I’ve really been enjoying the stuff coming out of Frontiers Records thus far and here is yet another AOR release from said label. ‘Above The Storm’ is former Survivor stalwart Jim Peterik’s second solo effort and I must admit I was looking forward to listening to it. But Survivor, as far as Peterik is concerned  was all such a long time ago.  I bet it’s a bit of a millstone around Peterik’s neck too, if he was being honest. So what of ‘Above The Storm’? 

Well it’s a bit of a mixed bag to be honest. The musical performances are excellent. The arrangements spot on. There are some brilliant backing vocals from Lisa McClowry (an underrated part of any decent AOR album) and Peterik is fine in a mid-range crooning style. The problem is that it’s all a bit lightweight. And Peterik’s overly saccharine lyrics are definitely an acquired taste. It’s like he’s trying to appeal to a Barry Manilow audience of desperate housewives. OK so that last bit was politically incorrect. Barry Manilow is a desperate housewife. But it’s the only way of describing the sugary, over sentimental nonsense spouting forth from Peterik’s gob. 

It’s a pity really as opening track ‘Live Life’ is pleasant enough. ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’ has a great chorus. But then there are songs like ‘Secrets Of A Women’. Apparently ‘she’s giving them away’. Secrets, that is. This is followed by a track called ‘A Talent For Loving You’. At this point I was developing a talent for switching off this CD.  

Then there are Peterik’s weird vocal inflections. At one point he sings about ‘sitting on the pooch’. And I’m thinking: Quick. Ring the RSBCA. Jim’s being cruel to animals! But on listening back he’s actually singing ‘sitting on the porch’! So a bit of a relief there then. 

To be honest I was getting fed up with this album’s fluffiness and then out of the blue track eleven pops on and I’m like ‘this is more what I thought this record would be about’. ‘Hiding From Yourself’ is a brilliant slice of prime AOR and you can imagine it getting some really decent airplay in Peterik’s natural territory of the Mid-West. It just stands out like a beacon and if Peterik does release a single then it must surely be this. I could see him having a minor hit in the States with this one if it was pushed. 

Following track ‘Midnight In My Soul’ isn’t that bad either and has a nice Chicago blues feel to it that I think Peterik should have pursued more of on this album. It all ends (unsurprisingly) with a stadium ballad. Yet as sickly as ‘We Believe’ is it still carries on the feel of the two aforementioned tracks and has a vibe that is simply missing from the first three-quarters of the ‘Above The Storm’ album. 

I love what Frontiers Records are doing in getting behind the AOR revival. But this album is for die hard Peterik fans only I’m afraid as it’s way too lightweight to be considered by even the most easily pleased AOR fan. However do check out ‘Hiding From Yourself’ as it is a real class song and proof that Peterik can still do the business when he wants. I would have rated ‘Above The Storm’ higher if the lyrics hadn’t been so wet.

Let us know your views on 'Above The Storm'

Track List

Live Life
Burning With A Reason
Above The Storm
In The Days We Have
Stand And Be Counted
At This Time Of Night
A Kiss To Remember You By
The God In You
Secrets Of A Woman
A Talent For Loving You
Hiding From Yourself
Midnight In My Soul
We Believe

Line Up

Jim Peterik - Vocals/Guitar/Bass/Keys
Mike Aquino - Guitar
Ed Breckenfield - Drums
Mike Alongi - Drums
Klem Hayes - Bass