Journey
Escape

THE REVIEW

A masterpiece. There's no more suitable word to describe this album, which includes some of the songs that have made rock history and still know how to move us today.
Journey, already known for masterpieces like "Lights," "Wheel In The Sky," "Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’" and "Any Way You Want It," manage to create an album that leaves no regrets. The band consists of Steve Perry, one of the most unique and powerful voices in America, Neal Schon on guitars, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, Ross Valory on bass, and Steve Smith on drums: this is undoubtedly the golden lineup of the group.

"Don’t Stop Believin’", the legendary opening of the album, is a timeless song: very catchy and characterized by that mix of sweetness and aggressiveness that makes it unique and immortal. "Stone In Love" and "Who’s Cryin’ Now" are true milestones, songs that speak for themselves from the first listen. It was precisely these three, along with "Open Arms," that made America dream in those years when the album reached number one on the charts, and that still today offer rich emotions. Notable, as always, are the melodic but well-articulated solos of Neal Schon and the keyboards of Jonathan Cain, sometimes simple but always spot on. Next is "Keep On Runnin’," a harder piece than the previous ones, but still in the AOR style, like the whole album. "Still They Ride" is a deep and moving piece, overwhelming in all its intensity, made of exciting guitar chords and perfect vocalizations, worthy of the great Perry. Following is the title track "Escape," a piece with outstanding energy and vitality, a typical song that gets you pumped, great to listen to when the mood isn't at its best. The choruses are vigorous, as always.
"Lay It Down" and "Dead Or Alive," once again reaffirm the skill of the five undisputed musicians. Steve Smith is one of the best drummers around, often underrated or even forgotten; but his skill is unquestionable, so much so that today he plays Jazz-Fusion with Steps Ahead. With guitar and piano opens the majestic "Mother, Father," a song that talks about the strength and unity of the family, hence with very positive words, but almost gloomy musically. Nevertheless, it's another gem of this album, one that hits straight to the heart. The closing track is the aforementioned "Open Arms": one of the most engaging and emotional songs in the entire Journey career. It's a highly romantic piece, but not clichéd; it's not the typical tear-jerking ballad, on the contrary, it’s truly charged, and Perry seems to express his love aggressively, especially in the chorus.

The entire album is wrapped in an atmosphere of frantic freedom, a desire to escape (Escape...) to live life to the fullest; perhaps these themes are the reason it has left its indelible mark on music history.