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Rating: The second Journey album was released in 1976, and the band found themselves reduced to a quartet, having rid themselves of the superfluous rhythm guitarist George Tickner. Things are decidedly better compared to their self-titled debut album, although there's still no reason to get too excited. The band shakes off a certain amount of progressive residue, a genre for which they are not well-suited, particularly limiting that tendency to play compositions always at a slow tempo, à la Pink Floyd. They try to toughen up the sound as much as possible, although it's very melodic, by playing instruments harder and shouting more into the microphone.
The singer (and keyboardist) Gregg Rolie tries hard, attempting to make his style appealing and communicative... there is power, but the timbre, expressiveness, and range are just decent. When he was with Santana, such limitations mattered less, as that lineup was dedicated (at the time) to intense and psychedelic instrumental jam sessions, in a jubilation of percussion crossed by the true solo singing of Carlos’ instrument, notoriously among the most melodic guitarists of all time. With Journey, it’s different; when the group attempts to perform structured songs, very hard rock but with verses and choruses that are possibly accessible, Rolie’s limited talent as a frontman comes at a price.
While waiting for better times (which will indeed arrive with a bang), the first notable episode of the repertoire is recorded, the one that titles the work: much of the credit goes to the dominant composer and instrumentalist of the piece, then-twenty-year-old guitarist Neal Schon, who begins here to sharpen his skills and climb the rankings in the consideration of industry insiders. The curly Neal properly refines his touch on the instrument, elegantly embellishes the sound with choruses and reverbs, skillfully and dynamically arranges the accompaniment, increases the distortion and attack of the pick during the solos, largely liberating himself from the Santana sound that had characterized him till then. “Look Into The Future” is a guitar overflowing but lyrical and dense track, which alone earns the extra star that this work deserves compared to the debut.
The rest of the album doesn’t present any other highlights: a sort of hard fusion prevails, an over-amplified instrumental virtuosity, pretentious and stubborn in searching for, and not finding, true inspiration and effectiveness, with all four instrumentalists working hard, borrowing some elements from Kansas (the almost instrumental “Midnight Dreamer”) or Wishbone Ash (the introduction to two harmonized guitars of “She Makes Me”). They also attempt to play the card of a more straightforward, chart-friendly track with the opener “On A Saturday Nite,” structured on a pounding piano, but it lacks the necessary lightness, the savoir faire of those who can naturally create pop rock by deriving a catchy and unique hook from a phrase or a sequence of a few notes, a skill far more challenging than playing one hundred thousand notes in many different ways and rhythms, without much substance.
We're not quite there yet… for now, Journey is a well-prepared but somewhat anonymous rock band, with a guitarist in definite prominence and little else to note on the record, while live, the band indefatigably gives it their all, consolidating the bond among the musicians and their ambition, though the immediate future still holds modest improvements and recognition.Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Anyway (04:12)
A place in time
Can make the grind
Fall out when you want to
Anyplace, anytime
All the world loves another
You know you can't find no other
Still I'm gonna love you, yeah
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Dark at one
Are you havin' fun
Come on out with your play toys
You've got the blues on the run
All the world loves another
You know you can't find no other
Still I'm gonna love you, yeah
Yes, I'm gonna love you anyway yeah yeah yeah
No no no no no no no no no
Feelin' low
How I loved you so
Cut out all your teasing
You may never know
All the world loves another
You know you can't find no other
Still I'm gonna love you, yeah
Yeah, yes I know
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
Anyway
05 You're on Your Own (05:55)
Well try to make up your mind
Well try to make up your mind, yeah
Now you're on you're own,
Now you're on you're own, yeah dont leave me behind
There's a new moon rising on the other side
The other side of you
Talk to yourself and someone else
What you tryin' to do
You maybe will, you maybe won't
It's all for you to say
You say you do, and then you don't
It's only you in the way, yeah yeah
, now you're on you're own, dont leave me behind
Hey, now you're on you're own, yeah
When the light is gone that left your eyes
I haven't spoke too soon
And now we know your spoken words
Is just another tune
You spoke your mind, you've been so kind to me
It's all according to you
Well go inside, keep your pride
I can't get through to you, no no no
Now you're on you're own
Now you're on you're own, dont leave me behind
Well try and make up your mind, dont leave me behind
06 Look Into the Future (08:12)
Look into the future where would it be
Space between the lives whatever will I see yah
How long will I wander before I really know
What I'm here to do and where I have to go
Guess I'm coming home
Yeah you know I'm coming home someday
You know I'm coming home
I'm coming home some way
There you are my shining start
Can you remember who you are
The role that you play from day to dayayayay
You know it's not know it's not the only way
Still I'm coming home
Yeah you know know I'm coming home someday
The futures brighter now it's not so far away
dodododododododododo
Guess I'm coming home I'm coming home some way
Guitar/piano fill
But still I'm coming home,
Yeah you know I'm coming home someday
The futures brighter now it's not so far away
Guitar Solo
It's right around the corner
Just around the corner, oh no
Just around the corner, oh no no no ho
Just around the corner, oh no no
Just around the corner, yeah
07 Midnight Dreamer (05:13)
All alone through the countryside
Clouds in my brain, vision in my eyes
Thoughts are on the wall
Like oceons on the sand
Midnight dreamer, take me if you can
You can't deny, it seems so easy to do
But women trade in black
And now she's sinning on you
Giving you my heart, there's nothin' you can do
Midnight lover, I'm in love with you
She's my midnight lover, wild and fancy free
Standing in the shadows in the palace of my dreams
You're a pretty thing, like fire from the sun
You've got to catch her while she's shining before the morning comes
Aah, aah, aah
Could this be a dream?
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Aah, aah, aah
08 I'm Gonna Leave You (07:00)
Hi sweetz!
==========
Journey:Bonus Track
--
Baby I'm A-Leavin' You
You know that my heart is true
And I'd never lie to you
We try each and every day
Still there's something in the way
I like moonlight, simple things
Now you want a diamond ring
I got news for you
Baby I'm a-leaving you
We both want a love that lasts
Girl, you're moving away too fast
I live for your fantasy
A real love is what I need
You should be happy, tell you friends
This is where the movie ends
I got news for you
Baby I'm a-leaving you
Let me tell you, girl
I hear what you say, I see what you're doing, girl
I don't wanna play
We're livin' in two different worlds
Tell me girl it ain't true
The rumors that I hear about you
'Bout all the boys you knew before
Who come and go right out your door
I like moonlight, simple things
Go out and get a diamond ring
I got news for you
Baby I'm a-leaving you
Oh, baby I'm a-leaving you
I got news for you...
======================
Bye Sugarnuts!
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