Reach - Track By Track (Pre-Review)

[Andrew]

Ok, a solid record all round, but one with some negatives alongside the positives.
At this stage - after 5 days and 20 odd plays - I rate it Good - but not classic.

Overall the album is pretty laid back, which I think is my main disappointment.
Too many ballads / mid-tempo tracks. Reach features only 4 true uptempo rockers.
The production is ok too – not sonic perfection, but ok.

Reach – Cracking opening track with a great lead vocal, nice lead guitar (and solo), killer bridge and ok chorus.

Fire Makes Steel – Not too far removed from the original 90s demo…sounds like 80s Survivor and is a little sonically different than the opening track.

Nevertheless – Uptempo pop song with Frankie on lead vocals. This is the first of two Frankie lead vocals and to be honest – I don’t like the vocals. They are a little thin and I don’t like the tone of Frankie’ pitch. However, few singers are going to sound great next to Jimi J. That leads me to my second point here – with a singer like Jimi as your frontman, WHY would you ever contemplate pushing him aside???
This song kills the momentum of the first 2 tracks and would have been better with Jimi on vocals.
Also sounds a little muddy, not as crisp as first two tracks…

Seconds Away – A passionate ballad of pure class.

One More Chance – Another passionate ballad, this one a little darker and moodier and a very nice chorus.

Gimmie The Word – Yet another slow track – that’s three in a row now. But, nice guitar and a cool dark, intense vibe and a more uptempo chorus. Of note – Jimi’s voice sounds a lot rougher ad harsher than at other points on the record.

The Rhythm Of Your Heart – A remake of the Jimi J demo from the Empires sessions. Yet another slow track…that’s four in a row. Classy ballad – but to be honest, I have had this track for a long time now and could have used a new track instead. Not much different than the demo.

I Don’t – Another old track remade….the Peterik influence clear. Mid-to-uptempo thankfully…a nice lead vocal and some piano. Cool track.

Half Of My Heart – Yet another ballad. I want more rock! Nice chorus, but an extra ballad too many.

Talkin’ Bout Love – Maybe the most classic Survivor track of the album and one I might have rated as the album highlight – great song and killer chorus. BUT…with respect to Frankie as a lead singer - his vocals kill this for me. Would have been a contender for song of the year if Jimi was singing. With a weaker voice upfront it doesn’t impact as much.

Don’t Give Up – Thankfully uptempo and driven by some nice guitar work. Strong lead vocal and an ok chorus.

Home – Another ballad to close the album…this one being a very slow bluesy ballad. Not a favorite.

That’s it folks…full review in a few weeks after I have lived with this for a while.

[NealIsGod]

So I see you rating it about 80-85%?

I like Give Me the World the best of the samples you posted. I will definitely get this CD.

[AOR rules]

Well NOW we are talking about my kind of stuff , I´m going completely nuts about these sound samples. Looks like Survivor boys are delivering my album of the year (Well, if Pride of Lions are releasing new stuff this year they could have potential to compete with this one). New Toto have received a lot of praising but it´s a bit too difficult album for simple man like me (too much art and not enough pop). Ok, I agree that four slow songs in a row doesnt seem like good idea but I´ll make my judgement when "Reach" is spinning in my cd-player.

[Red13JoePa]

Oh no.
Way too ballad-heavy. And 2 of the rockers in what is only an 11-track running order (for now, hopefully) Sullivan fronts 2 ( ) . I want JJ sung rockers like Popular Girl, Broken Promises, Oceans, Can't Let You Go, Desparate Dreams, Didn't Know It Was Love, tell Me I'm The One....


God at LEAST throw the new EOTT on now to offset this problem. Andrew, this is Arrival redux. I hope that the outcome is the same, ala added rockers.

[Barbie]

Unlike a few of you, I am thrilled that Frankie sings a couple of songs. He has a very unique voice and will give some diversity and interest to the album. If anyone ever heard him sing "Anymore", you would know what I mean. Thanks to Frankie for giving us the chance to hear him! And hopefully many more to come!

[Red13JoePa]

True, and from what our gracious benefactor said he sounds pretty ok, if a little thin. From what I understand FS sings the high bridge in You Know Who You Are off Gr Hts. Very unique, indeed though remiscent of Steve Augeri, Steve perry, and Bickler himself.

My initial disappointment can be offset somewhat by adding the elusive new Eye Of The Tiger with JJ fronting, of course.

[Andrew]

I'd much rather Jimi be singing those 2 tracks and if so, it would be a stronger record.

Main problem though - 6 ballads...

[Barbie]

RedJoe, Yes, that is Frankie singing the bridge of You Know Who You Are and, in fact, he sings throughout the song; it is a harmony with Frankie, Dave and Jim. A standout song, I must say, and very different from anything they had ever done previously.

[Barbie]

One more thing, Frankie's voice reminds me of Bryan Adams, but with even more soul, in my opinion. I prefer Frankie's!

[NealIsGod]

Main problem though - 6 ballads...

Yeah, that was the problem with Journey's Trial By Fire, too. There should be no more than 2 or 3 ballads on a rock record, IMO.

[Red13JoePa]

RedJoe, Yes, that is Frankie singing the bridge of You Know Who You Are and, in fact, he sings throughout the song; it is a harmony with Frankie, Dave and Jim. A standout song, I must say, and very different from anything they had ever done previously.

Hungry Years is better. A menacing smoky tough Bickler track.

I like the album cover for REACH.

Andrew's point is well taken. If the # of ballads JJ had to sing was lopped in 1/2 and replaced w/ up tempos, I wouldn't be so pissed about FS's self-indulgence.

[Greg]

Ah well...I s'pose when you mature into the business, you tend to be more laid back in your art. Maybe this is what is happening with Survivor. I sort of wish Bickler and Jamison could both be in Survivor at the same time. That would be nice!

[TageRyche]

Did I miss something? When I listened to "Gimmie The Word" it struck me as a rocker, not a mid tempo thing.