New Journey Era: Do's and Dont's

[The_Noble_Cause]

Since we all know Neal obssesively reads this forum, forgoing even basic hygiene (why else do u think he's been wearing the same pit-stained violet shirt all tour??), what do u say we all pitch in & offer him some constructive advice for the new era.

Let's point out the strong points of the previous lineup, and weak points so that they are never repeated:

Neal - please put the roach clip down long enough to have an active hand in the track listing of your albums. Journey is an integral part of ur legacy.
Musically incompetent estrogen-fests like "Believe" & "Butterfly" have absolutely no place on a Journey record and make my nuts curdle up into my lower abdomen, frankly.
Both songs are dissonant to the ear and recieve very little play from me (unless I need background music in my truck when I go gay bashing).


Next..

[junky]

A decent Journey website that looks as if it was actually created in the current millineum.

[Angry_Bald_Conservative]

(unless I need background music in my truck when I go gay bashing).

Now THAT is a liberal avocation I can conscionably get behind!
If only you would swear off killing babies, smoking dope, hugging trees and unconditionally supporting our enemy in a time of war!


Mister Gorbachev tear down this wall,

Jon Daniels the III

[ArnelRox]

Musically incompetent estrogen-fests like "Believe" & "Butterfly" have absolutely no place on a Journey record and make my nuts curdle up into my lower abdomen, frankly.
Both songs are dissonant to the ear and recieve very little play from me

I don't have nuts of course...but they did make my boobs a bit droopy. Does that count?

[whocares]

shriveled sacks are worse than droopies any day of the week.

I would add that he should buy back ALL copies of pics like "jrnyjunky" is using for their av. That's as, you know, as "believe" or "butterfly" is.

[jrnyman28]

Update and contribute to your website.
Communicate with your internet fans.
Get together as a BAND and write a solid rock CD.
Take the time and money to mix it right.
Let JSS and Howie create some form of video for some of the songs like they did for a couple of Soul SirkUS tracks. Even if they are only on MSN and Yahoo it will help.
Get your CD into stores for $9.99.
Offer the music and artwork for download for $8.
Do TV.
ROCK!

[EightyRock]

a. get a new p.r. manager
b. once Taz interviews you, no more interviews by yourself, dude (just shut up and play, thank you)
c. never, never, never let Friga do another pansy-ass "swords drawn in the name of rock" interview
d. get rid of those homogeneous sounding background vocals that sound like a bad church choir
e. reign in the first bozo that wants a wedding song on the next CD
f. come clean about Augeri not working out & give Soto a real beginning that he deserves
g. back away from the Thai stick and show some appreciation to your long time fans for once
h. get a real website and let 'er rip

I could go through the alphabet with no trouble at all.

[Matthew]

c. never, never, never let Friga do another pansy-ass "swords drawn in the name of rock" interview

I'd make that a priority...

[A Fire Inside]

Really, how hard is it for them to hire someone to make a decent website? What is keeping them from thus? Hell, they could probably even coax a diehard to do it for free.

[Andrew]

(unless I need background music in my truck when I go gay bashing).


Next..

I know you are joking TNC, but I don't want that kind of comment here please.

[Saint John]

Since we all know Neal obssesively reads this forum, forgoing even basic hygiene (why else do u think he's been wearing the same pit-stained violet shirt all tour??), what do u say we all pitch in & offer him some constructive advice for the new era.

Let's point out the strong points of the previous lineup, and weak points so that they are never repeated:

Neal - please put the roach clip down long enough to have an active hand in the track listing of your albums. Journey is an integral part of ur legacy.
Musically incompetent estrogen-fests like "Believe" & "Butterfly" have absolutely no place on a Journey record and make my nuts curdle up into my lower abdomen, frankly.
Both songs are dissonant to the ear and recieve very little play from me (unless I need background music in my truck when I go gay bashing).


Next..

Easily one of the 5 best posts I've ever read.....on ANY board. Cut most of the ballads from future set lists. Hire management that is more in touch with today's promotional tactics. Arrange a rockin' duet with Soto and a special guest on the next album. Preferably, Gwen Stephani or Ann Wilson. Stick to one singer at all concerts and albums....minus special guests. Get in the studio, take your time and create a kick ass album.

[Carlitto H@kk]

DO:
1. Hire on a solid producer (Rick Rubin, Scott Humphreys, Terry Brown, Roy Thomas Baker) and keep Kev Elson on as engineer.

