Neal Schön makes his guitar strut on “Take A Ride,” the song that opens his 2014 solo album, So U. The song lifts off with a nasty vocal, singable chorus, chunking organ and a wonderful jam at the end. This tune sets the stage for a fine showing from the Journey guitarist and two special guest players – bassist Marco Mendoza (Ted Nugent, Whitesnake, Black Star Riders) and Journey drummer Deen Castronovo. Sharing vocals and songwriting credits (some with Night Ranger’s Jack Blade), this nine-song collection captures the essence of a rockin’ power trio.
The album’s title track opens with an undertow of strings and floating, bluesy picking from Schön. The beat bubbles up as we get into a rich and thick concoction of fusion and prog with the trio providing a good mix of vocal harmonies. The instrumental “Exotica” showcases each player at their balls-to-the-wall hard-hitting blistering best. “What You Want” is funk of the Sly Stone variety, and one of the more distinct contributions from Jack Blades with its stops, riff and mix of voices – Schön sings the lower vocal, Castronovo does the higher harmonies, and Mendoza takes the lead.
The power ballad “Love Finds A Way” makes me immediately think of Journey, it’s a pretty tune but not much more remarkable than for its soaring vocal. “Serenity” is a fun and fast mover with a great vocal and Castronovo’s hard-hitting snare. So U ends with another instrumental, a platform for Schön’s flights of synth-like guitar histrionics. Six solo albums to his credit, the axmen and main songwriter in Journey since its inception, a member of Santana at the ripe old age of 15 – Neal Schön has enjoyed a remarkable career. On So U, he falls in step with two great players equal to his mastery and pedigree. Searing cool stuff indeed.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
