ECL1P53 will be out on the shelves on the 23rd :)

[Rip Rokken]

So tell us, which disc sounds the best?

Out of the 17? Well, I'm just popping the first one in now. Sounds great!!!

I definitely owe credit once again to JRNYMAN -- this is two releases in a row that he's provided extremely helpful info about the Wal Mart stocking process, and I was ready to use it if needed. I actually re-reviewed his post from the other thread before I entered the 2nd store, but I got lucky there -- two younger guys in that department, and one was the shift manager. All I did was tell him I came for the new Journey CD, that I knew they were in the back in the Anderson shippers, and that I wanted 20 of them. They both went back, and I got a huge smile when I saw them walking back with a handful. Turned out they only had 17 on-hand, and I cleaned them out. Now, tomorrow I'll take that receipt back to the first store and don't think I'll have any problems convincing them to sell theirs.

If this helps anyone get theirs, here is a summary of some of JRNYMAN's facts. I'm sure there will be some variance by store and management style, but generally...

1) They DO have the CDs in the back (assuming that particular store will be selling them). They are in Anderson shippers, slated to be put out this Monday.

2) They CAN sell them now (and apparently without penalty). They employees may not know that, but it's apparently true. The first store told me the SKU's wouldn't even be active in the system until the release date, but once again, I had no problems. Same happened when I found a few SONIC BOOMs a week before release date. Took them up front and they scanned just fine.

[steveo777]

So tell us, which disc sounds the best?

Out of the 17? Well, I'm just popping the first one in now. Sounds great!!!

I definitely owe credit once again to JRNYMAN -- this is two releases in a row that he's provided extremely helpful info about the Wal Mart stocking process, and I was ready to use it if needed. I actually re-reviewed his post from the other thread before I entered the 2nd store, but I got lucky there -- two younger guys in that department, and one was the shift manager. All I did was tell him I came for the new Journey CD, that I knew they were in the back in the Anderson shippers, and that I wanted 20 of them. They both went back, and I got a huge smile when I saw them walking back with a handful. Turned out they only had 17 on-hand, and I cleaned them out. Now, tomorrow I'll take that receipt back to the first store and don't think I'll have any problems convincing them to sell theirs.

If this helps anyone get theirs, here is a summary of some of JRNYMAN's facts. I'm sure there will be some variance by store and management style, but generally...

1) They DO have the CDs in the back (assuming that particular store will be selling them). They are in Anderson shippers, slated to be put out this Monday.

2) They CAN sell them now (and apparently without penalty). They employees may not know that, but it's apparently true. The first store told me the SKU's wouldn't even be active in the system until the release date, but once again, I had no problems. Same happened when I found a few SONIC BOOMs a week before release date. Took them up front and they scanned just fine.

See, unless I lived on a cattle ranch with nobody around for miles and miles I could not put that disc in this time of night.
I'd have to crank it up...and, well, that might get me kicked out of the neighborhood association. Fuck em, if I had it
I'd blast it.

[Rip Rokken]

See, unless I lived on a cattle ranch with nobody around for miles and miles I could not put that disc in this time of night.
I'd have to crank it up...and, well, that might get me kicked out of the neighborhood association. Fuck em, if I had it
I'd blast it.

I HIGHLY recommend cranking it... Not joking, I think it's absolutely best enjoyed played very loud.

[E5C4P3 4 U]

I'm happy for you RIP. No luck at 3 stores today for me.

[koberry]

I'll TRY and refrain from a renewed scrutiny of the product until I have the CD, as opposed to the digital promo I was able to listen to already. I don't think the sonic upgrade will change much for me though. I think the good songs will still be good, the ones that suck will still suck and the lyrics will be..... what they are.

Can't be any worse than the new Night Ranger song I just listened to. Someone here recently said it best when they noted that Journey has never been Shakespeare...

[VirgilTheart]

I'll TRY and refrain from a renewed scrutiny of the product until I have the CD, as opposed to the digital promo I was able to listen to already. I don't think the sonic upgrade will change much for me though. I think the good songs will still be good, the ones that suck will still suck and the lyrics will be..... what they are.

