MR

The Album by Album Challenge: Journey (Part I)

http://thegreatsouthernbrainfart.com/?p=14731

Don
May 20, 2015

Welcome to another “Album by Album Challenge.” For those that are new here, the “Album by Album Challenge” is where I take a band’s entire discography and listen to every album in order of release from front to back. With my unforgiving and well-aged ear, I call it how I hear it. In some cases, I find that what I once thought was good is actually pretty crappy and sometimes crap manages to age into something pretty kick ass. And in some cases, face melting is still just good ol’ face melting.

This time around I tackled the discography of the legendary Journey. Ok, I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably thinking, “But Brainfart, Journey isn’t metal.” Well, this might be true but let me say this. Journey is a band with a long, vast history and a catalog of albums/songs that are held in high regard within the metal community. Everyone from Exodus drummer Tom Hunting to legendary Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris has sung the praises of this band so I figured why the fuck not?

Keep in mind, when going into this challenge I knew next to nothing about Journey. My best friend James had been trying to turn me onto them for years so I finally caved and decided that if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right and start at the beginning and work my way through to the now. This is a two parter and part one will cover the self-titled debut on through the obscure Dream, After Dream album.



The Album by Album Challenge: Journey (Part II)

http://thegreatsouthernbrainfart.com/?p=14790

Don
May 22, 2015

Welcome back for Part II of the Journey Album by Album Challenge. How fucking mind-blowingly fun was that? In part I, I really did have quite a few revelations about just how fucking monumentally amazing this band is. Up to this point, the focus of Journey’s destination definitely changed the scope of their art quite a bit yet they still managed to stay true to themselves never sounding like a band that was selling out but sounding like a band that was growing and expanding into the world.

For part II, we will pick up with the legendary Escape album, we will hear the 1996 reunion album, we’ll hear the two albums that featured Perry’s replacement Steve Augeri, and we will hear Journey’s two most recent albums to feature current vocalist Arnel Pineda. How do these albums fair in the eyes and ears of the Brainfart? Well, my brothers and sisters. Read on and enjoy this 2nd and final part of the Journey Album by Album Challenge.

I'm glad to see that he mostly said good things about Journey. Especially pre-Augeri.
But I disagree with so much of what he said. Some of the songs that he doesn't like as well, rank up there as some of my favorites. The perfect example is what he said about the Departure album. His and my feelings about which are the best songs and which ones aren't quite as good are polar opposites.

The funny thing to me is that he's a big Metal fan, and yet he seems to dislike many of Journey's harder Rocking songs. Again, Departure is an example of that.

I strongly disagree with most of what he said about the Augeri albums!

I hope that he is aware that "Nickel And Dime" was recorded and released several years before "Tom Sawyer."

Wow!! For a metal fan to give such rave reviews on all the SP albums really surprised me!! I kept waiting for the bad reviews to start, especially where they usually do around here....ROR and TBF. But no, even though he said he thought he should hate them, he couldn't help but love them Just wondering if SP slipped him a few dollars!!!

Disagreed with a few of his "indifferent "choices, but all and all, I'm still stunned by his mainly rave reviews!! This might sell a few albums to his followers!!

Wow, so much hate for Arrival and Generations

Sounds like this metalhead has quite the man-crush on Perry. Where does he get off calling Augeri "a joker" and a "dufus"? And later in the blog, he quotes "In Self Defense" lyrics as an example of bad songwriting from the new lineup, even tho its a cover of an old song? You would think a self-described metal guy would appreciate the increasing harder, rockier direction (Red 13 EP, songs like "World Gone Wild", "All The Things" "Out of Harms Way", "Chain of Love" etc) the band took after parting ways with Perry and Sony. Instead, he praises ROR and especially, "Happy to Give" - probably the most "Merry Poppins" song in the band's entire catalogue. Sounds to me like this guy is a Perryhead, NOT a metal head, and is still butt-hurt that Neal took his band back. Btw it's spelled Neal, not Neil.

