Journey. Journey. Journey. Regardless of anything Steve Perry ever does, he'll always be attributed to the mainstream success of his former rock band. My first compact disc as a child, at the wee age of 3 (when compact discs were still very expensive and a new device), was Journey's Greatest Hits, a disc that any 80s fan is bound to happen. This lead to me saving up money to get each of their albums and even a triple-disc box set. I also had countless cassettes, one of which was a 1984 release from the front man himself called Street Talk. Of course, at this time, I mainly appreciated the radio singles than any of the album cuts. It wasn't until I was about 12 and I started hanging out in used record shops that I started taking music a little more seriously that I discovered a follow-up album, released some ten years post the last. For the Love of Strange Medicine was released in 1994, and it seems like a suicide mission. Journey had been off the radios since 1988 and along with it went the power stadium rock of Styx and the like. Not to mention, it's difficult for a lead singer to branch out solo. Most of the time, they are so vital to the band that they become dependant. Though not the chart-topping multi-platinum success his debut record was (which was released at Journey's over-saturated height), the record gave Perry another Top 30 hit, and Medicine went Gold the same year. Aside from that, it gave Mr. Perry some music credit. With this album, released only a year before the first Journey reunification, Perry proved he didn't need Journey to be successful-- he also proved that he's more than his singles.

THE GOOD

Listening to this album is strange, because I'm so used to the pop radio-friendly Tiger Beat songs of yore: Oh, Sherrie and Foolish Heart, which made all the girls scream (and some of the boys). His follow-up, though, is an entirely different sound. In the mid-90s, music was a different scene: Nirvana, Courtney Love, Spin Doctors, Third Eye Blind, and for a former arena-rocker to come out with an adult contemporary album is a little strange. This record , though, combines that Journey-style arena rock seamlessly with a more adult synth twist and a much more introspective overtone. There's something much more complex and interesting on this album that isn't found on anything Journey ever did or on Street Talk-- especially not on Street Talk. I personally feel that Tuesday Heartache is one of the greatest songs the man has ever put to paper and put to plastic. The synth chords that open remind me of Giorgio Moroder on the Metropolis soundtrack. Steve, also, sounds a thousand times more sexy than ever, and the man was pretty much always sex: After the lovin' / After the evening / Darlin' I saw the ceilin' / I know / I don't believe you've got the answer ... The desperation is evocative if not a bit too dramatic, but then again it's Steve Perry. The vocals are perfect. The man's never sounded so damn good. The shame and guilt in his voice creates the perfect pop song that isn't all sugary and full of sunshine. Rather than making more Tiffany, he's channeling some nice Kate Bush.

Radio hit You Better Wait is a great rock song that draws strong inspiration from his hay-day as Journey from man, while Young Hearts Forever kind of sounds like a combination all three eras of his life: Journey, solo, post-Journey solo. I can hear allusions to Send Her My Love (from Journey's Frontiers), but it still retains Steve's individual sound. One thing about his solo work is that it seems to concentrate more on vocals and songs that are purely fun to sing. There's a stronger dependency on drum machines and sound effects and production rather than on instrumentation. This is what sets him apart from Journey. Here in the darkness, she dances alone / Roses from yesterday / Will she ever know? This is probably the one strong Journey moment, as the racing back-beat is played behind a guitar riff. Confused? Okay, I'll break it down. Yes, there is a stronger concentration on vocals than instrumentation, but guitars and drums are still here. The difference is that the guitar and Steve trade off rather than fight each other like they did on Journey's albums. Steve's the star, and don't you forget it.

Listen to Your Heart is one of the weirder moments on the album, as it's got hard 80s guitar riffs mixed with a 90s sensibilities. There's a dance beat on it that reminds me of a slowed-down version of the new-jack swing movement. What great about this song, though, is that we get to hear Steve getting soulful and bluesy. The man can belt it out, no question, but there's a great rasp in his voice on this song. There's power. There's hunger. It's a little more realistic and vulnerable than his older stuff. By this point in the record, though, I dunno how many people will be so keen on the dime-a-dozen guitar riffs that kind of tend to sound all the same.

THE BAD

The bad just comes in the shape of some annoying filler, tucked away in between what I consider to be some of Steve's best work. Missing You may have been released as a single, but it's not really one of my favorites. I tend to skip over it. It's got that Elton John feel, with the solo piano mixed with chorus. Really, I expect a music video involving Disney characters to accompany it. To be honest, the only thing separating it from a Michael Bolton song would be that Steve actually has talent. I'm also not very delighted to hear I Am, which tends to trick me. The first minute or so of the song is a treat. The soft acoustic guitar is brilliant and something very unexpected from Steve Perry. But, then, the lame hand-claps come in and the melody is flat and lifeless. Overall, it sounds only slightly better than something on a Mariah Carey album. He could have done better with this song, with slightly comes off as being a wee bit arrogant.

JUDGING
My judgment is that For the Love of Strange Medicine is 1,000 times more interesting than anything on Street Talk. Unfortunately, it's doomed to be a lot less unknown. Though successful at the time of release, it didn't seem to stand the cruel test of time. If you're a Journey fan, I recommend checking this album out. If you're a fan of Steve Perry, then you must own this album. No exceptions.

You Better Wait (5 Stars)
Young Hearts Forever (5 Stars)
I Am (3 Stars)
Stand Up (Before It's Too Late) (3.5 Stars)
For the Love of Strange Medicine (5 Stars)
Donna Please (4 Stars)
Listen to Your Heart (4 Stars)
Tuesday Heartache (5 Stars)
Missing You (2 Stars)
Somewhere There's Hope (4 Stars)
Anyway (4 Stars)

OVERALL SCORE: 4 STARS (4.04-)

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Listening