Ok, it's official!

[Melissa]

I'll shake my poms for them too!!

Ditto, Danger Danger is an awesome band, and I guess some forget they played Andrew's MR Fest 2

[S2M]

I'll shake my poms for them too!!

Ditto, Danger Danger is an awesome band, and I guess some forget they played Andrew's MR Fest 2

I don't think they forgot. I just think acts like Bonamassa, Jamison, Journey, and all the tired dinosaur acts get more pub, and are looked at as 'better'. It's funny how a couple of people here make fun of the lesser KNOWN acts that I like. It really is. It's really ignorant thought on their part. Cause they are missing out on some awesome music. It just happens that the music THEY enjoy came out at the 'right' time, or had 'help' becoming famous. To them, it is all about how well-known, or famous a band is - fame=talent. Um.....no.

[Melissa]

I'll shake my poms for them too!!

Ditto, Danger Danger is an awesome band, and I guess some forget they played Andrew's MR Fest 2

I don't think they forgot. I just think acts like Bonamassa, Jamison, Journey, and all the tired dinosaur acts get more pub, and are looked at as 'better'. It's funny how a couple of people here make fun of the lesser KNOWN acts that I like. It really is. It's really ignorant thought on their part. Cause they are missing out on some awesome music. It just happens that the music THEY enjoy came out at the 'right' time, or had 'help' becoming famous. To them, it is all about how well-known, or famous a band is - fame=talent. Um.....no.

Yep, but unfortunately it will never be seen that way by the masses, so that's a lost cause, lol. I just hope this new Journey album is as heavy as said, I know I'll like it a lot if so.

And I will laugh if the ones who didn't want the hard rock thing don't like it

[Ehwmatt]

I'll shake my poms for them too!!

Ditto, Danger Danger is an awesome band, and I guess some forget they played Andrew's MR Fest 2

I don't think they forgot. I just think acts like Bonamassa, Jamison, Journey, and all the tired dinosaur acts get more pub, and are looked at as 'better'. It's funny how a couple of people here make fun of the lesser KNOWN acts that I like. It really is. It's really ignorant thought on their part. Cause they are missing out on some awesome music. It just happens that the music THEY enjoy came out at the 'right' time, or had 'help' becoming famous. To them, it is all about how well-known, or famous a band is - fame=talent. Um.....no.

How is Joe Bonamassa a tired dinosaur act? The guy wasn't even 10 years old when Raised on Radio and Vital Signs came out. First solo album in 2000. Also, last I checked, Bonamassa is far from a household name. What a bizarre, utterly misleading statement.

[S2M]

I'll shake my poms for them too!!

Ditto, Danger Danger is an awesome band, and I guess some forget they played Andrew's MR Fest 2

I don't think they forgot. I just think acts like Bonamassa, Jamison, Journey, and all the tired dinosaur acts get more pub, and are looked at as 'better'. It's funny how a couple of people here make fun of the lesser KNOWN acts that I like. It really is. It's really ignorant thought on their part. Cause they are missing out on some awesome music. It just happens that the music THEY enjoy came out at the 'right' time, or had 'help' becoming famous. To them, it is all about how well-known, or famous a band is - fame=talent. Um.....no.

Yep, but unfortunately it will never be seen that way by the masses, so that's a lost cause, lol. I just hope this new Journey album is as heavy as said, I know I'll like it a lot if so.

And I will laugh if the ones who didn't want the hard rock thing don't like it

Hmmm....could this be a little JSS thing? They didn't want the hard rocking stuff with Jeff, but now that Arnel's there - it's hard-rocking time!

[S2M]

I'll shake my poms for them too!!

Ditto, Danger Danger is an awesome band, and I guess some forget they played Andrew's MR Fest 2

I don't think they forgot. I just think acts like Bonamassa, Jamison, Journey, and all the tired dinosaur acts get more pub, and are looked at as 'better'. It's funny how a couple of people here make fun of the lesser KNOWN acts that I like. It really is. It's really ignorant thought on their part. Cause they are missing out on some awesome music. It just happens that the music THEY enjoy came out at the 'right' time, or had 'help' becoming famous. To them, it is all about how well-known, or famous a band is - fame=talent. Um.....no.

