Hugo

Hugo is as close as to being a twin bother of Steve Perry by looks as he is by sounding like the man. At first glance you would think you are seeing Steve Perry in his prime, right off of the Escape era. And at first listen one would think that also. But there is something about Hugo, that at times his voice sounds weaker than Perry's and has a hollow ring to it. This could be from production, because not all the cds are quite that way, but the thinness is there. On his second solo cd Time On Earth from 2000 his vocals are so frail and back in the production, that it is hard to understand what he is singing. At times the songs are what Perry could be writng, but they seem to "lacking" a soul or heart to them at times too. Again could be from production or from lack of a good writng partner to bring some new ideas, cause at times the songs are so close to greatness.......!


Valentine - 1991 (B+)

A great start. The band came out burning. Production at times sound very 80's to me, which tends to take away from the music at times. And the production tends to make more than just Hugo's voice seem hollow. His voice while sounding good, seems like it could break if to much strain was put on it. And while the music sounds hollow, it is crisp and clear, but it seems to have no depth. But enough of that.

Runnin Out Of Luck Again starts the cd off good, a really cool opening leaves you wondering what this cd will sound like. But it soon kicks in to a good rocking tune. No Way keeps the fire burning, but lack of depth and bass really pulls the reigns back on this song. Tears In The Night really screams Journey, and Hugo shines on this song, showing the promise of what he has to offer. Too Much Is Never Enough is a updated Anyway You Want It, with a twist to it . Never Said It Was Gonna Be Easy is my favorite song on the cd. Hugo really shines on the slower songs. The cd has some other good songs like Once In A Life Time & You'll Always Have Me. Of course there are a couple of songs I do not like, Naughty Girl and We Run. Rest of the cd is pretty standard rock music for that time frame. I think the band over all was good, just production held them back.

Open Skyz -1993 (B-)

This to me really is the second valentine cd. They changed the name because their guitarist (I believe) left the group, otherwise this is rest of Valentine, or so I have been told. Hugo again shows some amazing vocals, but for me it is the songs this time around, that really don't make the cut. None Of It Matters is a good song with some interesting keyboard work at the end of the song. Nothing With Out You is another nice song, with Hugo sounding very "Perry like". The song as I said is nice, but seems to be missing a hook to it. The same can be said for the song following that one too, Golden Years. Open Skies kind of get things back on track, with a very intresting 60's opening, but it holds my interest. The Answer is a very vocally powerful song, that Hugo nails against an acoustic background, WOW!!! The band finally shows some life on Everyday Of My Life. The song really rocks and Hugo pulls off a very muscular vocal on it, shame the background vocals on the chorus distracts from the song. Pickin Up The Pieces Again show some limit on the height of Hugo's voice, still it is another great job. Hugo and the band even take on Supertramp's Give A Little Bit, which is the best song on the cd. Which kind of brings home what I said earlier, that Hugo needs a good song writer to be with him, he can write, but at times he lacks a musical punch. Candy From Strangers is another strong showing from the band with a good vocal, but the song lacks something to grab your attention. Take Me There closes the cd out, but after two other really good slower songs on the cd, this almost feels like been there done that. I am not taking away from a good song here, but the other two fill two close to this one. Have to give it to Hugo he nails it, and the slower ones seem to fit him even better. Production is better this time around too. But this time the songs seem to be lacking.

Hugo-1998 (A)

This is what the Journey reunion Trail By Fire cd should have been like. Hugo like either Storm cd, did Journey better than Journey did at the time. This is my favorite Hugo cd. The production on this cd is crisp and clean and packs a punch. The songs are all good, no, make that great. The band members play with a purpose, and axeman Vinny Burns plays a slick guitar putting a fire in the songs. And Hugo has never sounded better. If Hugo intended for this to sound so much like Journey, or if he is just doing Hugo, I do not know, but it sounds good.
The cd starts off with a bang with the intro/We Will Find A Way. This was the very first song I ever heard Hugo sing, and I have been hooked ever since. On the first two cds above Hugo really shined on the slower songs, but here he shows he is in complete control. Love the ending of the song, the echo effect drives home the production values of the cd. Walk Away carries a good beat thru the song and the chorus has you singing along. Slow keys and another great chorus has So Many Tears A Go screaming for repeated listens. And the songs pulls a Journey on you with the high vocal note with matching guitar solo, reminds of Steve and Neal in the glory days. Crazy hooks with the vocals and the chorus and keeps you humming along.

The cd seem to have a natural flow from song to song that keeps you listening. All That You Wanted is a slow burner of a song, the song stays in check but seems like it could bust open at any moment. All The People You Love has a good guitar lick and a rougher sounding Hugo matching the edge on the song. If Your Ever Lonely has a familiar sound to it, at times I could swear I have heard it somewhere before, but then it changes directions so slightly, just to be different. Desire (is that Neal playing?!?) again another song with a scorching guitar part, but even with that, it is my least liked song on the cd. Vocally, the chorus fails to deliver. But still a song that is worthy to be in with the rest of the songs on this cd. Standing Alone is a rocker, with a good vocal. The cd closes with the best vocal track on the cd, A Tear In LA. Listening to the song it seems like it could have been a follow up to Faithfully, with the mood, playing and wording of the song. Wow a great song and cd.

This cd could have easily been a natural follow up to Raised On Radio.