Can't be any worse than the new Night Ranger song I just listened to. Someone here recently said it best when they noted that Journey has never been Shakespeare...

Not to mention that there's far worse lyrics out there than what Journey's penned down over the years. Even if the band is trying (and most likely failing) to be Neal Peart this time around, I'd much rather that than any lyrics Sam Totman's inevitably penned down in a drunken stupor for the upcoming DragonForce album.

[Glenn]

At wal-mart now...found Anderson employee....he's just handed it to me...Thanks Rip!

[Rip Rokken]

At wal-mart now...found Anderson employee....he's just handed it to me...Thanks Rip!

That rocks!!!! CRANK IT UP!!!

[Majestic]

That's awesome, Rip! Sounds like the album rocks! I live in Norway these days, and Walmart doesn't even ship overseas, so I'm so jealous of you! Looking forward to your in depth review, you still have time to beat Andrew to it.

[Glenn]

At wal-mart now...found Anderson employee....he's just handed it to me...Thanks Rip!

That rocks!!!! CRANK IT UP!!!

Followed instructions as I had them pulled up on my iPhone....the woman in the department was "not going to mess with the Anderson stuff". Then she found me the Anderson employee that happened to be there. He went right back a got it for me.

Cranking it up as we speak!

[Rip Rokken]

That's awesome, Rip! Sounds like the album rocks! I live in Norway these days, and Walmart doesn't even ship overseas, so I'm so jealous of you! Looking forward to your in depth review, you still have time to beat Andrew to it.

Were you able to order from Frontiers?

[Majestic]

That's awesome, Rip! Sounds like the album rocks! I live in Norway these days, and Walmart doesn't even ship overseas, so I'm so jealous of you! Looking forward to your in depth review, you still have time to beat Andrew to it.

Were you able to order from Frontiers?

I sure hope! I didn't look into it yet, since their release date is still a bit off. Just found out I couldn't order from Wal-mart a couple days ago. How are you liking it so far? Better than expected?

[NoMoreTails]

Good for you guys....Is Walmart going to promote this as we'd hoped and been led to believe? Does 17 copies sound like a big prominent display?

[Rip Rokken]

Followed instructions as I had them pulled up on my iPhone....the woman in the department was "not going to mess with the Anderson stuff". Then she found me the Anderson employee that happened to be there. He went right back a got it for me.

Cranking it up as we speak!

Love it... and hope it gets easier for some people now. Finding the right employee seems to be the trick, and I always have my iPhone on-hand too. I also had JRNYMAN's MR thread pulled up in another browser window just in case, and I bet if people show photos of the receipts to prove it's being sold now, it will only help.

I DID NOT mention the release date at either store. I only mentioned that I was there for the new Journey CD and couldn't find it on the shelves, but had called HQ and was assured they had them in the back waiting to be put out. That should be enough to get someone to check and verify if they have them. But the shippers are dated, and then it's just a matter of convincing them to sell them. Hopefully that should be easier now. I think it would be awesome if more stores were cleaned out of the discs before they even had a chance to put them out.

[Rip Rokken]

That's awesome, Rip! Sounds like the album rocks! I live in Norway these days, and Walmart doesn't even ship overseas, so I'm so jealous of you! Looking forward to your in depth review, you still have time to beat Andrew to it.

Were you able to order from Frontiers?

I sure hope! I didn't look into it yet, since their release date is still a bit off. Just found out I couldn't order from Wal-mart a couple days ago. How are you liking it so far? Better than expected?

I don't know Frontiers' release date, but just tried to view their website and it was completely down, like their domain had expired.

www.frontiers.it

If anyone has different luck, let me know. When is it supposed to be released anyway? Love the disc, btw!!!

[Rip Rokken]

Good for you guys....Is Walmart going to promote this as we'd hoped and been led to believe? Does 17 copies sound like a big prominent display?