How is Joe Bonamassa a tired dinosaur act? The guy wasn't even 10 years old when Raised on Radio and Vital Signs came out. First solo album in 2000. Also, last I checked, Bonamassa is far from a household name. What a bizarre, utterly misleading statement.

Didn't mean HE was a dinosaur act. But I lumped him with the entire group cause he gets pub. And never said it wasn't deserved pub, either. Just that it was pub.

[Glenn]

I give STM crap about Danger Danger because I know they are a fav of his.

Andy Timmons is a phenomenal guitar player.

[S2M]

I give STM crap about Danger Danger because I know they are a fav of his.

Andy Timmons is a phenomenal guitar player.

Agreed. Much better than Rob Marcello. Or how I refer to him now: Yngwie Jr.

I should just change my name to Andy Rooney, and live out the rest of my life trying to replace him on 60 minutes.

Most of the time I get tired of reading what I write....

[Saint John]

Hmmm....could this be a little JSS thing? They didn't want the hard rocking stuff with Jeff, but now that Arnel's there - it's hard-rocking time!

That's not it at all. Nobody wanted a monotone/baritone voice in a band whose members build choruses and melodies that need the singer to soar. Talisman and Soul Sirkus were complete garbage, and no one wanted that in Journey. W.E.T. was pretty good, but the guy didn't do anything aside from vocals and they, at times, were a lame tribute/imitation to Perry with no real originality. However, at other times, he did lay down some mighty nice vox. Overall, though, he couldn't cover the old material and take the band into the future ... so they found someone that could. And this someone does both better.

People have been begging for a melodic and "rocking" album for years ... if not decades (since Frontiers, really). This isn't anything new, so quit trying to hedge your bets in case this album is really good. Soto simply couldn't do what Journey needed him to. Don't try and play that card. Move on, son. You're dismissed.

[S2M]

Hmmm....could this be a little JSS thing? They didn't want the hard rocking stuff with Jeff, but now that Arnel's there - it's hard-rocking time!

That's not it at all. Nobody wanted a monotone/baritone voice in a band whose members build choruses and melodies that need the singer to soar. Talisman and Soul Sirkus were complete garbage, and no one wanted that in Journey. W.E.T. was pretty good, but the guy didn't do anything aside from vocals and they, at times, were a lame tribute/imitation to Perry with no real originality. However, at other times, he did lay down some mighty nice vox. Overall, though, he couldn't cover the old material and take the band into the future ... so they found someone that could. And this someone does both better.

People have been begging for a melodic and "rocking" album for years ... if not decades (since Frontiers, really). This isn't anything new, so quit trying to hedge your bets in case this album is really good. Soto simply couldn't do what Journey needed him to. Don't try and play that card. Move on, son. You're dismissed.

Who's trying to hedge bets? I bought Revelation. Listened to it ONCE. I'll purchase Eclipse. Put it on the shelf with the others, and be comfortable with my decision. I went to sleep listening to TBF early this morning. Sorry folks, Neal is ALL OVER those songs. I'll admit that he doesn't take a 2 minute instrumental break and segue into a yngwie-like solo....like he seems to be doing on Eclipse. But TBF is rocking enough for ME. Arrival kicks ass too. Granted, there are about 3 more ballads than I would have liked. But those songs ROCK. Let's be fair here, Dan. So the reason has changed now? First it was that Jeff had an 'attitude', and it wasn't a good fit personality-wise...now it's that he couldn't handle the material? Hmmmmm....don't you think Neal and co. would've made that determination BEFORE they hired him?

just as an aside...not digging the new Eden's Curse either. What is up with that dude's voice? Kevin Cronin anyone?

[Michigan Girl]

He's right, really!! If they're only going to be showcasing a few
of those rockin' new songs live this tour ...and perhaps one will survive for the next
tour ...why incorporate an awesome new voice for that?!? It's the DD
they'll be focusing on, so they need a voice that can try to emulate Perry!!

TBF is a work of art!!

[jrnyjetster]

As long as they are JOURNEY, they'll never be able to break away from the "dirty dozen". However, if Eclipse resonates well with the fan base, they can gradually sprinkle in more new material into the set. There are songs that they've played for years in the setlists that aren't "top 10" hits they could phase out in favor of newer material and also throw in a couple more obscure classics from the early days of Infinity, Evolution and Departure. I for one, have always enjoyed those surprises.

