Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock Review of Steve Perry's New CD

[tater1977]

Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock Review of Steve Perry's New CD, Trax by Trax

Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock
https://twitter.com/MelodicRock

In roughly a half hour from now, I’m going to live tweet my very first playback of @StevePerryMusic upcoming “Traces” album.
Right here...track by track as it plays (no audio previews), just my thoughts in text. Can’t wait to play it!


Ok, so I've got a secure audio stream of the new @StevePerryMusic from Universal and I'm taking in the lead track and first single 'No Erasin'. I'm still digging on this song big time.... simple but not...immediately memorable and how good is it to hear this voice again?

So we've all heard the song.....what's next is THE question! 'We're Still Here' is the second track, written with Brian West. It's a ballad as expected... #tracesfirstlisten


'We're Still Here' is a very smooth, moody ballad with a more direct and unfiltered lead vocal. The chorus isn't big, but it's cool. Laid back and textured with modern production effects. Steve sounds great. Soul harmonies pop up here and there. #tracesfirstlisten

'Most Of All' is another very sparse, soft and smooth ballad, this time lead primarily by Steve's voice and a grand piano. The chorus lifts tempo slightly as does Steve's voice. I'm guessing this is going to take some time to get to know.

Most Of All' is a very smooth track and not unlike Strange Medicine's slower moments, a nice guitar solo and plenty of soul. #tracesfirstlisten

'No More Cryin' is another ballad, but at least all 3 so far have had a different style. This one is more bluesy with a touch of Mowtown to it. The chorus lifts & has some modern styled guitar riffing. Co-written with Dan Wilson, this is going to be a highlight #tracesfirstlisten

Track 5 'In The Rain' is written by Steve & David Spreng. It has started off as another slow piano ballad, with a warm, soulful vocal and here comes some orchestration. It is very sparse....almost no percussion, just piano and vocal. Some great vocals here... #tracesfirstlisten

'Sun Shines Grey' is co-written with John 5 and producer Thom Flowers. We've hit an uptempo one folks! Here we go.... #tracesfirstlisten

'Sun Shines Grey' reminds me a little of Journey's Trial By Fire sound: almost a Can't Tame The Lion vibe. But modernized and I could imagine @NealSchonMusic playing on this. John 5 is delivering a cool solo right now and can be heard throughout, understated. #tracesfirstlisten

'You Belong To Me' is another slow, soft piano ballad with some more string orchestration in place and of course, an ultra smooth and soulful vocal. There's some rasp in that voice and yes, it's aged, but still classic Perry nuances.

'Easy To Love' is yes, another ballad....a little different this time. Percussion and some organ accompanies another slow, steady vocal. The chorus jumps in tempo with some classic Perry soul harmonies. This is definitely another familiar vibe ballad. #tracesfirstlisten

'I Need You' is a cover of the Beatles tune, a mere 2.59 in length, this ballad features the most familiar Perry vocal sound yet! Soft, slow, soulful....its the theme of the record. #tracesfirstlisten

Closing out the standard edition of this album 'We Fly' is...wait for it...wait...a ballad! The first minute features only Steve's vocal. Talk about putting yourself out there! An intense song that builds as it goes with atmospheric keyboards in the background. #tracesfirstlisten

Well folks, that's that! Obviously one cannot ever pass judgment on a record after just one listen, so stay tuned for my full, detailed review in a week or so. Much more listening to do. #tracesfirstlisten

Upfront I'll say that it sounds great, but very very slow...all but 2 are ballads...and overall the tempo and the soulfulness of the songs clearly makes this a mood album. Perfect for when the situation calls for it, but not for all situations. Hope you enjoyed #tracesfirstlisten


Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock

Thank You @StevePerryMusic for coming back to share your voice with us fans #steveperry #traces

[tater1977]

Wonder if someone's observation video today/tomorrow will be based on
Andrew's review... hmmm

[MotherCitay]

Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock
https://twitter.com/MelodicRock

Upfront I'll say that it sounds great, but very very slow...all but 2 are ballads...and overall the tempo and the soulfulness of the songs clearly makes this a mood album. Perfect for when the situation calls for it, but not for all situations

.

