JOURNEY

(UNITED STATES)

FREEDOM

(2022)
LABEL:

BMG

GENRE:

A.O.R.

TAGS:
80's, Easy-Listening
"In spite of an average production, "Freedom" is undoubtedly the best album proposed by Journey since "Frontiers"."
LYNOTT (13.07.2022)  
5/5
(0) opinions (17) comment(s) (1) Biography + (6)
We hadn't heard from Journey since his beautiful album "Eclipse". Eleven years have passed since then, and fans had never waited so long to discover a new production from this legendary band. One year before their fiftieth anniversary, the perseverance is finally rewarded with the arrival of the fifteenth opus of the Americans, a "Freedom" whose title is the original name of "Raised On Radio".

Recorded from the place of residence of each of the members, this album spread between Manila, Nashville, San Francisco and Los Angeles sounds as if the five companions had locked themselves up for weeks in the same studio, so much their unity is obvious. The long absence of the combo had the merit to have probably pushed Neal Schon's band to compose a consequent number of tracks with more than 80 minutes and fifteen tracks.

"We wanted to go where we have never gone before" said Neal Schon. And indeed, within this production largely in conformity with what the combo used to produce since the 80's, some tracks surprise... and are the least interesting of the opus. 'Let It Rain' doesn't seem to have been composed by the band, its slow, dark and heavy groove is a pain to listen to. Pineda's pushed and doctored voice on the chaotic 'Holdin On' and on 'Come Away With Me', which is closer to Hardline than Journey, will make fans grind their teeth.

In spite of a production that is not up to the mark (it sounds like a live album), these mistakes do not prevent "Freedom" from being the best album proposed by the Americans since "Frontiers". Impetuous and stimulating, it is marked by a phenomenal rhythm section and the talent of a guitarist who has never been so present and inspired. The songs with larger than life melodies are legion here. Some of them will certainly join the band's unavoidable hits. In energetic mode ('You Got The Best Of Me') or mid-tempo ('The Way We Used To Be' and 'United We Stand'), the combo intoxicates the listener with enticing tracks. Under the influence of breathtaking guitars, the listener is left flabbergasted by so much melodiousness. 'After Glow' is truly bewitching in this respect. This moving ballad sung by Deen Castronovo doesn't look like much on its first bars, but it turns into an absolutely dreamy (almost) instrumental.

After waiting more than a decade for this new offering from Journey, patience has been rewarded. The 2022 vintage of the Americans is a true happiness. Praise be to them for showing, after so many years and successes, such a desire to satisfy their fans who will be fulfilled here.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Together We Run - 4:49
02. Don't Give Up On Us - 5:23
03. Still Believe In Love
04. You Got The Best Of Me - 5:33
05. Live To Love Again - 5:30
06. The Way We Used To Be - 3:35
07. Come Away With Me - 4:02
08. After Glow - 5:22
09. Let It Rain - 4:40
10. Holdin On - 3:14
11. All Day All Night - 3:38
12. Don't Go - 4:58
13. United We Stand - 5:05
14. Life Rolls On - 4:57
15. Beautiful As You Are - 7:10

LINEUP:
Arnel Pineda: Chant
Deen Castronovo: Choeurs
Jason Deralta: Choeurs
Jonathan Cain: Claviers / Choeurs
Narada Michael Walden: Batterie / Choeurs
Neal Schon: Guitares / Choeurs
Randy Jackson : Basse / Choeurs
   
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS    
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(17) COMMENT(S)    
 
 
LOLO_THE_BEST59
13/07/2024
 
829
0
Un Journey de très bonne facture avec un Neal Schon au top de sa forme. Il y a quelques titres en retrait (l'enchaînement Let it Rain / Holding On ne m'a guère convaincu), mais aussi quelques pépites, donc effectivement After Glow qui est pour moi le meilleur titre de l'album. Sinon, je suis aussi d'accord avec Torpedo, la recherche mélodique est permanente et les titres sont très travaillés, alors mettre la note de 1 c'est abusé.
LYNOTT
09/08/2022
  0
Dominus locutus est
TORPEDO
03/08/2022
  0
Juste en passant, mettre 1 à cet album, c'est juste pas possible et manquer de respect aux musiciens... On peut ne pas aimer certes, mais derrière cet album il y a énormément de travail, une excellente production, des artistes qui maitrisent totalement leur instrument et les titres n'ont pas été écrits à la va-vite...
TORPEDO
03/08/2022
  0
Mais il est très bon cet album ! Les gros points forts sont les soli de guitare et chose rare dans ce style, la batterie... J'ai honte mais je ne découvre que maintenant Narada Michael Walden et un feeling qu'on n'entend pas souvent dans le Hard Rock. Il semble faire partie de ces batteurs bien technique qui n'en font pas des tonnes mais qui placent partout des petites fulgurances (fin d'after glow) et fills (a peu près partout) qui font mouche. J'ai même mis le casque pour pouvoir entendre toutes les finesses.
GENTLE GIANT JL
14/07/2022
 
40
0
Après une longue "Éclipse", leur dernier album, Journey nous revient avec un nouveau disque. Si l époque n 'est plus à l'AOR/FM joué dans des stades américains bondés, retrouver les mélodies du groupe nous offre toujours le plaisir de nous replonger dans la période bénie du début des 80's. Si l 'inspiration n 'est pas toujours présente dans cet album un peu trop long, le style du groupe, lui, est toujours là et certains morceaux font mouche. Avec Boston, Toto, Foreigner et dans un style un peu plus prog Kansas, Journey fait toujours partie des groupes américains de légende. 4/5
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READERS
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STAFF:
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MY RATING
 
LAST NEWS
JOURNEY: Freedom
 
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT JOURNEY
JOURNEY_Arrival
Arrival (2001)
4/5
4/5
COLUMBIA / A.O.R.
JOURNEY_Frontiers
Frontiers (1983)
5/5
4.3/5
SONY BMG / MELODIC HARD ROCK
 
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