How can any rocker not like Any Way You Want It and Chain Reaction? Those are two of the best rockers Journey has!

I do appreciate that he likes Journey and, obviously, loves Steve Perry. Hey, I love them all. But I don't understand the downing of Steve Augeri. I guess that's why his name is followed by "aka Brainfart" cause he had one!!!

JOURNEY ALBUMS REDONE
This is the way they should have been according to me anyway.

JOURNEY: Of a Lifetime, In the Morning Day, Kouhoutek, To Play Some Music, Topaz, In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations, Mystery Mountain

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE: On a Saturday Nite, It's All Too Much, Anyway, She Makes Me (Feel Alright), You're on Your Own, Look into the Future, Midnight Dreamer, I'm Gonna Leave You

NEXT: Spaceman, People, I Would Find You, Here We Are, Hustler, Next, Nickel and Dime, Karma

INFINITY: Lights, Feeling That Way, Anytime, La Do Da, Patiently, Wheel in the Sky, Wings of March, Can Do, Opened the Door

Note: They should have included Somethin' to Hide as a bonus un-named track at the end of the album. That would have been funny.

EVOLUTION: Majestic, Too Late, Lovin'm Touchin', Squeezin', City of the Angels, When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy), Sweet and Simple, Lovin' You is Easy, Just the Same Way, Do You Recall, Daydream, Lady Luck

IN THE BEGINNING: Of a Lifetime, Topaz, COOKIE DUSTER, On a Saturday Night, It's All Too Much, In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations, Mystery Mountain, Spaceman, People, Anyway, You're on Your Own, Look Into The Future, Nickel and Dime, I'm Gonna Leave You

Note: If you have the first three albums, there is no real reason to get In The Beginning. My way they have Cookie Duster on it which gives people a reason to get it.

DEPARTURE: Any Way You Want It, Walks Like a Lady, Someday Soon, People and Places, Precious Time, Where Were You, I'm Cryin, Line of Fire, Departure, Good Morning Girl, Stay Awhile, Homemade Love

CAPTURED: Majestic, Where Were You, Just the Same Way, Line of Fire, Stay Awhile, Too Late, Dixie Highway, Feeling That Way, Anytime, Do you Recall, Walks Like a Lady, La Do Da, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin', Wheel in the Sky, Any Way You Want It, The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love), Natural Thing
Note: They should have thrown in Natural Thing as an extra studio track as well.

ESCAPE: Don't Stop Believin', Stone in Love, Who's Cryin' Now, Keep on Runnin', Still The Ride, Escape, Lay It Down, Dead or Alive, Mother Father, Raza del Sol

Note: They should have finished the album with Raza del Sol, and saved Open Arms for movie sound tracks.

FRONTIERS: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Send Her My Love, Chain Reaction, After the Fall, Faithfully, Edge of the Blade, Troubled Child, Back Talk, Frontiers, Rubicon

RAISED ON RADIO: Girl Can't Help It, Positive Touch, Be Good To Yourself, Once You Love Somebody, Happy to Give, Raised on Radio, I'll Be Alright Without You, It Could Have Been You, ONLY THE YOUNG, ASK THE LONELY, Why Can't This Night Go On Forever

Note: Only The Young and Ask the Lonely could have helped Raised on Radio rock more. Those songs are what this album needed.

GREATEST HITS: Don't Stop Believin', Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully, Stone in Love, Chain Reaction, Any Way You Want It, Feeling That Way, Anytime, Who's Crying Now, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Lights, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin', Open Arms, Send Her My Love, Be Good To Yourself

Note: Now, people would rush to get the Greatest Hits album because Open Arms is on it.

