Journey is reborn with "Revelation"

I've had June 3 circled on my calendar for a while. On today's do-list:

• Volunteer for tour of duty with Peace Corps;
• Dedicate myself to a healthy, vegan lifestyle;
• Cancel everything else on to-do list, buy new 3-disc set by Journey and spend entire day vegging out with headphones on.

Journey's "Revelation" was officially released today -- only at Wal-Mart -- and I'm busy buzzing through the CDs. The first disc has 11 new tunes with singer Arnel Pineda; the second offers 11 Journey classics re-recorded with Pineda; the third disc is a concert DVD that will have to wait til I get home.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Simply incredible. I started with the re-recorded classics and was blown away right from the start with "Only The Young." You couldn't wipe the smile off my face. The band re-did its tracks as well, giving each song a modernized sound. "Wheel in the Sky" loses its sleepy feeling for a more deliberate pace. One song that didn't live up to the previous version was "Separate Ways" -- not my favorite tune anyway -- but it sounds a little too tinkered with here.

THE NEW SONGS: Still making my way through them, but so far I'm very happy. Think circa "Raised on Radio" days. Very timeless and 80s-feel to them, which is the highest compliment I give to anyone these days. So far, the highlights are "Never Walk Away" and "Faith in the Heartland." I'm looking forward to Jonathan Cain's songwriting on "After All These Years" and "Turn Down the World Tonight."

I hope to have the full review up soon.

Comments

i guess THIS BLOG IS sTupid for the characters THat I tyPed up are MESSED uP

[PINOY AKO]

I A'M GIVING AWAY MY COMPLETE JOURNEY CD AND DVD COLLECTIONS BEFORE ARNEL PINEDA FOR THIS IS A TOTAL INSULT. OF MY ROCK & ROLL DREAM. JOURNEY WERE GODS IN Y LEAGE, NOW THE ARE JUST MANIPULATORS OF THE MASS CONSUMERS. PINOYS ARE EVERYWHERE, THEY'VE CAUGHT UP WITH THE PACQUIAO SYNDROME OF 'UTUIN NATIN ANG MGA TANGANG PINOY'!

[Arnold Panada]

He souds too Pinoy when he was singing the American band songs, it is so UN-ORIGINAL.

[walt]

I think the comparisons with Perry are misplaced. For me the question is, Journey, or no Journey? Perry does not want to do it anymore, so the alternative to Arnel is silence. Given the choice, I choose they go on and am very happy to still have some decent music in 2008. Really sorry I missed the latest tour but I was not impressed with the last two singers and did not hear this until they had already been though town; will catch the next tour though.

[thundrwagn]

One: Steve Perry will always be remembered for his contributions to Journey's classic tracks. He is the standard for all those who try to do the renditions of those originals.

Two: Arnel Pineda does an honest good job of doing those renditions. Is he better than Steve? No, because it is all based on Steve's contributions.

Three: Arnel Pineda is good for Journey because they are moving on with him and making new material that he now has the opportunity to make his own mark with a great group.

Journey's moved on to new things while trying honestly to stay faithfully to the classics. They've moved on. Steve's moved on. We as fans of both should move on too.

Nuff!

[Joy]

Oh, for heaven's sake, GET OVER IT, SADDENED!!! Or should I say get over Steve Perry? I mean, where is he now? The bottom line is: IT'S ABOUT THE MUSIC!!! And what I'm hearin' (and thousand others, judging by the sales and billboard records) is GREAT MUSIC. And as far as the "mimicking" is concerned, it's all a bunch of balogny. How else should a classic be sung if not like it should be sung! Doesn't have to be labeled as mimicry. The new cd is downright awesome and brilliant! And they're just getting started! Nuff said.

Oh, for crying out loud,,, They went through 3 singers trying to find someone who could copy Perry as closely
as possible. The drummer called Steve Augeri "Steve Perry with a perm"

It was their goal!!!!

&, Coincidentally, part of Arnel's previous job was "mimicking" SP!!!

& Non-White? Are you kidding me? Why in the h3ll would you bring that up?

SP parents were straight up Portuguese!

I don't care if the singer green, ...

And this is not even really about Arnel. It's about Jrny's obsession with copying Perry's voice, rather than focusing on the music.

& Again, you like it, more power to you...

