Didn't know the History of "Lights" changed ???

[Eric]

I bet Neil didn't step up to the mic and claim to write those 2 shit songs off Eclipse that nobody in the audience wanted to hear. Hell, he might as well blamed Perry for writing those to make himself look better.

You consider this a shit song? Really?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9kNIVDmXHc

May be okay as a bonus track off of Revelation or something , but nothing that I'd ever care to hear again.
A few months ago my older brother (who was a bigger journey fan than me) said he'd just listened to Eclipse on Spotify asked me, "How could Journey put out an album and not have 1 good song on it?" Just nothing on there I care to hear again. Other bands Night Ranger, Loverboy, Reo (even w/o Richrath). All their latest stuff at least has stuff that pulls you back in for another listen. In contrast, I remember watching the BTM when it first aired and hearing Perry talk, then hearing Augeri doing the new Arrival stuff and being excited as hell for the new journey. Now it's just gone completely off the rails for me.

"Anything is possible" and "Edge of the Moment" are as good as anything since Frontiers. Album showed creativity and pride.

[The_Noble_Cause]

May be okay as a bonus track off of Revelation or something , but nothing that I'd ever care to hear again.
A few months ago my older brother (who was a bigger journey fan than me) said he'd just listened to Eclipse on Spotify asked me, "How could Journey put out an album and not have 1 good song on it?" Just nothing on there I care to hear again.

So not to split hairs...but just how hardcore and dedicated a Journey fan can your brother really be when he is just now getting around to listening to Eclipse? The cd came out 3 years ago. At the very least, throw down a ten spot at Walmart instead of streaming it on Spotify. While less commercial than Revelation or Arrival, Eclipse has a handful of commercial hooky tracks. "Someone" and "Anything Is Possible" is about as slick and pop-rock as the band has sounded. But hey, different strokes, right? As long as the band isn't phoning it in with an inconsistent mess like Generations, where the band clearly didn't have their heart in the game.

[The_Noble_Cause]

"Anything is possible" and "Edge of the Moment" are as good as anything since Frontiers. Album showed creativity and pride.

I'm with you, man.

[RedWingFan]

May be okay as a bonus track off of Revelation or something , but nothing that I'd ever care to hear again.
A few months ago my older brother (who was a bigger journey fan than me) said he'd just listened to Eclipse on Spotify asked me, "How could Journey put out an album and not have 1 good song on it?" Just nothing on there I care to hear again.

So not to split hairs...but just how hardcore and dedicated a Journey fan can your brother really be when he is just now getting around to listening to Eclipse.

I said, "He was. He had the 3 pre-Perry lp's thru ROR. Gave him copies of everything since which he liked, especially Revelation.

[annie89509]

This one maybe the closest to what the author heard or didn't hear
at SLC.
Listen and make your own decision...

Journey Lights Live Blossom July 8 2014

http://youtu.be/BZIkcMT0BMU

Well, even thought he whole LA/SF thing is petty to even mention in this case, this interpretation changes the whole thing. I guess I can go to the show after all.

There's a yt interview of Neal talking about Lights where he spoke in similar detail. Writing in GR's music room basement with "him" (never mentioned SP's name), so made it seem like he wrote the song with Gregg. There were comments below the video questioning Neal's statement and motive...setting the record straight... SP, not GR, who wrote Lights with him.

It appears that's just Neal being Neal, not always clear in his use of words. The other yt concerts Tater posted clearly had Neal saying "Steve."
Last link, SLC concert, he appears to say "dear friend" without mentioning SP's name (just like the yt interview of few years back). Then, you've got him saying writing the song in Gregg's basement so, naturally, the reviewer miscontrued.

I don't think Neal meant to slight.

[Onestepper]

Well it may be Neal being Neal, but they are saying it during every single show this summer. Which just gives more credence to the fact that it's all now just one big script.

That was one thing I noticed about the show in St Louis. There seemed to be zero spontaneity (with the exception of Arnel occasionally wearing a St Louis Cardinals hat from time to time during the show). It was all pretty boxed in. And yes, I realize hundreds of bands do the same thing, it was just something I noticed after seeing some clips from other shows they've done this summer.

[jrnyman28]

Onestepper, I got that same feeling during Jon's "Faithfully" intro....complete script.

As for "Lights", Neal simply said that it was about San Francisco. Nothing about who wrote it.

[jrnyman28]

As long as the band isn't phoning it in with an inconsistent mess like Generations, where the band clearly didn't have their heart in the game.

Sorry, but I think "Eclipse" is equally an inconsistent mess. Neal had his heart in it but clearly Jon did not. Although true that no one seemed to have their hearts in "Generations". Still, "Eclipse" is full of good songs ruined by poor choruses and vice versa. Great playing marred occasionally by lack of restraint. Good Subjects With Hokey lyrics. Etc.

