http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:20:54 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-134263 Yes we shall! 134263@blogcritics.org Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:20:54 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-134257 ...I thought that as well but my Frontiers press release says they re-recorded the drum parts for this European release. Seems a strange move as Castronovo is a good drummer anyway. Have to ask JSS at the London gig won't we :) 134257@blogcritics.org Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:05:25 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-133916 Jason, its Dean Castronovo who plays on the album, Donati joined post-album release. This album does get better and better with each play. Hard rock pedant here...sorry :p 133916@blogcritics.org Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:14:01 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-133913 WOW! This album is way better than I expected and being a big Journey & JSS fan I set my expectations high. From the brief guitar into we're off on a rocking ride with 'Highest Ground' and 'New Position' (Van Halen meets Brian May). 'Another World' hits a Led Zep grove as the song builds nicely to a crescendo at the chorus and Marco Mendoza drives it along with some neat bass runs. Ballads are kept to a bare minimum, which must be unusual for Neal Schon as the last two Journey albums have been ballad heavy to say the least. 'Soul Goes On' is the pick of the ballads and Soto again steals the show. 'Alive' catches you out as it starts with a harmony vocal before kicking in with a big guitar riff and is the sort of song Journey will hopefully try to emulate on their new album. 'Friends To Lovers' wins my track of the album award, as it is so damn catchy. Schon's soloing is so damn heavy that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a metal guitarist in the band, whilst Virgil Donati's drums ring clear in the mix and his playing on this album proves he is one of the best drummers around at the moment. Neal Schon whips up a veritable storm on guitar with Jeff Scott Soto at the top of his game vocally. Hopefully this album will sell lots and more importantly break out of the obvious Journey/Soto market into the wider rock scene. It really is a classic and I'd be surprised if any other hard rock album tops this release this year or indeed in the near future. 133913@blogcritics.org Tue, 29 Mar 2005 16:04:49 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-122252 None...there is one ballad...almost everything else is very rocky. 122252@blogcritics.org Thu, 24 Feb 2005 14:39:42 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-122244 How many sappy power ballads fill this album among the actual rock songs? 122244@blogcritics.org Thu, 24 Feb 2005 14:16:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/23/112444.php#comment-122204 Interesting, I didn't know he sang vocals on the Rockstar disc. I thought that was the guy from Steelheart? Am I misunderstanding you? Anyway, this is a great album but check out Jeff's latest disc and you might be surprised to find your favorite album of the year! 122204@blogcritics.org Thu, 24 Feb 2005 13:00:36 EST