The Auditorium - Eclipe Album Review

[Don]

Christian Rock, Buddhist rock; is there really any difference??


http://theauditorium.blogspot.com/2011/ ... lipse.html

It would be fair to say that Journey have experienced something of a revival in recent years. Don't Stop Believin' has been omnipresent over the last year or two thanks both to its reworking by the cast of Glee and its general radio airplay.

Considering Don't Stop Believin' was thirty years go, not much has changed for Journey based on the evidence of their brand new album, Eclipse. It's exactly as you imagine it might be, if not more overblown and air guitar-y then you might expect. It's a collection of soaring power ballads and American soft rock that sounds like any other Boston/Chicago/REO Speedwagon record ever made. I mean, you only have to look at the song titles to get an indication of the content: City of Hope, Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love - I could go on.

With screaming guitar solos at every turn and anthemic 'lighter in the air' choruses all you have to do is close your eyes to imagine a lank haired guitarist on his knees with his face contorted as he pulls off yet another riff. Sadly, however, Eclipse just isn't very good. If someone had told you that this album was recorded in 1978 you wouldn't have batted an eyelid (except, maybe for the fact that original vocalist Steve Perry is long gone).

It's music for a bygone era and whilst it's entertaining enough, it's just far too earnest (the wife thought it was Christian rock, for heaven's sake) to be taken terribly seriously.

[steveo777]

You call that a review?

[Don]

You call that a review?

It was more detailed than the one from Rolling Stone. It was a British blog and judging by how quickly Eclipse is rolling down the UK chart (despite the Band touring over there) probably is a view shared by many.

[WykkedSensation]

Whoops...Another bad one.

[Quote]...''Eclipse just isn't very good''

[Don]

Whoops...Another bad one.

...''Eclipse just isn't very good''

I've posted a few good ones and a few bad ones. Just keeping things balanced.

[youkeepmewaiting]

I don't mind people not liking the album but I don't like it when people don't like it for reasons that make no sense

[youkeepmewaiting]

He uses song titles to back his point up... Maybe if he actually listened to chain of love...

[steveo777]

He uses song titles to back his point up... Maybe if he actually listened to chain of love...

I can normally discern the difference between someone who has listened to the album all the way though and just
doesn't like it, from a hater. Some of these reviews are nothing less than hate spewing.

[Ehwmatt]

I'm no Eclipse shill or huge detractor, but it certainly doesn't sound much like Boston, REO, or CHICAGO(?!) at all. These guys have no clue and no credibility.

[parfait]

I'm no Eclipse shill or huge detractor, but it certainly doesn't sound much like Boston, REO, or CHICAGO(?!) at all. These guys have no clue and no credibility.

Boston is great. They're Journey ca. 1978 on steroids.

[Rick]

I'm no Eclipse shill or huge detractor, but it certainly doesn't sound much like Boston, REO, or CHICAGO(?!) at all. These guys have no clue and no credibility.

Boston is great. They're Journey ca. 1978 on steroids.

This we agree on. Otherwise, as to talent, Journey mops their floor.

[Don]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

[jestor92]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

There is one thing they dont have in common. Boston's debut had great songs.

[brywool]

Christian Rock, Buddhist rock; is there really any difference??


http://theauditorium.blogspot.com/2011/ ... lipse.html

It would be fair to say that Journey have experienced something of a revival in recent years. Don't Stop Believin' has been omnipresent over the last year or two thanks both to its reworking by the cast of Glee and its general radio airplay.

Considering Don't Stop Believin' was thirty years go, not much has changed for Journey based on the evidence of their brand new album, Eclipse. It's exactly as you imagine it might be, if not more overblown and air guitar-y then you might expect. It's a collection of soaring power ballads and American soft rock that sounds like any other Boston/Chicago/REO Speedwagon record ever made. I mean, you only have to look at the song titles to get an indication of the content: City of Hope, Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love - I could go on.

With screaming guitar solos at every turn and anthemic 'lighter in the air' choruses all you have to do is close your eyes to imagine a lank haired guitarist on his knees with his face contorted as he pulls off yet another riff. Sadly, however, Eclipse just isn't very good. If someone had told you that this album was recorded in 1978 you wouldn't have batted an eyelid (except, maybe for the fact that original vocalist Steve Perry is long gone).