I didn't get the impression from talking to Anderson at HQ yesterday that there would be much in the way of promotional material (posters, displays, etc.). That could vary by store, and they may have video looping over the TVs like they've done in the past. No, 17 for a store this size didn't seem like much at all -- it's a brand new Super Wal-Mart, and is as big as they get.

[Glenn]

Good for you guys....Is Walmart going to promote this as we'd hoped and been led to believe? Does 17 copies sound like a big prominent display?

I didn't get the impression from talking to Anderson at HQ yesterday that there would be much in the way of promotional material (posters, displays, etc.). That could vary by store, and they may have video looping over the TVs like they've done in the past. No, 17 for a store this size didn't seem like much at all -- it's a brand new Super Wal-Mart, and is as big as they get.

They base it on the demographics of the area.


So far so great....Didn't really like the Radio Edit of COH...Like the cd version a lot more due to the extra guitars.

[Rip Rokken]

So far so great....Didn't really like the Radio Edit of COH...Like the cd version a lot more due to the extra guitars.

Hmm... I haven't heard the radio edit, but it doesn't surprise me it would be gutted and de-nutted. When I think of radio edits, the cheezified version of Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" always comes to mind. Much less guitar, and rinky-dink keys added. Always made me picture some pink-collar lady in an office humming along with it while she's working.

[Glenn]

So far so great....Didn't really like the Radio Edit of COH...Like the cd version a lot more due to the extra guitars.

Hmm... I haven't heard the radio edit, but it doesn't surprise me it would be gutted and de-nutted. When I think of radio edits, the cheezified version of Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" always comes to mind. Much less guitar, and rinky-dink keys added. Always made me picture some pink-collar lady in an office humming along with it while she's working.

Radio edits suck.




What do you think so far? Anything really stand out compared to what you heard live ?

Edge and Resonate are my favs so far

[Rip Rokken]

What do you think so far? Anything really stand out compared to what you heard live ?

Edge and Resonate are my favs so far

We must think alike -- those are my favorite 2 also, followed by "Chain of Love" and "Human Feel". I do think they chose the strongest tracks to play live.

[S2M]

Best song on the disc is She's A Mystery....

[Behshad]

How soon will you "rip" one into TheBay

[Behshad]

Best song on the disc is She's A Mystery....

You mean out of the 5 tracks you've heard so far

[Saint John]

I have an employee looking for it now. Will update in a few.

[Don]

Best song on the disc is She's A Mystery....

I believe I said the same thing two weeks ago. Let me state again though that it's the music that takes it over the top, not the lyrical content, which actually comes off as a little repetitious. The payoff is brilliant though, Neal shines bright.

Actually, the whole album follows this blueprint. Mediocre lyrics saved by Neal just tearing it up. Definitely not for everyone but if you are an Axe fan, this is your disc. Also, while very understated, Cain proves he's a team player to the max on this release. I do have to give him props for that.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I have an employee looking for it now. Will update in a few.

Good luck. Clerk in the music dept. at my Wmart laid down the law and said "we never sell merchandise early." Fucking asshole. I thought about telling him that I personally know Rip Rokken, but decided to get in my car and leave.

[Saint John]

Fail. They didnt have it in yet.

[S2M]

Best song on the disc is She's A Mystery....

You mean out of the 5 tracks you've heard so far

I've heard 6 full songs out of the 12; last monday.

[Don]

My top three still stand, though after repeated listens 'She's A Mystery' isn't quite the favorite I initially proclaimed. The stanza is the main fault with that track but as I said earlier, Neal pulls it out of the fire big time.


Chain Of Love
Someone
She's A Mystery

[S2M]

My top three still stand, though after repeated listens 'She's A Mystery' isn't quite the favorite I initially proclaimed. The stanza is the main fault with that track but as I said earlier, Neal pulls it out of the fire big time.


Chain Of Love
Someone
She's A Mystery

It IS a bit repetitive....I just like the laid back feeling of it....then all hell breaks loose....