact that Arnel's singing lyrics he has no connection with and it becomes very soulless. Very Walmart and a far cry from the band they were with Perry, where the soul was key.

With JSS they could have moved into a new direction. They would have had a singer with a (soulful) voice of his own and could have created something brand new. Also, let's not forget JSS's stage presence. He looks like a star onstage, whereas Arnel looks like someone who jumped up onstage from the audience. Big difference.

Journey is not so much a band anymore, as a business account and it's a great shame.

And although they got a singer they could control 100%, we lost Journey in the process.

"And when you lose a guy like Steve (Augeri), who was a tremendous team player, and y'know, Jeff Scott steps up and kinda helps us out there. But, y'know, his sound wasn't for us and then later on, I think his personality wasn't for us."

- Jonathan Cain
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbe ... mID=149513

[portland]

I love the CD and play it all the time.....I have played Revelation once at that was it.


This should be an interesting thread.........

[Michigan Girl]

I love W.E.T , as is!!

[Carlitto H@kk]

This should be an interesting thread.........

This looks like a set-up

[Deb]

With JSS they could have moved into a new direction. They would have had a singer with a (soulful) voice of his own and could have created something brand new.

Amen brother, or sister. And welcome to MR, you'll probably be meeting Saint John fairly shortly.

[portland]

With JSS they could have moved into a new direction. They would have had a singer with a (soulful) voice of his own and could have created something brand new.

Amen brother, or sister. And welcome to MR, you'll probably be meeting Saint John fairly shortly.

Oh yes Dan loves JSS....he has such great taste!

[Michigan Girl]

This should be an interesting thread.........

This looks like a set-up

It is an odd first post!!

[jrny10]

No set-up, just a new poster expressing his view on the state of Journey 2010. Would be interesting to hear what others think.

[portland]

No set-up, just a new poster expressing his view on the state of Journey 2010. Would be interesting to hear what others think.

Well if you don't know you should do a little research.....It's all over this place what people think of the current state of Journey.

[Jana]

No set-up, just a new poster expressing his view on the state of Journey 2010. Would be interesting to hear what others think.

Both good albums. I like Arnel's voice better than Jeff's, so don't wonder what could have been. The W.E.T. album was written by the other two guys, not Jeff, so who knows the kind of music Jeff would have written with Neal and Jon. Maybe Neal and Jon needed to write some music with the other two members of W.E.T., which has some really good songs. lol. j/k But, all kidding aside, for me, it's the voice that wouldn't work for me with Journey. I like Arnel's vocal tone and tenor, clear vocals better for Journey.

[Michigan Girl]

No set-up, just a new poster expressing his view on the state of Journey 2010. Would be interesting to hear what others think.

You're spot on about the emotion, can't buy it, can't fake it ...much like class, you either have it or you don't!!
I think both of these guys are pretty classy, but only one can make me feel his words!!

Oh and BTW~WELCOME ...lube~up, dude/dudette!!

[Deb]

You're spot on about the emotion, can't buy it, can't fake it ...much like class, you either have it or you don't!!
I think both of these guys are pretty classy, but only one can make me feel his words!!

Once again Michie, we're sharing brain cells. Thanks for saving me the keystrokes, couldn't agree more.

[scarab]

Was thrilled after JSS got the gig,
so much wanted to hear a Journey CD with him at lead vocals.

I pretty much stopped being a curent member journey fan when they got rid of him.

Listened to the new CD once and thought is was way below the level of Arrival.

Sad to see that got rid of Augeri cause once again they couldnt wait for someone to heal.

the WET albums is awesome

[Saint John]

W.E.T. is a solid album, but the studio tricks on there probably make it impossible to pull off live. And I suspect that's why you'll never hear the songs live. They'd need a shitload of backup singers to match the layered vocals and harmonies.

[timstar78]

Loved the W.E.T. album. I rarely take chances on newer acts these days but I was pleasantly surprised by the samples, and I took a chance and ordered it. It was one of my favorite releases in 2009 and I still spin it regularly. Hope there is a follow-up.

[Carlitto H@kk]

No set-up, just a new poster expressing his view on the state of Journey 2010. Would be interesting to hear what others think.

No disrespect intended, but this kinda post just seemed to be "baiting",
especially with how some recent threads have run rampant

The W.E.T. album was/is a superb album, and it does make you wonder
what a Soto-fronted J-album would've sounded like.
However, these "hooks" were written by different folks, as previously stated,
and who knows if Neal & Jon coulda pulled off the same.

Revelation is a pretty solid album on its own, as well, with some pretty catchy
hooks, and melodies remeniscent of earlier J-albums. For me, however, Arnel's
voice just doesn't "pull me into the groove" like JSS can. Arnel does a good job covering
the Legacy material, if you can get past the accent, and that is great for someone
just wanting to go see a J-show and hear all the hits. But his "own voice & style" just
doesn't move me that much.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

The W.E.T. album was/is a superb album, and it does make you wonder
what a Soto-fronted J-album would've sounded like.
However, these "hooks" were written by different folks, as previously stated,
and who knows if Neal & Jon coulda pulled off the same.

Revelation is a pretty solid album on its own, as well, with some pretty catchy
hooks, and melodies remeniscent of earlier J-albums. For me, however, Arnel's
voice just doesn't "pull me into the groove" like JSS can. Arnel does a good job covering
the Legacy material, if you can get past the accent, and that is great for someone
just wanting to go see a J-show and hear all the hits. But his "own voice & style" just
doesn't move me that much.