Time On Earth-2000 (C-)

From the start of the first note, the cd had a false hope to it. Can't Stop Loving You had an old familiar sound to the music, but that is were it ends. The keyboards sound distant and faint. Hugo starts singing and he sounds hollow. the chorus kicks in and it comes across the outer edges of the sound spectrum giving it a distant light touch when it should pick up the song, it distracts from it. Not a good start. One saving grace for this song is the guitar, it is clean and clear. Tell It To My Heart has a good chorus, and an ok build up to it. And Hugo pulls off some good vocals on it, especially at the end of the song, holding the note over the guitar. But this is one of the few bright spots on this cd. Last One More Time could have been a vocal triumph for Hugo, but the vocals seemed slurred and the high notes unnecessary. He seems to be worried about trying to be Steve Perry, and the song shows his short comings on it. Passionate vocals isn't always about going high as you can. Anyone In Love sounds beautiful, but comes across as a very boring song. Fine shows some fire to it, something this cd is very lacking in, but at times Hugo vocals on this song are almost grating. The tone of this whole cd is bland. Blues For You, is one of the two really standout songs on this cd. Hugo sings with a passion that seems to be missing for most of this cd. The playing by the band also shows a deep burning fire. If rest of the cd could have been like this...IF!!! This Love Song, I Will Be Waiting, and Our Love Will Be There are just plain boring. Every time I listen to these songs, I can not help but think what a waste of talent. The other outstanding song on this cd is Triumph's Magic Power, Hugo delivery and vocal power is great, the band shows life too. The cd closes with what could have been another great song, I like the song, I just don't like the production on this song. Heck, I don't like the production on the whole cd to be honest. Poor material, poor production, lifeless singing and playing. Only 3, maybe 4 songs I listen to on the whole cd. Shame, because Hugo is talented.

Fire In The Night-2004 (B)

A big improvement over the the last cd. Better writing, singing, playing, and a lot better production. The cd starts with a barn burner with Hand In Hand. This song belongs in a handbook on how to right songs that sound like Journey. It is very good. Fire In The Night, is another good rocker, with a strong beat to it.

I'll Learn To Live Without You is a nice mid tempo song, that sounds like a leftover from Raised On Radio by Journey (which is not a bad thing). The acoustic Just So You Know is probably my favorite song on this cd. Hugo sounds awesome. Hugo as good interaction with his guitarist on (Don't Wanna) Say Goodbye Tonight, it is good to see a little bit of dueling going on with them. Just To Be With You Tonight, another slow song that Hugo pulls off well, no surprise there. While Here I Am suffers a little from a really lack of build up from the band. This song could have been through the roof if the band had been kicked a few notches.

I really dislike the opening vocal on Every Time You Walk Away. Rest of the song just never recovers. It's The Love while a good song also lacks from really strong playing, or a deeper sounding bass. And Hold Me the closing song tries to show some punch, but by the time it delivers, I have already lost interest in the song.

Over all a strong cd from Hugo.

Hugo's Evolution Live 2006

So does Hugo sound like Steve Perry? Here is a download of his band Evolution. Evolution is a Journey Tribute band. This show has 10 live songs recorded at the Canal Ball Room. 10 tracks and front cover in the download. So could Hugo have pulled off being Journey's new singer?

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QQJS8JVJ

Soul Salvation-2008 (B+)

Wow what a return, Soul Salvation is a great cd!!! The tile track is one of Hugo's best!!! Hugo sounds great and the band is just as good if not better than they were on the first Valentine cd. The music seems inspired and the production is top notch. Dream On The Way starts the cd off on the right foot with a nice tempo song that is great all the way thru. The vocal ending of the song is great. Pickin' Up The Pieces, another mid tempo song with Hugo and the band playing with a fire that begs to be noticed. I usually hate songs named Love Song, but this Love Song, stings with passion. The guitar solo is one of the best on any Hugo cd. Hugo glides thru the vocal on the song, the high notes are clean and full of power. With the way One More Chance starts out with the urgent guitar and beat, I was really expecting a faster paced song, but the band keeps it under control, which just servers Hugo's vocals better. The song seems like it could explode at anytime, but it never does, which just adds to the heat of the song. Hugo as always shined on the slower song, and the slower the song the more like Perry he sounds. With Pages, Hugo should have been in full Perry mode, but that is not the case. Pages is the weakest song to this point on the cd, it ends up picking up some steam, but it is the arrangement of the song that kills it for me, seems to busy. Every Time You Go Away, starts with a nice little vocal intro, then kicks into gear, becoming a nice mid tempo song. I really like the chorus on this song, even though it likes a good hook to grab your attention. Could have liked a longer guitar solo on this song too. Ending reminds me of Girl Can't Help It from Journey's Raised on Radio. I'll Be The One has a laid back feel to it that for some reason didn't really grab my attention the first few times I listened to it. It has grow on me, but is lacking something, needs a little more punch to it. Has some nice vocal work to it. Wait has a catching chorus to it and rock pretty good thru out the whole song. Some good keyboard work on this song too. Good soulful guitar solo in the song. Hugo's vocal is stunning, like the way the music stops for a few seconds and Hugo carries the song for that instance. Just adds to the strength of the song. The last song Love Is All We're After is the worst song on the cd. I really do not care for this song. Hugo sings in a lower register, which he has done before to good effect, but here it is very distracting and annoying, The song has a very retro feel to it, which also for some reason I do not like.
Over all a very good return for the band. A couple of songs really hurt the cd, but the over all feel for the cd is good.

