Steve Perry
Traces
(Fantasy Records)

Undeniably Steve Perry has one of most recognizable voices in popular music within the last five decades. The ex-Journey frontman returns to making music with his first album in nearly 25 years, Traces.

The strength and distinctive edge of those golden high-flying pipes are still there, it’s just that Perry’s voice is a bit sandpapery now and he is relying here and there on some excellently placed harmony vocals throughout the production. But the guy can still write and sing.

The obvious single “No Erasin,” opens, those great harmony vocals helping, but the much stronger and big power ballad “We’re Still Here,” really delivers a punch as the second tune in. “No More Cryin’” as well as the later 50s tinged “Easy to Love,” both sway with rim shots and organ wash.

Knowing this guy recently lost his girlfriend Kellie Nash to cancer (an unwinnable battle the couple knew they were in for when they first met) makes tunes like the beautifully sad piano/string ballads “In the Rain,” (Perry’s best vocals I feel) and “You Belong to Me,” really poignant.

“Sun Shines Grey,” gives us a nice bit of rockin,’ the heaviest Perry gets here. It’s a good rock pop attempt.

Other than Journey grabbing their Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction recently, Perry has been out of the limelight for the past few decades. But at a year shy of seventy he returns to mark well all he has been through, and maybe where he is headed on Traces.

Steve Perry
Traces
(Fantasy Records)

Undeniably Steve Perry has one of most recognizable voices in popular music within the last five decades. The ex-Journey frontman returns to making music with his first album in nearly 25 years, Traces.

The strength and distinctive edge of those golden high-flying pipes are still there, it’s just that Perry’s voice is a bit sandpapery now and he is relying here and there on some excellently placed harmony vocals throughout the production. But the guy can still write and sing.

The obvious single “No Erasin,” opens, those great harmony vocals helping, but the much stronger and big power ballad “We’re Still Here,” really delivers a punch as the second tune in. “No More Cryin’” as well as the later 50s tinged “Easy to Love,” both sway with rim shots and organ wash.

Knowing this guy recently lost his girlfriend Kellie Nash to cancer (an unwinnable battle the couple knew they were in for when they first met) makes tunes like the beautifully sad piano/string ballads “In the Rain,” (Perry’s best vocals I feel) and “You Belong to Me,” really poignant.

“Sun Shines Grey,” gives us a nice bit of rockin,’ the heaviest Perry gets here. It’s a good rock pop attempt.

Other than Journey grabbing their Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction recently, Perry has been out of the limelight for the past few decades. But at a year shy of seventy he returns to mark well all he has been through, and maybe where he is headed on Traces.