http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/01/11/150721.php

Chameleon. That is the best word to describe guitar virtuoso Neal Schon. The man
moves gracefully from rock to ballad and from emotional melody to ear shredding
sting with ease as fulfills his "day job" in the band Journey. Most people know
Neal in this - his best known role - as he supports the soaring vocals of Steve
Perry and more recently Steve Augeri.

Journey has been very active in recent years but if you are a fan of Neal you
know that he is not sitting on the beach soaking up the rays in between tours.
He traps himself in his studio and devotes his waking hours to music -- and not
just Journeyesque melodic rock, but jazz, fusion, rock, new age and metal and he
does it all with ease.

I'll soon be reviewing Neal's new hard rock outfit called Soul Sirkus where he
teams up with long time band-mate and Journey drummer Deen Castronovo for a
rockin' romp back to the glory days of rock. And boy does he shred.

Anyway, my purpose here today is to review Neal's (other, other) project -- his
6th solo album called I on U. The disc is somewhere between a instrumental new
age journey and instrumental melodic rock in the vein of Satriani, Vai, Johnson
and Zaza. The bottom line is that this album is a masterful melodic gem for all
ears. Whether you are an aspiring guitar god or just appreciate good melodic
music, this album is for you.

My favorite thing about listening to this album is that it is truly an "album"
of music. I can't single out one track to be my favorite -- and I don't mean
that in a negative way. I mean that this album is so good that it is an
enjoyable experience from start to finish and you can't just single out songs as
good and bad. It could almost be one long song that flows between moods and the
vibe is kept consistent throughout somehow by Neil's consistent tone, smooth
tempo changes and always amazing melodic story telling.

The bottom line on this album is that it is a great melodic experience. I can't
talk about individual songs, good or bad points because you will either
appreciate the talent of Neal Schon and get swept up in his music and mood or
you'll just... well, you'll go listen to something else.

Personally I love Journey and I love every side project Neal has ever done from
HSAS to Hardline to Soul Sirkus. I've heard all his solo albums and own several
and this one is my personal favorite so far because it is such a great mood
record and as mellow as it is at times, it still connects with the Journey rock
fan in me.

If you are like me you'll appreciate adding another great mood to your music
collection courtesy of Neal Schon.

Watch out for the Soul Sirkus review and keep your eye on the Journey cam. Word
is they are working on a new album due out this year and you can catch them in
their first 2005 show in Hollywood on January 21st!

Neal will also be featured on Rockline on January 19, 2005! He will be
discussing his new solo album, Soul SirkUS, and Journey. This 90-minute program
will include Neal taking calls from listeners. Don't miss it! Follow this link
to find an affiliate radio station in your area: Rockline

PRESS RELEASE:

JOURNEY GUITARIST NEAL SCHON
SET TO ONCE AGAIN BRANCH OUT ON HIS OWN
WITH THE RELEASE OF HIS
SIXTH SOLO ALBUM, ‘i on U,’
DUE OUT FEBRUARY 22, 2005 ON FAVORED NATIONS
November 23, 2004 -- What could be next for a musician who’s done it all? As the
lead guitarist and songwriter for the multi-platinum band Journey, his work with
guitar legend Santana and composer Jan Hammer, NEAL SCHON has lived the life of
several rock gods. Still, he continues to reinvent himself, taking his own
musical vision to new heights with his sixth solo outing, i on U, a dazzling
collection of guitar instrumentals. It’s due out February 22, 2005 on Steve
Vai’s Favored Nations label.

Playing with modern sounds and flavors, yet always staying true to his signature
guitar sound, i on U pulls it all together. Says SCHON, “this is the first album
that encompasses everything and makes it brand new.”

“Since I joined Santana,” he continues, ”I’ve always tried to go into every
album in a different way. i on U is taking me to a new place and new sounds, but
you can hear my years of work throughout the whole album. Sitting back and
listening to it now, the history with Santana and Jan Hammer really shines
through.”

For i on U, SCHON teamed up with keyboardist and songwriter Igor Len as
co-producer, and drummer Omar Hakim.

“When I was on tour and trying to put the first stages of this record together,”
he says, “I called Igor Len, who I had worked with on my ELECTRIC WORLD solo
album, and asked him to be involved. He sent me some tracks that he was working
on, and they were going exactly in the direction I wanted to go with my music.
So I took his hooks, added all of the guitar parts and synthesizer solos, and
embellished and tweaked them from there. Although I wrote ‘Father,’ ‘Moondust,’
and ‘Highland’ on my own.”

Each listener will experience the album differently. From the majestic opening
of “Blue Passion,” and the soaring melodies of the title track, the songs
suggest wide open spaces, an overview of what’s to come, with tracks like the
driving, passionate “Burning Bridges.” Then it’s on to the far off reaches of
the imagination, with the arpeggiated rhythms of “Timeless Motion,” the spicy
funk of “Loner’s Dream,” and the eastern flair of “It Will Happen.”
“The guitar is one of the most expressive instruments of our time,” proclaims
SCHON. “I want the listener to be able to imagine whatever they want since there
are no lyrics. And have the music take them to any place they want to be.”






regards,


Russ Blomstedt
http://blomstedt.ssr.be
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