A quick comment before I start this review.

Journey are probably one of my favourite bands of all time and Neal Schon is one of my favourite guitarists, BUT and there’s a good reason why its bold and underlined, I’ve found his last few solo albums to be dull and boring and not much better than elevator music! The last “solo” album I enjoyed was Piranha Blues, which, as the title suggests, was an out and out blues album. If you are not into the Jazz vibe then albums such as  Beyond The Thunder, Electic World and Voice should possibly be avoided.

Now that’s off my chest. I’ve got to say that his new alum I on U is, in this reviewers opinion, his best yet. I On U scores big time due the fact the individual tunes on offer are all “songs” in the true sense of the word, and not just a case of  elongated solos patched together with as many notes per second as is humanely possible, as is the case with many instrumental albums! The CD opens with 'Blue Passion' and finish’s 60 minutes and 30 seconds later with 'Father', a ballad that reminds s me of 'Always With You' by Joe Satariani.

This album is really good and, if you’ve heard the two instrumentals on the Journey box set, 'With A Tear' and 'Into Yours Arms', you’ll find 12 tracks which are all to that sort of standard. These are twelve  really good “songs” just without any vocal presence and this CD will not only appeal to any fans of Journey, but also to aficionados of the likes of Joe Satriani or Steve Vai.

Schon's guitar playing is simply astounding, and covers stylewise everything from Santana to Journey to Schon/Hammer style material and the backing musicians Schon has surrounded himself with prove to be equally as good as the mainman himself.

All in all a very surprising album especially as, after his last few solo albums,  I was not expecting very much of out it.

Now bring on Soul Sirkus and the Firefest!

Let us know your views on 'I On U'

Track List

Blue Passion
I on U
Timeless Motion
The Chamber
Urban Angels.
Moon Angels
Loners Dream.
Burning Bridges
Highland
It will Happen
Taken There
Father

Line Up

Neal Schon-Guitars
Igor Len-Keyboards
Omar Hoakim- Drums
Gary Cirnimell-Drum Programming