Album Of The Week: Frontiers by Journey

We here at Moshpits and Movies have covered a wide arrange of rock and metal music and all of it’s subgenres to the point that we feel we are pretty diverse. We want to keep the diversity going by checking out one of the best classic rock bands to come from the 70’s and through the 80’s in San Fransisco rock band Journey. The album that we are reviewing from the band is one of my personal favorites in their eight studio album 1983’s Frontiers. The album featured Steve Perry (Lead Vocals), Neal Schon (Lead Guitar), Jonathan Cain (Keyboards and Rhythm Guitar), Ross Valory (Bass), and Steve Smith (Drums) and it was produced by Mike Stone and Kevin Elson. The album was Ross Valory’s last album with the band at the time until he returned for 1996’s Trial By Fire. Going into recording this album, Journey had quite the daunting task of outdoing their last record Escape which went to number one on the Billboard Top 200 charts. Unfortunately as great as the album was, it peaked at number two on the charts, but it was the highest charted album from the band in the UK at number 6. Since the release of the album, it has been certified platinum six times selling over six million albums.

1.Separate Ways (World’s Apart)– The track features that classic keyboard riff matched with the charging guitar riff that drives the song forward. The song talks about a guy who even though he is heartbroken, he will always be there for the girl he lost. 5/5

2. Send Her My Love– A haunting ballad from the band that talks about the power of love and the effect it can have on a person who is always on the road. 5/5

3. Chain Reaction– A driving rock song that features that chugging playing from Schon in a track that is all about being careful about falling in love because the chain reaction can be hell. 4/5

4. After The Fall– A keyboard/guitar driven song that features bass playing from Randy Jackson (yeah the American Idol judge) in a track that is about when you want to tell someone you love them, but it’s too late. 4/5

5. Faithfully– One of the more famous ballads from the band that feels like it should be played in a stadium. It just has that big time ballad feel to it with the cool piano playing from Cain. The track is about no matter how hard life can be, love will always carry you through. End of side one! 5/5

6. Edge Of The Blade– A cool guitar riff from Schon kicks off the track that could be about how cutthroat the industry can be. 4/5

7. Troubled Child– A very bluesy riff from Schon and some keys from Cain kick off what is a little bit of a darker track for the band that features the melodies we love from them. 4/5

8. Back Talk– a big drum beat from Smith kicks things off as both Cain and Schon come in with some monster power chords giving it a big rock track feel. The song’s lyrics are pretty self explanatory. 4/5

9. Frontiers– The title track on the album is an OK one that mixes in some carribean beats to it if you listen close in the intro (sounds like the steel drum). 4/5

10. Rubicon– A big rock riff kicks off the final track on the album in a track that is all about realizing your fate and crossing the point of no return. 4/5

My Final Thoughts– These guys are pretty legendary and that is why they are in the rock and roll hall of fame and deservedly so. They have provided the world with so many great tracks and this album has some of those. My only wish is that they’ll tour with Steve Perry again. I am going to give the album 4.3 stars out of five for a final grade.

 

 

Soundtrack Saturdays: Reach Out by Cheap Trick

For this week’s soundtrack Saturdays song we are venturing into a film I didn’t know existed for a very long time. It’s a sad fact, but it’s true and if it wasn’t for Heavy Metal 2000, I would have never known. The early 1980’s animated classic anthology film called Heavy Metal which was based off of the magazine of the same name which featured lots of violence, sex, and other graphic material that was produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel and directed by Gerald Potterton. The soundtrack for the film featured some of the best in the business like Sammy Hagar, Black Sabbath, Devo, Nazareth, Journey, and today’s featured artist Cheap Trick. Cheap Trick had two songs that were featured on the soundtrack with I Must Be Dreamin being one and today’s featured song Reach Out. While the song kicks ass, it never charted as well as the other songs that were released from the soundtrack. It’s everything you would want to hear from a Cheap Trick song as it has a driving guitar riff mixed with some synths and those amazing vocals from Robin Zander. Check out the track below and definitely check out the film Heavy Metal.

Single Of The Week: Turn Back Time by Revolution Saints

You may be asking yourself just who in the heck is Revolution Saints and they just may be one of the best collection of musicians that Frontiers Records has put together. The band is made up of some legendary musicians in Jack Blades (ex-Damn Yankees, Night Ranger), Dean Castronovo (Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, and too many others), and Doug Aldrich (Lion, Burning Rain, Whitesnake). When you think of supergroups, those are the guys you want as the musicianship in the group is incredible. The band is gearing up right now to release their debut self titled album which will hit stores and online on February 24, 2015, but for now I have the single of the week in the track Turn Back Time. The title to the song is so fitting because the song really makes you turn back time as you can hear elements of Journey and Night Ranger within the track with some incredible guitar playing from Doug Aldrich who absolutely shreds on the song. The song definitely brings you back to a time when songwriting was just as important as how you looked on stage. It’s a shame we don’t have more music like this these days. Check them out for sure and if you want more info from them, visit their Facebook page here.