2. Get into a classic, "All Analog" studio and let Elson get that ESCAPE/FRONTIERS era sound back. Get away from the digital realm! Its too crisp and unfeeling. Get back to the tru warmth of Analog tape, real tube amped guitar tones, tape-delay echos, old style reverbs...

3. TAKE YOUR TIME AND COLLECTIVELY WRITE SOLID MATERIAL! Don't rush and throw together a bunch of unused and rehashed material like you did with GENERATIONS. Take FULL advantage od Jeff's writing skills and spend 3-6 months really working strong material.

4. It worked great with Perry/Rolie - try at least one track with Jeff/Friga sharing vocals and harmonies

5. Go back to the "One Word" album title, have Mouse do some killer oil-painted artwork (again, get away from the didital realm, it is stale and boring!), and then get out on the road, ALONE, and showcase the hell out of that new material!

6. There's 7 races left... DO A NASCAR WEEKEND!!! The band plays 1-2 songs pre-race, Neal SHREDS the SSB and let Jeff SCREAM those 3 famous words!!!



DON'T:
1. Don't worry about writing 'a hit' or 'monster ballad', i.e. Don't try to force the magic. Let it all come natural.

2. Do not EVER let Ross sing lead again

3. Do not do another double-bill, greatest hits, nostalgia tour. Go out on your own and 'ram the new material down our throats!"

4. Don't lose faith in your fans - write and release the music that is in your hearts... Chances are, what you come up with will blow us ALL away and then some


Just my 2 cents...
These are the things I would try to accomplish if I were manager for a day

[Rawbean]

Agree particularly with jrnyman28's comment about doing t.v. A performance on late night (Leno, Letterman) or a special on VH-1 with JSS up front would be awesome to see.....

[VH#1]

Replace the official forum moderators w/ people under the age of 60.

And if there's a mod who is chronologically under 60, replace him/her with someone who thinks younger than 60.

[SF-Dano]

2. Get into a classic, "All Analog" studio and let Elson get that ESCAPE/FRONTIERS era sound back. Get away from the digital realm! Its too crisp and unfeeling. Get back to the tru warmth of Analog tape, real tube amped guitar tones, tape-delay echos, old style reverbs...

Really like this idea Carlitto

2. Do not EVER let Ross sing lead again

Couldn't agree with you more. This is a must.

It worked great with Perry/Rolie - try at least one track with Jeff/Friga sharing vocals and harmonies

Like this one also, but I also think Neal has a good enough voice for a duet also. I know I am in the minority here on Neal's vocal abilities, but I think he sounded fine on "No More Lies" back in the day and on Departure also. IMO, I think Neal sounds more like Rollie than Cain does. Maybe just my ears.

I think either Friga or Neal could handle the duet thing. Neal already did it on Departure.

Also IMO, the duet with a Rockin gal, if done needs to be with someone currently hot on the Radio, or recently coming off a big album with in a year or so. Gwen Stefani = yes, Ann Wilson = no. Shania= yes, Stevie Nicks = No. Etc.

[A Fire Inside]

Replace the official forum moderators w/ people under the age of 60.

And if there's a mod who is chronologically under 60, replace him/her with someone who thinks younger than 60.

There's a mod who is a college student, where have you been?

[Saint John]

DO:
1. Hire on a solid producer (Rick Rubin, Scott Humphreys, Terry Brown, Roy Thomas Baker) and keep Kev Elson on as engineer.

2. Get into a classic, "All Analog" studio and let Elson get that ESCAPE/FRONTIERS era sound back. Get away from the digital realm! Its too crisp and unfeeling. Get back to the tru warmth of Analog tape, real tube amped guitar tones, tape-delay echos, old style reverbs...

3. TAKE YOUR TIME AND COLLECTIVELY WRITE SOLID MATERIAL! Don't rush and throw together a bunch of unused and rehashed material like you did with GENERATIONS. Take FULL advantage od Jeff's writing skills and spend 3-6 months really working strong material.

4. It worked great with Perry/Rolie - try at least one track with Jeff/Friga sharing vocals and harmonies

5. Go back to the "One Word" album title, have Mouse do some killer oil-painted artwork (again, get away from the didital realm, it is stale and boring!), and then get out on the road, ALONE, and showcase the hell out of that new material!

