I believe one must listen to a CD at least five times before passing judgment on it. After hearing "Revelation" for a few weeks now, I've come to this conclusion- the first half of it pays tribute to Journey's past, while the back half promotes its new singer and style in a very positive way.

For example, the kickoff song "Never Walk Away" sounds similar to "Be Good To Yourself." "Like A Sunshower" sounds as if it belonged on "Departure." "Change for the Better" would have fit in nicely on the "Escape" album, and "Faith in the Heartland" seems like a "Frontiers" track. They all contain that classic Journey style with Perry-like substance.

The second part of this CD, though, is where the group showcases its new singer very nicely. "Where Did I Lose Your Love?" and "What I Needed" promote frontman Arnel Pineda's subtle differences to Steve Perry. "What It Takes To Win" has classic sports anthem written all over it. "Turn Down the World Tonight" is a different kind of ballad from Journey's past, but it's mature and refreshing.

Unlike most albums that are purchased nowadays, this one has a lot of quality tunes; it keeps my fingers from the "skip" button. Instead of a front-loaded disc with two or three good songs and nothing else decent, this one provides enjoyment all the way through it. It's definitely better overall than "Trial By Fire" and "Generations," and it demonstrates the band's commitment to move forward smartly without detaching itself from its storied past. A little better mix in guitar sound quality would have earned it five stars; certain portions sound somewhat "muffled" at times. With that said, this is easily a worthy purchase.

lOVE IT!
--
MARIA~