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THE JOURNEY ZONE
http://www.journey-zone.com
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THE REVIEWS
November, 2002
Journey: Red 13
November 26, 2002
Reviewer: Steve/Rocknut, RevampScripts.Com
Journey is a band at a crossroads or a period of transition. With Steve Perry consigned to memory and the disappointing commercial sales of the otherwise excellent Arrival album it seems that the core of the band (Neal Schon, Jonathon Cain and Ross Valory) have made a conscious decision to regroup and consolidate. The recording line up from Arrival remains constant with Neal's long term drumming partner Deen Castronovo and the immensely talented Steve Augeri joining the 3 originals...and with this amount of talent you would have expected Arrival to have shifted major units. However, depending on what theory you choose to believe--lack of Perry and/or lack of label support from Sony--the sales never materialised, ultimately culminating in the band and Sony parting company.
In the fallout of these events the band chose to keep it together when
the chorus of baying disapproval must have been deafening. With their
collective integrity intact (not a whiff of any kind of sellout here kids)
the band let loose their new 4 song E.P Red 13 and, in the process, have
taken 2 steps backwards to take one huge leap forward.
Red 13 is, in one word, retro and in this case it is a very good thing. The
striking thing about this release is the production...or, to be more
accurate, the lack thereof. Gone are the huge, lush, production layers of
yesteryear and in their place is a very loose and organic feel which
brings to mind the kind of sound and atmosphere the band achieved in
days of yore with Roy Thomas Baker at the helm. Well produced for sure
but still loose enough to sound raw in much the same way as Queen's
Sheer Heart Attack album did under the same guidance. The credit for
this goes to Neal and Jonathon who share the production responsibilities
here.
For those fans that still mourn the loss of Mr. Perry this will not be good
news but the band HAS moved on and memory lane would appear to be
the path less travelled but this new approach may garner as many new
fans as it alienates and seems to be a risk the band are prepared to
take.
The songs here all appear to have the live environment in the back of
their minds with the exception of the Miami Vice cum Top Gun
soundtrack sounding instrumental, Red 13, which opens this release. It
has a very Jan Hammer sound to it and is a little out of place here but, if
used as an intro to taking the stage, I'm sure even this could be utilised.
As the last strains of the intro fade out the band fairly launch into the
first real 'song'...State Of Grace. The band sound hungry. This is a rock
band stripped back and rediscovering the word 'rock' and they are
hungry. The riff is reminiscent of the Journey of the mid to late
70's...the band are having fun and it shows.
This is a Journey free of expectations and able to be who they are with
no clamouring for thick, sugary ballads that, at once, became the band's
vehicle to the big time and their albatross.
No...this song is borne of jamming and not one put together in the studio
like some digital audio jigsaw.
'State Of Grace' has a very Eastern vibe and the Asian drums used on
the fade out add to that overall feel.
Much the same can be said for 'The Time'...track 2 on the album. The
Eastern tinges are gone but the 70's feel remains along with the
understated backing vocals which lay just low enough in the mix as to
be heard but never take over.
The organic feel of the production is still there (was this recorded in
analogue?) and the song has a Wheel In The Sky feel to it. Song 3,
'Walking Away From The Edge', is both the ballad and jewel in this
sparkling crown. There is a rumour that this was co - written by, and
recorded with, none other than Geoff Tate. If that demo does exist it
would be great to hear but it has to be said that even the great man
himsef would have his work cut out to better, or even match, Steve
Augeri on this one.
The acoustic intro is delicate and sounds not unlike Don Henley's 'New
York Minute' when the bass joins the party but that is where any
similarity ends. WAFTE has a very Tall Stories vibe to it and is markedly
less Journey 'sounding' than their other famous ballads. The lyrics seem
intensely personal and will reach the soft underbelly of every
listener...taking them to that place where their own regret
resides.....bringing back memories that maybe you'd like to forget but
also reminding you that everything you experience helps you to evolve
into the person you become.
Steve Augeri has rarely sounded better and this is the kind of song he
thrives on and Neal's solo on the fade out is just amazing.
The band follow this gem with the slightly more typical AOR sound of I
Can Breathe....which sounds a little similar to Bad English. Steve again
excels and would seem to be settled and happy with his new role within
the band. Steve is also a great writer and the songs he has co written
within Journey are all top class material.
This is no exception and the brass section that slides in the back door
almost without you noticing is a nice touch that adds to the big sound
on this song.
This E.P is Journey inviting their long term fan base to spread their wings
and join the band on the next leg of their almost 30 year evolution. This
is a familiar Journey that you may not recognise initially. Get to know
them once again...you will not be disappointed.
Last Updated 14 April, 2004 (JRNYDV)
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