Your Take ON Jamo on Reach

[lukather4prez]

I for one can't believe that Jamo would sing all those Bickler era demo songs (6 I believe in all). I'm very pleased with most of them how they turned out but, I'd really like to hear more of the rockin side of FS and Jamo.

I liked Jimi's singing on alot of Reach but, ROYH was not a good performance IMO. His FMS didn't really have the POP that Dave's Demo did. Less of the classic jamo raunch. It sounded good. but maybe too " neudered"??

He was great on Seconds Away. I thought he killed that as well as Reach and Gimmie The Word, Joe Vana and I agree that is a money song and a true Survivoresqe tune!!

I liked I don't alot and thought Jimi had a much different but still well done and interesting take on it. Never heard Dave's verison of his song " One More Chance" but I like Jimi's delivery.

Would have liked to have Jimi do some of the verse vocals on Talkin' bout Love as frank's REALLY nasally on a few words n Jamo could've done a better job me thinks. Overall great tune and Frankie Kills the pre-chorus and Chorus's. The most enviting and catchy tune on the album.


all in all 7 winners and one other decent one and 1 def. clunker (home) and a couple other throwaways derail the album somewhat.

Jimi is STILL a great singer and I can't wait to hear what he comes up with next.
Same with Survivor.


c.m.

[Red13JoePa]

I thought his performance on Reach the album was terrific.
Yes, agree Rythm Of Your Heart is the most surprising in it's low rapsiness. Much has been made about the raw sound of that voc in particular.

Overall I can hear the maturity (age ) in his vox on the record, but as he was always a more resonant, low voiced singer anyway I think it sounds very cool.

The best, most Vital Signs esque deliveries are on Reach, Firem Makes Steel and Don't Give Up.

[lukather4prez]

I found Don't give up to be one of the "throwaways" I mentioned. I found it very disposable and boring. A decent vocal from jamo but an overall lame duck tune. if not for Half Of My Heart N esp. Talkin Bout Love, the 2nd half of Reach is a real loser IMHO. But, I found it 10 times stronger as a whole than all 3 of the POL things Jim did or his solo record Above The Storm. I hated that release and don't like 90% of the last 2 POL's at all. Just garbage.

Also, Jamo gave a better vocal performance I thought on WSC and parts of THTS than Vital which was really good. THTS was more of a harder reading and different sound but on Desperate Dreams n the classic Across The Miles Jamo delivered 2 of his best vocals in His entire time with the band.



mar'tay

[Abitaman]

I thought Jimi was very good on the cd, even though not all the songs were very good.-ERIC

[Red13JoePa]

While I agree that Don't Give Up's not high Survivor art, keeping the analysis strictly to Jamison's delivery it is terrific.

[montyollie]

I'm completely in love with "One More Chance". I thought his vocals were clean on that track, and some of the others. The raspier songs I liked to. If I wanted to listen to 80s era pop, I'd pop in VS. I like that Jimi is aging (like the rest of us) and sounds a bit different as he ages. It's more layers to the man.

I'm not a fan of the FS vocal. It's just jarring. I didn't know he sang on that album, as I hadn't read the reviews before I got it, and I was jarred when I heard it. I like "Talkin Bout Love" but it's in a totally different vein than the Survivor I know and love.

[7 Wishes]

Survivor IS NOT and NEVER WILL BE Survivor without Dave or (preferably) Jimi AND Jim. Frankie, dude, your songwriting without Jim SUCKS. Sorry. I've got every single record the band has ever released, in the U.S. and Japan. The ONLY good thing Reach had going for it was Jimi. By the way, Empires was only 6 years ago and Jimi sounded better than ever before. "November Rain" and "Just Beyond the Clouds" are the two best songs in Jimi's vast catalogue, Surivor and Cobra included (although Blood on Your Money and I Can't Hold Back are up there, too). Jimi is better of without Frankie and his ridiculous 25-minute segue into "Summer Nights". Enough already. Get Jim & Jimi back in the band, kick McAuley to the curb where he belongs (sorry, dude, I love your voice, but you are NOT Survivor), or call it a career already. As it was, Survivor was playing festivals more and more. With Robin, you'll start seeing the obligatory "PUPPET SHOW and Survivor placards on your way into Great Adventure Themepark or something.

