Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Steve Perry walked away from the music business at the twilight of the 1990s, following the modest success of 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine and the underwhelming commercial performance of Journey's 1996 album, Trial by Fire. Perry spent the next decade and a half out of the spotlight, quietly re-emerging with an appearance at a 2014 Eels concert in St. Paul, Minnesota. Perry's affinity for Mark Everett's eccentric indie pop outfit came as a surprise, as nothing in either band's music suggested a mutual connection, but as the former Journey singer ramped up the publicity for 2018's Traces, his first solo album in 24 years, his fondness for Everett's songs became plain: the Eels leader explores the depth of grief on many of his songs, and that's an emotion Perry felt deeply at the dawn of the 2010s. Perry revealed to Alex Pappademas in The New York Times that he fell in love with cancer patient Kellie Nash in 2011, staying with her until her death in 2012. Instead of sending Perry into seclusion, his love of Nash revived his creativity, sending him on a path that concluded with the creation of Traces.
Given this backstory, it's not entirely surprising that Traces is a somber affair, heavy on ballads and reflection. What is surprising is how Traces feels grateful, not mournful. Loss lurks at its edges, with Perry acknowledging the absence of his love, but he's choosing to throw himself into emotions that he avoided, at least on record. Perry doesn't abandon arena rock -- there is no musical evidence of his fondness for Eels -- but that is one of the reasons Traces resonates so strongly: he's working the same anthemic rockers and power ballads that he always has, only infusing them with soul. It helps that his voice shows the slightest hints of age, not reaching the same spectacular heights of his youth and often carrying a vague, appealing raspiness. It's a voice that is etched with experience, which makes it a good fit for Perry's songs of memory, mourning, love, and hope. Much of this deep feeling is disguised by expert studiocraft -- Traces can be enjoyed as a simple adult contemporary record -- but that only heightens the sense of the album's authenticity. Perry is working in the same milieu that he always has, only reaching deep inside and finding a bruised, beating heart -- and its pulse is the reason why Traces is the most affecting music he's ever made.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133,33/month
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - David Spreng, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brian West, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Randy Goodrum, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - David Spreng, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Five, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Composer, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Barry Eastmond, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist - GEORGE HARRISON, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Babko, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Author, Producer, MainArtist - PATRICK WILLIAMS, ComposerLyricist - Jason Lee, Author - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Steve Perry, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Thom Flowers, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Album review
Steve Perry walked away from the music business at the twilight of the 1990s, following the modest success of 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine and the underwhelming commercial performance of Journey's 1996 album, Trial by Fire. Perry spent the next decade and a half out of the spotlight, quietly re-emerging with an appearance at a 2014 Eels concert in St. Paul, Minnesota. Perry's affinity for Mark Everett's eccentric indie pop outfit came as a surprise, as nothing in either band's music suggested a mutual connection, but as the former Journey singer ramped up the publicity for 2018's Traces, his first solo album in 24 years, his fondness for Everett's songs became plain: the Eels leader explores the depth of grief on many of his songs, and that's an emotion Perry felt deeply at the dawn of the 2010s. Perry revealed to Alex Pappademas in The New York Times that he fell in love with cancer patient Kellie Nash in 2011, staying with her until her death in 2012. Instead of sending Perry into seclusion, his love of Nash revived his creativity, sending him on a path that concluded with the creation of Traces.
Given this backstory, it's not entirely surprising that Traces is a somber affair, heavy on ballads and reflection. What is surprising is how Traces feels grateful, not mournful. Loss lurks at its edges, with Perry acknowledging the absence of his love, but he's choosing to throw himself into emotions that he avoided, at least on record. Perry doesn't abandon arena rock -- there is no musical evidence of his fondness for Eels -- but that is one of the reasons Traces resonates so strongly: he's working the same anthemic rockers and power ballads that he always has, only infusing them with soul. It helps that his voice shows the slightest hints of age, not reaching the same spectacular heights of his youth and often carrying a vague, appealing raspiness. It's a voice that is etched with experience, which makes it a good fit for Perry's songs of memory, mourning, love, and hope. Much of this deep feeling is disguised by expert studiocraft -- Traces can be enjoyed as a simple adult contemporary record -- but that only heightens the sense of the album's authenticity. Perry is working in the same milieu that he always has, only reaching deep inside and finding a bruised, beating heart -- and its pulse is the reason why Traces is the most affecting music he's ever made.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:59:05
- Main artists: Steve Perry
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Fantasy
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2018 OMT Productions, LLC. ℗ 2018 OMT Productions, LLC.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.