Journey seems lazy all of a sudden....
I'm optimistic as ever for the new record and all but there are so many signs of these guys slowing down and going through the motions...
Doing "Faith in the Heartland" again? Almost completely ripping a song from RoR for the lead single? Half the known new songs being described as "ballads" with titles like "Like a Sunshower"? Not a single surprise on the re-recorded classics either...
Plus, the live stuff... only Arnel and Deen seem to have much energy these days. Piped-in backing vocals don't do much to help either....
Would it hurt that much to take a little bit of a risk on this new stuff? Throw in a re-recorded "Winds of March," "Walks Like A Lady," or "Chain Reaction" for the pure hell of it? Stop recycling songs from past albums? Hell, I'm sure some of the new songs have probably been in the tank since the Arrival sessions..
All that said, I HOPE I'M PROVEN COMPLETELY WRONG.
And I am still 100% in support of the Arnel-fronted lineup and want the band to enjoy success. I'll still be buying the record and hopefully attending a show or two. However... it's just kinda sad that there aren't many signs of Journey really challenging their boundaries at least a little more like they have every album up to now.
Prove me wrong, fellas.
Doing "Faith in the Heartland" again? Almost completely ripping a song from RoR for the lead single? Half the known new songs being described as "ballads" with titles like "Like a Sunshower"? Not a single surprise on the re-recorded classics either...
Plus, the live stuff... only Arnel and Deen seem to have much energy these days. Piped-in backing vocals don't do much to help either....
Would it hurt that much to take a little bit of a risk on this new stuff? Throw in a re-recorded "Winds of March," "Walks Like A Lady," or "Chain Reaction" for the pure hell of it? Stop recycling songs from past albums? Hell, I'm sure some of the new songs have probably been in the tank since the Arrival sessions..
All that said, I HOPE I'M PROVEN COMPLETELY WRONG.
And I am still 100% in support of the Arnel-fronted lineup and want the band to enjoy success. I'll still be buying the record and hopefully attending a show or two. However... it's just kinda sad that there aren't many signs of Journey really challenging their boundaries at least a little more like they have every album up to now.
Prove me wrong, fellas.
