Customer Reviews

Empires

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Well, it's not really Survivor without Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterick, But it's as close as it can get. The opening track "Cry Tough" was a week opening but it was follow by a great Rock song (Run from the thunder) that reminded me of some of the old song from Premonition.The weekest part is the song from the TV show "Baywatch", that's not a Survivor song because it's too pop for me. "Empires" writen with original Survivor member is a great love song and a strong one for this album. The other great songs are: Just beyond the cloud (A great rock ballad), A dream too far (good rythme) and November Rain (A great slow song with atmospherique feeling for the romantic in you). The two Live version of old Survivor songs were great because they are the first Live song recording we have from that band. Jimi's great voice is in front of all the songs and it's good to ear from him again.

I hope that the next album from the original member will be as great as this one. Good listening folks !

Strictly speaking, this is not Survivor. Survivor without Jim Peterik is like Santana without Carlos.

Name issues aside,however, this album is an excellent example of old-new generation mix band such as Steelhouse Lane. Jimi Jamison did it without help from original members such as Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan with the exception of Empires which was co-written with Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan during Too Hot To Sleep era. Young(26 years old) talented guitarist Chris Adamson performs hilariously with his guitar solo. Still not great as Frankie's but almost close to it. Other band members are about 30 years old. That makes entire album fresh and rejuvenated. Recommended�@tracks are First Day of Love which reminds me of First Night but heavier than FN. A Dream Too Far is the track which is the closest to fit the image of 80s Survivor reprented by Eye of The Tiger and Burning Heart. Cry Tough is a High On You/ How Much Love style pop rock tune. Just Beyond The Cloud and November Rain are fine ballads which shows Jimi's excellent voice. With the exception of a few mediocre tracks and live version of the Survivor tracks, it is absolutely equivalent to Survivor masterpieces and of course one of the best rock albums of 1999.

It is a must-buy for all Survivor fans, highly recommended for 80s rock fans who likes the bands such as Journey, Night Ranger and 38 Special. And fits well for modedrn rock fans who likes hard rock with AOR feel such as Fair Warning and Steelhouse Lane.

This CD explodes with Jimi's great electrifing voice. The vocals are fabulous and the songs are great. The title song, Empires is a great choice, he sings a duo with Lisa Frazier. Of course there are plenty of love songs, Jimi's speciality! He ends the CD, with live songs from the original Survivor group. A wonderful addition to Jimi Jamison's works. By the way, congratulations on the reforming of the original Survivor, good luck in the studio guys! Can't wait for your next CD!

The long awaited Cd from Jimi Jamison's Survivor was worth it. With new guitarist Chris Adamson the band sounds better than ever. It is a great mix of ballads and melodic rock. My favorite songs are Run From the Thunder, Dream too Far and First Day of Love. Check this CD out. You won't be disappointed.

Considering that technically this is not a REAL "Survivor" CD, it is not bad at all. It was recorded by Jimi Jamison and his group of unknowns under the name "Survivor" while at the same time being sued by the original members of the band for illegally using the name. The original Survivor was indeed touring at that time with the original lead singer, Dave Bickler. So what you are hearing on this album is actually a Jimi Jamison solo recording... using the name of his (at the time) former band to sell more albums. The content: good Survivor-like music. My favorite songs on here are "First Day of Love" and "Just Beyond of Clouds." There is also a version of the Baywatch Theme, "I'm Always Here," on the album, but I like the original better. Frankie Sullivan (the ONLY "original" member of Survivor still in the band) must forgive and forget... Just after being told by the US Courts that he can no longer use the trademarked name, Jimi Jamison was officially welcomed back by Frankie Sullivan as lead singer of Survivor.

jimi jamison is back with power! cry tough opens the cd to get your blood flowing then, he brakes in a heavy rocker run from the thunder what a track!empires and just beyond the clouds are heart wrenching ballads and the most powerful song is first day of love! dream to far and november rain are great tracks too. all i can say is this is jimi jamison's most shining moment his vocals are hard and awesome buy this cd!

Originally released in 1999, Empires was a solo effort by former Survivor frontman Jimi Jamison. The music you hear on Empires is of course quite similar to Survivor's particular brand of AOR. In fact, the album was originally released under the name "Jimi Jamison's Survivor."

Empires is a very solid, very old-school AOR album, full of ballads and love anthems. It's an album very much in the classic Survivor mold. Believe it or not, one of the album highlights is the song I'm Always Here, which was the theme song to the TV show Baywatch. Jamison carries the album with his warm and powerful voice. The songs are for the most part quite well written, though they do tend to get a bit cheesy at times. I guess that's just one of the pitfalls of this kind of music. Still, this is an enjoyable album that should please most old-school AOR fans, especially Survivor fans.

There is no question that Jimi Jamison has one of the greatest rock singing voices of all time! In 1984 he propelled Survivor back on top with his powerful and soulful vocals and unchallenged intensity.
After years of touring with his own band he came up with a masterpiece of rock ! This cd is Jimi at his best. Dream Too Far, First Day Of Love , Run From The Thunder, Just Beyond The Clouds and Cry Tough .. bottom line rock!!!! Although he has returned to Survivor with Frankie Sullivan, I hope he releases another solo effort to match this great cd.. One song he wrote years ago that would have made this cd even better was I'm A Fighter.. ! Lets hope Jimi Or Survior keep rocking and make great music for the fans.

Legal issues of this album aside, this is an excellent, rocking effort by Jimi Jamison and the boys. I never expected it to rock so much. "Run From The Thunder" is a perfect example with its crunching guitars and uptempo chorus. "First Day Of Love" sounds like it will be a third ballad in a row on the album (after the Baywatch theme "I'm Always Here" and the duet title track--both fine songs), but then it kicks right in. "Love Is Alive" is another example of a song that rocks surprisingly hard. Ballads such as "Just Beyond The Clouds" and "November Rain" are also of very high quality. "Calling America" is yet another exceptional anthem that absolutely holds up to previous Survivor anthems. The live tracks from '80s material at the end is also a nice touch.

I bought this album expecting decent, mid-tempo AOR; and what I got is a melodic, rocking masterpiece. For shame that this never got released in the States. Definitely a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection that has other Survivor albums or albums that helped keep melodic rock alive through the '90s (bands like Hardline, Velocity, etc.)

Jimi Jamison's version of Survivor takes on a powerful life of its own and conquers musical empires on this amazing record. Very tight and alternating between heavy and melodic pop,"Empires"delivers great songs such as "Have Mercy",or their cover of Tom Cochrane's "Calling America".Even though Jamison has now rejoined the real Survivor,this is a recorded testimony to his immense talents as a musician.