Freedom

Freedom is a mature work that amply holds Journey’s generous, open melody and outstanding playing. Neal Schon’s guitar powerfully leads the songs as if singing, and Arnel Pineda’s vocals and thick choruses deliver the lift particular to arena rock head-on and powerfully. A record showing that, even as veterans, the band’s creative drive has not dimmed in the least. Rather than leaning on compact hits alone, its rich, wide construction — including heartwarming ballads, exhilarating speeding rock songs and developments that let you fully hear the playing — again powerfully conveys the sure playing strength the band Journey holds. Jonathan Cain’s keyboards also surely support that grand world. A sure dignity backed by the band’s long history fills the whole. Its value lies in powerfully keeping sounding the band’s native appeal — a large scale and memorable melody particular to arena rock — in the present. Even after a long career, its musical quality has not dropped at all. Showing the mature fullness of the current lineup with Arnel Pineda, it is a powerful, engaging melodic-rock work — a record showing Journey’s vigor.