Journey
– Escape
Escape is packed full of big, unapologetic, arena-ready emotion. This is a record built for car radios and high school dances, for mall parking lots and late-night drive-ins. Journey leaned into every soaring chorus, every over-the-top solo, every power ballad moment, and somehow made it all feel honest.
Best of…
Steve Perry’s voice is the showstopper here. He doesn’t sing so much as launch every note into the stratosphere, and he never sounds like he’s trying too hard. Neal Schon’s guitar burns hot but never outshines the melody, while Jonathan Cain’s keyboards give everything a glossy sheen without drowning the band’s rock instincts. The rhythm section? Tight, clean, never flashy, which is exactly what this kind of emotional bombast needs to stay grounded.
Yes, it’s radio rock. Yes, it’s polished. But what keeps Escape from being just another early-’80s slab of corporate gloss is that it feels like the band means every word. There’s desperation behind the anthems, longing behind the love songs. It’s not just slick—it’s sincere. Journey didn’t just want to sound good. They wanted to matter. And for a whole generation, they did.
Choice Tracks
Don’t Stop Believin’
The anthem to end all anthems. That slow-build intro, the piano hook, Perry’s pinpoint delivery—it’s been overplayed for a reason. It works. It always works.
Stone in Love
Schon’s guitar rips open the track with a sunset-drenched solo, and from there it’s a fever dream of teenage romance. Big riffs, big feelings, and zero restraint.
Who’s Crying Now
A breakup song with bite. Perry’s falsetto soars, Cain’s piano dances, and the whole thing glows with just enough heartbreak to sting.
Open Arms
Power ballads don’t get much cleaner than this. Schmaltzy? Sure. But if you’ve ever felt lonely at 2 a.m., this one hits like a warm hand on the shoulder.
Escape
The title track kicks in fast and doesn’t let up. It’s lean, driving, and just a little bit paranoid. Not everything here is love and light.
Escape is glossy, grandiose, and totally uncool—and that’s what makes it perfect. It aimed for the bleachers and landed in the collective memory of a generation.