[Red13JoePa]

Survivor IS NOT and NEVER WILL BE Survivor without Dave or (preferably) Jimi AND Jim. Frankie, dude, your songwriting without Jim SUCKS.

I disagree here...respectfully of course.

[Abitaman]

Best Survivor cd in recent years was Jimi's Empires. It was awesome, and was labeled as Survivor in some countries. But the lawsuit changed that. It would be in my top 2 or 3 cds by the group. Jimi and the music awesome!!!-ERIC

[lukather4prez]

Best Survivor cd in recent years was Jimi's Empires. It was awesome, and was labeled as Survivor in some countries. But the lawsuit changed that. It would be in my top 2 or 3 cds by the group. Jimi and the music awesome!!!-ERIC


If you like the album better I won't debate your taste as its impossible too. One likes what one likes. But, your post calls this a Survivor album. Not ONE member of the 90's Survivor group was on that album and that is why it was changed later to Jim Jamison whatever.

Jimi never was and never will be Survivor. You can like him better than Frankie, Dave, whatever, but He didn't write anything on the "beloved" Vital Signs, only a few songs on the next 2 albums and he wasn't even in the band for the first 4 classic releases (which featured Dave Bickler on Lead Vocals).

How is this guy Survivor when he didn't start or work on 4 of there 8 albums, didn't write anything til WSC and was out of the band after feb./march 1993 til april 2000 and then again he quit at the end of 2005 (which is probably why he gave such a dogshitt interview to Andrew)???

I hate when people call a former member " the Band" this guy was and is a true talented singer but songwriter? ehhhh he hasn't proven that yet. He certainly isn't a musician and thats fine but for the record there is but ONE Survivor that is the band that features the CO-FOUNDER & CO-SONGWRITER N PRODUCER of the band Frankie Sullivan.

Peterik was apart of the band he chose to leave suddenly after the july 3rd Lisle fest gig in 1996 and hasn't looked back and good for him. Frankie has IMO done some good things since Jim left and some things that I'd wish he didn't do. But, the fact remains he is the co-founder, songwriter, the producer and harmony/backing singer that was on every single album the band did!


Jimi Jamison isn't Survivor. Peterik isn't either anymore but, he has a right to sing these songs (badly as he does) as he co-wrote them all with Frankie and whomever. It' was wrong when Fergie and Kimball did it calling themseleves Toto, it was wrong when Jamo did it and if he still does it that really sucks asss!


I wish all former member well but only Frankie can and should call his group Survivor as its he and long-time Drummer co-hort Marc Droubay and a very talented band of guys one of whom which has been the keyboard/pianist/guitarist/composer (Chris Grove) whose been the current keys man for almost as long as Jim was at his longest.

Billy Ozello is a long time Survivor bassist and backing singer and he , Marc n Frankie n Chris have a definate chemistry together.

c.m.

[lukather4prez]

Survivor IS NOT and NEVER WILL BE Survivor without Dave or (preferably) Jimi AND Jim. Frankie, dude, your songwriting without Jim SUCKS.

I disagree here...respectfully of course.

Funny as this guys post was I also disagree. almost completely but, its all good in the hood! Not everyone is gonna like the same thing.

[lukather4prez]

I'm completely in love with "One More Chance". I thought his vocals were clean on that track, and some of the others. The raspier songs I liked to. If I wanted to listen to 80s era pop, I'd pop in VS. I like that Jimi is aging (like the rest of us) and sounds a bit different as he ages. It's more layers to the man.

I'm not a fan of the FS vocal. It's just jarring. I didn't know he sang on that album, as I hadn't read the reviews before I got it, and I was jarred when I heard it. I like "Talkin Bout Love" but it's in a totally different vein than the Survivor I know and love.

Frankie's a great backing Harmony singer and I believe can do a good lead vocal...He needs to up the range some and pronouce or sing the words better with less slang etc etc. that was hard at times to listen too.

One More Chance is a great song that only gets better the more you listen to it. I think alot more could've been done vocally from Jamo, but overall it was a good vocal. Could've n should've taken the vocal esp in the chorus to a much higher place n range in parts.
I don't think He can do it in real voice anymore to be quite honest. As good as he is he's not what he once was and thats cool. But, his bridge vocal ( a great part too) was just horrible he sounded like he was garggling razor blades instead of singing ...yuck!

