NY Times Reviews Revelation:

[Barb]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/arts/ ... ref=slogin

Critics’ Choice: New CDs
Still Holding on to the Feeling: Journey in 2008

From the late 1970s to the mid-’80s, Journey’s hits were lavish pop bulletins conjuring amber waves of strip malls. Its melodies resolved quickly over four-four grooves, and the band didn’t indulge much in suite form or rarefied instrumental interludes. Neal Schon was its front-and-center guitar player, bending notes into parabolas as big and sexy as rainbows. Steve Perry was its great theatrical tenor, hitting high notes with a likably strained, through-the-noise voice and Sam Cooke-type embellishments. Once it refined its formula, Journey was pure suburban-teen romantic inspiration. By contrast, Boston sounded more street and more mystical; Styx and Kansas were Trig 1 and 2.

Mr. Perry hasn’t worked with Journey since a reunion album in 1995, and after he left, the band, led by Mr. Schon, hired two other touring lead singers. Recently, Mr. Schon secured the services of another singer, Arnel Pineda, a 40-year-old from the Philippines whom he found on YouTube and who sounds a great deal like Mr. Perry. “Revelation,” produced by Kevin Shirley, is the resuscitated band’s covering-all-bases album, with 11 new songs, 11 old songs and a live DVD. (Like the Eagles’ most recent record, it is available exclusively at Wal-Mart and the band’s own Web site, journeymusic.com.)

Despite the recent surge in iTunes downloads of the old hit “Don’t Stop Believing” after it closed last year’s final episode of “The Sopranos,” this is a band with roughly the same audience it left behind about 25 years ago, a comfort machine with no subcultural clout. “Revelation” seems like a record to justify a tour, and there’s one this summer, with Heart and Cheap Trick as supporting acts.

And though the album doesn’t transcend this purpose, it is, actually, good. Mr. Pineda, who sings hard and with the appropriate vulnerability, gives it some distinction. Beyond that, the band seems to have taken rock vitamins: it feels alive.

With the exception of “Wildest Dream” — slightly modern-rock, slightly Foo-Fightery — “Revelation” operates with its own kind of Schillinger System, an almost clinical set of chord modulations, solo-lengths and emotional progressions. You find yourself reeled in exactly where the band wants you to be, to the degree that it wants you to be. Those lyrics! Within the first minute and a half, you’re given a huge melody and a full story line: a pair of young lovers have run away, hit hard times and decided with finality that they won’t give up on love. Journey, in a nutshell.

With this band, faith counts, and being an average person counts; hence the new song “Faith in the Heartland,” about young lovers somewhere in the breadbasket who won’t give up their dreams in a fading town, and hence, on slightly less epic ground, a track written by Mr. Schon and the keyboardist Jonathan Cain, “Change for the Better,” about recovering from alcoholism. (Though take away the phrase “clean and sober” and the song could be about emerging from any bad stretch, psychological, spiritual or physical.)

As for the second disc of re-recorded hits — including “Only the Young,” “Open Arms” and “Don’t Stop Believing” — it sounds pretty much like old Journey, down to the vocal details, with more acrobatic and whammy-bar-enhanced guitar solos. If you’re a fan, take the compliment: the members of Journey will not let go of you. They believe in you. BEN RATLIFF

[RocknRoll]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

[finalfight]

What a polite review! Mr this and Mr that...weird! Positive though

[Jeremey]

Fuck yeah!! That's amazing news....

[RockitRide]

What a polite review! Mr this and Mr that...weird! Positive though

Yeah, the NYT is manned by a bunch of metrosexual wierdos. To most music lovers a great melody and a great performance are what counts, but these guys are always looking for something more, and so they have to invent some concepts that have little to do with how enjoyable the music is. The only critics that matter are the ones having a great time at that Las Vegas show.

[Rhiannon]

Wouldn't it be poetic if after all these decades of being shat upon by the Music Biz 'cool' committee (ie, Rolling Stone... etc) that now (no pun intended) after all these years they start to receive recognition from these various outlets... RNR HOF included?

[nutz4Neal]

Cyber me some of those rock vitamins!

Surprisingly great review by NYT..love it!

Can't wait for my copy to arrive in the mail!

[RockitRide]

Wouldn't it be poetic if after all these decades of being shat upon by the Music Biz 'cool' committee (ie, Rolling Stone... etc) that now (no pun intended) after all these years they start to receive recognition from these various outlets... RNR HOF included?

Who cares? Look at the crap these people fall over themselves for.

[Rhiannon]

Wouldn't it be poetic if after all these decades of being shat upon by the Music Biz 'cool' committee (ie, Rolling Stone... etc) that now (no pun intended) after all these years they start to receive recognition from these various outlets... RNR HOF included?

Who cares? Look at the crap these people fall over themselves for.

Hmm. Not my point, but okay.

[StoneCold]

Beyond that, the band seems to have taken rock vitamins: it feels alive.

[Since 78]

Sweeet!!!!

[strangegrey]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

[pinkvelvet]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

[marco17]

Funny to see that he points out "Faith in the Heartland" since it was on Generations, but not too many actually heard that CD.

