Customer Reviews

Journey 2001

5 star:		(120)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I am a Journey fan of all eras. I bought "Arrival" when it came out last year, and it was definitely my favorite CD of the year. I also saw the band in concert last summer and found their performance nothing short of stunning. I knew that there was no chance that I wouldn't absolutely love this DVD before I bought it, and I was right. Nonetheless, in watching it I was still surprised how good it is.

The reason for my surprise is simple: I have never heard better sound quality on a DVD. I cranked this DVD through my stereo speakers and felt like I truly was at the concert. The production could not be more crisp and clear.

Now to the more obvious part of my review: the songs and performances were all top-notch. This does not look like a band that has been around for nearly 30 years. Steve Augeri for sure brings a youthful energy to the band. He of course sounds great on the new songs he sang on "Arrival", but he also absolutely does all the Steve Perry classics justice.

I hate to say it, but the best thing for Neil Schon was for Steve Perry to leave this band. As the true band leader once again, he plays with a flamboyance that is remarkable considering the number of years he had been doing this. It is so obvious to me that he and this band have a new lease on life. Watch this performance and I think you will agree.

For sure, many of the classics and all of the biggest hits are here. From the rockers like "Stone In Love" to the ballads like "Faithfully" (which was the beautiful, touching way the band closed this performance), the songs are all masterfully performed. Like other reviewers, I am impressed with the inclusion of the rare "La Raza Del Sol".

Bottom line: DO NOT listen to those that say this band is done because Steve Perry is no longer with them. Obviously, he was great and contributed much to their success, but he was not the only important component of the band. Watch this performance and see how great this band still is. The outrage should not be that Journey is going on without Steve Perry, but instead that this band in its new incarnation is not getting the recognition it so richly deserves. If you are a true fan of Journey in particular and classic rock in general, do not give up on this band! And for sure, this DVD comes strongly recommended.

I have to agree. Steve Perry is the only Steve Perry in the world; the one I grew up listening to and who's voice I idolized. Steve Augeri is not Steve Perry. His voice is very, very similar. If you didn't know Journey you wouldn't know the difference. Considering the huge shoes to fill, I think Steve Augeri is the only guy in the whole world who can come close. So close it's uncanny.

But you can decide on your own if you want to listen to the new vocalist or not. The review is about the DVD. And this DVD has the clearest and sharpest picture of any in my collection. Not only that, Journey's live sound mix on this DVD is the *best* I've heard from *any* live band on DVD. You can clearly hear every note and see everything that is going on.

You get to see Schon do his solos close up. He is on fire and doesn't miss anything. It sounds just like the CD. The bass and keyboards sound like the CD too. The drums are so close nobody but drummers will know the difference.

As far as the newbies go, the new drummer, Castronovo, obviously knows how to play. His set is tuned perfectly. He plays every song nearly exact. But the real treat is watching and listening to him play La Raza Del Sol. You just need to see it, and if you are a drummer, you're in for an even bigger treat. This is a perfect example of drum perfection - playing with energy, explosiveness, and creativity, all in time and with purpose. Listen to those drum fills and listen to the drum note quality.

The other newbie of course is very talented. I don't know if young, new Journey listeners would ever know the difference. I think Augeri looks a little too serious and perhaps ... unsure. He sings the notes well but doesn't have the range or clarity that Perry did. Again however, it sounds so similar though.

If you want a DVD you can watch over and over, has superb sound and video and editing, and makes you want to play your instrument or sing, this is it. Skip to La Raza Del Sol and listen to the guitar vs. keyboard battle. That song illustrates which era of musicians created the best music, and in my opinion, in which era were the most talented musicians found.

I love this DVD but still listen to the original album Journey songs and probably won't buy new Journey CDs.

Journey and me go waaaay back. I have loved them from the beginning and followed their career. I regret I haven't seen them live so this was a dream come true for me. I must admit from the get go that I am partial to Steve Perry (I think most of us are, right?) and I do so wish he were singing. However, his replacement, Steve Augeri, does a good job especially on the faster songs. This is a must own for all Journey fans because Neal Schon, Ross Vallory and Johnathan Cain show that time under a true artists belt, only makes them BETTER. Great sound, wonderful enthusiasm, fantastic entertaining show to watch and enjoy many times.

Soar,
Soaring Heart

Since the 70's, I've always enjoyed Journey. The musicianship and songwriting have always been first-rate. Also, I can't help but be a little biased, since Jonathan Cain himself played "Faithfully" during my wedding ceremony back in '93. We also exchange Christmas cards every year, and there are even some dedications to my wife and me in the liner notes of one of his solo albums.

That being said, I was still prepared to view this DVD with a very critical eye. I hadn't heard the new "Steve" in the band, and as a musician who specializes in vocals, my laser vision was well trained on Mr. Augeri.

