The Calling

OK. I am approaching this review from a Journey/rock fan perspective and not someone with a particularly long interest in instrumental guitar music. I have every Journey album (and I mean every one) although I have recently become interested in Joe Satriani's work on the strength of his live albums. I got into JS because of his rock credentials i.e. Chickenfoot and worked backwards.Now Neal Schon I have followed for over 30 years and I notice that he and Satriani have a similar ability to move from prime melodic riffing to first order shredding to touching emotionally moving tunefulness all in the space of one track. This powerful and engaging style of playing is the only thing interests me in these two and on this album Neal hits this spot dead centre.This is a musician at the top of his game. The variety, texture and pace of this album is breathtaking and inspiring. (Neal if you ever read this - what more could we ever want?) Having a real talented drummer and keyboard player (as opposed to programmed, which is what his I on U album seemed to sound like) makes a hell of difference and really bring this to life. Frankly it is as charged as a Satriani live album. Every single track has something to offer (yes really). It is almost all rock based power guitar and none of that lightweight nonsing around as on earlier albums. In fact this guitar work sounds mostly like Journey but with the singer replaced by extremely melodic guitar.Ok, now the er, jazz bit. Well every Journey fan knows that NS is heavily influenced by jazz and it is that (somewhat obvious) influence on the song writing that has probably made Journey music stand well apart and above all other bands in the melodic rock genre and made them the most successful. Well the jazzy elements here are not much more than you get on a typical Journey album (if you care to listen attentively to any of them). However, for those who might think this album is a risky proposition, RELAX. Here are the tracks with the obvious (but not long) jazz breaks: 2: Carnival Jazz (keyboard in last 2 minutes), 5: Back Smash (keyboard break about 2:30 in), 6: Fifty Six (keyboard break about 1:20 in). There may be a couple of other guitar bluesy/jazz moment elsewhere but they don't stand out because its part of the Journey style anyway.In summary, there is not a single bad track here and its going to be one of those rare classic that will want many repeated listenings. I can highly recommend this album to all Journey fans, certainly to most rock guitar fans and probably to instrumental musos (although they seem more fickle so who knows?). Although if you enjoy (or enjoyed)  Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards  by Joe Satriani, then The Calling is definitely for you.

If you like Neal's licks from Journey and his taste for melody then you'll feel at home with this. There's nothing particularly new here, except some occasional experimentation with some whammy, octaving and a couple of "detuned" solos (the latter of which, like a previous reviewer said, didn't tickle me much either). The overall feel is in a similar direction to Satriani's "Black Swans..." in that straight ahead grooves form the basis of most of the tracks; nothing too complicated just a good rockin' listen. Some tracks are bit heavier than others and there are couple of Journey ballad candidates thrown in. I don't know why we get a jazz keyboard solo on a track that isn't jazzy at all, though it would have been nice to have heard Neal try his hand at some jazz solos himself. It is great to hear the (instantly recognisable) Jan Hammer guesting on a couple of tracks which adds some spice. But for me the real star of the show has to be Steve Smith who really adds backbone to the proceedings and livens the whole experience. For me it's what takes this album up a notch from an album that would otherwise just be three stars. For Schon/Journey fans and lovers of hook driven, instrumental rock.

I rate Neal very highly as a guitarist. From his early days with Santana when he nearly overthrew the maestro through to his amazing (and continued) tenure with Journey.However, his solo output has been a little unreliable in many ways.I love "Electric World", an eclectic collection but surprisingly focused and "Beyond The Thunder" a fine album.With the likes of "I On U", "The Voice" and "Piranha Blues" - he seemed to waver. These still have some excellent fret work but do not seem to have the same impact.I had some doubts about "The Calling" until I noticed the drummer!!! He is reunited - once again, with old Journey partner; the amazing Steve Smith. I didn't hesitate - I went for it!Smith is a superb drummer - now better known for his exquisite Jazz drumming, he is able to revert to rock with ease. Here he steams away, with perfect timing and pure power!As for the man himself, I have rarely heard sound better. Although, interestingly, he also plays bass. Nothing remarkable, but a good solid bass to support Smith's onslaught.This is largely "rock instrumental" with a little bit of variety here and there to add extra flavour and a little extra spice.Keyboards are provided by Igor Len(?) who seems more than able and keeps them subtle - AND, another former cohort; none other than Mr Jan Hammer!I did wonder whether or not 5 stars might be a little OTT, but I LIKE this! My doubts were swept aside!Neal is great - his guitar work here is superb, but the icing on the cake here, (for me), is Steve Smith.At the end of the day, YOU must decide; but I am pleased with my buy. Pennies well spent!

As a long time Journey/Neal Schon fan I was looking forward to this new effort from Neal, particularly as drummer Steve Smith was hitting the skins. I have to say, though, I'm a little disappointed overall. It's good - and Steve Smith is excellent - but I expected much better. I just don't get the 'new' style of playing that Schon is using at times (or maybe it's the effects he's using). Occasionally it sounds like he's intentionally playing out of tune while slurring the notes like a warbled strangled cat! I just can't take to it. It's really noticeable on the title track, but thankfully it's not on all of them. He did something similar on the last track of Journey's Eclipse album, called Venus. I'm sorry, but as much as I like good hard-rocking electric guitar and all sorts of styles and gutsy riffs, Neal can produce far better melodies than this. Some of his solos in concert have been better. Maybe I've just got sensitive hearing that likes hearing all the right notes in the right place!