MR

Although I have not been able to here Eclipse yet, I was wondering if those of you that have would rate each band members perfomance with comments!
Thank you and cheers!

pf1965 wrote:Although I have not been able to here Eclipse yet, I was wondering if those of you that have would rate each band members perfomance with comments!
Thank you and cheers!

100
All of them.

Too early to really rate until I hear the actual Walmart CD version, but my initial impression is that Jonathan Cain really seems to shine all over this album. He replaced the "cheese on the keys" for some really darker sounds, and it's coming across great with the big guitars and vocals. I'm awfully impressed with his ability to adapt outside of the usual "cheesecake factory."

Saint John wrote:Too early to really rate until I hear the actual Walmart CD version, but my initial impression is that Jonathan Cain really seems to shine all over this album. He replaced the "cheese on the keys" for some really darker sounds, and it's coming across great with the big guitars and vocals. I'm awfully impressed with his ability to adapt outside of the usual "cheesecake factory."

Completely agree with this. His 'cheese on the keys' approach really dates a lot of their songs. Cain's work on this often supportive, but a real reason it's so great

Saint John wrote:Too early to really rate until I hear the actual Walmart CD version, but my initial impression is that Jonathan Cain really seems to shine all over this album. He replaced the "cheese on the keys" for some really darker sounds, and it's coming across great with the big guitars and vocals. I'm awfully impressed with his ability to adapt outside of the usual "cheesecake factory."

Couldn't agree more... all of the talk of JC being pushed out on this CD are greatly exagerated. JC is VERY present on this CD and he has stepped up big time! This CD is a MONSTER! I have faith in new releases again, this was carefully put together. Cudos to Journey!

Glad to see that everyone so far has agreed with my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

Saint John wrote:Too early to really rate until I hear the actual Walmart CD version, but my initial impression is that Jonathan Cain really seems to shine all over this album. He replaced the "cheese on the keys" for some really darker sounds, and it's coming across great with the big guitars and vocals. I'm awfully impressed with his ability to adapt outside of the usual "cheesecake factory."

There is no "cheese on the keys" ever.

Don wrote:Glad to see that everyone so far has agreed with my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

I posted this on April 19th:

"Everyone keeps focusing on Neal because he seems to be the most prominent musician on Eclipse, but I'm hearing some of Jon's finest work ever on here. He seems to have traded in some of the cheesy/trademark synth riffs licks for some tougher, edgier stuff."



http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... 41#4570741

Saint John wrote:

Don wrote:Glad to see that everyone so far has agreed with my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

I posted this on April 19th:

"Everyone keeps focusing on Neal because he seems to be the most prominent musician on Eclipse, but I'm hearing some of Jon's finest work ever on here. He seems to have traded in some of the cheesy/trademark synth riffs licks for some tougher, edgier stuff."



http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... 41#4570741

Like i said, glad to see that everyone has so far agreed with Dan and my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

Don wrote:

Saint John wrote:

Don wrote:Glad to see that everyone so far has agreed with my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

I posted this on April 19th:

"Everyone keeps focusing on Neal because he seems to be the most prominent musician on Eclipse, but I'm hearing some of Jon's finest work ever on here. He seems to have traded in some of the cheesy/trademark synth riffs licks for some tougher, edgier stuff."



http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... 41#4570741

Like i said, glad to see that everyone has so far agreed with Dan and my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

I never had any doubt in his abilities.

It's Cain also.

Don wrote:

Saint John wrote:

Don wrote:Glad to see that everyone so far has agreed with my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

I posted this on April 19th:

"Everyone keeps focusing on Neal because he seems to be the most prominent musician on Eclipse, but I'm hearing some of Jon's finest work ever on here. He seems to have traded in some of the cheesy/trademark synth riffs licks for some tougher, edgier stuff."



http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... 41#4570741

Like i said, glad to see that everyone has so far agreed with Dan and my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

It's very seldom that I get to one-up you, so I couldn't pass that one up!

Mind you, these grades are strictly for musical performances, and NOT songwriting/structure grades....

Neal - 100%
Arnel - Voice - 100%, style - 50%, Emotion/feeling/soul - 10%







Jon - Frig off.
Deen - whatever
Ross - non-factor...best gig in the music business this side of David Bryan

S2M wrote:Mind you, these grades are strictly for musical performances, and NOT songwriting/structure grades....

Neal - 100%Arnel - Voice - 100%, style - 50%, Emotion/feeling/soul - 10%

Totally agree w/this^^^^^thus far, Do not agree w/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ thus far!!

S2M wrote:Jon - Frig off.
Deen - whatever
Ross - non-factor...best gig in the music business this side of David Bryan

Don wrote:Glad to see that everyone so far has agreed with my initial appraisal of Mr. Friga and his contribution to this album.

