by Red13JoePa » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:52 am
Fairly certain this thread's doomed to be about as popular here as the Baby Ruth was in the pool in CaddyShack.
Open season for the Assassins and Loons.
So be it.
For those of us in the leper colony (Not the Augeri DriveByShooters, though. They don't reside here anyway) who still can't help but like the studio material from '98-'05 I'd like an answer.
I was listening to Higher Place for the first time in a while and damn if that thing does not STILL rank among my top 10 any-era Journey tracks. In addition to confirming that the too-loud keys, the by-numbers live ending (instead of the abruptly dramamtic brilliance of the Arrival version) and Augeri not sticking to subtle vocal delivery differences he uses in the studio version, and Neal doing 2 whawha parts instead of just ONE in the first mini solo all conspire to ruin live renditions of this song (something that bugs the hell out of me and TheNobleCause also), I hit on all the hooks and parts I love that make this song great to me.
The beginning with the atmospheric guitars intro, the little helicopter-like buzzing sound followed by Neal bending that one high note up and down on the wah wha bar, Castronovo coming in thumping on the kick pedals, Valory appearing later with an absolutely killer bass tone, Cain coming in with SUBTLE QUIET keys, a powehouse and nuanced vocal by Augeri ("ooooo and I tryHHHHIIIIIIIGGGHHHH!!!!") great bg vox, an Augeri/Castronovo harmony in the bridge when they sound face-to-face in the same mic, urgent solos and filthy rythym and leads by Neal and the ending with Augeri singing the "Forget what was....".part over a terrific and moving outro solo by Neal and that sudden ending that comes out of the blue with all 5 members signing that word "...this TTIIMMMEEE!!!" at top register.....followed by the 4 note Neal riff and silence...
What a song.
Can I have your top 5 from '98-'05:
I have
The Place In Your Heart
Faith In The Heartland
The Time
Higher Place
Remember Me
Thanks for reading, see you all on page 2 of the boards in about 90 minutes.
Last edited by
Red13JoePa on Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
"I love almost everybody."---Rocky Balboa 1990
"Let's reform this thing.Let's go out and get some guys who want to work and go do it"--Neal Schon February, 2001
"I looked at Neal, and I just saw a guy who really wants his band back"-JCain 2/01