For the Love of Strange Medicine in Bloomington, MN

Coming ten years after his first solo album,
For the Love of Strange Medicine
's lack of success was solid proof that a new decade had no room for
Steve Perry
's saccharine-induced love songs or makeup and breakup-styled gushiness, even if it was sculpted to sound more mature.
"You Better Wait"
was the lead single that managed a number 29 spot, mainly because
Perry
's voice soared throughout its entirety, proving he could still utilize his greatest asset. The rest of the album tries to blend
's romantic formula with pumped-up keyboard playing and manufactured rhythms, worsening any sincerity that may or may not have been there in the first place. Tracks such as
"Donna Please"
and
"Listen to Your Heart"
try hard to rekindle
's
Journey-esque
magic, but it's nowhere to be found. Instead, his lyrics fall off into thin air without making any impact, along with commonplace radio harmonies that have long since lost their '80s luster. The end of the album has
sounding extra thin in songs like
"Missing You"
"Somewhere There's Hope,"
ample evidence that, in
's case, it takes more than just a superb voice to carry an album. ~ Mike DeGagne