Survivor Announces New Singer!

um, really?

Here's their review of the new (!) Survivor album:

SURVIVOR - REACH (2006, FRONTIERS)
Jimi Jamison - vocals; Frankie Sullivan - guitars, vocals; Marc Droubay - drums; Barry Dunaway - bass; Chris Grove - keyboards

Background
Not counting Jimi Jamison's splendid 'Empires', it's been seventeen years since the release of Survivor's last studio album 'Too Hot To Sleep'. It is unclear whether Jim Peterik left the band at the start of the 90's, amid a legal storm and acrimony towards the surviving members. In any case, 'Reach' seems to have breathed new life into what seemed like a band incapable of patching up its own internal tensions, only to carry on their impressive recorded legacy with dignity and style. Little wonder then that Survivor achieved their goal of putting out a lasting release, as 'Reach' sees two core members in Frankie Sullivan and Marc Droubay back in the fold, a second generation member in Jimi Jamison rejoining them, plus two-excellent-newcomers in bassist Barry Dunaway (previously sighted with the Pat Travers Band, Dokken, Saraya and Yngwie J Malmsteen), plus keyboardist Chris Grove. With a well restored center of balance, 'Reach' doesn't disappoint, and in fact...

The Songs
.. there's clearly an aura of magic surrounding the marvellous 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 Jamison'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. It has been rumoured this song is originally from the recording sessions of an eponymous recording project which remains unreleased to this day. Stylistically, it's very close to the 'Empires' album, with Jamison shining all the way through. '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 (refer 'Sign Of The Times' from the 'Seven' album). A welcome surprise for yours truly, but maybe a not so welcome change in the classic Survivor sound for the tout-court traditionalists, nevertheless.. a very good song! '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. And what about the ballads? 'Seconds Away' and 'One More Chance' will surely stand as reliable indicators of the ups and downs of love circa the beginning of the 21st century and for many years to come!

In Summary
If Toto have delivered one monster album with 'Falling In Between', then 'Reach' stands only half a step below from that. It is a curious 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 lavish promotion work, then Survivor should deserve an equally big and tasty piece of the pie judging by this effort..

Comedy gold! Thank you for cheering up my work day to the nth power!

>>a chorus which has a lot in common with latter-day Night Ranger.

I had no clue there IS a latter-day Night Ranger.

!

PS: Am I the only person who loves the "Vehicle" follow-up from Ides of March, "L.A. Goodbye"?

Yeah, but only when he has a good singer and good material. I suffered through a performance of the McCauley-Schenker Group at the infamous Allentown Airport Music Hall. Everyone had to endure the original crap from the recent album until a couple UFO tunes were unfurled at the very end. There's a world of difference between Survivor material and that. I'd consider it a step up for Robin McCauley. If you're a singer, you really don't want to be in a Michael Schenker-led band.

Jamison first joined the band in 1984 after original lead singer Dave Bickler encountered
voice problems before a tour supporting the band’s CAUGHT IN THE GAME album.

Hm. I always wondered what happened to that first lead singer.

I just heard Burning Heart on XM Radio's 80s station.

Total 80s MOR rock, and what a study in empty, hit-chasing songwriting. No hooks; everything amped up to compensate for the lack of ideas; big booming gated drums; every lyric a non sequitur or cliché.

I love that song.

Dave Bickler is now best known as the guy in those "Real Men of Genius" radio commercials singing the ridiculous "rock dude" zingers behind the announcer. Better than anything he ever did with Survivor!

Does he still wear that cool beret?

http://www.letras.com/photos/a1855bio_survivor.jpg

Dunno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x0MbVYVE2A

omg he's that guy? LOL.

"That's right motherf---k . . . Shout it out loud! . . . Reverse psychologyyyy. . . F-U."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p28esasA9KU

Honk honk beep beep hooooonk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik6QzSgrqZ4

I'd forgotten they actually did some for tv. "Everywhere a splish splash!"

Those ads are genius.

Jun 06, 2011
Question:

Loved the show at the Soaring Eagel Casino!! You Rocked the house. Can't wait for you to come back to Michigan!!!
-- Heather

Answer:

We can't wait either! The fans were amazing and we had a great time. Hope to be back soon.

http://www.survivormusic.com/index.cfm/pagename/qna

oh wow goldmine

Question:
When are you coming to the Fraze in Kettering, OH?
-- D*vid Nagl
Answer:
Check the tour portion of the site and it will let you know when and where we will be.
Thanks!

I deeply appreciate this NYT story for having a photo of Survivor from 1979 as the lead graphic:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/02/04/arts/SUB-SONG-JP-1/SUB-SONG-JP-1-articleLarge.jpg

There you stood, that'll teach ya
To look so good and feel so right

In the last month, Mr. Gingrich has been accused twice of violating copyright laws, first for playing “How Do You Like Me Now?” by the Heavy at a rally in Tampa, Fla., and then for using “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor at several political events, going back to 2009.

That is hilarious. What music should Republicans use?

RIP Jimi Jamison :(