#24

The Skip 5 Show #24: Journey – Tantra

From ECL1PS3 (2011), this ballad is beautiful. From the piano-driven intro to where the band joins in, the tune achieves lift-off, and it’s absolutely lifting. The guitar absolutely owns this track.

I loved the lyrics too, as not only did they nail the spirit of tantra, but I think it’s timely to hear them in these days. You might think it maudlin, but it’s so simple and they got it right, here. Just be here, just be present, and remember we’re all in this together. Check the first few lines:

One light shining bright, it’s made from many colours.
Just like every ocean’s made from many drops of rain.
One soul takes many shapes, to make up the human race.
One fire, many lives share the same sun every day.

Old beliefs let us down, many roads lead to heaven.
One love, many faiths all share the world in search of grace.
Across the universe, the same force that moves the Earth’s
In my heart, makes me whole, wash my doubt and fear away.

In a big deep blue sky on a beautiful day.
For the moment is now, there’s perfection in every way…

Journey – Escape

Mike, our One And Only Lebrain sent me this album, and it’s a stone cold classic. Interstingly, there’s been some talk about Journey over on Mike’s site yesterday, and I already had this one teed up and set to go, so… good timing!

Don’t Stop Believing Oh man. How many times have we heard this song? Still, it’s pretty great. It’s one of those songs we know all the words like we know our own names. One confusion: um, south Detroit? Did he grow up on Woodward Avenue? Or… maybe in Windsor, ON? Because I lived in Windsor in the 90s and it’s south of Detroit…

Stone In Love oughta be about a Rolling Stone. I don’t know if it is, or not. However, it’s another good rock song that totally fits its era. All the pieces are here – syncopated rhythms, big guitar solo, harmony vocals…

Who’s Crying Now is another huge hit we all know backwards. Good tune. Takes me back.

Keep On Runnin’ ramps things back up, a high energy rocker with a fun time signature. Wow, Perry really wails on this one.

Still They Ride is the exact opposite again, the ultimate rock power ballad. It… soars. Every high school dance in the sweat-smelling gym needed this song.

Escape brings back the rock again, bluesy and oh-so 80s (in a good way). It’d be a fun concert fist-pumper.

Lay It Down’s intro reminded me (momentarily, and only in passing reference) of the Black Crowes but it quickly becomes it’s own beast, a middle-of-the-road rock song that doesn’t quite achieve the lift-off of others. It’s saved by the bluesy guitars. Solos!

Dead Or Alive sets a fantastic fast rock pace. I liked the deceptively simple piano accents. Rapid-fire vocals, pure fun. What a workout!

Mother, Father’s pretty, acoustic intro becomes another lighter-waving power ballad. A lot of thought went into this one, though. It’s still got its heavy bits. Yes.

Open Arms is another one we know completely, except – I swear – I thought this was an Air Supply song. All deference to Journey, of course. It’s Lite FM glory, slow dance heaven, and Boomer candlelit dinner essential.

In sum: this is a really excellent record. Three huge hits, others that coulda/shoulda been. The vocals are friggin’ great. Hearing it now has given me a new, deeper appreciation of Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain’s guitars. The record has superb production and sound. It’s so clear. So much fun.

Thanks heaps, Mike!