[kass]

saddenedandperplexed, u are an obvious super perry fan and thats ok,but didnt it ever entered ur mind that maybe.. arnel just sounds soo much like sp? thats why u think hes mimicking sp? and what about the new songs in the album? how do u find it?still like sp? or u thinkin like most of us whos not biased?that yea..its got the sp touch but nahh, thats arnel..coz its his original song now? ur opinion says that its cheap? did u say the same thing when it was augeri or jss? or u just say its cheap now coz hes non white? u say that its insulting? arnel said a million times hes a big fan of sp too, just so happens that he has the voice, and the new gen love him,move on...

[Angst]

i think its pretty unfair to put the blame to a single person..from what i see thats WALMART corporate scheme.

[Spears]

That's fine, saddened. That's what the blog is for. Rock on.

[saddenedandperplexed]

Listen to the CD of covers of the Greatest hits. They have Arnel copying Perry down to last inflection.

That is what makes me angry.

That, and the fact that they've gone the coverband nostalgic route -

Because I LOVE Journey, LOVE Neal Schon's guitar playing – and I’m disappointed they’ve settled for this.

You like it, great. But I don’t, I think it’s cheap and insulting.
And I’m afraid I have as much right as you to express that ;)

[Bravo]

saddenedandperplexed...AP did not steal "anything" he was just blessed with a great voice! SP is SP and AP is AP, you need to move on in life and look at things in a different perspective...your comments are only a reflection of "you" looking at a mirror! you only see yourself your own "values" it might be "karaoke" style when the sound reached your ears but not to me or to other people, music is a very subjected matter that it all depends on someones liking, regardless of singer or time...I am only 18 years old and I hear my Dad listened to classic Journey album all the time I do appreciate SP's voice but WOW at this very moment I am loving Arnel PIneda's voice, making me a new fan...more power to Journey! (they are a band you know...not AP or SP)... its J O U R N E Y !!!!

Bravo

[saddenedandperplexed]

Integrity is standing on your own, not stealing something from someone else.

It may be Neal's band, but it is PERRY's voice, PERRY's inflections that they have copied/stolen.

Have the guts to let the music stand on it's own with a great vocalist singing in their OWN voice.

& You’re right, it is most definitely "mimicry" - I’ll even add, at its best.
If you’re satisfied with that, so be it. But then Jrny should be honest about what it is, and I’m disappointed that JRNY is satisfied with that.

I'm not. I want creativity and musical integrity.

Enjoy the karaoke!

[kass]

saddenedandperplexed. INTEGRITY is earned thru hardwork and perseverance, mimicry is a talent not every person has,to be able to mimic just about everyone jst proves versatility,i cant understand why some people could be in denial that the new journey is SIMPLY GREAT with their new frontman,the sold out concerts and new album speaks for it.. pERIOD!!

[Spears]

I've been listening to "Revelation" nonstop for a week now, and it never gets old. And the concert DVD is fantastic. That gets played about once a day as well.

Clearly I have no life. But I'm enjoying the life I don't have.

[Frank Pido - Wesley Chapel]

Journey Rocks!!!

[Al Nerpiol]

I like Steve Perry but that was then.Arnel Pineda is the Hot Enchilada now.I love the Revelation. The New Journey Rocks !

Al "Sonny" Nerpiol

[CHAD]

well saddened, i would much prefer journey with steve perry. but we all know that will never happen. but firstly, im a neal schon fan. hes my fav guitar player of all time. whos crying now is my fav solo of all time, its just so melodic and powerful. it was neals band to begin with, and he gave up that power to perry in their heyday. i thought all journeys fans were fans of the band, not the singer. van halen did pretty darn good w/o dlr. in this day and age, one cant be close minded, when it comes to aging bands. the fact that they are out there, touring, and making great music, is outstanding. i will defenitely try to check out a show by them this summer. and the fact that cheap trick and heart are along for the ride, is icing on the cake.

[saddenedandperplexed]

Who is your favorite singer?
Would you buy an album from a soundalike of that singer - one that not only sings the other’s songs, but mimics their every inflection?

I don’t get it.

Where the integrity? Both from Jrny, and the buying public.

[CHAD]

been listening to this cd non-stop since tuesday. i did the same with def leppards new one as well. actually, listening to it now.