[strangegrey]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

When did I say such a thing!!???!

How the fuck do you get me questioning the integrity of the NY times music review (which has never been anything other than completely and utterly violent and abrasive towards the likes of Journey their entire career)....to questioning andrew's integrity in his review, someone who has been historically supportive of the band? Under what incentive does Journey have to buy off someone like Andrew, who would likely cast support in the direction of Journey, irrespective of such a so called 'offer'?

My raised eyebrows have everything to do with the fact that the general media outlets (and Rolling Stone is included in this) have been outwardly hostile to journey for decades (something you would know if you weren't a carpet bagger fan)...and for the NY Times to shift gears with such a move is a HUGE fucking red flag!!

How fucking assinine are you? Go fuck yourself, you carpet-bagging piece of shit....take your stupid assumptions and blow them out your junior-fan status of this band. Come back here when you've actually spent more than 1 year supporting Journey through hostile media....

Fucking carpet bagger!

Ugh....wtf....

[Carlitto H@kk]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

My raised eyebrows have everything to do with the fact that the general media outlets (and Rolling Stone is included in this) have been outwardly hostile to journey for decades (something you would know if you weren't a carpet bagger fan)...and for the NY Times to shift gears with such a move is a HUGE fucking red flag!!

I agree, Frank.
It is wierd for the band to be suddenly getting some "critical acclaim"...
I doubt anyone was "paid" for such a glowing review but
I wonder if Arnel's "Fairy-tale" storyline played in to this?

Hey, I am GLAD the band is getting some great press/reviews right
now but I wonder if it's really about the "music"?

[Matthew]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

My raised eyebrows have everything to do with the fact that the general media outlets (and Rolling Stone is included in this) have been outwardly hostile to journey for decades (something you would know if you weren't a carpet bagger fan)...and for the NY Times to shift gears with such a move is a HUGE fucking red flag!!

I agree, Frank.
It is wierd for the band to be suddenly getting some "critical acclaim"...
I doubt anyone was "paid" for such a glowing review but
I wonder if Arnel's "Fairy-tale" storyline played in to this?

Hey, I am GLAD the band is getting some great press/reviews right
now but I wonder if it's really about the "music"?

I don't think this is weird at all, CH. There does seem to be a reappraisal going on. And it would be just to lazy and dull to sneer at Journey now. Another smart-arse, upmarket New York publication called Slate - which has a similar audience as the NYT in terms of arts coverage - came to Journey's defence over the Sopranos controversy last year.

And this is just the view of a single critic anyway. Why is it so hard to believe that he liked the record?

[Matthew]

How the fuck do you get me questioning the integrity of the NY times music review (which has never been anything other than completely and utterly violent and abrasive towards the likes of Journey their entire career)....to questioning andrew's integrity in his review, someone who has been historically supportive of the band? Under what incentive does Journey have to buy off someone like Andrew, who would likely cast support in the direction of Journey, irrespective of such a so called 'offer'?
.

What's history got to do with anything? I'm sure that no-one at the NYT even remembers the reviews some hack wrote for them a quarter of a century ago.

[pinkvelvet]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

When did I say such a thing!!???!

How the fuck do you get me questioning the integrity of the NY times music review (which has never been anything other than completely and utterly violent and abrasive towards the likes of Journey their entire career)....to questioning andrew's integrity in his review, someone who has been historically supportive of the band? Under what incentive does Journey have to buy off someone like Andrew, who would likely cast support in the direction of Journey, irrespective of such a so called 'offer'?

My raised eyebrows have everything to do with the fact that the general media outlets (and Rolling Stone is included in this) have been outwardly hostile to journey for decades (something you would know if you weren't a carpet bagger fan)...and for the NY Times to shift gears with such a move is a HUGE fucking red flag!!

How fucking assinine are you? Go fuck yourself, you carpet-bagging piece of shit....take your stupid assumptions and blow them out your junior-fan status of this band. Come back here when you've actually spent more than 1 year supporting Journey through hostile media....

Fucking carpet bagger!

Ugh....wtf....

Thanks for elaborating that asshole. Maybe if you posted this whole paragraph earlier then people would understand better.
With your earlier comment, you make it seem like anyone that would give this album a good review are paid to do so. Thanks for your time explaining what you meant and also proving to the whole board how much of an asshole you are.

[Rick]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

When did I say such a thing!!???!

How the fuck do you get me questioning the integrity of the NY times music review (which has never been anything other than completely and utterly violent and abrasive towards the likes of Journey their entire career)....to questioning andrew's integrity in his review, someone who has been historically supportive of the band? Under what incentive does Journey have to buy off someone like Andrew, who would likely cast support in the direction of Journey, irrespective of such a so called 'offer'?

My raised eyebrows have everything to do with the fact that the general media outlets (and Rolling Stone is included in this) have been outwardly hostile to journey for decades (something you would know if you weren't a carpet bagger fan)...and for the NY Times to shift gears with such a move is a HUGE fucking red flag!!

