Customer Reviews

Find Your Own Way Home

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

REO Speedwagon was one of the classic arena rock/pop bands from the late 1970's to 1980's. Along with Styx, Journey, and Loverboy, REO Speedwagon formed the backbone of this period of music where huge album sales and concert gross defined one of the wildest expansions of music in history.

Then, after their album, "Life, As We Know It," REO hit a period of changes in lineup with the departure of founding members, drummer Alan Gratzer, and lead guitarist Gary Richrath. Along with these shakeups, REO suddenly departed the Billboard album charts.

The new lineup featured drummer Bryan Hitt and guitarist Dave Amato and released two original albums, "The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog, and a Chicken," plus "Building the Bridge." The second album featured a cut used in a Presidential election.

But neither album achieved anything remotely close to the success of their previous releases, much less the earth shattering success of "High Infidelity." This latest original album, "Find Your Own Way Home," changes all of that.

This album has already charted and that is despite a limited initial release through Wal-Mart stores. Now the album has been generally released. More important, the songs in this album are truly excellent and varied.

The initial two releases are "Smilin' In the End" to the classic rock stations and "Find Your Own Way Home" to the adult contemporary stations. "Smilin' in The End" is an old-fashioned rock and roll romp, a defiant ode of success against the odds. "Find Your Own Way Home" is a classic REO power ballad, but with a soulful theme of unfulfilled love with a pointed rejoinder that the lover must find her own lost way.

One hopes this is not the end of the releases to radio stations because as good as these two songs are, they are not the finest on the album.

The album has many songs that echo the REO classics of the past, but also expands the band's genre into new territory. "Born to Love You," is a wonderful blues song with an electric punch. Bassist Bruce Hall again lends his baritone voice as lead singer, and the song is pure toe-tapping energy. But there is more where that came from.

"Everything You Feel" is perhaps the single best song on the entire album, a masterful blend of high energy instrumentals with ballad style lyrics that form a brilliant example of progressive rock. The song starts slow, with a barely audible extended musical introduction, a pale whisper that builds into a crescendo of hard hitting guitar and organ compositions. Within this wall-splitting instrumental is a ballad that explores the measure of the man as the sum of his relationships, broken and successful.

But there are other flavors. "Dangerous Combination" is a fabulously original song about the effects of alcohol on the male brain. The lyrics are splendid:

"I've been thinkin' too much.
I've been drinkin' to much.
Oh and thinkin' and drinkin' for me is a dangerous combination.

If we're gonna turn back, better turn back now.
I'd say no, but I don't know how.
Girl I really should be leaving.
But that's another conversation."

As you may surmise, the album has a central them, very much an adult version of the one so well done in "High Infidelity," hard luck in love and the pain of recognizing it! Except, unlike the techno rock of "Hi Infidelity," this album reflects a far higher degree of maturity, and without question a wide range of musical expressions.

If you want to listen to progressive rock, power ballads, blues, power anthems, folk, and country, you can load up a six-disk CD player cassette. Or, you can simply purchase this one album and find at least one quality example of each!

It's been 19 years since REO released an album of this quality. They've been highly successful on the concert tours but had a war chest of quality songs. Finally, the best of those new songs have made it on a new album. For REO fans, this is a release to celebrate. But for fans who have never heard REO songs, "Find Your Own Way Home" is a marvelous starting point.

I thank the previous reviewers for recommending purchasing the 3-cd/dvd set at Wal-Mart for a few dollars more. I can't stop cranking this cd. The cd of new music would fit nicely with the mid-80s REO sound.

The dvd is a well-mixed unplugged interview/concert for a studio audience, and includes terrific new arrangements of "Ridin' The Storm Out" and "Roll With the Changes," as well as a few tracks from the new cd. I was particularly impressed with "Dangerous Combination," which was co-written by Kevin Cronin and the talented Jim Peterik of Survivor and the Ides of March.

The third cd is a 2006 live version of all of the tracks from REO's multi-platinum HI-INFIDELITY. A nice little bonus--I had never heard a live version of "Follow My Heart" before, and Mr. Amato does a credible job of replicating the one-and-only Gary Richrath's guitar solos.