The Dream-2008 (A)

While Hugo's debut self titled solo cd from 98 is my favorite cd by him, this cd is a very very close second. If you wondered how Hugo would sound with Neal Schon playing the guitar, you got the next best thing, Josh Ramos. It was Josh who gave the Storm that extra Journey edge on their two cds, and he does it again here. The cd also has a nice "wall of sound" production, yet the vocals or the guitar never get lost.

You're Not Alone starts the cd off rocking, and as soon as the guitar starts you there is something different this time around. The song is fast paced with a hard hitting drum through it. The chorus lifts the song up and Ramos burns it up. Heck Ramos burns it up the whole cd, finally someone to give Hugo that extra push. The second song also starts with a urgency, but quickly fades, by then it has already pulled you in. All I Wanted has a beat that keeps you in the song, even though it never really picks back up to how it started. Josh's playing makes the song smolder. The title track The Dream is a nice Journey tribute, that pulls the vocal style from Don't Stop Believin. The Dream is not only a tribute to the song, but a modern day extension of the song. Fools Game is one of the weaker songs on the cd. It sounds good, but comes across lacking lyrically. It is however a great showcase for Ramos. Bring Back This Love, In The City, and Tomorrow are good songs, all show what make Hugo and Ramos a good pair, strong guitar and great vocals. The two of them take these slightly above average songs and pump some life into them.

When You Get Lonely, I can not make my mind up on this song, one time I think it is my least liked song on the cd. The next time I really like it. Today, I really like it. The problem with it is Hugo's vocals. At times I think they are a bad fit for the song, then the next time I can hear the loneliness he is expressing. Not a bad song when I am not into it, but when I am, my third favorite song on the cd, behind You're Not Alone and The Dream. I Can Take You closes the cd. Clocking in clocking in just a few seconds under 8 minutes shows why theses two people need to work togerther even more. The song holds your intrest the whole time, Josh's best work on the cd, which is great thru out. Hugo pulls out the high notes and finally has someone to push him on.
Givin time this may end up being my favorite Hugo cd..

Steve Perry

Steve Perry, The greatest singer is Rock history, and one of the greatest singers ever. The man could belt a rocker that would floor you, then sing a ballad that would rock you with the emotion he put into it. The man has also caused more controversy. Who cares if "Elvis has left the building", it is "Perry has entered the building!" His sudden disappearance after Journey's Trail By Fire, has divided the Journey camp. Did he leave Journey or was he fired? Did he really have hip problems and if he did, was there surgery. Is he losing his voice? Is he ever going to make a new cd? Every year for the past 10 years, rumour has it Perry is in the studio working on a new cd. 10 years now!!! And the big one, which came first the chicken or the egg question, "would Journey have made it big without Perry or would Perry have made it big without Journey?" Whatever the questions, the man has talent as a singer and song writer. But who would have been more popular?


Street Talk-1984 (B+)

Journey's vocalist Steve Perry's STREET TALK is his first and best solo cd. With a voice like Perry, it is hard not to know it is not him singing. He has a voice like no other. He is the voice of rock. STREET TALK confirms this even more.
Oh Sherrie starts off the cd. It starts off with a very recognizable keyboard intro, but when Perry sings, you know who is in control. This is his show, no matter how good the music is or how poor, Perry sails above it all. Perry sings with control and confidence. Even though his voice is showing more wear and tare, he pulls it off in a slightly lower range. He still soars above the rest of the singers in the field.
Perry vocals are showcased on all songs, but he really shines on Oh Sherrie, I Believe, She's Mine, Foolish Heart, Running Alone, and Captured By The Moment.
While Strung Out wasn't a vocal showcase for Perry that it could have been, it is still a good song, and is the most Journey like sounding song on the cd. And that brings the only weak point to the cd. The people playing the music for Perry. As great of a singer that Perry is, he needs a strong band to back him up. The musicians are good here, but they are not of the Journey caliber.
Still a very good cd here,and some good songs.

For The Love Of Strange Medicine (C-)/Remastered (B)

Production, production, production. It can make a bad cd good, or a good cd sound bad. This cd show both sides of the coin. When this cd first came out, I was ready for it. A new cd from the voice of rock himself, Steve Perry!! This man can sing and right music, but more than anything he can sing. From the opening note of You Better Wait to the note of Anyway I was in shock!?! What had happened?! This was not the Steve Perry I know. While there were some good songs on here, the cd was lifeless, from the singing to the playing. So I put the cd on again, this time I cranked it up. HORRIBLE!!! Turned it down half way threw the cd. It was almost a week before I came back to it. Listened to it in the car, at work, on my walkman. Everywhere I went this cd went with me. And for years the memory of this horrible outing by Perry was how I pictured him. The Journey reunion faired better, but failed to live up to Journey's high standards. While I said it was a bomb (for Journey), it is not a bad cd. But this cd was bad. The only songs I every listened to when I put this on were You Better Wait, I Am, Stand Up, Missing You, and Anyway the rest were skipped.

Now flash forward 12 years. Journey reissues their catalogue freshly remastered. I by them all plus Steve's Street Talk. I was amazed by how good they sounded. But did I want to waste my money on this cd? I am glad I talked my self into. The remasters have breathed a new life and a new sound into this cd. The music no longer seems stale, but full of life and crisp. Now other songs that I skipped I listen too, and the songs I liked, only sound better.

Yes production can make a difference.

Greatest Hits Plus 5-1998 (B+)

Is Steve really worth a hits cd? Only 2 cds (solo) and I was not a big fan of the second for a long time. Yeah Steve is worth this. Included are some soundtrack solo stuff the Awesome I Stand Alone and some early demo, plus songs from his unreleased Against The Wall cd. Would have been nice to have had some Journey songs recorded from his solo shows.

