Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Mar 18, 2004 15:06:19 GMT -5
Hey, Lora can't be the only one doing album reviews! Let's go gang!
I am going to review my very favorite Journey album, Departure.
I know Classic Rockers say Infinity is the best, with FM staples, Wheel in the Sky, Lights and Feeling That Way/Anytime, and arena rockers like Escape, but to me, this album is the strongest overall. It has so much beyond the first song!
Journey
Departure
1980
Anyway You Want it-Here is an example of a single I never got sick of. At the risk of sounding like a complete dork, this song just rocks, beginning to end. For whatever reason, most classic rock stations that play the above Infinity cuts and Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' and Just the Same Way don't play this. I don't understand it.
Walks Like a Lady-This was the other single from the album, but you'd never know it these days. Actually, I don't remember it being a single back then. Without the old Whitburn in front of me, I think it peaked at 34 on the charts. Great pop-blues tune. Love hearing Greg Rolie shouting out "Ooo yeah!" halfway through the song.
Someday Soon-The way I got into this album was in late grade school, a buddy had an extra copy of the tape and gave it to me. At the time, all I knew was track 1, but I actually listened to more (which surprises me because I was less open to new music then than I am now! And that's saying something!). Well this was the first song to stand out to me. I love Greg Rolie's voice on the other songs, so that is probably what hooked me. If you like his parts on Feeling That Way/Anytime and Just the Same Way, give this one a shot!
People and Places-I don't know what it is about this song, but once I got into it, it just blew me away. It seems like Steve's voice is filtered or something, but it's a neat effect. This is a sort of tribute to their fans. I can just picture a concert concept video to this. Almost forgot to point out that the vocals are shared on this one by Neal Schon and Steve Perry! My fave track on the album, and THAT is saying something.
Precious Time-Not the same song Pat Benatar would put out a year later. The pause between this and the previous track is a very brief second which sounds cool for whatever reason. This one too has Steve's voice filtered. Great mouth harp on this one, as there was on Walks Like a Lady. This ends side 1 of what I consider one of the best album sides ever!
Where Were You-In the liner notes to their box set, Neil Schon points out they had been touring with AC/DC and they were influenced on this way. Great guitar riff opens this one up, and it doesn't let up. It's similar to AC/DC, but there is more than 4 chords here.
I'm Crying-Not among the best on here, but that's nothing to be ashamed of. Steve seems to be pouring his heart out here and his singing seems to build throughout the song. I think this is coming up shortly on the INSANE list.
Line of Fire-Yet another non-stop rocker. This was a great one on the live Captured album, which makes sense because it is such a fun rocker.
Departure-insignificant guitar instrumental, less than a minute long. Doesn't help OR harm the album.
Good Morning Girl-Without a doubt, the weakest song on the album. (And yet this, not tracks 4 & 5, made the box set!) Just sort of a dreary ballad without even much music to it.
Stay Awhile-I pointed out on today's INSANE list that this was so similar in structure to Lights, that they would perform them in medley in concert. They released that live medley as a cassingle when the box set came out in 92. If you like Lights, well, figure it out!
Homemade Love-For a long time, I didn't bother with this track because the previous couple were weak. Glad I went ahead and gave it more chances! Yet another rocker, but not as much as the others. Still, a great track.
If you like Journey based on a compilation, give this album a chance!
I just looked and Dawn did this last year on her Classic Rock Album of the Day feature!
I think I did better with this review than most of my others! LOL!
I am going to review my very favorite Journey album, Departure.
I know Classic Rockers say Infinity is the best, with FM staples, Wheel in the Sky, Lights and Feeling That Way/Anytime, and arena rockers like Escape, but to me, this album is the strongest overall. It has so much beyond the first song!
Journey
Departure
1980
Anyway You Want it-Here is an example of a single I never got sick of. At the risk of sounding like a complete dork, this song just rocks, beginning to end. For whatever reason, most classic rock stations that play the above Infinity cuts and Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' and Just the Same Way don't play this. I don't understand it.
Walks Like a Lady-This was the other single from the album, but you'd never know it these days. Actually, I don't remember it being a single back then. Without the old Whitburn in front of me, I think it peaked at 34 on the charts. Great pop-blues tune. Love hearing Greg Rolie shouting out "Ooo yeah!" halfway through the song.
Someday Soon-The way I got into this album was in late grade school, a buddy had an extra copy of the tape and gave it to me. At the time, all I knew was track 1, but I actually listened to more (which surprises me because I was less open to new music then than I am now! And that's saying something!). Well this was the first song to stand out to me. I love Greg Rolie's voice on the other songs, so that is probably what hooked me. If you like his parts on Feeling That Way/Anytime and Just the Same Way, give this one a shot!
People and Places-I don't know what it is about this song, but once I got into it, it just blew me away. It seems like Steve's voice is filtered or something, but it's a neat effect. This is a sort of tribute to their fans. I can just picture a concert concept video to this. Almost forgot to point out that the vocals are shared on this one by Neal Schon and Steve Perry! My fave track on the album, and THAT is saying something.
Precious Time-Not the same song Pat Benatar would put out a year later. The pause between this and the previous track is a very brief second which sounds cool for whatever reason. This one too has Steve's voice filtered. Great mouth harp on this one, as there was on Walks Like a Lady. This ends side 1 of what I consider one of the best album sides ever!
Where Were You-In the liner notes to their box set, Neil Schon points out they had been touring with AC/DC and they were influenced on this way. Great guitar riff opens this one up, and it doesn't let up. It's similar to AC/DC, but there is more than 4 chords here.
I'm Crying-Not among the best on here, but that's nothing to be ashamed of. Steve seems to be pouring his heart out here and his singing seems to build throughout the song. I think this is coming up shortly on the INSANE list.
Line of Fire-Yet another non-stop rocker. This was a great one on the live Captured album, which makes sense because it is such a fun rocker.
Departure-insignificant guitar instrumental, less than a minute long. Doesn't help OR harm the album.
Good Morning Girl-Without a doubt, the weakest song on the album. (And yet this, not tracks 4 & 5, made the box set!) Just sort of a dreary ballad without even much music to it.
Stay Awhile-I pointed out on today's INSANE list that this was so similar in structure to Lights, that they would perform them in medley in concert. They released that live medley as a cassingle when the box set came out in 92. If you like Lights, well, figure it out!
Homemade Love-For a long time, I didn't bother with this track because the previous couple were weak. Glad I went ahead and gave it more chances! Yet another rocker, but not as much as the others. Still, a great track.
If you like Journey based on a compilation, give this album a chance!
I just looked and Dawn did this last year on her Classic Rock Album of the Day feature!
I think I did better with this review than most of my others! LOL!