It's music for a bygone era and whilst it's entertaining enough, it's just far too earnest (the wife thought it was Christian rock, for heaven's sake) to be taken terribly seriously.

yeah... earnest music should not be taken seriously. Douche
We need to go back to the nineties where every song was depressing as hell...

[conversationpc]

Christian Rock, Buddhist rock; is there really any difference??


http://theauditorium.blogspot.com/2011/ ... lipse.html

It would be fair to say that Journey have experienced something of a revival in recent years. Don't Stop Believin' has been omnipresent over the last year or two thanks both to its reworking by the cast of Glee and its general radio airplay.

Considering Don't Stop Believin' was thirty years go, not much has changed for Journey based on the evidence of their brand new album, Eclipse. It's exactly as you imagine it might be, if not more overblown and air guitar-y then you might expect. It's a collection of soaring power ballads and American soft rock that sounds like any other Boston/Chicago/REO Speedwagon record ever made. I mean, you only have to look at the song titles to get an indication of the content: City of Hope, Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love - I could go on.

With screaming guitar solos at every turn and anthemic 'lighter in the air' choruses all you have to do is close your eyes to imagine a lank haired guitarist on his knees with his face contorted as he pulls off yet another riff. Sadly, however, Eclipse just isn't very good. If someone had told you that this album was recorded in 1978 you wouldn't have batted an eyelid (except, maybe for the fact that original vocalist Steve Perry is long gone).

It's music for a bygone era and whilst it's entertaining enough, it's just far too earnest (the wife thought it was Christian rock, for heaven's sake) to be taken terribly seriously.

If this dude's wife thought it was Christian rock then she obviously has no idea what Christianity is or maybe even what rock is, for that matter.

[yulog]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

Thats like saying a 60 yr old woman and a 20 yr woman are hot because they both have breasts and a vagina

[Gideon]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

Thats like saying a 60 yr old woman and a 20 yr woman are hot because they both have breasts and a vagina

The ironic thing here being that Eclipse is younger.

[portland]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

Thats like saying a 60 yr old woman and a 20 yr woman are hot because they both have breasts and a vagina

The ironic thing here being that Eclipse is younger.

Yeah but Boston was better.

[Gideon]

Yeah but Boston was better.

Perry wasn't in Boston, Porty.

[portland]

Yeah but Boston was better.

Perry wasn't in Boston, Porty.

It does not matter...Boston was really good in the day...you were 2 I think?

[Gideon]

It does not matter...

Sheesh, would you make up your mind?

[Ehwmatt]

I'm no Eclipse shill or huge detractor, but it certainly doesn't sound much like Boston, REO, or CHICAGO(?!) at all. These guys have no clue and no credibility.

Boston is great. They're Journey ca. 1978 on steroids.

I love all three of those bands. But Eclipse doesn't sound like any of them from any era.

[koberry]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

There is one thing they dont have in common. Boston's debut had great songs.

Well... that's quite true. But a bit unfair to compare a true classic album with 30 years of airplay that has ingrained it in our heads to Eclipse. Even though my review of it would be near Andrew's...

[Majestic]

Considering Don't Stop Believin' was thirty years go, not much has changed for Journey based on the evidence of their brand new album, Eclipse. It's exactly as you imagine it might be, if not more overblown and air guitar-y then you might expect. It's a collection of soaring power ballads and American soft rock that sounds like any other Boston/Chicago/REO Speedwagon record ever made. I mean, you only have to look at the song titles to get an indication of the content: City of Hope, Edge of the Moment, Chain of Love - I could go on.

So by looking at the titles, I can get the indication of the kind of record Eclipse is? A collection of soaring power ballads and American soft rock such as Edge of the Moment, and Chain of Love?

Methinks this reviewer ought hearest the album before criticizing it. Good grief.

[Glenn]

If you think about it, Boston's debut album and Eclipse have a lot in common. High tenor vocals with endless guitar solos.

Thats like saying a 60 yr old woman and a 20 yr woman are hot because they both have breasts and a vagina

The ironic thing here being that Eclipse is younger.

Yeah but Boston was better.

Most of Boston's songs sounded the same....There is a reason for the HUGE drop off from album 1 to album 2. Brad enjoyed is cover band Beetlejuice than he did doing Boston.

Bostons signature sound is a bit to signature for their own good.