JIM PETERIK – Above The Storm

Jim Peterik has a long and distinguished track record at the forefront of Melodic Rock as both a performer and a songwriter. Beginning his career with cult favorites Ides of March, it was with his subsequent act, Survivor, that he hit pay dirt. Peterik was responsible for co-writing evergreen favorites “Eye of the Tiger,” “Burning Heart,” and “Can’t Hold Back,” earning him number 1 hits, Grammy Awards, and international acclaim along the way.

Upon breaking up after the criminally underrated Too Hot To Sleep opus, Petrik concentrated on his own recording career with World Stage, as well as resurrecting The Ides of March. In addition, he has also written songs for an impressive array of names including Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, and Cheap Trick amongst many others.

2006 sees Peterik busy on many fronts, not least on his own solo project as well as a live release from his Pride of Lions project.

Above The Storm is a true solo project where Peterik handles all lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and percussion, as well as writing and producing the album to create his most personal selection of songs to date. A number of special guests ably assist Peterik in his vision, including Johnny Van Zant from Lynyrd Skynyrd and his brother Donnie from .38 Special, as well as a number of his Ides of March cohorts and the Pride of Lions rhythm section.

Starting off with the anthemic pairing of “Live Life” and “Burning With A Reason” sets the tone on a powerful, rousing footing with the former coming across in the vein of The Hooters or The Rembrants, pushing a positive uplifting message, making a welcome change to some of the more dour material polluting the airwaves these days. “Burning With A Reason” is arguably the best track on the album, a moody verse makes way for a stirring chorus replete with effective percussive backing. This is a song that could quite easily have sat comfortably on Survivor’s magnificent Too Hot To Sleep album .

“Above The Storm” is one of several ballads on the album, again conveying a message of hope. The ballads on the album are not of the atypical AOR variety, but more of the laid back West Coast style. Peterik plumping for the singer-songwriter approach gives a more reflective mature tinge to the album. Peterik further shows his versatility by donning mandolin and accordion in the Kansas like “In The Days We Have” and 12 string guitar on the fist punching anthem “Stand And Be Counted,” featuring an effective counter melody from Lisa McClowry.

“At This Time Of Night” opens with a lilting, haunting keyboard refrain before heading into an altogether more laid back, but funky, affair with McClowry again providing some fine backing vocals, whereas “Secrets of A Woman” smoulders in a soulful way with an ever-so-sassy brass section backing from The Ides of March.

The latter section of the album becomes a little heavy and single-paced in the ballad department, however, the excellent “Hiding From Yourself” ups the pace somewhat with a Bryan Adams-style, punchy, Pop rocker.

Peterik has succeeded in producing an album showcasing a different side to his songwriting talents, a more mature affair than usual, and a highly personal offering resulting in an accomplished collection of songs, which may not appeal to the more Metallic fraternity out there, but will serve those of a Melodic disposition just fine.