If there is one AOR record you are going to buy this year, Jimi Jamison's latest, "Crossroads Moment" is the one worth your money. For those not familiar, Jimi Jamison was one of the lead singers for one of the greatest pop rock bands ever...Survivor. During Jimi's tenure, the band cemented its status beyond one hit wonder, churning out hit after hit on records "Vital Signs" and "When Seconds Count", not to mention a couple of theme songs from some very famous movies. After Survivor disbanded in the mid 90s, he gained further fame with his hit for the TV show Baywatch...but most people probably remember that show for things other than the theme song. Jimi Jamison has released a couple of solo efforts, but nothing quite like "Crossroads Moment". The major difference this time around is that he's teamed up once again with AOR legend and a founding member of Survivor, the one and only Jim Peterik.
So it is little surprise that "Crossroads Moment" sounds more like a true Survivor record than the ill-fated "Reach" record a couple years ago. "Reach" was a collaboration between Jimi Jamison and Survivor founder and guitarist Frankie Sullivan. It was mediocre at best, sounding contrived and insincere...more like merely a vehicle for Frankie to showcase fretboard gymnastics.
I appreciate that Peterik can put his ego aside and just be the unsung hero of the record. As always, Peterik puts the quality of the music at the top of his priorities. The batch of songs he came up with are nothing short of brilliant AOR, many with a modern edge. The quality of the songs seem to have brought out the best in Jimi Jamison as a vocalist, who sounds much better here than on his last effort, "Reach". Jamison's voice always sounds good, but when he is singing songs by Jim Peterik, something magical happens and it just goes into a different league. And when these guys harmonize, the sound of classic 80s Survivor comes out to greet you like a old familiar friend. I can't think of a better treat for fans who have been waiting so long for something like this to happen. A part of me is curious as to how this record would have sounded with Frankie's guitar on it, but Peterik does an amazing job with the guitar duties. I wouldn't have changed a note.
Many records stack the best tracks right up front. This is a great way to capture a listener's attention, but sometimes it spoils the listener and leaves the rest of the tracks sounding lackluster at best. Not the case here - "Crossroads Moments" starts reasonably strong with slow burners like "Battersea" and "Can't Look Away". But these are just teasers...the best cuts off this record are yet to come. The title track and "Till The Morning Comes" sound like they could have come straight off "When Seconds Count", propelled by some classic Peterik keyboard and a very tasty guitar solo. "Lost" sounds like a modern day "The Search Is Over", sung with great emotion and hair-raising harmony vocals, but an even more stirring ballad comes later with "As Is". Fans will also love the guitar on "Love The World Away", which uses the same effect heard on "Didn't Know It Was Love" from the criminally ignored Survivor release "Too Hot To Sleep". The cream of the crop include "Make Me A Believer", "Behind The Music", "She's Nothing To Me" (arguably the catchiest track on the record), and "That's Why I Sing".
I really hope this collaboration continues and that "Crossroads Moment" is just the beginning of a new chapter in AOR history. But I have no idea how Jim and Jimi are going to top this one.
iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Jimi Jamison on MySpace. Official site.
Check out this recent interview of Jimi Jamison and Jim Peterik discussing the record at melodicrock.com.
Video for When Rock Was King.
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