Ross about Perry and Steve

[NealIsGod]

ROR is by and large wholly disposable.

As is TBF.

[cyclonus5150]

While it's great that Journey carries on and all of these guys continue to share their immense talents with us on stage and on record, it can't go without notice that they aren't exactly setting the world on fire with their new compositions. They've written some good stuff and each has put forth some great performances but in my opinion there's always something that keeps the song from being great.....
I don't hear the hunger anymore and it seems to me that Journey always seemed to produce their best work when being pushed by major expectations of both record label and manager (Escape), massive success and the need to maintain it (Frontiers) or a lead singer/producer with a big solo success under his belt, solid creative vision and the will to move the band into an entirely new direction altogether (ROR).

While I admire the amount of thought put into ur post, I sadly can't agree. I think Generations is the best thing since Frontiers and ROR is by and large wholly disposable.

And that's totally okay, I hope you enjoy every minute of it. There's some really good music there and as long as you enjoy it and the guys enjoy making it then all is well, right?

I really have to disagree on the ROR comment. It's one of my all-time faves...the songwriting is perfect as far as my taste is concerned and the production, musicianship and overall style is something I totally dig. They sold quite a few of those records too and had a fair amount of success on the charts with 4 singles. Nothing that really stands the test of time the way "Don't Stop Believing" does but definitely not disposable either. But to each is own, right? That's what we Journey fans should cherish about this band...it's been in so many different directions that there's bound to be something in that fat catalog to satisfy each and every one of us.

[The_Noble_Cause]

ROR is by and large wholly disposable.

As is TBF.

I wouldn't say that.
It has it's moments.
Much like Generations, it too, would've greatly benefitted by the inclusion of the foreign bonus track.

[The_Noble_Cause]

They sold quite a few of those records too and had a fair amount of success on the charts with 4 singles.

That's the problem. Once I hear those 4 songs I eject the blasted thing straight out of the cd player. It really has very little to offer. GCHI, BGTY, SZE, WCTNGOF- all worthy of the Journey name. Heck, I can even stomach Positive Touch on the rare occassion, but the rest is just too soft, synthesizer saturated and downright mellow for me.

[cyclonus5150]

They sold quite a few of those records too and had a fair amount of success on the charts with 4 singles.

That's the problem. Once I hear those 4 songs I eject the blasted thing straight out of the cd player. It really has very little to offer. GCHI, BGTY, SZE, WCTNGOF- all worthy of the Journey name. Heck, I can even stomach Positive Touch on the rare occassion, but the rest is just too soft, synthesizer saturated and downright mellow for me.

Oh man, my fave all-time Journey song is IBAWY so make that 5. The only one that I really can't get into is Eyes of A Woman.

[The_Noble_Cause]

They sold quite a few of those records too and had a fair amount of success on the charts with 4 singles.

That's the problem. Once I hear those 4 songs I eject the blasted thing straight out of the cd player. It really has very little to offer. GCHI, BGTY, SZE, WCTNGOF- all worthy of the Journey name. Heck, I can even stomach Positive Touch on the rare occassion, but the rest is just too soft, synthesizer saturated and downright mellow for me.

Oh man, my fave all-time Journey song is IBAWY so make that 5. The only one that I really can't get into is Eyes of A Woman.

Whoops I can't believe I left off IBAWY.
That now makes it 6 total songs on the album that I like.
Hey, maybe the record isn't so bad, after all.

I just find the distinctively 80's sound of Happy to Give, Eyes of a Woman, Once you Love Somebody to be intolerable.

[cyclonus5150]

ROR is by and large wholly disposable.

As is TBF.

I wouldn't say that.
It has it's moments.
Much like Generations, it too, would've greatly benefitted by the inclusion of the foreign bonus track.

I didn't even know about a foreign bonus track for TBF. What is the title and what did it sound like?

[NealIsGod]

I didn't even know about a foreign bonus track for TBF. What is the title and what did it sound like?

Trying to beat TNC to the answer

I believe it is "I Can See it in your Eyes". Would have been the second best song on that album (after Message of Love) IMO.

PM me with your email and I can send it to you.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I didn't even know about a foreign bonus track for TBF. What is the title and what did it sound like?

As NIG stated already, it is entitled "I Can See it in your Eyes" and it flat out rocks. Neal's blistering guitar solo at the end needs to be heard to be believed.

[jrnyman28]

The only one that I really can't get into is Eyes of A Woman.

To me, that is probably the most BORING song Journey has ever done.

I have re-visited ROR and I have said this before...ROR was successful in acomplishing Journey's goal. Journey wanted a radio album and this is it! When I hear ROR on the radio today, it still sounds good. But it is one of my least favorite albums by the band.

[cyclonus5150]

I didn't even know about a foreign bonus track for TBF. What is the title and what did it sound like?

As NIG stated already, it is entitled "I Can See it in your Eyes" and it flat out rocks. Neal's blistering guitar solo at the end needs to be heard to be believed.

Thanks alot for sharing that! Now musically I love it but something about the vocals rubs me the wrong way. It sounds very flat...almost painfully so at times. Almost sounds demo-quality and half-hearted. The guitar work is phenominal though. Maybe it will take a couple more listens.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Thanks alot for sharing that! Now musically I love it but something about the vocals rubs me the wrong way. It sounds very flat...almost painfully so at times.

You're not the first person to say that. I believe resident poster, sngrchk stated once that Perry sounded like Elmer Fudd on this track. I think he sounds good and I love the song. It's inclusion would only have helped to liven up the pace of the balladry bogged TBF.

[cyclonus5150]

Thanks alot for sharing that! Now musically I love it but something about the vocals rubs me the wrong way. It sounds very flat...almost painfully so at times.

You're not the first person to say that. I believe resident poster, sngrchk stated once that Perry sounded like Elmer Fudd on this track. I think he sounds good and I love the song. It's inclusion would only have helped to liven up the pace of the balladry bogged TBF.

Ha! She's always great with the description. I think that the song is great...right up my alley. It's just that Perry sounds so uninspired...like he's out of gas. Maybe if they had mixed the vocals further back into the track and thrown in a little more reverb it would have sounded okay. He just didn't give his typical, dynamic performance...like he was stuck in second gear. No real melody and no movement in his voice. Just my opinion though. It's almost as if this was missing a whole seperate vocal track that included the higher parts.

[jrnyman28]

I think Perry sounded that way because his vocal strength was with ballads, not rockers. I don't think he wanted to do any rockers.