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Journey - Live In Manila review



Reviewer:
9.0

3 users:
9
Band: Journey
Album: Live In Manila
Release date: October 2009


Disc I
01. The Journey/Majestic
02. Never Walk Away
03. Only The Young
04. Ask The Lonely
05. Stone In Love
06. Keep On Running
07. After All These Years
08. Change For The Better
09. Wheel In The Sky
10. Lights
11. Still They Ride
12. Open Arms
13. Mother Father
14. Wildest Dreams
15. When You Love A Woman
16. Separate Ways
17. What I Needed

Disc II
01. Edge Of The Blade
02. Where Did I Lose Your Love
03. Escape
04. Faithfully
05. Don't Stop Believin'
06. Anyway You Want It
07. Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'
08. Turn Down The World
09. Be Good To Yourself

Journey are everywhere at the moment, but just a few years ago they were no where to be seen. One of the all time greatest 80's rock bands have resurrected themselves in a way no one thought possible. A large part of credit for this can be taken by the band's new Steve Perry sound-a-like Phillipino singer, Arnel Pineda. This guy is an outstanding vocalist, his singing is in exactly the same style as the great Steve Perry. It is with Arnel that Journey once again have someone capable of giving all the band's classics what they deserve.

Live In Manila is a homecoming for Arnel, and shows Journey in concert in front of 30,000 people on a huge stage. A big screen and one of those catwalk stages shows the magnitude of the occasion. The DVD itself was recorded using "special 4K high-definition cameras with a resolution exceeding 35mm", which apparently means better quality, although there isn't any great difference to the norm. The sound quality is top-notch, clearly flaunting each instrument from the keyboard to the bass guitar.

The performance is monumental. The set runs in total for about two and a half hours, and acts almost as a "greatest hits" in a whole new element performed live. Songs from the band's latest album and first with Arnel, Revelation also make an appearance. Songs like "Change For The Better" and "Turn Down The World Tonight" blend in superbly with old classics such as, well, the whole rest of the DVD.

Perhaps understandably so, the band, Arnel in particular are a little stiff at the beginning. By the end however, he is comfortably master of the stage jumping around, acting the part having the time of his life. The extremely long set will be too much for casual Journey listeners, Live In Manila is therefore probably reserved for the fanatic fans. The closing duo of "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Any Way You Want It" sets the house on fire, although the adapted new ending to the former is also a little bemusing.

Journey are an extremely talented melodic rock band, but their true magic lies in their ability to write catchy, memorable, and usually highly emotive songs. Arnel blows the audience away with a stunningly moving performance of "Faithfully", proof if you needed any more that Journey have the right man for the job. Drummer Deen Castronovo also demands an honourable mention very capably handling lead vocals whilst drumming for songs such as "Keep On Running" and "Still They Ride".

An encore of three songs closes the epic set, leaving all in awe. Live In Manila is a perfect display of Journey today, showing you that this band is very much alive once more and can still deliver an absolutely timeless, magnificent set that will have you just wishing for more. There is no other rock band out there in this day and age that can take you on an emotional journey like this and still rock the house to its knees. This band deserve everything they get.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: -
Originality: -
Production: 10





Written on 28.02.2010 by Member of Staff since 2006


Comments

Comments: 6   Visited by: 81 users
01.03.2010 - 01:22
LeChron James
Helvetesfossen
Musical equivalent to the "Thrilla in Manila"?
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Kick Ass, Die Young

Less is More
Stay Pure
Stay Poor

Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
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01.03.2010 - 01:27
Baz Anderson

Haha, good one. Maybe in the melodic rock world, yes.
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01.03.2010 - 01:38
I_Die_Often

GAWD! I hate Journey, always have!
This ranks down there with Linkin Park being added...
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Old enough to be your Daddy... speaking of which... you look familiar... do I know your mother???
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01.03.2010 - 02:15
the stranger

Journey kicks ass but I didn't expect to see a review of them here. But I have only heard a couple of songs, so... maybe they do belong. And Linkin Park belongs here as Korn and all the nu-metal even if it is pure crap.
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01.03.2010 - 03:07
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by I_Die_Often on 01.03.2010 at 01:38

GAWD! I hate Journey, always have!
This ranks down there with Linkin Park being added...


Linkin Park were suggested, not added. And not that you made a link between them and Journey, but I feel the need to point out that they have absolutely nothing in common with each other aside from the fact both bands are popular.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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02.03.2010 - 01:05
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Damn good band, specely all 80's albums I remeber old days in VH! I saw all vids from band. realy when I hear Dont Stop belivin', Wheel In The Sky Keeps Turning, Lights , Seperet Ways(IMO best songs from band) , simply this band can play whit emeotions, all what I have heard is emeotinaly good and awesome, realy good band, not metal, but sometimes they are much better how core and nu bands and some others bands like leither ToT for example
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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