Thank you Andrew, wow wish I was you to have heard it all.

When you say "mood album" I think Adele and as much as I love her soulfulness, I really can only listen to her for a few days a year before I start feeling too down.

With Perry though, when I have felt down just hearing his voice has picked me up. Ballad .... rock ... the same effect.

This is just the start of Steve's return to music. He clearly wanted to work through the traces of his life that have touched him deeply. The next album will have a "happier" tempo.

[Greg]

I'm not surprised that it would be a ballad heavy album. I'm not putting it down, I just figured ballads probably convey his message a little better than heavy rockers. I hope the five additional songs will be at least mid-tempo.

[Sighlence]

We knew it wasn't going to be a "rocker". I'll reserve judgement for my own ears of course. After a 22 year hiatus, 15 new songs from Steve Perry is more than welcome. Thank you for the review.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Reminder - the Target version has several extra tracks (already pre-ordered mine). Some of those could be uptempo!

[Greg]

We knew it wasn't going to be a "rocker". I'll reserve judgement for my own ears of course. After a 22 year hiatus, 15 new songs from Steve Perry is more than welcome. Thank you for the review.

Oh, I'm not complaining. Perry could've made an album singing the TV Guide and I'd buy it. I'll take an album of ballads over no album any day of the week. I am curious about the additional songs.

[Sighlence]

We knew it wasn't going to be a "rocker". I'll reserve judgement for my own ears of course. After a 22 year hiatus, 15 new songs from Steve Perry is more than welcome. Thank you for the review.

Oh, I'm not complaining. Perry could've made an album singing the TV Guide and I'd buy it. I'll take an album of ballads over no album any day of the week. I am curious about the additional songs.

Yeah, nothing i said was directed at you or anyone else. His comments about it being "Cathartic" pretty much sealed the deal on what kind of Album we were gonna get. It's Steve m************ Perry though, and he's still got it. Good times!

[Greg]

We knew it wasn't going to be a "rocker". I'll reserve judgement for my own ears of course. After a 22 year hiatus, 15 new songs from Steve Perry is more than welcome. Thank you for the review.

Oh, I'm not complaining. Perry could've made an album singing the TV Guide and I'd buy it. I'll take an album of ballads over no album any day of the week. I am curious about the additional songs.

Yeah, nothing i said was directed at you or anyone else. His comments about it being "Cathartic" pretty much sealed the deal on what kind of Album we were gonna get. It's Steve m************ Perry though, and he's still got it. Good times!

Yep! It's still hard to believe that we're all talking about an actual new album by the man! Pretty much all of us had written any hope off. As weird as it sounds, it's actually gotten me to listen to Street Talk more for some reason.

[Sighlence]

Yep! It's still hard to believe that we're all talking about an actual new album by the man! Pretty much all of us had written any hope off. As weird as it sounds, it's actually gotten me to listen to Street Talk more for some reason.

Yeah, whenever i am running No Erasin' thru my head You Should Be Happy seems to creep into the loop for whatever reason. I have been listening to the WHOLE gamut in my garage while working on my truck.

[Greg]

Yep! It's still hard to believe that we're all talking about an actual new album by the man! Pretty much all of us had written any hope off. As weird as it sounds, it's actually gotten me to listen to Street Talk more for some reason.

Yeah, whenever i am running No Erasin' thru my head You Should Be Happy seems to creep into the loop for whatever reason. I have been listening to the WHOLE gamut in my garage while working on my truck.

It's a great album. I'll admit that it used to be just for me to listen to Oh Sherrie and Foolish Heart, but the more I made myself listen to the whole album, I realized that I have at least five favorite songs on that album. Sherrie, Foolish, Captured, Strung Out, and Running Alone. Back in the 80's, if an album had five songs I considered "hits", then that album is simple amazing. Why? Because albums back then usually just had about 10 songs on them. So, if half the album had singles released, then you know that album was simply amazing.

