The packaging:
I'm not sure if this is the same "cardboard" that I hear Walmart used, but it is a cardboard built jacket. It looks like it's manufactured the same way as those small illustrated "golden books" children's story books. In fact, I'll bet that's pretty much what it is, with a slot for the disk. There is no jewel case, and no center pin to snap the disk to and hold it in place. If you wanted to order from Frontiers only because you were unhappy with Walmart's lack of jewel case holder, then don't buy this. You're probably better off with the Walmart edition which is cheaper-much cheaper when you tack on shipping! Amazon's digital album is also a good price and an excellent mp3 product. Other than these issues, it's a nice looking album. I like how it opens the same as a book, and it's nice to have the lyrics and credits, and pictures.
The disk:
I rarely buy disks anymore, because I'm a bit of a globetrotter so I try to keep my accumulation of stuff to a minimum. The last disks I've purchased were Groban's Illuminations, and Revelations. I've listened to Eclipse on the MP3 prerelease, and then on the Amazon digital album I purchased. While the Amazon product was a step above the other Mp3s in quality, this disk is...fabulous. If you are like me, and have a tendency to only use digital music anymore, do yourself a favor: Get an Eclipse disk and listen to it on a good system. The digital album is great, but there is so much you are not hearing unless you have the disk and a decent sound system. There have been numerous comments about how the drums on this album sound lacking or compressed. Well, I've also said this, even though the Amazon release has a pretty good bottom end with nice drums and base. However, on the disk I'm playing now, the drums sound terrific. The cardboard sound is gone, and this sounds like a Journey record with nice fat drums and crisp symbols.
The surprise for me after listening to the disk is how good Ross sounds! Ross takes a lot of criticism for his minimalist playing, especially on the last few albums. On the disk, he sounds bigger and his presence is huge. Don't get me wrong, this is still Ross Valory and not Billy Sheehan or Marco Mendoza, but this is Ross playing at his best, and doing his thing. He sounds great. His playing sounds and feels much more like the old days, when Journey was in its prime.
Arnel, Schon and Cain sound great on all the editions of this release I've heard, so for me, having the disk hasn't changed my opinion about Eclipse as far those three are concerned. They all sound fantastic!
Bottom line, DO get your hands on a disk and play it on your Hi fi, or you are missing the full experience of this amazing album. Get a jewel case for a dime at some yard sale, or buy Gaga or some other crap for 99 cents for the jewel case (and throw the contents away).
