The last time we had some new music from AOR giants Journey was back in 2011. Said album Eclipse was released to, mildly put, mixed reviews much because of the edgier and harder approach. Personally, I thought the album was great and I really dug that they chose to develop and move ahead after the, also very good, come back album Revelation (2008) which was a very traditional sounding Journey album that introduced us to the then new singer Arnel Pineda. When the band now releases new music for the first time in 11 years, it feels sad to state that the new album is almost over-shadowed by internal fightings, line-up changes and law-suits that has showered us in endless streams lately.
First original rhythm section Ross Valory (bass) and Steve Smith (drums) was outed after trying to take control, at least partially, of the Journey brand. Neal Schon (guitars) sued them both. Valory and Smith was replaced by returning bassist Randy Jackson – he played on their 1986 smash Raised On Radio – and drummer Narada Michael Walden, a great drummer but a really strange choice, to be honest. The new album was just about to be released when Jackson announced his departure due to health reasons and it was also decided that Deen Castronovo, who was fired in 2015, was back in the band as the second drummer. To make matters worse Schon and keyboarder Jonathan Cain has fallen out since Schon filed a cease and desist law-suit against when Cain used Journey songs for Donald Trump. Schon also sued Cain over a credit card dispute. It now seems like original keyboard player Gregg Rolie will perform with the band but if that’s beside Cain or as a replacement needs to be seen. With all that out of the way let’s focus on the new record.
The album opens on a ballady note with a delicate piano/keyboard piece but as “Together We Run” continues it takes an upbeat path with 80’s AOR-isms that makes me think of that classic Journey sound albeit somewhat updated for 2022. It’s big on keyboards and holds a slick arrangement with stand-out melodies, a striking hook and a sure-fire hit refrain – a real Journey killer. The classic 80’s Journey continues with the slickness of “Don’t Give Up On Us”, a song that holds a strong Frontiers (1983) vibe, especially as the intro comes across as a “Separate Ways” redux. Still, it’s a bonafide AOR/Arena Rock stomper with guitars and keyboards in fine symbioses and a majestic chorus that’s craftier than super-glue. As a Journey fan, I love that they’re still able to write hits like this. Awesome.
The first ballad comes in the form of “Still Believe In Love”, a slow, souly, slightly dark and mellow Pop/AOR ballad with a floating and dreamy atmosphere. Orchestrated keyboards, a backing-vocal choir and soulful melodies makes the tune almost cosy where Pineda’s gorgeous vocal-lines carries the tune into a good enough refrain. It’s a good track but it’s certainly no “Open Arms”. Leading single “You Got The Best Of Me” is a grittier and heavier piece on a straight forward rhythm and a beefy beat. With chugging riffs and rough-edged guitar sound and some old-school synths makes for a live-friendly vibe and the chorus is simply a smash. A Hard Rock/AOR number with hooks to die for. A winner – and then some!
Want a classic Journey power ballad? Well look no further than to “Live To Love Again”. It’s a real lighter-in-the-air arena-rock ballad – smooth, warm and soulful with slick melodies and an atmospheric outlook. Pineda shines through this number with a nod back to Steve Perry’s phrasings and another contagious refrain to go with it. Very good. Somewhat ironically titled, “The Way We Used To Be” takes a bit of a left turn from the classic Journey sound. Sure, it’s a mid-paced AOR-laden tune but this tune takes on a bluesier touch with some Classic Rock crunch thrown in with some raunchy guitars and a backing carpet of keyboards. It holds a chunky groove and a direct vocal-melody and the refrain is catchy albeit not hit-friendly. It’s more of a live-belter. Great stuff.