[jrny84]

Yep! It's still hard to believe that we're all talking about an actual new album by the man! Pretty much all of us had written any hope off. As weird as it sounds, it's actually gotten me to listen to Street Talk more for some reason.

Yeah, whenever i am running No Erasin' thru my head You Should Be Happy seems to creep into the loop for whatever reason. I have been listening to the WHOLE gamut in my garage while working on my truck.

It's a great album. I'll admit that it used to be just for me to listen to Oh Sherrie and Foolish Heart, but the more I made myself listen to the whole album, I realized that I have at least five favorite songs on that album. Sherrie, Foolish, Captured, Strung Out, and Running Alone. Back in the 80's, if an album had five songs I considered "hits", then that album is simple amazing. Why? Because albums back then usually just had about 10 songs on them. So, if half the album had singles released, then you know that album was simply amazing.

I actually went back and listened to "You Better Wait" from For the Love of Strange Medicine. Really digging this song! Forgot about it.

Gotta say the title track off Trial By Fire is a great one too. "If He Should Break Your Heart" should have been a bigger hit.

[scarab]

YEah I get that You should be Happy vibe from No Erasin, YSBH is very underrated.
Its too bad Captured by the moment was never released, what a great song and great tribute.
Perry at his deepest register. I still dont get how "Shes mine" was a top 20 hit. Its a good song but I never hears this on the radio.

You better wait is awesome. The most Journey esque tune by him. A few let downs though, I am, Tuesday Heartache, Donna Please were constant skips, and a couple of the bonus tracks were unlistenable. One More time was nice though, should had made it on the CD.

How Lost Angels, Let go and Home at last never got released still shocks me.

[Sighlence]

I actually went back and listened to "You Better Wait" from For the Love of Strange Medicine. Really digging this song! Forgot about it.

Gotta say the title track off Trial By Fire is a great one too. "If He Should Break Your Heart" should have been a bigger hit.

YBW has been in my rotation for years. I never really gave TBF a fair shake. It was such a depature (no pun intended) from their previous material, and with the way things went down i kind of walked away from the band for awhile. Loved MOL though, and WYLAW was pure Perry.

[scarab]

TBF was too ballad heavy, but some of them were awesome,
this should have been released,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfeZ8wSvuj0

[Rick]

Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock Review of Steve Perry's New CD, Trax by Trax

Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock
https://twitter.com/MelodicRock

In roughly a half hour from now, I’m going to live tweet my very first playback of @StevePerryMusic upcoming “Traces” album.
Right here...track by track as it plays (no audio previews), just my thoughts in text. Can’t wait to play it!


Ok, so I've got a secure audio stream of the new @StevePerryMusic from Universal and I'm taking in the lead track and first single 'No Erasin'. I'm still digging on this song big time.... simple but not...immediately memorable and how good is it to hear this voice again?

So we've all heard the song.....what's next is THE question! 'We're Still Here' is the second track, written with Brian West. It's a ballad as expected... #tracesfirstlisten


'We're Still Here' is a very smooth, moody ballad with a more direct and unfiltered lead vocal. The chorus isn't big, but it's cool. Laid back and textured with modern production effects. Steve sounds great. Soul harmonies pop up here and there. #tracesfirstlisten

'Most Of All' is another very sparse, soft and smooth ballad, this time lead primarily by Steve's voice and a grand piano. The chorus lifts tempo slightly as does Steve's voice. I'm guessing this is going to take some time to get to know.

