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Well, here we go again, another singer,
another album and another tour to promote both? Only this time rock old
boys Journey might just have found the front man they’ve been looking for
in Arnel Pineda, hailing from Manilla in the Phillipines, who was
discovered singing Journey songs on the internet of all places. The rest
as they say…
You can hear on “Revelation” just why Neal Schon got Pineda the gig, as he
is probably as close to Steve ‘the vocal’ Perry as you are going to get
when you listen to opening track “Never Walk Away”. You’d be forgive if
you thought you had an old album on by mistake, with Schon’s unmistakable
sounding guitar work, the usual harmonies from Deen Castronovo and of
course Pineda’s vocals, that stop you in your tracks for a few seconds as
he sounds so familiar, though without that bit richness Perry had.
The first of Jonathon Cain’s ballads “Like A Sunshower” begins with a
vibrating guitar intro, before being accompanied by some light keyboards,
then in come those vocals again, showing why Schon brought him into the
fold, as this ballad proves Pineda’s worth. “Change For The Better” has a
similar guitar beginning, but ends up more of a rockier track, with its
driving guitars and drums at the heart of the songs. Schons guitar solo
takes it to another level, whilst Pineda seems to revel within the vocals
as it goes on.
You get to hear the true Pineda for the first time on “Wildest Dream” and
I’ve got to say, the boy ain’t half bad! He doesn’t have to sound like
Perry all of the time to prove himself, as he shows he has the talent
anyway, so it’s slightly disappointing when he falls back into place on
the reworked version of “Faith In The Heartland”, which another past
singer Steve Augeri actually sang on the 2005 album “Generations”. Anyone
follow…!
As soon as “After All These Years” begins, it’s a case of where have I
heard that before?, because it sound like a ballad that’s been done before,
so possibly a comfy blanket song for the fans who buy this album, and
definitely Pineda at his best on his debut album. Again “Where Did I Lose
Your Love” has a deja-vu moment about it that fans will notice again,
whilst on “What It Takes To Win” only Schon’s guitar solo reminds you who
you’re listening to, as the song as a whole has a bit of a glum sound to
it. Not the typical Journey style we’re all used to.
If there’s one band
who like their ballads then it has to be this lot, so “Turn Down The World
Tonight” doesn’t come as any surprise, as they had to fit in another one
before the end, with the piano being the centre piece along with Pineda’s
pleading voice sending out its message. They even throw in an instrumental
for good measure, “The Journey” showing off the talents of everyone in the
bans one way or another, obviously Schon’s guitar that has become has
trademark sound, Castronovo’s heart beating drums, Cain’s light-fingered
keyboards that come to life midway through, and just subtle touch of bass
from Ross Valory that doesn’t overpower the track when it easily could
have. “Let It Take You Back” is the bonus track that ends CD 1, and on CD
2 (if you get it) has 11 reworked classic songs from Journey’s past that
Pineda does a grand job on.
Journey seem to have found a new spark of life that is shown throughout
this new album, so whether it’s the fact they’ve had to step things up a
bit in case their fans get tired of all the chopping and changing of front
men, or could it be that in Pineda they’ve possibly found the voice
closest to Perry’s that they are going to find unless he makes a
remarkable return, then I suppose it’s business as usual for the time
being. Until then let’s seen how long Schon’s ego can put up with Pineda’s
limelight before there’s an ad for “an established rock band looking for
vocalist” doing the rounds in rock magazines and the rollercoaster ride
starts again!!!
Review
by Bob Baldwin.
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