Customer Reviews

World Play

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You've heard him in solo projects, with Journey, HSAS, Bad English, etc..., but you've got to hear him here. This is the rough side of Neal we've been dying to hear. It ain't no Journey CD. This is unleashed and it rocks hard. JSS's voice drips testosterone, hot and raw. Paired with Neal's magic hands, this is a recipe for pure rock. Highest Ground, Another World, and My Sanctuary are my favorites. The whole CD is so refreshingly varied. Soul Sirkus is a sirkus for your soul. Name the ride and they'll take you there. I so hope we'll hear more from this band. They have more talent in their pinky toes than most could wish for. Fingers of Joy, you've done it again. Thanks for another great ride. IONUinChicago4/13/05

It's Virgil Donati on the drums can we please get that right because he is one of the best drummers ever and if your not crediting him for this album I will be thouroughly peeved!! Just check the site if you don't believe me - www.soulsirkus.com

The Good
"Highest Ground" is led by a fist pounding riff that never lets up. The backing vocals and lead vocals really come together on the chorus. A super-charged rhythm sets the pace for "New Position". Neil Schon's guitar work on this one shows that he's been a closet shredder all these years. "Another World" combines wailing guitar licks and marching drum beats to create a post-apocalyptic feel, at least to me. It's like Jeff Scott Soto is trying to inspire hope when all is lost. Warm keyboard tones and melodic guitar work dominate the emotional ballad "Soul Goes On". Soto has always been at his best when he cuts a ballad. Creepy riffs and creepy drums drive home the theme of "Peephole". It's no surprise that Sammy Hagar co-wrote this one. Even creepier is that Soto comes off sounding just like him.

Maybe I've listened to too many CDs this week, but the vocal melody to "Periled Divide" sound very similar to the one used in "Another World". Schon is up to some more fancy fretwork on "Praise". This track is about worshiping the female form. There's more female admiration on the down-tuned track "My Sanctuary". By now you'll discover the same thing I did; Jeff Scott Soto is one of the best rock voices out there. It's a same he gets so little acknowledgement in the U.S. "Coming Home" is another heartfelt ballad that could pass for a long lost Journey track.

The Bad
Nothing

The Verdict
One word: phenomenal!

THIS ALBUM REALLY ROCKS FROM START TO FINISH.DEFINATELY WORTH
BUYING.JSS TOTALY ROCKS AND SOUNDS GREAT.CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ALBUM.

I really like this album. As much as I like Journey, it's nice to see Neal Schon show off some harder stuff. I'd never heard of Jeff Scott Soto before, but his strong voice also gives an edge to this album. Best tracks to listen to: Highest Ground, Friends 2 Lovers (not a wussy balad!), and Coming Home. There's not a song on the ablum I don't like, but those are my favorites.

I fell in love with the music the first time I listened to the previews on the SoulSirkus website so I purchased the CD as soon as it was released. The music is well done -- all performers are talented rockers that I enjoy listening to and the music really came together on this CD. Their hard work paid off! Neal Schon rocks and Jeff Scott Soto can belt out the tunes. I don't write many reviews but I can honestly recommend this album...

For a long time, Neal Schon was my favorite guitarist and as much as I liked Journey, I have been wanting to hear Neal do something harder and edgier since Journey's initial breakup in the mid 80's. After that went down, I was sure I'd get the chance to hear the darker side of Schon. Only problem was, he got involved with Journey Jr.--ERRRRR--Bad English, and from there it went from bad to worse with Hardline. Not that I was expecting Neal to go Dimebag Darrell, but I was hoping for something ballsier than his post Journey efforts turned out to be.

Until now that is--this CD delivers. Bassist Marco Mendoza and drummer Virgil Donati are a tight unit that don't pussyfoot around. Jeff Scott Soto has a great voice--wide ranging and diverse, but always ballsy. Having said that, he's not that far from nailing the Steve Perry vibe on "Coming Home" at all. He sings as if he has a new lease on life. I'd guess that even on his worst day, Neal's a lot easier to for JSS to work with than Yngwie ever was.

Yea, it's more than a bit 80's sounding, but that's a good thing when it's done RIGHT--and Soul Sirkus definitely does that. I really hope this project does well, because it certainly deserves to.

Jeff Scott Soto on vocals; Neil Schon on guitar, Deen Castronovo on drums, and Marco Mendoza on bass. Pretty much says it all; does'nt it. This is a very diverse disc that covers a large rock spectrum. In all my years of listening to rock music; I have never heard anything quite like it. Funky rock, straight ahead rock, bluesy rock, easy listening style rock, this disc has it all. Highest Ground reminds me of a Lenny Kravitz tune. New Position reminds me of Y&T in some ways. Another World has a Led Zep, House of Lords vibe to it. Soul Goes On reminds me of Kenny Wayne Sheppard, and Johny Lang. Peephole is a rocker in the Y&T mold. Periled Divide reminds me of Brother Cane. Praise is another one that makes me think of Brother Cane. My Sanctuary is a Y&T style tune. Friends 2 Lovers has a House of Lords vibe to it. Coming Home has a Journey feel to it. Close The Door is in the House of Lords mold. Now don't get me wrong; these guys are not trying to clone anybody. When I hear these songs thats what they remind me of crossed with Soul Sirkus of course. I personally think these guys should do this full time, instead of a side project. I love this disc; it was a great blend of talent. If you like Jeff Scott Soto's vocals, and Neil Schon's guitar playing; then you have to get this. You will love it!

I read the reviews and believed all the hype. Neal Schon lets loose with a hard rocking album from start to finish. There could be nothing further from the truth. The album starts off well enough with the 2 best songs in "Highest Ground" and "New Position", but unfortunately, the quality of the songs just disappears. If anyone remembers the band "Hardline" and the CD he did with them in the early 1990's, this is nothing even close. I was so disappointed by this release. Most of the songs are just boring. The bonus dvd saves this in some respects, including videos for "New Position" and the truly drawn out "Another World". Neither video does more than show the band mime their songs in the studio but it is nice to see who these guys are instead of the 1 lame photo of them trying to look tough. Please. Neal Schon is looking just a little like Paul Stanley of KISS these days, doesn't he? There is an interview portion of the dvd with all the band stating how the name Soul Sirkus implies that they can do just about anything musically. I wish they would have focused on one direction and stuck to it. Jeff Scott Soto replaced Sammy Hagar for this and I am sure this is a better recording with him. HSAS 2 decades really didn't do anything for anybody. If you must buy this, get the bonus dvd, it makes it worth it, otherwise avoid the hype and pass on this. Schon only lets loose and rocks on a few cuts!