Robin's voice is great, and superior in range and power to Jimi's voice now, and probably Dave's as well but that doesn't make him better or worse just different.
For the many shows they wanna do Robin's a better choice and can nail just about any note or key out there. I doubt Jamo could anymore.

I am excited to hear /see him live again as he can still sing just not like he could a few yrs ago. It happens to the best of us. we all get old! lol

Overall good job on the song minus the bridge. I would luv to see what songs they do live this year on tour.


c.m.

[lukather4prez]

I thought Jimi was very good on the cd, even though not all the songs were very good.-ERIC

I think he was great on a couple good on a few and downright stinky on 2 or 3 but I will say that overall he was good enough and yes, not all the songs were very good. I'd say home, don't give up, ROYH are clunkers from where im standing...

the first 6 songs for me are good to great and Frankie and Grovesters " Talkin' Bout Love" is a real toe tappin diddy the last half overall just didn't cut it ..was to sleepy, slow, and didn't showcase the band well or Jimi's singing well overall.

I think the new album will be varied and fresh but also alot heavier and i can't wait!!

c.m.

[Red13JoePa]

One More Chance is a great song that only gets better the more you listen to it. I think alot more could've been done vocally from Jamo, but overall it was a good vocal. Could've n should've taken the vocal esp in the chorus to a much higher place n range in parts.
I don't think He can do it in real voice anymore to be quite honest. As good as he is he's not what he once was and thats cool. But, his bridge vocal ( a great part too) was just horrible he sounded like he was garggling razor blades instead of singing ...yuck!

Now, I like the sound of the Jamo voc on the bridge of 1 More Chance. It's a growl like the "NO PAIN, NO GAIN!" in Fire Makes Steel. I think it is effected deliberately (prolly to compensate for some stuff he can't do anymore) and works.

[jrnyman28]

Best Survivor cd in recent years was Jimi's Empires. It was awesome, and was labeled as Survivor in some countries. But the lawsuit changed that. It would be in my top 2 or 3 cds by the group. Jimi and the music awesome!!!-ERIC


If you like the album better I won't debate your taste as its impossible too. One likes what one likes. But, your post calls this a Survivor album. Not ONE member of the 90's Survivor group was on that album and that is why it was changed later to Jim Jamison whatever.

Jimi never was and never will be Survivor. You can like him better than Frankie, Dave, whatever, but He didn't write anything on the "beloved" Vital Signs, only a few songs on the next 2 albums and he wasn't even in the band for the first 4 classic releases (which featured Dave Bickler on Lead Vocals).

How is this guy Survivor when he didn't start or work on 4 of there 8 albums, didn't write anything til WSC and was out of the band after feb./march 1993 til april 2000 and then again he quit at the end of 2005 (which is probably why he gave such a dogshitt interview to Andrew)???

I hate when people call a former member " the Band" this guy was and is a true talented singer but songwriter? ehhhh he hasn't proven that yet. He certainly isn't a musician and thats fine but for the record there is but ONE Survivor that is the band that features the CO-FOUNDER & CO-SONGWRITER N PRODUCER of the band Frankie Sullivan.

Peterik was apart of the band he chose to leave suddenly after the july 3rd Lisle fest gig in 1996 and hasn't looked back and good for him. Frankie has IMO done some good things since Jim left and some things that I'd wish he didn't do. But, the fact remains he is the co-founder, songwriter, the producer and harmony/backing singer that was on every single album the band did!


Jimi Jamison isn't Survivor. Peterik isn't either anymore but, he has a right to sing these songs (badly as he does) as he co-wrote them all with Frankie and whomever. It' was wrong when Fergie and Kimball did it calling themseleves Toto, it was wrong when Jamo did it and if he still does it that really sucks asss!


I wish all former member well but only Frankie can and should call his group Survivor as its he and long-time Drummer co-hort Marc Droubay and a very talented band of guys one of whom which has been the keyboard/pianist/guitarist/composer (Chris Grove) whose been the current keys man for almost as long as Jim was at his longest.

Billy Ozello is a long time Survivor bassist and backing singer and he , Marc n Frankie n Chris have a definate chemistry together.

c.m.

I am guessing that ERIC was referring to the fact that Empires sounds like a Survivor record..moreso than Reach maybe...

I am certain he was not saying Jimi is Survivor. In fact, I think he is a more of a Dave era Survivor fan anyway.