New Album: Reach

[Richard Epps]

Its a band from the 1970s I think.It is rock but nothing like Survivor at all,it annoys me that online retailers dont mentuion this.I have heard today from a friend who is an online retailer that Reach has not arrived in the UK yet anywhere not due to Monday,I know that normally Frontiers releases come out early too.For those that havnt heard it the 85% given by Andrew is a fair review.

[Susumu]

I was searching FYE's website to see if they had an American Release date on the album and found this...

http://shop.fye.com/product.aspx?sku=63817892&loc=50244

I've never seen this before...for some reason I don't think this is the Survivor we know of... .anyone care to explain this?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000B ... oding=UTF8

Yep. Totally different band which happened to have the same band name.

Susumu-5 (Amazon Reviewer)

[survivorfan2005]

The latest i've heard is that the album is to be in the U.S Early - Middle of May. Correct me if i'm wrong. That's what I've gotten from Frontiers. Anyhow, has anyone heard the so called "seconds away remix" yet?

[Susumu]

Anyhow, has anyone heard the so called "seconds away remix" yet?

Japanese bonus track Seconds Away mix has more percussion mixing than album version.

Susumu

[survivorfan2005]

Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Posts: 87
Location: Tennessee
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:21 am Post subject: MY REVIEW OF REACH

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Well, I recieved the album about a week ago and finally am able to get a review in... only one word can describe it... AWSOME! I know i'm going to like the album no matter what but i'm going to try to keep this as fair and balanced as possible.

"Reach" is classic, unmistakable Survivor! Easily recognizable alongside any of their classics. Jamo's vocals absolutely shines!
There's clearly a sense of aw surrounding the title track. Marc Droubay's exuberant and incisive drum fills have never sounded so good, Frankie Sullivan's sense of rhythm is as always unmistakable while Jimi's voice is nearly perfect. The song maintains a very catchy feel from the very start and Frankie Sullivan's solo enhances the emotional factor to the nth power.

'Fire Makes Steel' shows a different tenor. Alongside Dave Bickler, the original singer for this song, Jimi does a great job at this as he has done with so many of Dave's songs. It keeps along the lines of the old demo and is the first from the unreleased demo album "Fire Makes Steel'. The music is traditional 80's style with the Peterik influence clear
Stylistically, it's very close to the 'Empires' album with Jimi's voice.

'Nevertheless' is possibly one of the poppier but modern songs on the album, featuring a chorus which has a lot in common with latter-day Night Ranger. It is the second from the FMS demo album. Allthough Frankie's vocals are good it still dosn't sound like the traditional Survivor Vibe to it. an ok song.

"Seconds Away" is perfect near-ballad…mid-tempo loop/groove, great guitars and, again, Jamo's unmatched vocals. The man has away of taking a simple hook and making you feel it right in the middle of the gut.
This is the final demo from the FMS album and again the Peterik influence is clear. While not too far removed from Dave's version, the new mix is great. I wouldn't be suprised if this song get's an award or be heard on the radio moreso than the others. This song is perhaps my favorite.


'One More Chance" is a great slow-paced ballad with great lyrics. It has a great chorus as well. Marc Droubay's drums are excellent as well as Frankie's guitar. Jimi's vocals are amazing on this track as well. A must hear ballad

'Gimmie The Word' is another reminder of the 'Empires' glories. A darker, moodier mid-tempo with a stellar performance by Jamison and some seriously scorching riffing by Sullivan. His lead work's lyrical spot on. "Gimme The Word" is an absolute gem of contemporary AOR! A sultry, slithering track with excellent melody, smooth pacing and a chorus hook that'll have scores of people squeezing their eyes shut and raising their fists.

"The Rhythm Of Your Heart" is a good slow paced ballad with great lyrics as well. Many people say this is something that should have been on "Empires" seeing as it is a JJ demo. Eventhough, the song is perhaps one of Survivor's slowest ballads, it still delivers enough to keep you interested.

"I Don't" is a mid-tempo ballad that has a great chorus and lyrics. Jimi's voice is superb. This is one of Survivor's "experimental" attempts of a modernized songs which is succesfull in it's own right. I really enjoyed this track.


"Half Of My Heart" and "Don't Give Up" are classic sounding Survivor song which reinvents the sound that made singles like "High on You" an "The Search is Over" chart toppers. "Half Of My Heart" is a great ballad with a great chorus while "Don't Give Up" has a more "traditional Chorus" to it.

"Talkin 'bout Love" is another song fronted by Frankie. This song is the most modern song of the album and it shows. With a killer chorus and tremendous vocals this is sure to be a chart topping single.

"Home" is an ok ballad with a great sound to it, I just wish it was a little bit more fast-paced. It dosn't really deliver the Survivor sound.