Playlist; The Very Best Of Steve Perry-2009 (B)

Can't really say a lot about this set. Nothing new, and it is all covered in the 1998 hits cd. Worth buying if you do not own the remastered cds above.

Ok, who would have been more popular if Perry had not gotten hooked up with Journey?

Perry had retired, given up on music Journey was still moving a long, having hired a new singer right before Perry came along. I think both would have done ok. Perry's solo stuff has been good but not outstanding, while Journey's has done a little bit better. What Perry was lacking was someone who had the fire that his voice had, and keep the music sharp. What Journey had was someone who could sing, but they seemed scared to move on from the prog sound they were stuck in (Perry had the attitude to move them foreward). So I think, Journey would have gone down the rock road and Perry more pop or even r&b. But it doesn't really matter because they got together and made some of the best music out there. Schon needed someone who could match his playing, and Perry had the voice to do it. Perry, then Cain brought a more pop rock approach to the sound, but Neal's guitar keep even the slow songs on fire, and Perry's voice gave them soul.

Forget about all the what ifs and what could have been, just crank it up and enjoy the voice and the music.

JOURNEY-the Augeri Years

Steve Augeri steeped into some very big shoes when he replaced Journey's lead singer Steve Perry. Perry has been called the Voice of Rock, and I would have to agree with that. When the word was out that Perry was out of the band, and the band was looking for a new lead singer, I really didn't know what to expect. Part of me thought the band should call it quits. But then all those years that Journey was inactive, their music was missed in concert, and it was time for something new from the band other than live cds, hits cds, and unreleased songs. My first thought was Kevin Chalfant. Kevin would have been the perfect fit, having song in the Storm, a group composed of Journey members. But that did not come about. Next I here a dude named Steve Augeri had been chosen to replace the voice. I had yet to hear of anything from him, and did not know of his work in Tall Stories or Tyketto.

Remember Me was the first song with Augeri on vocals. I was stunned! I liked this song and the guy singing it. I wanted more. But I had to wait since this was a soundtrack song for the movie Armageddon. Steve would stay with the band for 8 years before leaving due to vocal problems.

Although Journey did not get the sales of the Perry cds, journey released some good cds.

Remember Me was a great song on a great cd. A great way to introduce the new lead singer.

Arrival-2001 (A-)

A lot of good things about this cd. From the awesome axe work of Neal Schon, to the vocals of new comer Steve Augeri. The cd harkens back to the glory days of the band. The music is tight and production is stellar. And on top of that, the band has written some of their best songs.

Stand outs are Higher Place (one of the bands best rockers), Loved By You, World Gone Wild(Neal is awesome on this), To Be Alive Again (Augeri is vocally stunning on this track), We Will Meet Again (great way to close the cd), and Kiss Me Softly (a updated feel to a journey love song).

All The Way (a good song) sounds kind of boy bandish, and one or two other songs don't stand up to rest of the material or have the Journey fit to them (could be the outside writers on them), the songs are still good.

A welcome surprise to the bands catalog.

The Japanese version of this cd was released about 6 months earlier, but once it was leaked to Napster and fans complained about all the ballads, the band went in a recorded some more rockers which was an improvement, and did away with the weaker songs.

Arrival {Japan} -2000 (B)

Live 2001 (A-)

A great dvd to showcase the new singer Augeri. He takes on two new songs from the Arrival songs, plus the Journey catalog. Augeri holds his own with Perry songs, although there are a couple signs of struggle on a vocal or two. But you can not fault the man, Perry couldn't do any better today. But from the opening of Separate Ways to the singalong of Faithfully, this is a journey well worth the ride.

Red 13 -2002 (C+)

A few things you find different about this cd. The songs are longer, one over 7 minutes two over 6 minutes and the last a little over 4. Another is that this is an EP, only 4 songs. The songs vary from the typical love songs, to a more personal level. But I really can't say this is a good cd since the last thing you will notice about the cd is the production, or lack of. This is in my opinion the worst sounding Journey cd out there. A shame because the songs are good.

Generations-2005 (B+)

After the dismal Red 13, Journey has returned with a cd worthy of the Journey name. Generations ROCKS from the get go.Faith In The Heartland is one of my top 10 Journey songs, as is the bass driven Out Of Harms Way, a song about our soldiers overseas. Augeri is in true form here. Not sounding so much like Perry as he did on Arrival, but more his own singer. True there are some Perrism there (this is Journey of course), but Augeri is more natural here and more rocking. Beyond the Clouds is another awesome song on this cd, with its almost gospel feel to it.

Surprising about this cd is how every member of the band has a turn on lead vocals. Schon choose to bring a solo song he performed with Perry year ago called Self Defense. The song has been changed some for this cd, with Dean singing Perry part and the song now called In Self Defense.

Keyboardist Jonathan Cain sings on two songs with the best being Every Generation.

Bassist Ross Valory does a great ZZ Top on Gone Crazy, which is a good song, a really good song, but comes off sounding out of place on this cd. Which really hurts the grade of this cd, because it really hurts the flow of the cd. But I do really like this song, and would buy a solo cd from Ross.

Drummer Dean Castronovo sounds more like Perry than Augeri on this cd, which is fine with me, since Augeri has done a stunning job this time around. But Dean shines on his two songs Never Too Late and A Better Life.

