Customer Reviews

Above Storm

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jim Peterik is the former "Survivor" musician that was a main writer of their successful music in the 80's. This CD is no exception. He continues with the AOR style of rock anthems & power ballads which are very well written. The musicians on this CD match his style perfectly. If you are a fan of Survivor, Pride Of Lions, Mecca or Journey then you will love this CD.

As the songs have been discussed in other reviews and I agree with most of them I'll be brief.

With 40+ years of writing, performing, producing and entertaining the world stage, Jim P. proves his vast abilities and explores the deep riches of his talent on this album.

There is a plethora of meaningful lyrics, abundant hooks, and the execution that only a master of his field could produce. To say he wrote the book on songwriting would be an accurate statement as, well, HE DID. ("Songwriting For Dummies")

Any fans of beautifully constructed, thoughtful and meticulously crafted songs will be giddy with the selections on "Above The Storm". Kudos to Larry Millas and the array of talent assembled for this project.

Please Jim, keep pouring out your soul to your devoted fans and long live The Ides of March.

RC McWilliams

Above the storm is truly a masterpiece.

Some Days I can't get the song Live Life out of my head. Burning with a reason is a little funky with an great rock guitar one of my favoriates on the CD.

Above the storm is a great tendar ballad.

In the days we have has such a powerful message. I get the sense Jim is a bit of a spiritual person on this record. I for one welcome that. I love the female vocal & that song.

Stand & be counted is in the same vein as days it is a great powerful pop rock song.

At this moment of Night is a good pop song with a bit of a duet a tice touch. It is even a little funky pretty cool.

A Kiss to Remember is another ballad that makes me think each time I say goodbye to my wife before heading out.

The God in You is another nice pop song.

Secrets of a woman is a neat change of pace and a knod to the Ides of March side with the horns. That song has grown on me lately.

A talent for Loving you anothr nice balad.

Hiding from Yourself is something I could expect on a Survivor record. Great rock heavy guitar with melody my favoriate on the CD.

Midnight in my Soul is a great closer very powerful with that Survivor feel.

NOT A BAD SONG ON THIS CD>

This CD is like a roller coaster in a good way you rock dance funk slow down rock pray a little pop slow & finally rock. All in all a fun ride can't wait to get in line to ride again. I'm waiting on the 2 Pride of Lions Cds now.

I hope it gets released in the US so it can be enjoyed by more people. That may take the record co pinheads to decide to stop feeding us processed stuff.

2006's Above the Storm is the second solo album (the first was back in 1977!) from singer/guitarist/songwriter Jim Peterik, best known for his work with arena rockers Survivor.

The cover artwork for Above the Storm perfectly reflects the songs on the album. Above the storm it's all sunshine and clear skies, and that's exactly the kind of laid back sound Peterik is working here. Aside from a couple of (somewhat) rocking songs towards the end of the album ("Hiding from Yourself" and "Midnight in My Soul"), the songs on Above the Storm bear little resemblance to the songs Peterik wrote for Survivor. The album is a collection of smooth love songs that probably qualify as adult contemporary more than AOR.

It's hard to believe that Peterik (plus Johnny and Donnie Van Zant) could have come up with such a completely un-rocking album like this, but I have to admit the songs are well-written. They just don't even remotely excite me as a rock fan. I suppose with a stronger vocalist (Danny Vaughn comes to mind), these songs might have held my interest, but Peterik's voice is too "middle of the road" to give them the extra push they need.

I love Peterik's work with Survivor and Pride of Lions, but I just can't get into this album. There are a couple of better than average songs, but for the most part Above the Storm is pretty forgettable, and definitely not on a level with former Survivor bandmate Jimi Jamison's solo material.

Jim Peterik was the mastermind of survivor. If only his voice would be a bit

better, his solo efforts were the perfect replacement of survivor.

Above the Storm is Jim Peterik's first solo album in thirty years. While Jim Peterik and the World Stage in 2000 was sort of 80s-rock-star-reunion project, this one is purely the music on his own. Liberated from the bands he loved such as Survivor and Pride of Lions, he sounds mature and refined.

LIVE LIFE and BURNING WITH A REASON are straight-rock stuff showing well of midwestern American rock. ABOVE THE STORM is the nicely structured ballad that should be the candidate for Record of the Year. IN THE DAYS WE HAVE excellently shows his low-toned voice appeal. STAND AND BE COUNTED is a nice rock anthem which should be aired extensively. AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT is well-hooked tune while SECRET OF A WOMAN lets go brass-featured rock aptly. HIDING FROM YOURSELF I think is the best track of this album with its message well-written and touching our heart.

Verdict: Jim Peterik finally shows his true self.

Rating: 85 out of 100. A couple of outstanding single candidates might have boosted the rating more.

Recommended for: Wide range of AOR fans. Survivor and Pride of Lions fans. Some of Five for Fighting fans. ...And Grammy voters.

This is generic half less than ok - half horrible - completely unforgetable - generic drudge - please get back with Survivor and make something someone in America would like? or are you happy playing to tiny crowds in Europe - comeon....lets get back together for some good music - not this sore missing any punch run of the mill yuk - Survivor could have rocked the sh.. out of the Real One - which is now being endless played on radio...