One of the coolest things about this record, is that it's in all ways classic AOR Music. Yet, in all its glory, there is an underpinning of a "here and now" vibe in the mix/production. The tones are not overly washed out with reverb to sound "big", instead for a more in your face, almost live feel … still slick where it's needed, but not even approaching cheesy. Also, there are some tasty percussion loop effects used sparingly throughout the songs giving them a more up to date Rock feel. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who ever liked Survivor should own a copy of this album as it's easily one of the best AOR records of the year.


If Toto have delivered one monster album with 'Falling In Between', then 'Reach' stands only half a step below from that. It iwas a good move on Frontiers' part to have two all-time AOR heavyweights on their roster, and I have absolutely no clue as to how much Serafino & Co. have invested on 'Reach'. I wouldn't want to get too political but if Toto have so far benefited from a lot of promotion work, then Survivor should deserve an equally big and tasty piece of the pie judging by this effort..

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Comments or Questions?

[AOR rules]

Thank you Survivorfan for in-depth review. I´m pretty sure that I will like this album more than the new Toto album. I´m still waiting for my copy, order has been in well over a week which is quite strange as the release date was 21.04. so I think it should have arrived already.

[survivorfan2005]

I really don't know what to think about the U.S Release date..... It's like they've turned their backs on us! lol j/k

I have however found out that Volcano is going to be the destributer for the album here in the U.S It makes since seeing as how "Ultimate Survivor" was released by them.. When? I don't know. Anyone else hear of this?

[sherylrob]

I am STILL waiting for Amazon to ship my copy of Reach, I was told yesterday it is in short supply and that is why it hasn't be sent to me yet

Sheryl

[Red13JoePa]

I really don't know what to think about the U.S Release date..... It's like they've turned their backs on us! lol j/k

I have however found out that Volcano is going to be the destributer for the album here in the U.S It makes since seeing as how "Ultimate Survivor" was released by them.. When? I don't know. Anyone else hear of this?

Volcano would make sense....they did partner with BMG on ultimates....It also seems as though Volcano's involved in the new Best Of...May would be good, then I could wait. Or even if they just announced a firm date...I'd like to know if I have to order it from Frontiers or not.

[Susumu]

I am STILL waiting for Amazon to ship my copy of Reach, I was told yesterday it is in short supply and that is why it hasn't be sent to me yet

Sheryl

It seems Amazon got advanced copy limited in number.
Nice tactics to get the reviews posted.
(If they wait for mass-market version they cannot have any info of the album at all)

Susumu-5 (Amazon reviewer)

[Red13JoePa]

I am STILL waiting for Amazon to ship my copy of Reach, I was told yesterday it is in short supply and that is why it hasn't be sent to me yet

Sheryl

It seems Amazon got advanced copy limited in number.
Nice tactics to get the reviews posted.
(If they wait for mass-market version they cannot have any info of the album at all)

Susumu-5 (Amazon reviewer)

Agreed. totally weak.

[survivorfan2005]

Things are quite around here.....I guess everyone must be rockin to much.. lol

[AOR rules]

I guess everybody is waiting for their copy of "Reach". I know that mine is already posted so it shouldnt take many days before I can make my first spin of the long awaited album.

[TageRyche]

I guess everybody is waiting for their copy of "Reach". I know that mine is already posted so it shouldnt take many days before I can make my first spin of the long awaited album.

I'm not waiting for a copy, I got my review copy already.

YAAY!

[Richard Epps]

I have had a review copy for a month my normal copy arrived last Weds,I got it from www.z-roxx.com who offer a great service

[AOR rules]

I have now been listening ”Reach” cd for about week and a half and I could have posted my comment sooner but I´m still under insane working-schedule. Well, I´m completely satisfied with the album. It gives me much more kicks than latest Toto and Journey cds. Against popular opinion I don´t think there is too many slow songs, I think that pacing of this album needed this amount of slow tempos and on the next one things may be different. There is enough different emotions and atmospheres to keep it interesting from start to finish. Even “Neverthless” which I first thought to be too far-removed from typical Survivor style have eventually found it´s place in the whole picture.

Frankie´s singing contribution adds diversity to the album and in my opinion Jimi´s current a bit rougher singing style wouldn´t have fitted these two songs very easily.

The question of the right single is very difficult. The title track is catchiest of the rockers but on the other hand if we want to get girls interested in Survivor again maybe slow song would be the right answer, “Seconds away” perhaps? Right now I can´t decide my stand on this subject.

All in all, positive surprise. For my shame I was one of those pessimistic ones who thought that they couldn´t deliver the goods without Peterik but in this case I´m glad to admit being wrong.