REVELATION

I've just realized that Journey has been in this site and today I noticed this album cover being displayed as one of new additions. Even though Journey had never been my favorite band, I ordered this limited edition package anyway for two reasons: First, I was impressed with the fact that the new lead singer was hired using internet technology - ie. Youtube. This topic was discussed in the mailing list of rock music community where I am involved with (i-Rock!). The new lead singer, replacing Steve Perry, was hired when Neal Schon watching Youtube and found out a Journey cover band from The Phillippines with great lead singer. The Phillippino, Arnel Pineida, was finally called for an audition in the US and he was hired as Journey front-man. Secondly, I was interested with the way this album was marketed through Wal-Mart. It's brilliant, in terms of marketing strategy. In practically several weeks the album was sold more than 100.000 copies. My copy was purchased from Amazon and when it arrived it had a tag price from Wal-Mart something like USD 13 while I paid Amazon USD 14.99. Well, Amazon made an approx USD 2 profit on it.

I have to admit that Arnel's voice is pretty close to Steve Perry as I had some CDs of previous Journey albums. Musically, this album delivers straight forward AOR music with no complexity at all. You will digest the music right away because it's easy listening. The ballad After All These Years is nice and it has strong storyline. The rest of the tunes are pure AOR and I believe this album is not too rockin'.. for many ears. Some tunes are catchy. Disc Two contains Journey major hits rerecorded with new singer, Arnel Pineida. One thing I really love is the artwork! It's worth the money I spend even though the music is not the kind that I like. Don't listen too much on this kind of music, bring your mind back to prog! and keep on proggin' ..!!!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)

If you´re a fan of the Steve Perry era´s Journey, you can´t miss this album! Ok, I was quite skeptical about it too. After all, the band was trying to replace one of the rock´s most distintive and charismatic vocalists. And they were lucky to find a replacement once (Steve Augeri), so it would be a bit too good to have a third chance. But somehow they got it. Arnel Pineda has a voice that is strinking similar to Perry´s, as the second CD shows (where they rerecorded some of their better known songs. Quite a challenge!). He is no Steve Perry, ok, but you can say the band got the next best thing. More important, he is young and energetic, giving Journey a good shot of much needed passion.

But what about the songwriting? The new songs? Well, I must say Neil Schon and Jonathan Cain lost none of their knack to deliver some fine, melodic and captivating AOR classics. CD 1 could be Journey´s lost album from the 80´s (plus the modern recording facilities, of course). All songs are at least good and they bear the trademark classic Journey sound that made them one of the hotttest bands in that decade. The band is in great form, I must say. They lost none of their style, dynamics and conviction. Neil Schon guitar parts are the highlight: the guy has a unique way of playing and he is growing old like wine (just listen to what he does in the instrumental track The Journey). Production is absolute perfect for their sound. The cover is great too.

If PA was a AOR site, this would be a 4 to 5 star record. But since there is little prog here, I´ll give it 3,5 due to their outstanding musicanship. Very good album, but any proghead can live without it. If you´re into melodic hard rock though, then it´s a must have.

An album that bringed serious controversions from many ,many fans of this brilliant American band-an icon of the AOR genre!From the very beginning we must say that JOURNEY is a band which doesn't like to take risks!Better said,Mr Schon doesn't want to expose his band to any controversial situations!Let's think about the fact thet he tried with STEVE AUGERI ......he tried with JEFF SCOTT SOTO and now with this prodigal vocalist from Manilla-ARNEL PINEDA! Being fan of this band from many years-it's impossible for me to push here an objective and non pro JOURNEY comment!For me,this band has settled the standards for melodic rock and it's impossible to find a better example then JOURNEY when we say top class AOR compositions and top class musicians!An all star band with fantastic players and dozen of unforgetable AOR anthems!This new album shows the fact that JOURNEY is a band that still has many bullets in it's pocket and thet internet is the new religion of the millenium!We know very well the whole story about how NEAL SHON found PINEDA,but I think that hiring a chameleon vocalist like the Phillipinean ,the perfect clone-was the best choice thet SCHON could made!I was really impressed by the unbelieveble skills of the new vocalist and I said to myself that the myth of STEVE PERRY -being considered like the best AOR vocalist ever- well,this mith was shattered!PINEDA can sing 100 % identic all the Journey repertoire and the second cd ,with the old classic tracks performed -I can call them revoiced-proves at 200 % that this album is a new beginning for the band!The same performant ingredients,wonderful compositions,brilliant ballads and top class musicianship !SCHON is absolutelly sensational and the new compositions are pure jewels under all aspects!Definitelly a great album-4.5 STARS and the promise thet there still are many shiny days ahead for JOURNEY with ARNEL PINEDA!

