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by Greg Carpenter
As I was downloading Arrival mp3's from Napster before its US release (yes, I couldn't wait...bad Greg), I would cut off the download about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes into the songs. After all, I just wanted a preview of the songs. There was one song, however, that grabbed me immediately and made me download the whole thing.
I knew nothing of the history behind the song. I didn't even know who wrote the song or that the writer(s) was drawing on very personal experience.
I just knew that "Livin' To Do" sounded like the Journey I fell in love with almost 15 years ago. Sure, I'm a kid, but I know good music when I hear it. The blues leads, the vocals straight from the gut, the slow burning rhythm section, the ORGAN for grief's sake (and I'm not talking about that thing snaking down Gregg's leg on the Infinity album jacket).
For me, all of the above reasons are enough to persuade me that "Livin' To Do" is the stand-out track on the album, but here's why it really is. The song is 0% commerical. Can you say 6 minutes plus?
"Livin' To Do" is a song that was written and recorded from the gut. I bet if you ask the guys, "Why that song 'Livin' To Do?'" the band would say, "Because we had to."
Trial By Fire had some great moments, but "Livin' To Do" elevates Arrival to a higher pl . . . I mean level. I know I'll get grief for this, but give me one "Livin' To Do" to ten "Kiss Me Softly's" or "Don't Be Down On Me Baby's" for that matter, and I really liked "Don't Be Down On Me Baby." No really. I'm serious. Oh OK, I didn't particuarly like "Don't Be Down On Me Baby," but let's get back to "Livin' To Do."
For some reason, this song has been maligned by some folks that have been giving fan reviews of Arrival. I can understand that it's not a slick ballad or high energy rocker, but the next time you're in a bad mood, and you're driving down the road, skip to "Livin' To Do," let Neal's blues riffs wash over you and sing along with Steve's emotional plea that even if life sucks for the moment, there's still a heck of a lot of living to do. Yeah baby. This is what music is all about.
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