Send "Journey " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Rollingstone |
 If a band sticks around long enough, it turns into a tribute band. For years, Journey have slogged around the oldies circuit with a rotating cast of singers trying to impersonate Steve Perry, who belted out the group's Seventies and Eighties hits. But this double-CD set, which also includes a live DVD, features the most unlikely Perry sound-alike yet: Arnel Pineda, a 40-year-old Filipino who spends an entire disc delivering note-for-note remakes of classics like "Don't Stop Believin'." On the second disc, Journey also pull off a tribute-band coup: some damn good originals. With guitarist Neal Schon in tow, the riff-heavy "Change for the Better" and the ballad "Like a Sunshower" hew to the formula that served the group well back in '81: Start with stately keyboard arpeggios, flavor with guitar heroics, top off with warbling, high-tenor choruses. It's pure schlock, but the craftsmanship is formidable, and there is undeniable pleasure in young-lovers-battling-the-odds arias like "Faith in the Heartland." The message remains the same: Hold on to that feeling....full text |
| Rockeyez |
| The new record is finally upon us! There has been much talk about the band in recent years. From the allegations of using backing vocal tapes in concert, to the vocal problems of Steve Perry replacement Steve Augeri which ultimately lead to the short-lived and somewhat tumultuous tenure of vocalist extraordinaire and solo artist JEFF SCOTT SOTO. Then finally, the way the band found their new singer, Arnel Pineda via youtube.com all the way from the Philippines. At times, it all seemed a little much and of course in the world of the bands rabid fans and on Internet message boards the many varying opinions ensued. I call myself a JOURNEY fan, no doubt, but I never got caught up in the arguments and opinions on the message boards. I thought Augeri brought the band back to respectability after the events of Steve Perry choosing not to tour for the “Trial By Fire” record in the mid 90’s. No one can deny Augeri was a class individual all the way around and he gave the band eight great years and I was disappointed to see him depart. Jeff Scott Soto was brought in mid-tour as a temporary replacement before being made an “official” member with the promise of a new record to be recorded with him. Then before anyone knew, it Soto was gone almost as quickly as he arrived. After a host of fans thought it was time for the band to call it a day, guitarist Neal Schon found Arnel Pineda on the Internet and a new chapter in the long career of JOURNEY was put in place....full text |
| Revelationz |
| Arguably, 'Revelation' is the sound of Journey trying to reinvent the wheel in the sky. As in "Perry broke it and we've been trying to fix it ever since". It's a full blown tilt at turning back time. Dog eared copies of the 'Raised On Radio' and 'Escape' songbooks have clearly been thumbed through vigorously. I will tell you this though: Arnel Pineda is one classy vocalist. My cynical comments about his vocal resemblance to Steve Perry were misplaced, and judging by this album in its entirety, totally unfounded Kevin Shirley has dirtied up the production in places, occasionally adding grit to the mix. Maybe it's just me, but I want Journey to have a crystal clear sound. Pristine, polished, shining. Glowing even. If the music's strong enough, the right treatment in the studio will make it three dimensional. Partly due to that, this is a frustrating album. We catch only glimpses of the band's previous greatness. A chorus, a verse, a hook, a guitar lick, a piano motif. The awesome melodic rock for which they are known and loved is clearly there, but never totally revealed in all its former splendour. The first half is patchy. The occasional burst of colour shines through. 'Like A Sunshower' is twee, but it's a bright and breezy poprock song nonetheless, with a neat hook. 'After All These Years' is a worthy Journey ballad. Not great, but it demonstrates what Pineda brings to the table. ...full text |
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