Faithfully

Having recorded two albums and an EP with Journey, Steve Augeri left the band in 2007 due to problems with his throat. He was initially replaced by Jeff Scott Soto who performed live with the band, but did not appear on any studio albums. Soto also moved on in 2007 to be replaced by the current singer Arnel Pineda who was recruited after Neal Schon saw him singing Journey (and others) numbers on youtube.com!

Released in 2008, "Revelation" is Journey's most recent album at time of writing, however a new album "Eclipse" is in the pipeline for 2011. The album consists of one CD of original material and one CD of new versions of Steve Perry era Journey standards. The North American version of the album also has a DVD containing a performance by Journey in Las Vegas in 2008.

Needless to say, Pineda has a very radio friendly Perry like voice. That of course also means that he is a fine singer. If the Augeri albums, an in particular the "Red 13" EP, had hinted that Journey were ready to move out of their comfort zone and explore new territories, "Revelation" seeks to quash any such suggestions. It seems the virtual guarantee of commercial success for an album of power rock songs and emotional ballads was too much to resist, and the album did indeed sell well. The commercialism is further emphasised by the fact that the album was initially only available in the US at Wal- Mart stores!

With Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain as the principal song writers once again, songs such as the AOR ballad "Like a Sunshower" and the upbeat synth pop "Never Walk Away" could have been written for any Perry/Augeri era Journey release.

The song "Faith in the Heartland" is interesting in that it had already appeared on the previous album "Generations", Steve Augeri even receiving a writing credit. Melodically, the song is certainly an album highlight which offers Pineda the opportunity to reveal his full vocal talents. The Cain composed ballad "After all these years" was the first single from the album, and while it is little more than a pastiche of previous Journey weepies, it secured great success in the singles chart.

It may sound strange, but "Where Did I Lose Your Love" reminds me a lot of Ozzy Osbourne's "Waiting for darkness". Although not quite as heavy as the Ozzy song, the melody and style are certainly similar. The closing track "The Journey (Revelation)" is a real rarity for Journey, being a lead guitar based instrumental running to over 5 minutes. The track simply allows Neal Schon to demonstrate his prowess on the instrument, but it is highly impressive nonetheless.

Those of us in Europe do not get the DVD contained in the North American package. Instead we have a Europe only bonus track "Let It Take You Back". The song is rather prosaic and by no means essential for those who do not have it on their release.

Disc 2 of the album consists of 11 re-recordings of some of Journey's biggest hit singles. The tracks virtually select themselves, the disc also serving as a "Greatest hits" of sorts. The first of these, "Only the young" may not be familiar to some as it was omitted from its intended album "Frontiers". It is though a fine Journey song, this version sounding all but identical to the original. The same can of course be said about much of the rest of this disc, the objective not being to record alternative versions, but to deliver faithful updates with the new guys in situ. As such, while it good to hear the songs again, this is something of a pleasant but far from essential set.

Overall, despite the obvious commercial hype which has been thrown at this album from conception through to Wal-Mart release, it remains a beefy package. The songs are well written and impeccably performed. Those who have enjoyed the Journey thus far will be reassured that the "franchise" (Cain's word as quoted in a feature on Arnel Pineda on Wikipedia!) is in safe hands.