Most Of All' is a very smooth track and not unlike Strange Medicine's slower moments, a nice guitar solo and plenty of soul. #tracesfirstlisten

'No More Cryin' is another ballad, but at least all 3 so far have had a different style. This one is more bluesy with a touch of Mowtown to it. The chorus lifts & has some modern styled guitar riffing. Co-written with Dan Wilson, this is going to be a highlight #tracesfirstlisten

Track 5 'In The Rain' is written by Steve & David Spreng. It has started off as another slow piano ballad, with a warm, soulful vocal and here comes some orchestration. It is very sparse....almost no percussion, just piano and vocal. Some great vocals here... #tracesfirstlisten

'Sun Shines Grey' is co-written with John 5 and producer Thom Flowers. We've hit an uptempo one folks! Here we go.... #tracesfirstlisten

'Sun Shines Grey' reminds me a little of Journey's Trial By Fire sound: almost a Can't Tame The Lion vibe. But modernized and I could imagine @NealSchonMusic playing on this. John 5 is delivering a cool solo right now and can be heard throughout, understated. #tracesfirstlisten

'You Belong To Me' is another slow, soft piano ballad with some more string orchestration in place and of course, an ultra smooth and soulful vocal. There's some rasp in that voice and yes, it's aged, but still classic Perry nuances.

'Easy To Love' is yes, another ballad....a little different this time. Percussion and some organ accompanies another slow, steady vocal. The chorus jumps in tempo with some classic Perry soul harmonies. This is definitely another familiar vibe ballad. #tracesfirstlisten

'I Need You' is a cover of the Beatles tune, a mere 2.59 in length, this ballad features the most familiar Perry vocal sound yet! Soft, slow, soulful....its the theme of the record. #tracesfirstlisten

Closing out the standard edition of this album 'We Fly' is...wait for it...wait...a ballad! The first minute features only Steve's vocal. Talk about putting yourself out there! An intense song that builds as it goes with atmospheric keyboards in the background. #tracesfirstlisten

Well folks, that's that! Obviously one cannot ever pass judgment on a record after just one listen, so stay tuned for my full, detailed review in a week or so. Much more listening to do. #tracesfirstlisten

Upfront I'll say that it sounds great, but very very slow...all but 2 are ballads...and overall the tempo and the soulfulness of the songs clearly makes this a mood album. Perfect for when the situation calls for it, but not for all situations. Hope you enjoyed #tracesfirstlisten


Andrew McNeice @MelodicRock

Thank You @StevePerryMusic for coming back to share your voice with us fans #steveperry #traces

Thanks for the review, Andrew. I hope all is well with you. It has been a while.

[Andrew]

All good Rick!

The ballads are all really good!

[carleysdad]

Hopefully the rest of the album is better than the first single. In my opinion (and many of my Journey/SP lovin' friends) "No Erasin'" is absolutely dreadful.

[scarab]

Andrew,
In your initial review you said No More Cryin' would be a highlight.
I believe that is next drop in Sept.
Wasnt part of you favs on your last review.
Song not as good on repeated listens?

[Andrew]

It’s differing day to day. All about the mood

[The_Noble_Cause]

H In my opinion (and many of my Journey/SP lovin' friends) "No Erasin'" is absolutely dreadful.

Can't think of a bigger sample pool of Journey/SP fans than right here on MR and most seem to really enjoy it. In my offline social circle, some despise No Erasin- but these people don't own Street Talk, Strange Medicine etc.

[tater1977]

It’s differing day to day. All about the mood

Soooo, what mood are you in today

[yulog]

Hopefully the rest of the album is better than the first single. In my opinion (and many of my Journey/SP lovin' friends) "No Erasin'" is absolutely dreadful.

I couldn't honestly say dreadful, for me its lackluster /forgettable. I've tried re-listening to it hoping it would start to catch on but it just doesn't have any real staying power(the worst part for me is the chorus just sounds hokey).On the other hand at the end of the song some of the harmonizing sounds reminiscent of Perry of old.

[Gideon]

I’m going to preface the following with the fact that my Mom is a long term Journey fan.
She’s a Loon; she thinks Neal’s an ass, Perry’s a saint, and I had to twist her arm for her to see Journey in 2012 with Arnel.

