Recorded at the storied Colorado studio
Caribou Ranch
,
III Wishes
captures this killer Kansas City sextet in a holding pattern, where the rootsy vocal of
Gary West
transmogrifies into
Steve Perry
's soaring croon. Even the usual expert musicianship resembles a certain Bay-Area phenomenon.
Journey
boardsman
Kevin Elson
shouldn't shoulder all the blame. Sure,
Shooting Star
deserves a piece of the AOR profit as much as any act, but the group is too talented and honorable not to make music on their own terms.
"Do You Feel Alright"
seems a bit too knuckleheaded from a band with deep
spiritual
leanings.
"Couldn't Get Enough"
keys into the passion of previous outings, but the trite chorus comes off forced.
managed to work around cliches before, but the boys can't affect the listener if their hearts are not in the proceedings. By the last cut,
"Whole World Watching"
(with
Chicago
-ish keys), it's obvious
wants to please too many people. When pleasing themselves, the band made great music.
echoes others' great music and that's a shame. More brilliance waited in the band (as evidenced on
Silent Scream
), but
III
tries to capture the money of those prospects not listening, and doesn't move the emotions of
's already-attentive audience. ~ Doug Stone