Music review: Steve Perry – 鈥楾races鈥�
鈥淚 know it鈥檚 been a long time coming,鈥� sings Steve Perry on the opening cut of his new solo effort.
With 鈥淭races,鈥� the former Journey frontman rediscovers his passion for writing and singing since walking away from music after the band鈥檚 鈥淭rial by Fire鈥� in 1996.
The new material is a beautiful blending of classic Journey and Perry solo material into one glorious set that finds Perry pouring his heart and soul into every word of every track.
After a 22-year hiatus, concerns of how the 69-year-old鈥檚 voice has held up are quickly resolved after hearing the opening track about reconnecting with the past in order to feel comfortable with the present and the future.
鈥淭races鈥� is dominated by ballads about love and loss and serves as a cathartic journey of coming to terms with the loss of someone who means everything.
One of the most moving arrangements finds Perry softly declaring, 鈥淭o the ones who鈥檝e lost their most of all/Many years won鈥檛 heal with tears.鈥� 鈥淢ost of All鈥� is a heartbreaking declaration of trying to move past the hurt in order to find a renewed purpose through the pain.
Perry once again addresses loss on 鈥淚n the Rain鈥� as he sings, 鈥� I wish you were here tonight/Sitting here beside me/I wish you were here tonight/And still you鈥檝e got me, even though you鈥檙e gone.鈥�
鈥淯nder neon lights we claim this town,鈥� declares Perry on 鈥淲e鈥檙e Still Here,鈥� a song that seems to address the commonality of the hopes and dreams of each generation. Could it be referencing the same lights described in the love letter to San Francisco written by Perry and Neal Schon featured on Journey鈥檚 鈥淚nfinity鈥� way back in 1978?
Co-written with John 5 and producer Thom Flowers, 鈥淪un Shines Gray鈥� is the second uptempo number on the album and carries a Journey-esque vibe that will have fans wishing for Perry鈥檚 return to his old band.
A surprise highlight on the album includes a reimagining of George Harrison鈥檚 鈥淚 Need You鈥� into an R&B number that gracefully delivers the loneliness of lost love and the desire to experience it once again.
With all the publicity surrounding Perry鈥檚 latest release, one can鈥檛 help but wonder if a tour could be the next item on his to-do list.
All I can say is don鈥檛 stop believing and hold on to that feeling.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.