http://www.banophernalia.com/reviews/mu ... ourney.htm
Revelation
This is a strange release. It literally includes everything but the kitchen sink. Here in North America the package contains two discs and a concert DVD - all for $12 bucks (Canadian at Wal-Mart). I really didn't have any intention of picking this up, I mean really another Perryesque singer - this time Neal picked this one off of Youtube. I mean really - I'd had enough, Journey had turned into a charachature of itself, whoring it's once proud name to make a buck.
So what happened?
I decided to give it a chance, mainly because I was hearing some good things about the disc from people who usually have a pretty good ability to call bullshit when they hear it. Although Andrew at Melodicrock.com's review was so glowing I thought he was overdoing his meds.
Anyway I listened to the first disc a couple of times, and was pretty impressed. The new guy had that Perry tone, but the songs were being sung by him and were his to interpret his way. Based solely on the music, I'd stack this up with anything the band had done before. Alhough why the guys felt they had to put in "Faith in the Heartland" is a bit of a mystery - it's a good tune, and was one of the highlights Generations.
What cemented the deal for me was the live DVD. In fact if you're kind of on the fence over whether or not Arnel Pineda can actually pull off the gig, watch the concert first. Yeah, he's a bit wild eyed at times, but my goodness he can sing, and the blending of the old and new material works really well.
The disc of covers is a bit of a brain twister overall - Journey covering Journey? The band practically recreates note for note eleven of their past hits with Arnel front and centre - and he pulls it off. If you're firmly in the Perry camp, this this is insult to injury.
For all that though I have to say, if you're a fan of Journey, then this is something you do need to get your hands on. It will indeed be revelation (oh come on, how could I resist). Overall I'd put Revelation ahead of the "reunion" album back in 1996. This is classic Journey, and Neal is a good as ever (better in many respects). In fact the whole band has found another gear - the only downside is that it isn't 1986 anymore.