Well, any reservations that I might have had were completely unfounded. As much as I have enjoyed Steve Perry's singing in the past, his live performances sometimes suffered a little compared with the recordings, which is usually only natural, considering the challenging nature of this material.

Steve Augeri, on the other hand, consistently performed so closely to the original recordings that I kept checking for tell-tale signs of post-production dubbing. I didn't find any, so I have to conclude that, yes Virginia, this is a true live performance. He is relaxed, confident, and is obviously enjoying himself, the band, and the audience. Occasionally, there is minor straining or thinning of his voice at or beyond high-E, but unless you are specifically looking for it, you won't notice it. The only real negative comment that I can think of is that his stage patter still needs a little work. Personally, it annoys me when a singer keeps asking how everybody is doing, or if everyone is "having a good time". Yes, we're all doing great and enjoying the show, thank you. Can we move on, now?

And moving on to Dean Castronovo, I've been a fan of his playing since he was drumming with various Shrapnel Records artists over ten years ago, so hearing him play with Journey was quite a treat. I think that Steve Smith is a great drummer, but I personally like Dean's more aggressive double-bass work in that he manages to wring a harder-rocking sensibility out of the older material, and outright shred on the new stuff.

What can be said about Neil, except that like a fine wine, he does get better with age. His stint as a solo artist seems to have refined his chops to the point of true guitar heroism, which he brings back into the Journey fold with a vengeance. Also, his guitar tone is even more liquid and "sustainy" than ever, allowing him to really sing with his guitar.

Ross Valory's work is tight and crisp. On my second viewing of the DVD, I paid particular attention to the rhythm section, and was pleased at how consistently "on" he is playing. Tonally, he seems to be going for a more modern, punchier, and less boomy sound. This only adds to the perception of crispness in the bass, and the music overall. Like another reviewer, I also noticed that although he seemed to be having fun, he was very focused, and I would dare say that he was somewhat of a "hub" to the music.

Last but not least, Jonathan Cain was superb, as always. His keyboard and piano work were very consistent in this performance, and his solo piece was a well-executed interlude to bridge the gap between a more raucous song and a ballad. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, and another great aspect of this performance is the way that Jonathan enhanced some of his old parts, making them more interesting, and adding more flavor to some of the old songs. Finally, knowing what songs that he wrote, or helped to write, I can only say that Journey would not have had such massive success without Jonathan's contributions.

Aside from Steve Augeri's lead vocals, Journey was especially astounding on this DVD because of the rich background vocals that sometimes expanded to four parts because everyone in the band was singing. I heard one section where two members were singing harmony "ooohs", while two more were singing the main lyric in harmony, while Steve Augeri sang some answering lines based on the main lyric. This is really great stuff that allows the band to sound just like the original recordings.

Oh, and of course the DVD video and audio quality is terrific. I don't have a 5.1 system, but it sure does sound great through my stereo. Even though this DVD has a minimum of special features, with the great sound, high video quality, and tight editing, this is one of the more well-produced music DVDs that I own. Special thanks go to whoever decided to skip the use of video FX. When I watch a concert on video, I want to see a great performance and nothing else. This DVD delivers just that.

I have been waiting to see Journey for 23 years - seeing as I live in England and, sadly, the band's tours never reach Europe .
Well, at last the wait is over, even though I've now only seen them on DVD rather than in the flesh. But what a DVD!
The sharpest picture I have seen on any DVD, a superb sound (I'm talking the stereo version, I haven't got surround) and a totally stunning performance.
Steve Augeri is every bit as good at singing "Perry's songs" as his performance on the Arrival CD suggests and Neal Schon's guitar playing in particular is inspirational. The band really look like their enjoying their performance and it's contagious.
If, like me, you are considering ordering this Region 1 disc from outside the States I say "Do It Now!" My copy from Amazon arrived in England in 11 days, as promised.
I have only a few minor quibbles, which in no way detract from the 5-star status:
1. The cameras concentrate a little too much on the audience at times.
2. It would have been nice to have had either an interview with the band or a documentary on the tour and how the 'new Journey' came about, the disc is a little light on extra features.
But that's it. This disc rocks!

Finally, a Journey DVD is released! I have to say that this is probably one of the best live videos ever created. It is great not just because it involves the best rock band of all time, but the DVD gives you flawless performance and production.