Definitely worth the money.

As a REO fan from the early 80's I'm positively surprised! Great songs, brilliant musicians, slightly updated but still familiar REO Speedwagon sound, that's what you find here and more you play it, more you like it. If you manage, get yourself the 3-box set (Find Your Way Home cd, Hi Infidelity Then Again Live cd and XM Artist Confidential dvd). Live performance of Hi Infidelity is pure magic. Particularly Dave Amato really shines there.

The record sounds good and has a fresh approach. The last studio record tried a bit too hard to have the old REO dichotomy of "rockers" and "ballads". This is different. And cool! It reminds me most of the Cow album (1976's album titled "R.E.O.") in that the songwriting is very strong and the sound is new. What disappoints, though, is the mostly AWOL status of keyboard player Neal Doughty. He's on all the album artwork and plays on one song, but producer Joe Vannelli takes over all the other keyboard parts. Not that they're bad... they just aren't Neal. The included bonus disc (at Wal-Mart) of the live performance of Hi Infidelity is pretty damn good. It's marred only by Kevin Cronin forgetting a verse of "Shakin' It Loose". The closing song "I Wish You Were There" really shines.

Been a fan since the late 70's and have loved most of REO's work. Waited with anticipation of the new CD - and have not been disapointed! Actually bought the 3-box set and that is the way to go. The "live" Hi Infidelity CD is well done and the "unplugged" XM radio DVD is very impressive! Loved the blusey version of Ridin the Storm Out. Coming from a REO fan who loves the old REO/Two, Nine Lives and You Get What You Play For albums, I must say- The new CD is awesome. Great writing, vocals. The songs moved me. Their are some real hits here- just hope the radio stations play the songs. Recommend the 3-box set. Must buy!

This CD is fantastic. It has a little bit of something for everyone. Another reviewer mentioned that only hardcore REO fans could really love this CD; while I'll admit to being a long time hardcore REO Speedwagon fan, I've played this CD for folks who have never really paid attention to REO Speedwagon outside of "Can't Fight This Feeling" or "Take It on the Run"... and they have loved this CD. They have loved it even more on the second and third listens.

The music is crisp and energetic. The lyrics are clear and meaningful. The vocals and harmonies are tight. These are the things that make REO Speedwagon songs something special and all of the songs on the CD are strong. Each song has a different sound and a different feel to it.

I have listened to this CD every day for the past 3 weeks and I continue to find more things to like about it. My favorite song on the CD changes daily, it seems, based on whatever mood I am in on that particular day, but if I had to choose a single favorite song it might be "Everything You Feel". There are literally no songs on this CD that I do not enjoy.

If you are an REO Speedwagon fan or if you enjoy melodic rock, this is a must have for your CD collection.

REO has managed to create a slightly new/updated sound while still sounding like REO. Few bands seem to pull this off. REO does it nicely with this album.

This new CD from REO is definitely worth the wait since their last album! There are no fillers are on this album.

I cannot say how long I've been waiting for this, and yet, I was reluctant to listen. After Eleven years of repacks, I wasn't sure that they still had it. But yet, as the opening chords of "Smilin' In The End" blasted through my headphones, I knew that reluctance was pointless. This album is every bit as good as their First with Amato and Hitt, and a million times better than 1996's "Building The Bridge" It may as well be "Wheels Are Turnin'" again. Absolutely 5 out of 5 stars. REO Speedwagon is back, and boy are we glad to see them.

I had heard a few of the songs off of this cd at an REO concert last summer (2006), so I knew there were some good ones on here. If you are a big REO fan, then I recommend getting the deluxe package from Wal-Mart. This package contains an additional 2 dvd/cd's that are live performances. Can't wait to see these guys live again!

After 11 years of waiting the boys from REO did it again. This "album" as Kevin Cronin still likes to term, is simply perfect. Each song can stand alone, yet collectively they stand as one! Highly recommended for the REO fan and the fan of true quality rock. A unique compilation of rock and original REO blended with a very contemporary sound.