GENERATIONS
JOURNEY is one of a few career bands left that can conduct their
careers pretty much any way they see fit, and still make a living doing
what they love to do. With the release of
Generations,
we see a full-length Journey disc that will have no videos shot for it,
no touring done behind it, and will essentially be a collector's piece
for fans across the planet who didn't get it when it was being handed
out for free while the band was touring summer sheds across the U.S.
It has been seven years since Steve Augieri filled the shoes left
vacant by Steve Perry, and with this release, he finally sounds like
he's come into his own. In addition to the band's singer finding his
place, the other members of the band take bold steps...and step up to
the microphone to sing lead vocals on several tracks. Drummer Deen
Castronovo sings on "A Better Life" and "Never Too Late", which are
more similar in structure to
Raised On Radio-era Journey.
"In Self Defense" was brought back from the dead (or from the
Fronteirs
sessions) and re-tooled by Neal Schon and Jan Hammer. To be perfectly
honest, I think they should have left it where it was. It sounds out of
place on
Generations.
I've always been a fan of Jonathan Cain's songwriting, so it didn't
shock me that I liked his vocals on "Every Generation", which sounds
like a nod to the 80's-Steve Perry-era mode of songwriting.
Steve Augieri has proven that he can sing Journey's catalog of tunes,
but he's never had a song that really showcased HIS abilities until
now. His amazing voice punches through to the front on "Knowing That
You Love Me", a touching ballad that will no doubt be played at more
than a few weddings.
