ESCAPE [AKA: E5C4P3]

For many, Escape is likely what one is thinking when listening to this collection of oh-so-anthem- ready anathema to artistic, complex, stylistic rock music. Not a surprise, really, considering it was released when prog was in it's darkest days. But, how does this number 1, platinum album selling album sound?

Like squeaky clean, impossible not to sing-along to FM Styrofoam.

Journey is perhaps the most fungal of all AOR rock bands in that they immediately repulse, but creep into the dark places of one's psyche, growing with a slick, moist sheen of big hooks and big guitar to the point that they either repulse the listener to eruption, or smother the drive for ambitious music with a cloying combination of infectious melody and vocals.

For my own part, I keep a hefty application of fungicide ready at all times when listening to Escape. It helps me enjoy the karaoke-ready melodies of Don't Stop Believin' and the huge guitar solos in Stone In Love. These two songs, along with the immense ballads of Whose Crying Now (the good one) and Open Arms (the ear shattering one) is about all there is to this album. The listener will likely be skipping through the filler, if just to get that sweet, sweet Steve Perry high out their system.

As far as prog goes, Escape is just about the bottom of the barrel-- but, when it comes to enjoyable slumming into the world of daylight with the rest of the FM masses, it's just about unbeatable.

Songwriting: 2 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 3 Style/Emotion/Replay: 3