This DVD features a Las Vegas, NV concert that was performed a few months before Journey's release of their 2001 album "Arrival". After watching it in its entirety, I was astounded at the perfection displayed throughout the entire band. Steve Augeri (the new lead vocalist) has permanently established himself as Journey's front man. He practically nails every high note! That is very difficult for a vocalist to do without a little help with post-production. He also is so intent about keeping the song true to its original recording. Neal Schon is (as always) a master with the lead guitar. Incredible energy and harmony is given in each song...including his solo! Ross Valory (bass) is a mixture of attitudes on stage: sometimes he acts reserved and intense in his performance and other times he's smiling and make funny gestures to the other guys in the band. Despite those observations, his bass guitar playing is crisp, clear, and perfect! Jonathan Cain completely showcases all of his talents in this DVD performance. Here, he plays keyboards, piano, and guitar, plus sings backup vocals! The man proves that he is a comprehensive and total musician. Lastly, Deen Castronovo (drummer) is just insane...in a good way! While his drumming is superb and unblemished with each song, he gives the songs more of a hard rock edge. His movements seem blistering and furious, but they are controlled, making the drums powerful and accurate.

The set list for this concert DVD was excellent. All of the hits are played with a few exceptions. Some bonus songs are included such as "La Raza Del Sol" from the band's box set. This is the only recorded live performance of this song that I am aware of, and it is done well. Another bonus song is "Fillmore Boogie". This one will rock the socks off you! It is an explosive, intense rocker that features the band jammin' on guitars and drums...no lyrics (I guess Steve needs a break sometime!).

There are some extra features such as band member biographies and a photo gallery. The sound quality is AWESOME! Using Dolby 5.1, this DVD is incredible to listen to. The production of the sound, lighting, and video techniques in this concert and DVD was done with astounding quality. With this DVD scoring A-pluses on all marks, get it whether you're a hardcore Journey fan or just a rock enthusiast. This DVD clearly demonstrates the perfection that Journey achieves in their live performances!

Any way you want it...
The Jorney 2001 DVD is unbelievable; only the Styx DVDs rival it.
Do I smell an old fart?...hardly. The visual and sonic quality of this
production are unparalleled (re-mixed in 5.1 by original producer Kevin
Shirley) and is crisp, classy and heavy. Steve Augeri (check out Tall
Stories, 1991) fills Perry's shoes with no problem; and proceeds to kick
... on command. Here, it is also apparent that Neal Schon has been
waiting to scream and burst out musically for some time...all like a
fine wine, like it or not.
The new songs, Higher Place and All the Way are instant classics
with plenty of power and melody...and yes, the older classics are well
represented here (brilliantly if not identically by Augeri) although
Neal Schon has now promised a "heavier" sound next record, now that
contract time is up. His guitar work soars and screams emotion.
If these blazing performances (Las Vegas, New Year's Eve 2000) of
Fillmore Boogie and La Raza Del Sol are any indication, this line-up of
Schon, Augeri, Cain, Valory, and Castronovo is destined for greater
musical heights than ever.

-Paul DeBellis

Journey 2001 DVD is awesome! The quality is clear & crisp. The concert is superb. The band just gets better and better! The chemistry of the current line-up is like watching brothers and best friends having a lot of fun together on stage.

I love watching Steve Augeri's performance. His singing of the classics that we all love is perfection. It is obvious that he loves and respects the music. I also noticed Steve Augeri's connection with the audience. They love him and he loves his audience. His dance moves are so smooth. I love watching his performance. He is the perfect frontman for Journey.

Journey 2001 DVD is a must have for anyone who loves Journey ~ who are discovering Journey for the first time or rediscovering Journey again. Two thumbs up!!!

Anyone who says Journey is not Journey without Steve Perry should give this DVD a fair listen. The whole band sounds great! And while Steve Augeri can (and does) do a great job on the "old stand-bys", he proves also that he has his own voice and contribution to the band.

All the stuff you ever wanted to hear at a Journey concert is here: Open Arms, Lights, Separate Ways, Faithfully (my own personal favorite), as well as the rarely heard La Raza del Sol and a few (too few!) numbers from their 2000 release, Arrival.
The whole band sounds great: longtime members Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain and Ross Valory, and new boys, Augeri and Deen Castronovo. This is Journey as good as they ever were- and ready to get even better!

The DVD itself is great- terrific sound, well done!

Get it! Watch it! Love it! Love Journey!

Neal, Ross, Jonathan... I miss the 2 Steves. However, Deen and the new Steve are no slouches. The mix is strong, and the picture is brilliant. this is probably one of the best looking and sounding dvds i own.

As for the performance, it's stunning. Deen Castronovo slams pretty hard, maybe a little too hard for Journey (he was perfect in Bad English and Hardline, though). Steve Augeri hits the notes with what seems like true respect for Mr. Perry, even if he had to do some overdubs here and there (?).

But let's get to the meat of the show: Neal Schon's playing.
Never better. the guy just improves with every album/tour/gig!

It's good to see Ross Valory groovin so hard; and Jonathan Cain doing everything else to make each song sound as good as, or better than, the original recordings.

It's been a long time since we've had a Journey home video, and even though it's the non-Perry Journey, it's still quite good. Sure I'd love to see the old stuff reissued on dvd, but til then, this will get played on my tv alot.

buy it, you'll be glad you did!