[Jersey Joe]

Just happen to be in Walmart June 3rd looking at electronics, their instore video promos were running and the one for Journey's "Revelation" came on, when I first heard it I went over to see the live Journey video on the HDTV and I was stunned to see it was Arnel singing and not Steve Perry. (Wow... flashbacks!) Its the first CD I've "purchased" in many years, for 11.88 its two CD's and a DVD. I went home watched the DVD and after a hour or two realized I'd forgotten the cables I'd gone out for, its that good...lol

[CHAD]

ok, been a day since i got the disc, here are some thoughts. standout tracks, never walk away, change for the better, wildest dream, after all these years, and what it takes to win. after all these years is the bands best ballad since faithfully. some might say the power ballad is a dead art, but after all these years and reo's i needed to fall, is proof that it isnt. out of ten songs, four are ballads. although, they are quite good, three would have been enough. i was kinda on the fence, whether i should catch a show this summer. i defenitely want to see one now. i might have to make the trip to tampa for the get together, if its still on.

[Marissa]

Wow, I can't count the many times have I exclaimed that very phrase, Omar.

[Omar J. Giovannetti]

Can't wait to get out of work today, I'm going straight to Wal-Mart!!!!

[Spears]

Yeah, I've listened to the Perry era. At one point or another, I've owned just about every Journey album.

Reborn? Have you LISTENED to the Perry era?

Perry wasn't just a pretty vocal, lol, - he could put a melody do the dictionary.

Arnel has a great voice, and I THINK he has a good sense of melody, based on his OWN stuff, but he hasn't had the chance to show that here.
Where did I lose your love is great, but the rest just doesn't jump out like a Journey song should.

I give it a B-, and hope Arnel really DOES have a way with melody, and that he gets the chance to show it on the next album.

[Jeffrey]

Revelation is my fave album of the year...and an unlikely one at that. Best Journey album since Escape in my opinion. Arnel Pineda is quite the find....First four songs are practically flawless, but there's not a bad song on this record...and the re-recorded classics are like being privy to a tour rehearsal...Looking forward to the live DVD in days ahead. Color me pleasantly surprised....

[CHAD]

ok, long time journey fan here. i have all the cds, even the augeri ones(which i think are excellent). revelation is friggin awesome. arnels voice is so close to steve perry's, its unbelievable. the band are on fire. this has got to be the year of classic rock. just to name a few cds released this year(asia, def leppard, whitesnake, journey), with more to come. i defenitely want to see them now. kevin shirley is the new mutt lange. all of the cds i own with him producing, are simply great. he produced trial by fire, arrival and revelation, all by journey. if only radio would grab on to these songs, journey would be right back on top.

[Bassnote]

80sfan, the first store I went to did not have it stocked yet either. Their distributer had not come to stock them yet. So I went to Sam's Club, and there were plenty in stock there.

[Complaint Department Manager]

Arnel gave me goose bumps when I first heard him. The guy has a thick filipino accent, but it doesn't translate in the slightest when he sings, absolutely phenomenal! And the 3 CD/DVD set is less than 12 bucks, I'd say that's a bargain.

[SpencerF]

This is such a pleasant surprise. I haven't been following this as closely as everyone else and didn't know a new album was on it's way. Just last night I had "Infinity" on the old turntable, so to then see this today it is like some sort of weird serendipity thing going on. Can't wait to hear the record.

[80sfan]

I was reminding this morning as to why I hate Wal-mart. I stopped to pick up the CD on my way into work. Not too terrible early in the day. Just shy of 9 o'clock. And do you think they had the CD on the shelf? No! Okay no problem just hunt down and employee and make them go dig it out of the back right? No! I was told that only ONE person was allowed to stock the new release rack and that person was not there.
Needless to say I did not get to contribute to the first day sales.
I will attempt tomorrow to stop at another location that is a bit out of my way but where I suspect I will be more successful.

[Spears]

The 3-disc set cost about $11.50 here in Tampa Bay.

[Bassnote]

Another thing I love about this new disc, is that it cost me less than $11.00.

[Bassnote]

I love the pre-"Escape" albums with Steve Perry. That is some of their most rockin' stuff. The re-recorded disc is awesome. My 7yr old daughter loves the song "Don't Stop Believin'," and when I played the new version she said, "Both singers sound the same!"

[Spears]

I still consider "Departure" my favorite album. Even more so than "Escape."

[Bassnote]

Arnel sounds even better on the concert DVD than on the CDs, but I said that in the last blog post. I'm totally diggin' on the album. "Revelation" could easily have been the follow-up to "Raised On Radio." I still feel like several tracks have a "Departure" feel to them, and that is not a bad thing at all.