Artist: Journey
Title: “Generations”
Label: Sanctuary Records
Release Date: 10/4/2005
Genre: Rock
Rating: 8.5
To classify the band Journey as legendary is probably one of the most qualifying statements a music fan can make. For over thirty years the band that was formed by ex members of Santana has delivered some of life’s most defining songs. Signature albums such as “Escape” and “Frontiers” have withstood the tests of time with songs that sound as fresh today as they did when originally released. While time has changed this band as far as the lineup goes it is clear that their music is as strong as ever. There are some fans that chose to stop listening the minute Steve Perry was no longer part of the group and these people are missing the boat on the magnificent talent that is Steve Augeri. Augeri has been a part of the bands touring lineup for seven years now and those that have stuck around will tell you how amazing he actually is and what a dead ringer vocally he can be on the classic material. The band in 2005 is Neil Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Vallory (bass), Deen Castronovo (drums) and Steve Augeri (vocals). When you listen to them you will find them tighter than ever before and given my love for the Perry years and drumming of Steve Smith this is saying a lot from me.
The new release which comes courtesy of Sanctuary Records is an excellent album to say the least. There are new arena anthems, ballads and moving rockers that old fans will get into immediately but more importantly that new “Generations” of fans will catch on to easily. The title of the album actually comes from the band noticing the younger attendees at shows over the past few years. It was clear that there was an impact to their music that was resonating in the hearts of new music fans as well. Kicking off with “Faith In The Heartland” Augeri grabs your attention with his passionate voice and his amazingly high pitch. “The Place In Your Heart” sounds like classic Journey and hold some similarity to “Separate Ways” in its groove. On “Every Generation” we find Jonathan Cain delivering vocals while “A Better Life” and “Never Too Late” handles these numbers. The interesting thing about this is not only the fact that everyone gets a turn at singing but in the aspect that every song works well across the record. The tender ballad “Butterfly” is a great test of Augeri’s vocals and bears some Robert Plant like moments. I can see this becoming a favorite of the female audience members over time. Heavy numbers come in the form of “Gone Crazy” and “In Self Defense” with both blistering guitar and drum work by Schon and Castronovo. If you ask me Neil Schon has never sounded better and it is great to see Deen Castonova playing stuff a little more complex than he was able to do in Bad English.
I was not sure what to expect from one of my favorite bands of all time and I admit I was pleasantly surprised. The CD comes packaged with a 16 page color booklet with lyrics and given the fact that this is building a new generation of fans you can expect to hear these songs from the lips of most who hear it. I raise my glass to both old and new fans. Journey is proving that they are not your Parents Rock and Roll by any stretch.
Track Listing:
1. Faith In The Heartland
2. The Place In Your Heart
3. A Better Life
4. Every Generation
5. Butterfly (She Flies Alone)
6. Believe
7. Knowing That You Love Me
8. Out Of Harms Way
9. In Self-Defense
10. Better Together
11. Gone Crazy
12. Beyond The Clouds
13. Never Too Late – remixed bonus
14. Generations EPK – bonus feature
Official Website: www.JourneyMusic.com