This cd would be a little better if production would have been better. It is way better than Red 13, but not quite on parr with Arrival. Plus track layout could have been better if a couple of songs had been omitted, not because they were bad songs, but do to the fact they either didn't fit in or took away from the vibe the cd had going.

AUGERI / Tall Stories

Besides being in Journey, Augeri fronted Tall Stories, it was their debut cd that got him noticed by Neal Schon.

Tall Stories-1991 (A-)

A great debut cd from the band. Back in 91 the band made their only cd (until 2009), a great example of melodic rock. The music had a soul fullness about it and the singer, Augeri, had a eagerness and since of desperation to his voice. All the songs connected to the listener. I found this record in 2001 after reading about Augeri online.

Wild On The Run, Sister Of Mercy, Chain Of Love, Never Enough are stand out tracks.

Skyscraper-2009 (A)

Back after some rest of being out Journey Augeri returned with Tall Stories second cd, which most of it was recorded back in the early to mid 90's. The cd is awesome. This cd is also one of my favorites of 2009.

Tomorrow, Stay, and You Shall BE Free are my favorites, and come the closest to sounding like Journey, and while rest of the cd ranges from Zepplin to Whitesnake, Augeri and company deliver a strong, very strong cd.

AUGERI / Tyketto

Tyketto had already released two strong cds with Don't Come Easy (B) and Strength In Numbers (B+) when Danny Vaughn lead singer, left the band, to care for sick wife. He was replaced by Steve Augeri for the next cd.

Shine-1995 (B)

Alot of people I have talked to say this Augeri's best cd. I disagree. The main reason is the production of the cd. It comes across as very cheap 70's sounding at times. But at other times the music does shine thru. Jamie, Rawthigh, High, and I won't Cry are the stand outs. Rest of the songs are good, but muddled in the production.

Journey-The Perry Years

Infinity-1978 (B)



Steve Perry has arrived!! The Voice Of Rock makes his debut on Journey's 4th cd Infinity. And from the first note of the first song you can tell that this is a different band. A band focused and with a mission. Finally Neal Schon had someone who could match his high soaring guitar. And they were a match that no other band could top.
Infinity starts with a slow number about there hometown San Francisco, Lights. Songs like this would be the future of the band on the radio. Lights was the best way to start off the new direction. Lights showcases both Perry and Schon, and shows what makes this band click now.
Perry shines on other songs to, the classic Wheel In The Sky, love his sky high vocal over Schon solo in the song.
La Do Da, Patiently, and Winds Of March again is a showcase for Perry. But Can Do and Opened The Door are the low part of the cd, and almost bring back the feel of the first three cds.
Perry isn't the only Singer in the band. Rolie is still around, and shares leads with Perry on Feeling That Way and Anytime. Shame Rolie is reduced to this, because he is a good singer, it was just the direction the band was going in was not going to get them fame.
Production at times is a little heavy, and the new remasters only bring theses shortcomings more to the forefront.




Evolution-1979 (B-)

Journey's cd saw yet another member change, this time Dunbar is gone on drums and Steve Smith comes in. Smith makes a big improvement in the sound and direction of the band. The music becomes tighter, giving the music more focus and direction. So the two Steve's have made a big impact on the music.
Evolution starts of with the regal instrumental Majestic. A great opening for the cd, just wish this song could have been longer. Then moves quickly into Too Late, a song about getting a new start before you can't. Reminds me a little of the Lights mood, and kinda of weird the cd first full song is in the same mood and tone. But it is a good song, and the new drummer is very apparent.
Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin is a staple Journey song. The song has a great beat, Neal has good lick, and Perry pours the emotion into the song. The na na na...chorus ending usually has a room full people singing with, even now almost 30 years later. The live version I must say is even better, so catch the band in concert when you can.
Now the cd slips for me with the rocker City Of The Angels. It just never goes anywhere, to me just a noisy mess of a song. The same When Your Alone (It Ain't Easy). Again loud, but for what reason. I do not like Neal's guitar in this song. And Perry too seems to be loud just to be loud.
But thankfully, the next song brings the cd back in line. Sweet and Simple is just that, and Neal and Perry seems to be at a perfect match. Lovin You Is Easy, is an ok song, but the cd brings next a Rollie and Perry duet (for lack of a better word), that rocks. And is better than the two they did together on the last cd, INFINITY.
But again the cd fails to keep up the pace, and the closing last 3 songs are mediocre and best, Do You Recall, is the better of the last three. Daydream and Lady Luck are just poor songwriting.
Production is better on this cd. If the songwriting had been a little bet better, it would have put it on the same level as INFINITY. I guess the main difference between the two are, INFINITY had more songs that were better, and EVOLUTION had some that were very good, but also had so that were very weak. So I give the advantage to INFINITY.