I was so excited at the prospect of Neal's rock album. But (maybe) Jon sorta sabotaged it.

[SF-Dano]

I was so excited at the prospect of Neal's rock album. But (maybe) Jon sorta sabotaged it.

Too bad the Jon Cain that liked to rock from back in the frontiers and beyond days is gone. Now we have Friga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTKIJVijmpk

[The_Noble_Cause]

Sorry, but I think "Eclipse" is equally an inconsistent mess. Neal had his heart in it but clearly Jon did not. Although true that no one seemed to have their hearts in "Generations". Still, "Eclipse" is full of good songs ruined by poor choruses and vice versa. Great playing marred occasionally by lack of restraint...

From everything I have read, Jon is very proud of Eclipse from a lyrical stand-point. The central theme of the concept album was HIS idea (of the universe being one inter-connected web of energy blah blah).

As for Generations....there is simply no comparison between the two. Not even close. Neal's focus during the Gens. sessions was on SoulSirkus. He was drinking heavy and even Augeri admitted that Neal was bored. And it shows in the final product. Generations is a beggar's chowder comprised of Augeri solo tunes, Cain solo tunes, a cover of "Self Defense", Ross doing a ZZ Top wannabe tune, and some precious few Journeyish nuggets sprinkled among the thin unsatisfying watery gruel. Eclipse, thematically and musically, is very focused. You may not agree with the choice to have the guitar upfront, but it is not a half-assed effort. The band, Neal especially, brought their A-game, after the good but formulaic and derivative Revelation.

Subjects With Hokey lyrics. Etc.

As if the lyrics on Generations were any better? In "Knowing That You Love Me", Cain is talking about cradling his wife in his arms when she was a naked little baby. As other fans mentioned, I don't know what metaphor he was going with, but the image is just downright creepy. At least in Eclipse, Cain tried to stretch his chops and write about something beyond the usual boy meets girl subject matter. Tackling PTSD and the toll of war on soldiers in "Out of Harms Way" on Generations was good and ballsy, I'll give u that tho. In fact, that harder-edged, guitar-driven song would've fit right at home on Eclipse.

[ScarabFan]

I was at the SLC show and can confirm that Neal said he wrote Lights with a "dear old friend. We were in Gregg Rolie's basement." So no, Neal isn't trying rewrite history. He just doesn't want to say Perry's name.

[tater1977]

And the ''controversy' continues. Didn''t know it was still ongoing.


Journey - Lights - Toledo 2014

http://youtu.be/c5bL1KfCfGc


Published on Sep 8, 2014

[Memorex]

And the ''controversy' continues. Didn''t know it was still ongoing.


Journey - Lights - Toledo 2014

http://youtu.be/c5bL1KfCfGc


Published on Sep 8, 2014

Kind of the same when I saw them last week. Refers to Steve as "Dear old singer". I think both are right. The song as fans know it is about SF and it's a proud SF tradition, but it was originally started by Steve as a song about LA. I bet exactly 3 people in that crowd give a shit. Maybe for a SF crowd it might matter, but otherwise no one cares.

[tater1977]

And the ''controversy' continues. Didn''t know it was still ongoing.


Journey - Lights - Toledo 2014

http://youtu.be/c5bL1KfCfGc


Published on Sep 8, 2014

Kind of the same when I saw them last week. Refers to Steve as "Dear old singer". I think both are right. The song as fans know it is about SF and it's a proud SF tradition, but it was originally started by Steve as a song about LA. I bet exactly 3 people in that crowd give a shit. Maybe for a SF crowd it might matter, but otherwise no one cares.

So would that make Neal a 'dear old geeeeetar player' ...

[nylady]

At least this time he actually said Steve Perry's name, and didn't get struck by lightning, or have any other catastrophe befall him. I guess that's progress of a sort. I was beginning to think the "dear old friend" line was the equivalent of "He Who Shall Not Be Named".

Have to agree with Memorex, there might have been as many as 3 folks in Toledo that actually care. Hard to believe this is still getting addressed.

[tater1977]

At least this time he actually said Steve Perry's name, and didn't get struck by lightning, or have any other catastrophe befall him. I guess that's progress of a sort. I was beginning to think the "dear old friend" line was the equivalent of "He Who Shall Not Be Named".

Have to agree with Memorex, there might have been as many as 3 folks in Toledo that actually care. Hard to believe this is still getting addressed.

Would have been 4, but they had to make a beer run.

[nylady]

Dang, I forgot to count that guy, okay 4 folks.

[Art Vandelay]

Hard to believe that this is still going on. It was nothing more than a fun little behind the music/storyteller's moment shared by Perry months ago. Now it's still a bittersweet part of Journey's show.