6. There's 7 races left... DO A NASCAR WEEKEND!!! The band plays 1-2 songs pre-race, Neal SHREDS the SSB and let Jeff SCREAM those 3 famous words!!!



DON'T:
1. Don't worry about writing 'a hit' or 'monster ballad', i.e. Don't try to force the magic. Let it all come natural.

2. Do not EVER let Ross sing lead again

3. Do not do another double-bill, greatest hits, nostalgia tour. Go out on your own and 'ram the new material down our throats!"

4. Don't lose faith in your fans - write and release the music that is in your hearts... Chances are, what you come up with will blow us ALL away and then some


Just my 2 cents...
These are the things I would try to accomplish if I were manager for a day

I agree with this ENTIRE post. I'd just like to add the TV appearance jrnyman 28 spoke of. Also, have local/regional bands open. Won't cost shit and brings in a new audience. Plus, Jeff, unlike Augeri, is cool enough for younger kids to feel "ok" about liking. Augeri seemed too feminine for young kids to tell their friends, "Hey this dude fuckin' rocks!" They would have been laughed at.

[squirt1]

I say - during the bands big days, just remember, hits were also ballads. I am over the hill now, but 20-30 yrs ago Open Arms, Faithfully,Patiently, Happy to Give,Winds of March ,WCTHGOF,Lights and many others were also hits and fan favorites ? The ears need a balance so ask you fanbase if they just want rock noise all the time. Every band promotes ballansd Journey brought it to a fine art with Perry. That brings the ladies,right?

[Saint John]

I say - during the bands big days, just remember, hits were also ballads. I am over the hill now, but 20-30 yrs ago Open Arms, Faithfully,Patiently, Happy to Give,Winds of March ,WCTHGOF,Lights and many others were also hits and fan favorites ? The ears need a balance so ask you fanbase if they just want rock noise all the time. Every band promotes ballansd Journey brought it to a fine art with Perry. That brings the ladies,right?

Give us a new 12 song album. 9 "rockers"....1 mid-tempo and 2 ballads. Euros and Japs get the bonus track...as usual. How about giving US the fuckin' bonus track for once?

[AR]

DO: Go to a live show and see it for yourself.

DON'T: Be stuck in the past. Enjoy that for what it was, and how special it was. It no longer exists, except on recordings.

[Andrew]

Use 1 singer only. 1 SINGER I say!

[Liam]

DON'T: Be stuck in the past. Enjoy that for what it was, and how special it was. It no longer exists, except on recordings.

This from the guy who's spinning an old KISS lunchbox. j/k man.

[Ms_M]

Use 1 singer only. 1 SINGER I say!

Just curious... You don't like the duets like "Anytime" or "Feeling that Way"?

[Saint John]

Use 1 singer only. 1 SINGER I say!

Ahem!!!! I've been saying this FOREVER.

[Rockindeano]

Interesting comments.

[Saint John]

Use 1 singer only. 1 SINGER I say!

Just curious... You don't like the duets like "Anytime" or "Feeling that Way"?

Cain is NOT Rolie. Maybe JSS and Deen. Leave Friga on the keyboards where he belongs. Plus they'd be accused of imitating what once was. I'd give it a one song tryout. No more than that.

[Manarocks]

Redo the backtalk forum , get rid of ALL the mods. Or make MR your official forum

[Matthew]

DO:
1. Hire on a solid producer (Rick Rubin, Scott Humphreys, Terry Brown, Roy Thomas Baker) and keep Kev Elson on as engineer.

Great point, CH. The dream scenario would be Rick Rubin who has resurrected a number of acts who had lost their way...from Johnny Cash to Neil Diamond and now Metallica....and is also behind many of the biggest selling acts in today's music scene...System of a Down, Justin Timberlake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.

The question is...can Journey afford him? And would he be interested? Maybe with JSS in the band he might be....but whoever Journey choose they need to aim high and get a name producer who will bring them some credibility in the music industry....and not just cobble something together in Jonathan Cain's home studio.

[JrnySuxBalls]

Cain is NOT Rolie. Maybe JSS and Deen. Leave Friga on the keyboards where he belongs.

Absolutely. And keep him off the harmonica too, while you're at it.

[Matthew]

Cain is NOT Rolie. Maybe JSS and Deen. Leave Friga on the keyboards where he belongs.

Absolutely. And keep him off the harmonica too, while you're at it.

Jonathan Cain and the harmonica is a winning combination! The harmonica must stay.