How fucking assinine are you? Go fuck yourself, you carpet-bagging piece of shit....take your stupid assumptions and blow them out your junior-fan status of this band. Come back here when you've actually spent more than 1 year supporting Journey through hostile media....

Fucking carpet bagger!

Ugh....wtf....

Thanks for elaborating that asshole. Maybe if you posted this whole paragraph earlier then people would understand better.
With your earlier comment, you make it seem like anyone that would give this album a good review are paid to do so. Thanks for your time explaining what you meant and also proving to the whole board how much of an asshole you are.

Bah! He did that years ago. Right Frank?

[pinkvelvet]

OH OH. NY Times type critics aren't supposed to like Journey, even a little bit

I think I need some of the rock vitamins

Yeah, I wonder how much *that* review cost them!

give it up already, are you saying Journey paid Andrew too? Cos he did give the record a good review as well.

When did I say such a thing!!???!

How the fuck do you get me questioning the integrity of the NY times music review (which has never been anything other than completely and utterly violent and abrasive towards the likes of Journey their entire career)....to questioning andrew's integrity in his review, someone who has been historically supportive of the band? Under what incentive does Journey have to buy off someone like Andrew, who would likely cast support in the direction of Journey, irrespective of such a so called 'offer'?

My raised eyebrows have everything to do with the fact that the general media outlets (and Rolling Stone is included in this) have been outwardly hostile to journey for decades (something you would know if you weren't a carpet bagger fan)...and for the NY Times to shift gears with such a move is a HUGE fucking red flag!!

How fucking assinine are you? Go fuck yourself, you carpet-bagging piece of shit....take your stupid assumptions and blow them out your junior-fan status of this band. Come back here when you've actually spent more than 1 year supporting Journey through hostile media....Fucking carpet bagger!

Ugh....wtf....

Cry me a river, you stupid fag. Blow your bitterness out your ass already.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Well f*ck me, this is the newspaper that cant even print the Mets' box score without embellishing the story. This is gotta be the first time in years that the NYT has been right or fair about anything.....

[Arkansas]

What I wanna see is a Rolling Stone review.
Wonder if NS still has a need for it by the toilet?



later~

[Big J]

Yeah, Augeri was just a touring vocalist.

Fuckin' assholes.

[ProgRocker53]

Yeah, Augeri was just a touring vocalist.

Fuckin' assholes.

Yeah, either they failed to check up on their history or Journey's in their back pocket.

Irresponsible journalism either way... and I have room to talk, being an (in limbo for the moment) journalism major.

I know music snarks and the reviewer seems to be giving Journey very backhanded compliments. Basically what he's saying, is that the album is formulaic yet good for what it is. I wouldn't be surprised if this tool gave every Pavement and Interpol album a 10/10..

[T-Bone]

Nice review, although I didn't expect that. I always thought the Times was more into the Moby and Dance/Hip Hop scene...

[strangegrey]

Thanks for elaborating that asshole. Maybe if you posted this whole paragraph earlier then people would understand better.

I dont need to elaborate shit for carpet-bagger fans that feel it's necessary to assume a lack of integrity when there isn't one, just so it fits in with your fucking agenda. fuck off!

[RocknRoll]

Strangegrey-Why not tell us what you really think?

Seriously though. With what all is going on right now, do you still think Journey is a joke? Do you really think they can make a comeback with this album?

And maybe lighten up a tad on some of the new fans. Yes, they do love Arnel but the new fans are gaining a healthy appreciation for Journey as well. They certainly haven't been through all the ups and downs and probably won't have to, so maybe they're just approaching things from a new perspective. That's not all bad.

Edit: Better Linda?

[DrFU]

Anyone else fighting the urge to scratch?

[strangegrey]

Strangegrey-Why not tell us what you really think?

Seriously though. With what all is going on right now, do you still think Journey is a joke? Do you really think they can make a comeback with this album.

And maybe lighten up a tad on some of the new fans. Yes, they do love Arnel but the new fans are gaining a healthy appreciation for Journey as well.

I've already changed my position on the chances this band has with Pineda out front. While I don't have the delussions of grandeur some of you have, regarding Journey winning a Grammy, Revelation spending 12 weeks at #1 and Neal Schon, Cain & Arnel being on the cover of Teen Beat. I do think they have a shot (i.e. a less than 1/1 chance) to make a minor ripple in the rock undercurrent for a short while.

What I don't respect is some dimwit, piece of shit 6 month fan that not only tries to put words in my mouth, but does so while implying that I am stating something to undercut andrew. Fuck that...I wont let that slide without being checked.

Let me also add for people that don't find a glowing NYT review completely odd, given the fact that Journey is touring with a replacement singer....you should check to make sure shit still drops (i.e. gravity works) in your reality. This is *not* normal...at all...and for anyone that has been a fan of this band more than 12 months, they would see that. It would be black and white to anyone whos been a fan of this band more than 20 years.

So while I understand the motives that drive pink twathead, I don't respect it....yet, given the naivity of her acusations, it makes perfect sense that she didn't even know what Journey was until, maybe this time last year. Some fan, eh? dumb encrusted shitstain of a twat...