Her favorite Journey song is LTS.

I played this one for her for the first time yesterday and she shut it off after the chorus. Says he still sounds nice, “but I don’t like the song - it sucks.”

[ADALBL]

Love No Erasin'. Have not been able to get it out of my head since it first came out. The energy and the vibe and the emotional response I was looking for from Perry's first song back is 110% of what I was hoping for. I also happen to be a songwriter and do know something about the craft of constructing songs. No Erasin' uses somewhat standard chord changes for sure, BUT... like almost every Steve Perry song, he finds a way to add a few clever surprises that give this song more depth and layers than I think a lot of people understand. The song structure itself is a little different in that he comes back to the bridge (half of it actually) for the outro. He also shifts bass notes across the same chords across the song which gives the song a more satisfying feel. The harmonies during the bridge and the outro are ridiculously good and fresh sounding - no autotune and no quantizing. Very few singers today - even the really good young ones can execute the harmonies in No Erasin without the engineer using autotune and fixing timing mistakes. Lyrically, it may seem cliched but because it also represents his relationship with fans I find myself still finding new meanings in specific lines and words. In short, whether you want to analyze this song based on the craft of songwriting, the quality of execution, the quality of vocals, the musicianship, the sonic quality (engineering) or simply the emotional reaction the song evokes, its pretty much a home run on all fronts for me. It just makes me feel good and I like it more now than I did the first few times I heard it. Oh, and I have played it for a bunch of non-Perry fans who all have said smiled when they heard it and all said "this is good" and many of them are under 20 years old (I have children in that age range so I play for their friends). Let's just enjoy it...

[Gideon]

That was a good read, it’s cool to see what other people have to say.

But as far as your last sentence is concerned, if I don’t like something or parts of something, i’m not just gonna magically change my stance on it because it’s SP. That makes absolutely no sense.

[scarab]

When i first heard the 1 min clip I thought well he can sing at a TBF level still but was indifferent on the song.

I still feel the first verse is a little forced with the CAAAAAAR.... but from there its just a fun feel good song with great harmonies. I would give it 7.5/10 for a PErry solo song.
Hoping the next single No More Cryin will be better.

Wonder what happened to the guy 2/3 years ago swore he did a song with Melissa Etheridge.

[shaneslatts]

When i first heard the 1 min clip I thought well he can sing at a TBF level still but was indifferent on the song.

I still feel the first verse is a little forced with the CAAAAAAR.... but from there its just a fun feel good song with great harmonies. I would give it 7.5/10 for a PErry solo song.
Hoping the next single No More Cryin will be better.

Wonder what happened to the guy 2/3 years ago swore he did a song with Melissa Etheridge.

Played it for people at work on my antique Galaxy S3... who last heard Perry on TBF.
As soon he started singing,their eyebrow arched and they said 'Wow".. he still has it.
Plain as day, not singing in a falseto, but in a full voice.
Amazing for a near 70 year old singer who has done nada for 25 years.
Just amazing.

[hgwy407]

"I still feel the first verse is a little forced with the CAAAAAAR.... but from there its just a fun feel good song with great harmonies. I would give it 7.5/10 for a PErry solo song.
Hoping the next single No More Cryin will be better."

I strongly agree. I'm still having problems getting beyond that line. I too am hoping the rest of the album is better, although I am happy he is back and that so many others are happy with this song, it's long overdue.

[The_Noble_Cause]

"I still feel the first verse is a little forced with the CAAAAAAR.... but from there its just a fun feel good song with great harmonies. I would give it 7.5/10 for a PErry solo song.
Hoping the next single No More Cryin will be better."

I strongly agree. I'm still having problems getting beyond that line. I too am hoping the rest of the album is better, although I am happy he is back and that so many others are happy with this song, it's long overdue.

I've heard complaints from several people about the "caaaar" line. To me, it's classic Perry doing his thing. I love it. Nobody enunciates like SP.