TRIAL BY FIRE: Message of Love, One More, When You Love A Woman, If He Should Break Your Heart, Forever in Blue, Trial by Fire, Still She Cries, Colors of the Spirit, When I Think of You, Can't Tame the Lion

CASTLES BURNING: Castles Burning, Don't Be Down on Me Baby, Easy To Fall, It's Just the Rain, With a Tear, Into Your Arms, Baby I'm a Leavin' You, I Can See It In Your Eyes, Lifetime of Dreams, World Gone Wild

Note: By breaking up Trial By Fire into two albums, we could have had an extra album with Steve Perry. In my fantasy world, they wrote Lifetime of Dreams and World Gone Wild with Perry. In my way, they released Castles Burning while waiting for Perry to have hip surgery. He still doesn't have it done so they move on to Arrival without Perry.

ARRIVAL: Higher Place, All the Way, Signs of Life, All the Things, Loved by You, Livin' to Do, I Got a Reason, With Your Love, Live and Breathe, To Be Alive Again, Kiss Me Softly, We Will Meet Again

Note: I don't like really long albums. They should be capped at 12 tracks. That is just the way I roll. So, this works out better.

GENERATIONS: Faith in the Heartland, The Place in Your Heart, A Better Life, Believe, Knowing That You Love Me, State of Grace, The Time, Out of Harms Way, Better Together, Beyond the Clouds

Note: By including some Red 13 tracks, it makes this album rock more. Plus, we don't need to hear everybody sing. If Augeri needs a break during concerts, just have Neal jam. Or move to Arnel.

REVELATION: Never Walk Away, Like a Sunshower, Change for the Better, Wildest Dream, After All These Years, Where Did I Lose Your Love, What I Needed, What It Takes to Win, Turn Down the World Tonight, The Journey (Revelation)

Note: We don't need to hear Faith in the Heartland again.

ECLIPSE: Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love, Tantra, Anything is Possible, Resonate, She's a Mystery, Human Feel, Ritual, Someone, Venus

Note: Sometimes less is more. City of Hope really destroyed this album. The rest of these tracks are quality material. This album has the Journey sound. It isn't all rock. It has its softer side. I don't know why people hate this album. Probably because City of Hope.

JourneyHard wrote:JOURNEY ALBUMS REDONE
This is the way they should have been according to me anyway.

JOURNEY: Of a Lifetime, In the Morning Day, Kouhoutek, To Play Some Music, Topaz, In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations, Mystery Mountain

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE: On a Saturday Nite, It's All Too Much, Anyway, She Makes Me (Feel Alright), You're on Your Own, Look into the Future, Midnight Dreamer, I'm Gonna Leave You

NEXT: Spaceman, People, I Would Find You, Here We Are, Hustler, Next, Nickel and Dime, Karma

INFINITY: Lights, Feeling That Way, Anytime, La Do Da, Patiently, Wheel in the Sky, Wings of March, Can Do, Opened the Door

Note: They should have included Somethin' to Hide as a bonus un-named track at the end of the album. That would have been funny.

EVOLUTION: Majestic, Too Late, Lovin'm Touchin', Squeezin', City of the Angels, When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy), Sweet and Simple, Lovin' You is Easy, Just the Same Way, Do You Recall, Daydream, Lady Luck

IN THE BEGINNING: Of a Lifetime, Topaz, COOKIE DUSTER, On a Saturday Night, It's All Too Much, In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations, Mystery Mountain, Spaceman, People, Anyway, You're on Your Own, Look Into The Future, Nickel and Dime, I'm Gonna Leave You

Note: If you have the first three albums, there is no real reason to get In The Beginning. My way they have Cookie Duster on it which gives people a reason to get it.

DEPARTURE: Any Way You Want It, Walks Like a Lady, Someday Soon, People and Places, Precious Time, Where Were You, I'm Cryin, Line of Fire, Departure, Good Morning Girl, Stay Awhile, Homemade Love

CAPTURED: Majestic, Where Were You, Just the Same Way, Line of Fire, Stay Awhile, Too Late, Dixie Highway, Feeling That Way, Anytime, Do you Recall, Walks Like a Lady, La Do Da, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin', Wheel in the Sky, Any Way You Want It, The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love), Natural Thing
Note: They should have thrown in Natural Thing as an extra studio track as well.

