Album review : JIM PETERIK and WORLD STAGE – Roots and Shoots Vol 2

Frontiers [Release date : 09.08.24]

Peterik needs no introduction, but we’ll introduce him anyway.
Most famously, he was guitarist and songwriter with Survivor, as well as several other charting bands. It’s all well documented online.

But that was then.

Nowadays, it’s clear that Peterik is constantly aiming for the perfect distillation of the AOR sound, as modified by today’s studio technology.

What’s instantly likeable about Roots 2 is its apparent total disregard for music fashion. No trends are being followed here.

But it doesn’t always work, tired tropes and recycled lyrics creep into the music from time to time.

On this collection of songs, each one of his half a dozen or more singers – some new, some well established – bring their own vocal character to the table, which is interesting and entertaining on a track by track basis, but it disrupts the album’s flow and continuity at times.

‘Stronger Than You Know’ (Peterik vocals) is a focal point in which Peterik gives us one of his uplifting, lyrical life lessons. These sometimes come across as more of a lecture, and as we move forward, the message becomes more and more dominant. ‘All That’s Mine To Give’ (Toby Hitchcock vocals) and ‘Forever Endeavour’ (Toby Hitchcock vocals) are similarly themed.

The balladic ‘Love Lives’ (Cathy Richardson, Jefferson Airplane on vocals) full of country rock charm, gives side 2 a lift, and ‘Until’ throws in some horns to respect vocalist Neil Donnell’s Chicago employment. Got a bit of soul too.

All that said, album standout by a considerable margin is ‘Been To The Mountain’. It’s blessed by a nuanced vocal performance from Jason (Chicago) Scheff, superbly controlled, and powerful at the right times.

It certainly captures a moment in time, when AOR became a cultural phenomenon, and for all its critics, it led to the major players, like Survivor, selling millions of albums. ***

Review by Brian McGowan

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