INFINITY

Infinity is my favourite Journey album. While the band's early albums were more in the Jazz-Rock/Fusion category a bit in line with Santana and their later albums were more AOR in line with bands like Styx, on Infinity Journey presents us with the perfect balance between these (and other) elements. They maintained some of their progressive aspects and great guitar work, while combining it with good song writing and the excellent and distinctive lead vocals of Steve Perry. We find here classic songs like Wheel In The Sky and Patiently, as well as the excellent and most progressive song Winds Of March, creating a coherent yet varied album. There is a very nice mix between rockers and ballads, electric and acoustic instruments and influences ranging from Hard Rock to Pop to (American) Folk to Jazz and Blues.

Journey is clearly a controversial band here on Prog Archives and it is probably agreed by all that at least some of their albums lie wholly outside the scope of what can be called progressive rock. However, it is equally clear that some other albums of theirs can be called progressive in some sense or other, or at least that they bear some relation to Prog. It usually agreed that somewhere along the line, Journey sold out and left their progressive aspirations behind and ventured into more commercial areas of music.

But while some progressive rock fans (probably those who lean more towards Jazz-Rock/Fusion) argue that only the band's first three albums are really kosher from a progressive perspective and some purists say that the debut album is the only reason Journey is relevant for Prog Archives. Other Prog fans (those who prefer the harder rocking and more melodious sides of Prog) would rather favour albums like the present one. After Infinity, the band started to drift further towards radio friendly Rock continuing through to the end of the 80's (I have not heard all these albums yet, though).

Infinity should not be dismissed by any Prog fan, in my opinion. It features some great songs, great vocals and guitar work and there are still many progressive aspects to the band's sound (that would sadly gradually fade away in the 80's). While fans of Santana and Jazz-Rock/Fusion purists should probably best stay away from this album, anyone who appreciates melodic, song based, Rock with good vocals and good lead guitar work should be able to enjoy this album.

Journey's best album. Recommended: three solid stars!

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