Journey
Revelations
In its 35 years as a band, Journey has moved through 18 members while settling nicely into classic-rock rotation with hits that are undeniably – even for me in all my indie snobbery -- fantastic songs. Their most recognized leader, Steve Perry, finally left the group in 1998 for reasons that no one really remembers anymore. He was replaced by lookalike/sound-alike/name-alike Steve Augeri (rhymes with Perry) for a few years; the band found their stride for a brief while, but it didn’t last. In a desperate attempt to find a new frontman, Neal Schon, the band's sole steady member since its inception, lurked around on YouTube for tribute band videos and stumbled upon Filipino Arnel Pineda, who nabbed the spot with a fairy-tale happy ending for all parties. In recognition of the verbose exposition and I will get to the point: Pineda sings like a bitch. Seriously. With newest lineup in place, the band has released this double album; in the ultimate middle finger to Perry, the entire second disc is filled with re-recordings of all their hits. While listening, I found myself with the raised-eyebrow/half-smile/head-nod pose in full effect. I was unabashedly impressed. What Pineda lacks in high-waisted acid-washed jeans, hi-top sneakers and feathered hair, he makes up for with vocal chops and starry-eyed enthusiasm. The first disc is obviously aimed at middle-aged couples looking for rock ballads to sway to at their high school reunions or wedding anniversaries, but the quality of the second disc alone makes this worth the purchase. – Susie Ulrey
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