Couldnt agree more . Any way Im just glad the W.E.T. album is here to listen to , great stuff.

[jrny10]

No baiting Carlitto. Just offering my view.

[Abitaman]

I like WET better than Journey's last effort with AP

[Rockindeano]

I like WET better than Journey's last effort with AP

Shit, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to come to this conclusion. The WET record is heads and and shoulders stronger than Revelation.

And I have to disagree with Dan here, WET could pull off those songs live, with either slight rearrangements or piped in backing vocals. many bands do this including Journey. Hell, Journey has been piping in vocals(of all kinds), for years if not decades. To say WET and Jeff couldn't sing those melodies is wrong. They could of definitely pulled it off live.

[Carlitto H@kk]

And I have to disagree with Dan here, WET could pull off those songs live, with either slight rearrangements or piped in backing vocals. many bands do this including Journey. They could of definitely pulled it off live.

I have to agree with Dean on this one too. Not sure what "studio tricks" Dan is referring to.
It's such a shame that there really isn't a market in the U.S. for music like this anymore.
Such great music going completely unoticed...

[Saint John]

Not sure what "studio tricks" Dan is referring to.

Very thick, layered harmonies and lead vocals. And that's not a diss, as they came out great. It's just very difficult to pull off live.

Dean, Journey has the budget and technology to pull it off live. What's W.E.T. gonna use ... a walkman plugged into the monitors?

[portland]

Not sure what "studio tricks" Dan is referring to.

Very thick, layered harmonies and lead vocals. And that's not a diss, as they came out great. It's just very difficult to pull off live.

Dean, Journey has the budget and technology to pull it off live. What's W.E.T. gonna use ... a walkman plugged into the monitors?

They could borrow Journey's tape deck.

[Saint John]

Not sure what "studio tricks" Dan is referring to.

Very thick, layered harmonies and lead vocals. And that's not a diss, as they came out great. It's just very difficult to pull off live.

Dean, Journey has the budget and technology to pull it off live. What's W.E.T. gonna use ... a walkman plugged into the monitors?

They could borrow Journey's tape deck.

No go. Journey still uses it.

[Don]

Not sure what "studio tricks" Dan is referring to.

Very thick, layered harmonies and lead vocals. And that's not a diss, as they came out great. It's just very difficult to pull off live.

Dean, Journey has the budget and technology to pull it off live. What's W.E.T. gonna use ... a walkman plugged into the monitors?

They could borrow Journey's tape deck.

No go. Journey still uses it.

Just for the bass, right?

[Saint John]

Not sure what "studio tricks" Dan is referring to.

Very thick, layered harmonies and lead vocals. And that's not a diss, as they came out great. It's just very difficult to pull off live.

Dean, Journey has the budget and technology to pull it off live. What's W.E.T. gonna use ... a walkman plugged into the monitors?

They could borrow Journey's tape deck.

No go. Journey still uses it.

Just for the bass, right?

... no comment.

[Jana]

I like WET better than Journey's last effort with AP

They're both about the same for me. Uneven in places for me as far as my taste of music. But W.E.T. has the best song out of both of them

If I Fall = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWoaB95d ... re=related

Great melodic rock song. Love the intro. Love the vocal delivery by Jeff, love love love the guitar in this song, love the backing vocals so strong in this song in places, love the layering of Jeff's vocals in places. Fantastic song. Great job by the whole band.

[portland]

I like WET better than Journey's last effort with AP

They're both about the same for me. Uneven in places for me as far as my taste of music. But W.E.T. has the best song out of both of them

If I Fall = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWoaB95d ... re=related

Great melodic rock song. Love the delivery by Jeff, love love love the guitar in this song, love the backing vocals so strong in this song in places, love the layering of Jeff's vocals in places. Fantastic song. Great job by the whole band.

Totally Agree....it's a great song and Jeff shines!

[Don]

I like WET better than Journey's last effort with AP

They're both about the same for me. Uneven in places for me as far as my taste of music. But W.E.T. has the best song out of both of them

If I Fall = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWoaB95d ... re=related

Great melodic rock song. Love the intro. Love the vocal delivery by Jeff, love love love the guitar in this song, love the backing vocals so strong in this song in places, love the layering of Jeff's vocals in places. Fantastic song. Great job by the whole band.

That song definitely has a ROR feel to it. Dominating instruments, Layered Vocals, and echo effects going on.

[Jana]

I like WET better than Journey's last effort with AP

They're both about the same for me. Uneven in places for me as far as my taste of music. But W.E.T. has the best song out of both of them

If I Fall = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWoaB95d ... re=related

Great melodic rock song. Love the intro. Love the vocal delivery by Jeff, love love love the guitar in this song, love the backing vocals so strong in this song in places, love the layering of Jeff's vocals in places. Fantastic song. Great job by the whole band.

That song definitely has a ROR feel to it. Dominating instruments, Layered Vocals, and echo effects going on.

I never thought of it in relation to ROR. I see what you're saying regarding the layering and echo and dominating instruments. I would say it has more of a classic Journey sound, to me, as far as melody and lyrics but freshened and updated with all those techniques used in the ROR album that you mentioned. The song isn't poppy sounding or R&B sounding like most of the ROR songs.