Departure-1980 (B)



DEPARTURE is keyboardists Greg Rollie's last recording with the band. And the band turns in a tighter performance than on any previous cd. The cd starts off with a bang, Any Way You Want It is a very driven song. Driven by high powerful vocals, hard riffs that drive the music home, a pounding bass line, and mixed into this is some great keys by Rollie.
The next song Walks Like A Lady changes pace to an almost R & B feel, and Ross' bass and Smith's drums bring out the best of the song, and again some good keyboard work by Rollie. And speaking of Rollie, this is probably his best work to date. But that doesn't save the next to songs, which fall flat.
Someday Soon even with the great vocal work, is a no show. And People And Places is just boring.
Thankfully the cd picks up again and Precious Time kicks it back into gear, and Where Were You slaps it into overdrive. DEPARTURE is Journeys hardest rocking cd to this point. They have gotten away from the jazz rock of the early cds. And each cd sells more and more. One of the things that has helped the band to this point is the one two combination of Schon and Perry combo, with a little Rollie thrown in. And a good example of this is I'm Crying.
I'm Crying is big, bad, loud, overexerted, and awesome!!!! The song is just Perry at his best, with rest of the band following along. Neal axe work is menacing and haunting at the same time. Best song on the cd.
In The Line Of Fire is another good fast paced rocker. This song is a ball of energy that is set to explode.
But the cd slows with the instrumental Departure, and goes into the vocal showcase Good Morning Girl, another example of why Perry is "The Voice of Rock". This is followed by the ballads Stay Awhile, which is a very nice laid back song, showing the possibility of future songs like Faithfully and Open Arms.
But the cd ends on a sour note with Homemade Love. A sort of boogie woogie song that goes nowhere.
This cd is on the level of INFINITY, but the production at times seems hollow and shallow, taking away at times from the music. But musically, this was there best to this point.


Captured-1980 (B+)


Journey's live cd CAPTURED is a great name for the cd. They have captured a true Journey concert, they show the band how they really are, fun and rocking. They take you on a ride that is easy to get into. Not only is Journey hyped on this cd, but the fans are too.
When I listen to a live recording there are things I listen for. 1) how does the band sound, does it sound like the band on the studio cds. 2) What new things do they bring to the songs. 3) Are the songs at least as good as the original. 4) How do they interact with the crowd. 5) And how raw or polished the sound is.
CAPTURED succeeds on just about every level. Just about every song on this cd is as good as the original. With a few surpassing the original. Line Of Fire, Lights/Stay Awhile, Walks Like A Lady, Lovin Touchin Squeezin, and Wheel In The Sky all surpass the original. Any Way You Want on this cd is one of the few live versions of the song that come off good, they nail it here.
Do You Recall and Dixie Highway are the downers on the cd. Rest of the songs are good and tight. Perry is in true form vocally, and he knows how to work a crowd. Neal a good short solo, and on the record and tape there is a good Ross/Smith instrumental.
The whole concert has a very live feel to it, and makes for a great listen.
The new song, The Part's over (Hopelessly In Love) starts out one way then about midway thru changes beat and direction, as the songs lyrics slides to another take on the song. This works good too. Rollie plays on the concert part, but a studio musician feels the keys on the new studio song. Over all the best cd of the Rollie era.


Escape-1981 (A+)


Escape is my favorite Journey cd, and my second favorite cd of all time. Only Styx' The Grand Illusion stands in front of it. Journey is also keyboardist Jonathan Cain's first cd with the band. This cd is a harder rock album of all the previous cds by the band. The cd also has 3 top ten hits and 2 other songs make the top 40. The cd was also the bands first #1 cd. Even to this day, the cd still makes the top 10 on the catalog charts.
There is not a bad song on this cd. There is no filler on this cd. There is nothing but great music on this cd. Neal Schon and Steve Perry have never sounded better together, and haven't sounded this good since then. This whole cd was magic.
Open Arms is the power ballads of all power ballads. Some say it was the song that started power ballads, I would put that up for debate. But one thing you can't debate is the power of this simple love song. No wonder it sat at the #2 spot for 6 weeks. Steve's vocals soar on this song.
Still They Ride is another prime example of Steve's vocals. They bring this song to life, and Neal's guitar work on this is stunning. Still They Ride is one of my all time favorite songs by the band.
Don't Stop Believin' is my all time favorite Journey song, and at one time probably half of the free worlds. This song still charts today. It is hard to ignore, with it piano intro, Steve's tenor, and Neal's fiery guitar hook, all of this within about a minute into the song. And the song just keeps getting better.
One of Neal's best solos is one Who's Crying Now, fantastic. But I must say this is one of the very few "hit" Journey song's I'm tired of nowadays. It is still a great song, always will be, but it has grown old to me. I can only listen to it maybe once or twice a month now.
Rest of the cd is just awesome, to the opening riffs of Stone In Love to it's angelic guitar ending. Every song has something special about it. Lay It Down has Perry vocals soaring higher and higher and Neal throws down. I could just keep going on about the songs on this cd.
Cain present is quickly felt, the keys are now more of a lead instrument and less of a background instrument. More piano is present too. Rest of the band has never sounded better. And Rock has never sounded better.

Frontiers-1983 (A-)


Journey's 1983 cd is a another rocker from the band. The hit their stride with their last cd ESCAPE, and keep it going here. There are plenty of well known songs on this cd, Faithfully, Separate Ways, Send Her My Love, and After The Fall. The first two are songs that are recognized within the first two seconds of the song. The first is a strong uptempo rocker, with some of Jonathan's best keyboard work. And Faithfully is another Cain showcase.
What is also a nice surprise is the no charting songs. Edge Of The Blade has a good guitar lick running in it, and this song jams. Trouble Child has some of drummer's Steve Smiths best work, and does Trouble Child.
Rubicon is an ok song, and I really don't care for the title track. But over all this is a great cd.
Also a very nice surprise is on the re release of this cd, they included the two songs that were suppose to original be on it, Only The Young and Ask The Lonely. This cd could have been on the same level with Escape, if the record companies had played there cards right.