ESCAPE: Don't Stop Believin', Stone in Love, Who's Cryin' Now, Keep on Runnin', Still The Ride, Escape, Lay It Down, Dead or Alive, Mother Father, Raza del Sol

Note: They should have finished the album with Raza del Sol, and saved Open Arms for movie sound tracks.

FRONTIERS: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Send Her My Love, Chain Reaction, After the Fall, Faithfully, Edge of the Blade, Troubled Child, Back Talk, Frontiers, Rubicon

RAISED ON RADIO: Girl Can't Help It, Positive Touch, Be Good To Yourself, Once You Love Somebody, Happy to Give, Raised on Radio, I'll Be Alright Without You, It Could Have Been You, ONLY THE YOUNG, ASK THE LONELY, Why Can't This Night Go On Forever

Note: Only The Young and Ask the Lonely could have helped Raised on Radio rock more. Those songs are what this album needed.

GREATEST HITS: Don't Stop Believin', Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully, Stone in Love, Chain Reaction, Any Way You Want It, Feeling That Way, Anytime, Who's Crying Now, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Lights, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin', Open Arms, Send Her My Love, Be Good To Yourself

Note: Now, people would rush to get the Greatest Hits album because Open Arms is on it.

TRIAL BY FIRE: Message of Love, One More, When You Love A Woman, If He Should Break Your Heart, Forever in Blue, Trial by Fire, Still She Cries, Colors of the Spirit, When I Think of You, Can't Tame the Lion

CASTLES BURNING: Castles Burning, Don't Be Down on Me Baby, Easy To Fall, It's Just the Rain, With a Tear, Into Your Arms, Baby I'm a Leavin' You, I Can See It In Your Eyes, Lifetime of Dreams, World Gone Wild

Note: By breaking up Trial By Fire into two albums, we could have had an extra album with Steve Perry. In my fantasy world, they wrote Lifetime of Dreams and World Gone Wild with Perry. In my way, they released Castles Burning while waiting for Perry to have hip surgery. He still doesn't have it done so they move on to Arrival without Perry.

ARRIVAL: Higher Place, All the Way, Signs of Life, All the Things, Loved by You, Livin' to Do, I Got a Reason, With Your Love, Live and Breathe, To Be Alive Again, Kiss Me Softly, We Will Meet Again

Note: I don't like really long albums. They should be capped at 12 tracks. That is just the way I roll. So, this works out better.

GENERATIONS: Faith in the Heartland, The Place in Your Heart, A Better Life, Believe, Knowing That You Love Me, State of Grace, The Time, Out of Harms Way, Better Together, Beyond the Clouds

Note: By including some Red 13 tracks, it makes this album rock more. Plus, we don't need to hear everybody sing. If Augeri needs a break during concerts, just have Neal jam. Or move to Arnel.

REVELATION: Never Walk Away, Like a Sunshower, Change for the Better, Wildest Dream, After All These Years, Where Did I Lose Your Love, What I Needed, What It Takes to Win, Turn Down the World Tonight, The Journey (Revelation)

Note: We don't need to hear Faith in the Heartland again.

ECLIPSE: Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love, Tantra, Anything is Possible, Resonate, She's a Mystery, Human Feel, Ritual, Someone, Venus

Note: Sometimes less is more. City of Hope really destroyed this album. The rest of these tracks are quality material. This album has the Journey sound. It isn't all rock. It has its softer side. I don't know why people hate this album. Probably because City of Hope.

I wouldn't touch Escape. Pretty much great as it is. Adding ATL and OTY to Frontiers is a no brainer. TBF doesn't need to be cut in half. It just needs more rockers. Same with Arrival. Agree with you on Generations - leave the SA and Deen songs, cut everything else. As for Eclipse...the chorus on City of Hope is lame. That said, Neal's solo rocks and I can't really blame the tune for "destroying the album."