They continue the rougher route with the punchy and Hard Rock laden “Come Away With Me”, a song that also feels written more for the stage than the radio. It’s a guitar driven rocker with inserts of 70’s Classic Rock, a pumping rhythm section and an in-your-face and muscular approach. Schon’s solo is edgy yet precise and vocal-melodies is Journey all the way, however with a raspier outlook. It’s a great tune and I love it when Journey rock out! Deen Castronovo takes the lead vocals for the rhythmic yet laid-back ballad “After Glow”, a bit of a strange choice as he wasn’t yet a full member of the band when the album was recorded. Sonically it brings back the band’s first come back album Trial By Fire (1996). It’s a smooth number that sounds like Journey all the way especially as Castronovo sounds more like Steve Perry than Pineda ever did. Love it.
Slower in tempo with a darker vibe and a heavier structure “Let It Rain” is even headbang-friendly at times and the riff holds a similarity to ZZ Top’s “Tush”. On top there are nods toward both Led Zeppelin and Foo Fighters here and even though it contains direct vocal melodies and a sharp hook, it’s not very Journey like at all. Still, I think it’s a good tune. “Holdin’ On” keeps the band rocking out with edgy guitars, beefy rhythms and a more robust keyboard sound. It’s a smokin’ rocker that sure kicks up some dust and again it comes across a live-track. Pineda nails the tune and here keeps his Perry-influences at bay. The chorus is effective and striking with no glance at air-play whatsoever. Very good.
“All Day And All Night” is another tune that’s not all that Journey-like. It’s a rhythmic tune that holds an even danceable beat with funky bass-lines and a swinging drum pattern. Pop-melodies blends fine with crunchy guitars and accessible hooks in the distinct chorus. It’s not classic Journey by any means but still a good tune. Classic Journey on the other hand is handed to use in the form of the upbeat and uptempo “Don’t Go”. It’s an uplifting, 80’s smelling AOR-stomper with slick keyboards and smooth vocal-melodies and on top a sing-along chorus that glances back to the “Anyway You Want It” days. It just don’t get more Journey than this. Awesome.
And there’s more where “Don’t Go” came from. “United We Stand” continues to take us back to Journey’s 80’s with its slick and glittery melodies with captivating hooks, affable vocal-lines, smooth blends of guitar and keyboards. Pineda brings out his inner Steve Perry here with a chorus that’s like super-catchy. Great stuff indeed. Starting out as a ballad on a sparse drum beat and a big organ with Pineda’s soothing vocals on top “Life Rolls On” soon takes on a heavier outlook with a mean guitar riff which takes the song on an upbeat and bouncier path with lots AOR-laden vocal-melodies on top. The big refrain is classic Journey but the verses really aren’t. That said, still a good number.
The seven minute epic closing track “Beautiful As You Are” has an opening that is soft and mellow with an acoustic guitar and a smooth piano that lures one into thinking we have a tender and brittle ballad in our hands. It might start out like that but the song takes a turn towards power-balladry before it runs to more upbeat and poppy classic Journey AOR. The main-melody holds a gorgeous arrangement with Pineda’s superb vocals taking us back to Journey’s grand 80’s with a rich and full chorus that really hits home right off the bat. A great way to say goodbye for now.
While 15 songs and a play-time that says 73 minutes is a bit overmuch it’s also in par with the double-album trend that comes in the backwater of the pandemic. This means that the album takes a while to grow into. Not because the songs are a struggle to handle one by one but because the album is too damn long. That being said, when the album’s been given enough spins it’s easy to state that it’s a very competent handcraft with strong songs and an even stronger performance by all involved. The inside of Journey’s everyday might be a big soap opera but it feels really good that the guys still can come up with the goods musically. I admit that I wasn’t too impressed after the first couple of spins but the album is a grower and patience is a virtue. Give it time and be rewarded.
7/10
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Tracklist:
1. Together We Run
2. Don’t Give Up On Us
3. Still Believe In Love
4. You Got The Best Of Me
5. Live To Love Again
6. The Way We Used To Be
7. Come Away With Me
8. After Glow
9. Let It Rain
10. Holdin’ On
11. All Day And All Night
12. Don’t Go
13. United We Stand
14. Life Rolls On
15. Beautiful As You Are
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