No, you were definitely right. I love what Jon has contributed to this album.

Thanks for the response everyone! Can't wait to here for myself!

Arnel: 8/10
Neal: 9/10
Jon: 9/10
Ross: 8/10
Deen: 8/10

Arnel: 9.5/10
Neal: 10/10
Jonathan: 8/10
Ross: 8/10
Deen: 9/10

Neal-10
Jon-10
Arnel-9
Deen-7
Ross-5

Don wrote:Deen-7
Ross-5

Really? I thought Deen was almost on par with Neal and Jon here.

Gideon wrote:

Don wrote:Deen-7
Ross-5

Really? I thought Deen was almost on par with Neal and Jon here.

With the exception of Human Feel, I can't say the percussion ever made me look up and take notice. Maybe it's being overwhelmed by some of the effects and Neal guitar, I don't know but I haven't really felt it's presence enough to say that it's outstanding. As for Ross, doesn't Neal write his bass lines? I can't give him too much credit for basically being a session player now. It's got to be Neal's loyalty keeping him employed at this stage.

Don wrote:It's got to be Neal's loyalty keeping him employed at this stage.

While I agree that Neal is loyal to the members of the band, I think an equally important reason is that he doesn't want to lose another founding member. Their legitimacy is questioned enough as is.

Gideon wrote:

Don wrote:It's got to be Neal's loyalty keeping him employed at this stage.

While I agree that Neal is loyal to the members of the band, I think an equally important reason is that he doesn't want to lose another founding member. Their legitimacy is questioned enough as is.

Good point, never looked at it at that way.

I used to support the oft' toted suggestion of firing Ross and either whisking Jack Blades from Night Ranger or Ricky Phillips from Styx. (Or, even better, getting Randy back on non-Idol days.) But keeping Mr. Valory might be their best move.

Gideon wrote:I used to support the oft' toted suggestion of firing Ross and either whisking Jack Blades from Night Ranger or Ricky Phillips from Styx. (Or, even better, getting Randy back on non-Idol days.) But keeping Mr. Valory might be their best move.

It worked for Floyd.

Don wrote:

Gideon wrote:I used to support the oft' toted suggestion of firing Ross and either whisking Jack Blades from Night Ranger or Ricky Phillips from Styx. (Or, even better, getting Randy back on non-Idol days.) But keeping Mr. Valory might be their best move.

It worked for Floyd.

I'm not a big Floyd fan. The girlfriend is, though. I had a devil of a time convincing her that Schon is a mightier axeman than David Gilmour and that "Comfortably Numb" is overrated.
As a funny aside, my father's ringtone for my mother is "Run Like Hell."

Gideon wrote:

Don wrote:

Gideon wrote:I used to support the oft' toted suggestion of firing Ross and either whisking Jack Blades from Night Ranger or Ricky Phillips from Styx. (Or, even better, getting Randy back on non-Idol days.) But keeping Mr. Valory might be their best move.

It worked for Floyd.

I'm not a big Floyd fan. The girlfriend is, though. I had a devil of a time convincing her that Schon is a mightier axeman than David Gilmour and that "Comfortably Numb" is overrated.
As a funny aside, my father's ringtone for my mother is "Run Like Hell."

I think the consensus is that Gilmour isn't the most talented player out there but he has a certain kind of intangible he brings that makes his playing feel like there is an emotional investment involved. One of those strange things that doesn't really make sense but appears to be an accepted truth by the majority.

Gilmour's quite good, quite good indeed.
So percussion-wise: Would Smith have done better here?
Discuss!

Gideon wrote:Gilmour's quite good, quite good indeed.
So percussion-wise: Would Smith have done better here?
Discuss!

I think Smith would have been bored out of his mind. I believe the guy enjoyed the live shows with Perry where they would play off each to keep in time and other things. The mash 'em, by the numbers drumming that Deen does isn't something I can see Smitty wanting to do anymore.

Gideon wrote:Gilmour's quite good, quite good indeed.
So percussion-wise: Would Smith have done better here?
Discuss!

Smith is amazing, probably the best. Deen is awesome too, though. I think with Shirley recording the performances it would make little difference if Steve or Deen were pounding the skins. Shirley always manages to get the drums compressed and lifeless. If you listen to Smith on Trial by Fire, (Shirley produced) and go listen to Smith on anything else he did with Journey, you will see a huge difference. Shirley just doesn't know how to do drums on an album.

VirgilTheart wrote:Arnel: 9.5/10
Neal: 10/10
Jonathan: 8/10
Ross: 8/10
Deen: 9/10

Oops, I accidentally mixed up Deen and Jonathan's scores.

Jonathan: 9/10
Deen: 8/10