| Jim Peterik Above The Storm | Frontiers Records FRCD278 |
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Jim Peterik keeps the recent momentum of his post-Survivor career going with a brand new solo release, squeezed in-between Pride Of Lions duties.
Jim returns to the soulful, earthy rock n roll tone of his World Stage project, which is an outlet for the other half of Jim's writing skills, when he is not concentrating on AOR. Like the World Stage release, Above The Storm features a Midwestern style straightforwardness that has seen Jim become a popular co-writer with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special. On board for the album are some old friends and faces, including Ed Breckenfeld, Klem Hayes and Mike Aquino (Pride Of Lions) and the Ides Of March guys, although the main musical credit must go to Jim himself, who supplies a majority of the instrumentation. For those who have followed Jim's career and don't need converting, this will be a welcomed release that touches on familiar themes – spirituality, love, family and facing life's challenges head on. For those that haven't warmed to the Pride of Lions material, this might offer an alternative opportunity to appreciate one of the melodic scene's finest writers. Given the nature of the album's style, it might even appeal to a few new folk - those that look for positive lyrical content within their music and like the melodic, yet back to basics sound of such bands as 38 Special and David Carl. Not every track works, but the majority do and Jim's vocals, while a little rough, sound better than ever. Live Life and Burning With A Reason give the album a flying start. Two energetic rockers with a southern rock 38 Special feel and some great guitar work give notice that even as a solo artist, Jim's a rocker. The soulful mid-tempo Above The Storm delivers a sentimental message and one of Jim's more expressive vocals to date. In The Days We Have and Stand And Be Counted both vary the tempo and offer more fine melodic choruses. At This Time Of Night has an interesting swagger and a chorus hook that won't let you forget it. The next few tracks explore the romantic side of life and change the pace of the album a little. Talent For Loving You is true romantic ballad, but is perhaps just a little too nice for me. Jim counteracts with my favourite track of the album. Hiding From Yourself is a first rate melodic rocker that sounds like a classic 38 Special/Don Barnes anthem. The album closes with a couple of slower tracks, which in some ways take away from the momentum of the first half of the album. Not bad tracks by any stretch, but perhaps closing the album after Hiding From Yourself might have been a better idea.
Perhaps a couple of tracks too long and a little too nice in places, this is still another great release that Jim can be proud of.
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09/05/06: Ton - o.herwijnen@chello.nl
30/04/06: Zok - micke_016@hotmail.com
28/04/06: Heppy - heppy22@msn.com
21/04/06: Freddy De Keyzer - freddk100@hotmal.com
19/04/06: marco k. - marco_vintage@hotmail.com
08/04/06: Legumo - legumo66@yahoo.com
Rating: 40
Very boring ;only the first song Live life is interesting. Why must this guitarist/keyboardplayers sing? Very bad vocals. Same with Bruce Turgon and some voacals on the last Yourneyalbum and even Frankie Sullivan from Survivor. Keep doing what's your profession: writing songs.
Rating: 60
No this is not my cup of tea, Pride of lions first record is great, and the second is ok. But this is not at the same class at all, sounds pretty boring. I hope that Peterik can comeback with a higher class next time.
Rating: 80
This would be a much beter album With a good vocalist, i'm not saying that Jim's bad but he's just not my cup of tea.
Rating: 55
Can be very short about this one : DISAPPOINTING !
Lots of different styles and in fact it's going nowhere !
Peterik is a big talent, no doubt about that, but this is one of his weakest work ever !
Not a match to the mighty Survivor or the brilliant Pride Of Lions !
Can't recommend this one !
Rating: 80
Anouther great Jim Peterik release!
Having said this i immediatly long for the Peterik/Sullivan collaberations of the allmighty survivor.It's always a bit of a pity to see a succes formula fall apart for whatever reason given.Yes Pride of Lions is one of the best melodic rock acts around and this Peterik release is a must for every aor fan and yes ,the new Survivor record we've all been waiting for sounds like it has been worth the wait.But what if we combine the best of all worlds,i mean Jims voice is o.k. but he's no Jimi Jamison and ....
Whell why complain,now we have 2 great releases in only a few months time....but what if......
My personal favourites,LIVE LIFE,BURNING WITH A REASON,AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT,SECRETS OF A WOMAN,HIDING FROM YOURSELF,MIDNIGHT IN MY SOUL
Rating: 80
first thing first....
Jim Peterik got a fantastic voice i am in love
with the way he sings, my friends heard this album
and thought i was the singer cause he sounds exactly
like me and sings the same way i always did when i'm
singing anything. ;)
this album is a very good album, great production,
and 80% of it is good, 20% are fillers like the last
2 tracks and A Kiss To Remember You By (annoying song).
but i am glad i got this album, i ripped it to MP3
and burnt it on a CD-R without those 3 songs and now
the album = 100% score :D
favorite songs
1 - Above The Storm (this is worth song of the year!!!)
2 - A Talent To Love You
3 - Hiding From Yourself
well worth buying!
ADD YOUR OWN REVIEW! (Ratings out of 100)