[Saint John]

Who's trying to hedge bets? I bought Revelation. Listened to it ONCE. I'll purchase Eclipse. Put it on the shelf with the others, and be comfortable with my decision. I went to sleep listening to TBF early this morning. Sorry folks, Neal is ALL OVER those songs. I'll admit that he doesn't take a 2 minute instrumental break and segue into a yngwie-like solo....like he seems to be doing on Eclipse. But TBF is rocking enough for ME. Arrival kicks ass too. Granted, there are about 3 more ballads than I would have liked. But those songs ROCK. Let's be fair here, Dan. So the reason has changed now? First it was that Jeff had an 'attitude', and it wasn't a good fit personality-wise...now it's that he couldn't handle the material? Hmmmmm....don't you think Neal and co. would've made that determination BEFORE they hired him?

Ok, fair enough. TBF is a complex creature. It contains Journey's finest musicianship ever, but features the first album where Perry is the weakest link. aside from laying down some emotive and heartfelt vocals on 2 or 3 of the slower songs (WYLAW and IHSBYH immediately come to mind), the album goes nowhere. It stays at the same level throughout. Some songs feature rocking music but don't have the vocals to match (MOL and ICSIIYE come to mind). Overall, it's an album of imbalance. Incredible musicianship and listless vocals on the rockers, sprinkled with some great singing on a few ballads. Overall, it just doesn't go anywhere, though.

Arrival is much of the same. Augeri's vocals are very much like Perry's on TBF ... only slightly better on the rockers and far worse on the ballads. The lone exception being the excellent vocals on KMS. An album with more balance, but it just doesn't cut the mustard vocally. revelation was better than both vocally, but not as good musically. It suffered, at times, from being too much of a formatted old routine and didn't have the originality that Eclipse may have. I would rank those 3 albums somewhat interchangeably. TBF has the best musicianship, Revelation the best vocals and Arrival the best combination of the two ... but none really had both. Perhaps Eclipse will be that album.

[Michigan Girl]

Difference of opinion and taste ...
I love TBF, the musicianship as well as the vox ...I love the vox!!
How many times have I listened to it front to back?!?! ...couldn't even begin to count!!
I have enjoyed Arrival immensley and have probably owned it
for as long as I've owned "R" ...I can't count the number of times I've listened to this
either, but more than 20!!
Revelation ...yawn ...and I mean good night!! I can count the number of times
I've popped this in!!
If I'm driving down I-20 eastbound or westbound singing these new songs at the top of my lungs
not caring who hears me ...I'll consider it good, if not ...thumbs down!!

[steveo777]

We need more sample clips.....please.

[hoagiepete]

I hope Andrew is not setting me and the rest of the fans up for a major disappointment. The bigger the hype, the bigger the disappointment.

I remember the hype of Revelation and while the CD was not bad, I have to admit, it was forgettable. I may have not given it enough listens, but had little desire. Hate to say it, but the ballads were the best part of the CD.

[Saint John]

I hope Andrew is not setting me and the rest of the fans up for a major disappointment.

Well, if his taste in other music is any indication of what's to come, we're fucked!

[kgdjpubs]

I hope Andrew is not setting me and the rest of the fans up for a major disappointment.

Well, if his taste in other music is any indication of what's to come, we're fucked!

nah....his taste in music isn't that bad at all. He certainly has some favorites that I don't agree with, but he IS a big Journey fan--which works in the favor of this forum. That said, I certainly expect the final album to be very divisive, just because of the style change. I figure it to have the same split on fans as ROR did. All I want is a good album.

[Saint John]

I hope Andrew is not setting me and the rest of the fans up for a major disappointment.

Well, if his taste in other music is any indication of what's to come, we're fucked!

nah....his taste in music isn't that bad at all. He certainly has some favorites that I don't agree with, but he IS a big Journey fan--which works in the favor of this forum. That said, I certainly expect the final album to be very divisive, just because of the style change. I figure it to have the same split on fans as ROR did. All I want is a good album.

I was just busting his balls, man. Nothing more.

