"Steve Perry Did Come Back In 1996"--TRIAL BY FIRE--Journey POLL:

Generations is IMO the worse cd they have EVER released!! I find it amazing when a band has a great singer but everyone else in the band has to sing...why oh why!?!?!

 

I prefer Trial By Fire to Raised On Radio (which is my least favourite Journey album by some distance) but I don't rate it particularly highly. Too much soul & not enough rock.

 

It’s not that bad. Schon and Castronovo have good voices. Castronovo’s is actually quite good. Valory and Cain, not so much. Still, some quality songs on the album.

 

I have zero interest in their uptempo songs, but this band could always do a killer ballad.

 

Definitely.

 

Generations a solid effort. Voices were great on this rocker.

 

Half his voice???
Did you not hear his vocal performance on When You Love A Woman? he closes that song out with his trademark soaring vocals.
Truly one of his finest ever vocal performances.
I really don’t get this half a voice stuff!!! Who else could sing that song like him?

 

Thank you! Does Peter Cetera have "half his voice"? Does Jon Bon Jovi? Lou Gramm? Coverdale? Why is Steve Perry alone held to this ridiculous standard where he's expected to sound like he did 40 effing years ago or otherwise his voice is shot?

Just about everyone from his cohort is significantly downtuning, using considerable amounts of technical assistance and in many cases still sounding pretty rough but they get a pass.

Perry IMO sounds fantastic on this album, pure soul and the grit in his voice perfectly suits the introspective rock and soul vibe of the album. Judging by his minimally-rehearsed, first time in 20 years performances with Eels he can still sing the socks off Cetera or JBJ etc, and maybe he would be if the fans allowed him to be a 69 year old guy who's more than made up for what he's lost at the top end of his range with his sensitivity of interpretation, tone, emotional expression and just pure damn soul.


Rant over.

 

If He Should Break Your Heart shoulda been a big hit....sounds so much like Journey in their prime!

 

Perfect rant IMO.
All so very true

 

Amen. Steve Perry sounds amazing on this album and FTLOSM. Hope he puts out an album before it's too late.

This album's main flaw is being too long. Cut about 4 or 5 songs and trim the length on songs like "Castles Burning" and it would be much more palatable.

 

Yeah I always skip castles burning. Can’t tame the lion. Colors of the spirit baby I’m leaving you and that awful bonus track from Japan.
This could have been a classic 11 or 12 track album.
But anyone saying Steve didn’t sing well on this album are just deluded.
I listen to FTLOSM constantly. I am. Title track. Missing you. Such great vocal performances
Also while I think of it. Still she cries and when I think of you from TBF are also superb performances from Steve.
If you listen to any journey album since they kicked him out,the quality of the songwriting and the vocals are severely lacking.
Steve was clearly the main writer/ quality control / unmatched vocalist.

 

I was entrenched in a nice Journey phase a few years ago, but never embraced this album. My opinion is much like that of the band’s (potentially biased) former manager, Herbie Herbert. The songs generally feel a bit monotone and just don’t ever really lift off.

 

I lost interest in Journey on the Frontier s album. Up until then they were 'Street', with elements of Santana, Jazz, Blues, hippie rock. But something happened to them after Departure, they lost their charm for me and when Cain came into the fold that was it. Formula adult contemporary music. Yes, it served them well as they went to incredible heights, but it killed the Street cred the band originally had with the early fans like me. They're music turned from a Positive hippie type vibe into what I call 'Drama' pop, again, it served them well, but I'd rather remember happy songs like 'Majestic', 'Lovin, Touchin, Squeezing' then Drama Pop songs about families breaking up and downer **** like that.
For me:
Infinity
Evolution
Departure,
After r that, corporate schlock to the max.
But to each his or her own.
Beave

 

I know I played it a few times on release and formed the view that it did lacked the consistency of classic Journey. It is definitely too long. I'm moved to give it another spin before I vote though.

 

Later on I am gonna come up with my 10 track version of TBF. I may have to leave off a ballad or two that I like just so there is sufficient variety.

 

I agree, with the exception of the first album with Arnel, "Revelation". I think there are some great songs on that album that have the trademark sound of soaring energy. I think Arnel brought a ton of enthusiasm to the rest of the guys and that translated into some inspired songwriting.

 

Over 75 minutes could be torture but I like the opener Message Of Love.

 

Kevin Shirley and John Kaldoner try to turn every record they're involved with into Aerosmith.

 

Well I can listen to this one from start to finish. I could live without Baby I'm A-leavin' You and Forever in Blue, but I don't strongly object to them.

I love the neurotic freneticism of Castles Burning - perfect ugly breakup song! Love Can't Tame the Lion, all the more for knowing it's an ode to the fans. Leaving I Can See It In Your Eyes off the US version is up there with leaving Ask the Lonely off Frontiers in the list of Bad Journey Decisions. Although I do prefer Guff's punkier cover (with a surprise guest on backing vocals).

If I have to pick 4, it's got to be: Don't Be Down on Me Baby - pure soul that Otis Redding would be proud of, Trial By Fire - just for that first line, It's Just the Rain and When You Love a Woman - when in doubt, go for the power ballad.

 

My CD has just the 14 tracks ending at Trial By Fire. I picked Message Of Love, One More, If It Should Break Your Heart and Still She Cries. I just "re-listened" for the first time for a few years and think I did under-rate it. If only they had edited it back to 10 songs or so - it would be much more accessible IMHO. Too many power ballads extending the listing - less is more.