Raised On Radio-1986 (B)

RAISED ON RADIO is either an ok soft Journey cd, or Steve Perry's greatest solo cd. Either way it is a good cd. ROR has a lot of hits on the cd. And the hits are the strong points of this cd. Be Good To Yourself is a nice little rock song that is in the classic Journey vein. WithI'll Be Alright out You is my favorite song off the cd, and has a more rhythm and blues fell to it, with nice guitar work in it from Neal. Girl Can't Help It has some of Perry's best vocals on the cd, and the song has nice pacing through it. Suzanne is the least liked of the hits for me. Why Can't This Night Go On Forever is my second favorite song off the cd, and has Perry's best vocals on the cd. But it is once you get past the hits that the cd starts to fail. The hits sound more like Journey music, the album cuts sound more like Perry's solo work.
Positive Touch has a nice bouncy beat to it that is helped along Jon's piano, but other than that the song is flat. The title track is gibberish. It Could Have Been You has Neal doing some catchy guitar work, but the song goes nowhere. Rest of the songs are good, but good for Journey is what other groups wish for, but for Journey, it is just not good enough.

Greatest Hits-1988 (A+)

Of all the Greatest hits cds out there from this group and all the other groups in the world, this is my favorite hits package! Period, THE END. Anything that has been been to top 40 radio for the group, has just about made it. From start to finish, this cd stays cranked up. All of the Perry ear hits are here. Plus the then no album hits by the band Ask The lonely and Only The Young.

his cd was released again after Trail By Fire to include the top 10 hit When You Love A Woman.

Time 3-1992 (A-)

Great cd! All the top 40 plus a lot of rock radio and fan favorites not on the Greatest Hits cd are here. Plus about 11 or so unreleased (at least at the time this came out) songs. Most are pretty good. Stand outs from those songs are Good Times, Natural Thing, La Raza Del Sol, and Liberity. Plus a few that should have stayed unreleased With A Tear, Only Solutions, and Into Your Arms. Everything from the beginning to the end in the late 80's is here.



Trail By Fire-1996 (C-)

In 1996 Journey came roaring back onto the scene. The cd went to #3 and they had a hit single with When You Love A Woman. I listened to this cd a lot. Back then I thought the cd was THE BOMB, now I realise it is just A BOMB.
This cd starts out hard and fast with one of their best rockers in years, Message of love. What is there not to like about this song. It also has one of the coolest intro to any song, Journey or other band.
One More is a more modern day rocker that uses Perry raspier voice to good effect. Neal is just awesome on this one.
When You Love A Woman slows things down, but still keeps the cd very alive. This song ranks up there with some the all time Journey ballads. Perry and the band sound great.
But I see now days that after this 1-2-3 punch the cd just falls apart. Back in '96 I guess I was just ready for a new Journey cd, that Perry singing the phone book would have been good.
Castles Burning tries to recapture the fire of the first two songs, but instead of being a blaze, it is just a lot of smoke with not much heat. Perry sounds good, and Neal's playing is good, but this song is just missing something. Maybe direction, since it really goes nowhere. I guess the same could be said for most of the cd. They never reach the strike of the first 3 songs, or the magic of their former cds.
It's Just The Rain and Still She Cries could have been so much better. But as far as rest of the songs I have not mentioned, really they are not worth mentioning.


Greatest Hits Live-1998 (B-)

When this cd first came out I loved it. But now after listening to boots (there are alot better out there than this) and a lot of other concert shows, I find this rather a BIG dissapointment. The notes say recorded from two different shows. You can tell too, by the audience noise. The sticker also said (at the time I bought it) Journey's biggest hits recorded live on their comback tour. The problem with that was Trail By Fire was their comeback cd and they did not tour off of it. And the songs are from the Frontiers tour.
Band and Perry both sound good, but this is not Journey at their best.


Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour-2006 (A)




A 2 disk speical, 1 cd and 1 dvd. A lot better set that the above Graetest Hits Live cd. The band is hot and Perry has never sounded better. Whether they are playing the slow songs or the fast ones, the band is hot!! A very good snap shot in time of the band at the top of their game.




The Essential Journey [Limited Edition 3.0]-2008 (A-)





Nothing new here just cover everyhting that Perry was invloved in. Th orginal version of this cd was 2 disks, but after the live Houston cd, they went with 3 cds. It all good and worth picking up.

JOURNEY the early years

JOURNEY (C-)

Journey's first cd was sure different from what people think of Journey today. There was two guitarist Neal Schon and George Tickner (who was only on this one cd), there was no Steve "The Machine Gun" Smith on drums, it was Ansley Dunbar (for 4 cds). Also no Jonathan Cain who would help write the big sweeping ballads. Greg Rollie was on the keyboards and handling lead vocals, so that meant no Steve Perry. Journey was not the hit machine they would become known as.
On their first 3 cds without Perry they had this progressive, jazz type rock that at times worked pretty good for the band. On the first cd the hit and miss is very apparent.
Mystery Mountain and Of A Lifetime are two very good songs that show the good musicianship of the band. But of the seven songs on the release, only four of them have vocals. Kohoutek is the best of the instrumentals, the others are ok at best.
This is not a bad cd, but the jams on most of the songs at times seem a little too long. The production is not the best either, everything seems "low" in the mix . But like I said not bad.