[Seven Wishes2]

nah....his taste in music isn't that bad at all. He certainly has some favorites that I don't agree with, but he IS a big Journey fan--which works in the favor of this forum. That said, I certainly expect the final album to be very divisive, just because of the style change. I figure it to have the same split on fans as ROR did. All I want is a good album.

The final album? Seriously? This band has at least ten years left in the tank with a guy as young as Arnel.

[Glenn]

nah....his taste in music isn't that bad at all. He certainly has some favorites that I don't agree with, but he IS a big Journey fan--which works in the favor of this forum. That said, I certainly expect the final album to be very divisive, just because of the style change. I figure it to have the same split on fans as ROR did. All I want is a good album.

The final album? Seriously? This band has at least ten years left in the tank with a guy as young as Arnel.

That's providing that Ross and Cain want to be doing this into their 70's.

Final album? Nope....10 more years though? I wouldn't bet on it.

[kgdjpubs]

nah....his taste in music isn't that bad at all. He certainly has some favorites that I don't agree with, but he IS a big Journey fan--which works in the favor of this forum. That said, I certainly expect the final album to be very divisive, just because of the style change. I figure it to have the same split on fans as ROR did. All I want is a good album.

The final album? Seriously? This band has at least ten years left in the tank with a guy as young as Arnel.

final album = what hits stores, not last album from the band--or at least I hope not!

[Hippie]

The difference between Revelation and Eclipse is the same difference between Generations and Revelation.

If I hadn't already been sold, this would've done it!

And, I can't believe noone's said this yet!
So what you're saying Andrew, is that the Journey guys have cranked it up to 11!!!

Thanks Andrew for all the great info! My level of stokedness continues to soar for this album!

Can't f-ing wait!!!!

(oh, and yeah, other clips would certainly help satiate us rabidly jonesin' Journey fanatics!!! 10 weeks IS a long time!!!)

[brandonx76]

Damn Andrew - now I hope the world doesn't end before I hear this album....If it comes to that, please do the right thing and release the album online...

Great Review - You've got us excited for this one

[steveo777]

Damn Andrew - now I hope the world doesn't end before I hear this album....If it comes to that, please do the right thing and release the album online...

Great Review - You've got us excited for this one

Relax. We've been excited for Journey albums before.

[S2M]

I find it hilarious that all the 5-star VIP packages on ILAA are sold out at $350.00 a piece. In this economy? Just goes to show that we'll pay anything to be entertained. But raise the price of gas a nickel - and all hell breaks loose.

[SF-Dano]

I find it hilarious that all the 5-star VIP packages on ILAA are sold out at $350.00 a piece. In this economy? Just goes to show that we'll pay anything to be entertained. But raise the price of gas a nickel - and all hell breaks loose.

Not sure that the folks that can afford the $350 ticket packages are the same folks the are complaining about the price of gas. Those who have money to burn, well...... they have money to burn. I will be looking at lawn tickets (read cheap) myself.

[steveo777]

I find it hilarious that all the 5-star VIP packages on ILAA are sold out at $350.00 a piece. In this economy? Just goes to show that we'll pay anything to be entertained. But raise the price of gas a nickel - and all hell breaks loose.

Did I not fucking tell you to buy your tickets a couple days ago?

No whining about it now!

[S2M]

I find it hilarious that all the 5-star VIP packages on ILAA are sold out at $350.00 a piece. In this economy? Just goes to show that we'll pay anything to be entertained. But raise the price of gas a nickel - and all hell breaks loose.

Did I not fucking tell you to buy your tickets a couple days ago?

No whining about it now!

Maybe we can get Rudy Wells, and Oscar Goldman to do some work on SP? They have the technology.

[Intell]

ok, better question. Apparently, it's a great album. Do you think it will appeal to the casual Journey fanbase? ie....will it sell?

I hope so. I really hope so. I can't imagine any regular fan of the band not loving this. Might frighten a few off though!

Just want to say thanks for posting all this info on Eclipse and as long as the lyrics aren't vulgar (which I would HIGHLY doubt) and not some weird spiritual "guruish" mantra, I AM IN!!!! Bring it on!!!

I may have just opened up the door for a beating now with my guruish comment. We shall see.