Look Into The Future (C+)

The 2nd Journey cd is just a hair bit better than their first cd. They still have that progressive jazz rock feel to them. And like the first cd it's a lot of hit and miss. And again it is about 50% good/bad. Greg's vocals are better this time around, and Neal is the only guitarist too, that is how it should be anyway. Neal is the best axe men out their, in my opinion.
On A Saturday Night starts out the cd, and if anything was to be commercial off the pre-Perry cds, this is their best chance. One almost wants to sing along with this song. She Makes Me Feel Alright is another decent song as is Anyway. I'm Gonna Leave You is also a classic Journey song, that Perry fans have never heard of.
Production seems more level this time around, but still not much of an improvement over the last cd. Overall, you can walk away with some decent songs on this cd.

Next (D-)

Journey's 3rd cd Next, is my least favorite cd from the band. There is only one song that I like on this cd. That song is Nickle and Dime. And the reason I like Nickel and Dime is... Take a very close listen to it. Tom Sawyer mean anything to you? Rush took the idea of this song and made it into their best know song Tom Sawyer, from the MOVING PICTURES cd. Rest of the songs, no direction, no good vocals, no idea of what they should be doing.

BAD ENGLISH

BAD ENGLISH


During Journey's decade long breakup in the late 80's, Neal Schon (guitar) and Jonathan Cain (Keys) teamed up with vocalist John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips who were the group The Baby's with Cain . Thus was born the super group Bad English, after adding Deen Castronovo on drums (who would later join Journey when they reformed). Bad English was more known for their power ballads, which is a shame, cause this band could rock. Like Journey before, Schon was the back bone to this group, and gave the music, much needed balls (like in Journey). But the radio seemed to skip over that part of the band and go with the heart of the music, which like in Journey, Cain was the man. Surprisingly Waite, who in my opinion was never a strong vocalist, provided the soul to the music (much like Journey's soul master, Steve Perry). Waite was able to hold his own with Schon and Cain and make some of the best power ballads ever. Power ballad aren't any good without heart and soul, and the balls to push out this sweet sappy stuff. And all of this was on the first cd. Bad English could have made a good run of cds, but seemed to just give up when things didn't go their way with the second cd.

BAD ENGLISH (A+)

Bad English's debut cd is one of my all time favorite cds. This cd is just simply awe inspiring. And why can't this cd be great?!? It has 2/3's of Journey's hit makers Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon, and Journey's drummer Deen Castronovo. Plus Ricky Phillips on bass (Styx's ) and on vocals John Waite.
The cd starts out with the hard hitter Best Of What I Got, and it just keeps going on from there. Lay Down and Rockin Horse, Tough Times Don't Last are other big rockers. These rockers have the big sound plus the get down.
Also with the big sound, are the power ballads When I See You Smile, Ghost In Your Heart, Possession, and The Price Of Love (which has one of Neal's best solos).
The other songs hold up very good too. Don't Walk Away and The Restless Ones sound more like Waite solo than a Journey type songs, but still hold up good. Heck, this whole cd stand up well to the test of time.
A great cd from the band


BACKLASH (B-)
The cd is a dim journey for the band. Their first cd seemed hard and big, this one has a darker edge. Even though some of the songs were very Journeys, they didn't seem to have the heart of Journey or the their first cd.

So This Is Eden is a hard rocking Hotel California updated song, that goes in to the spoils of stardom, so yeah this song should be dark, but the ballads Like Time Stand Still, and Time Alone With You, are also downers, even though they have some very good acoustic guitar work by Neil. Straight Thru Your Heart comes straight from the Journey playbook, it still carries an undertow, take almost takes the heart out of the song. Dancing Off The Edge Of The World, about a hot woman on the dance floor, is about how all the men treat her.
Those are the first five songs, but they can not lift up the second half of the cd. Some good attempts with Make Love Last and Pray For Rain, but given the half hearted attempts at the songs on the last part, and the over all darkness of the cd, it just isn't a fun listen. This cd, even though it has some good songs, just can not match what all of these guys have done in the past. I only pull this cd out when I am in a down mood and really don't want to be cheered up.


GREATEST HITS (A-)
Kind of weird that a group that has only 2 cds has a 2cd hit package. But they do. Actually they have 2 different hit packages. Both are the same on the first cd. But the 2002 has the extra cd that the 2003 doesn't have. Plus the 2002 is cheaper too!?! Go figure. The 2002 is the better, for the extra songs and better price. Plus it includes the radio remix of The Price Of Love on the extra cd.
So pick it up, the mixtures of the songs together from BACKLASH and BAD ENGLISH, actually given the over cd a better grade, since a lot of the darkness of BACKLASH is lessened when listened with the first cd.

UNRELEASED

Bad English only released two cds of new music before the band broke up. Both the cds BAD ENGLISH and BACKLASH are worth buying, or you can pick up the 2002 hits cd. But the group never got a live cd out there. The band was awesome live. So I listed below the shows I have and included a down loadable link to the RESTLESS ONES show.

WHEN I SEE YOU SMILE - This is a radio broadcast from 1989. Good sounding boot. John forgets the lyrics in one of the songs.

THE RESTLESS ONES - The best of the Bad English shows, band sounds alive and like they are having a blast up on stage. Show is from 9-15-89. Link is below, has 15 tracks and front and back artwork.
www.megaupload.com/?d=IP4QVLZ8

Live At The Pavilion - Recorded in Concord, CA on 4-14-91. this was recorded just weeks before Backlash came out and the band fell apart. Were the above two shows are FM or SB, this show is an audience recorded show, and you can here two goofballs talking at times.

The Lost Tapes - This cd is suppose to be demos that never made it onto a Bad English cd. Some songs sound like John Waite solo material (maybe they hadn't been Schonized yet). But some tracks, you can clearly hear Schon's playing. In doubt about this "whole" cd.