Retro Reviews: Survivor: Eye of the Tiger

     I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 70ss and start of the 80s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums. 

Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger (1982)

****

Producer: Frankie Sullivan

Musicians: Dave Bickler, Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan, Stephen Ellis, Marc Droubay, Daryl Dragon, Fergie Frederiksen

Songs: Eye of the Tiger, Feels Like Love, Hesitation Dance, The One That Really Matters, I’m Not That Man Anymore, Children of the Night, Ever Since The World Began, American Heartbeat, Silver Girl

Reviewed by Matthew Anthony Allair

    This Chicago based band Survivor has gotten attention with the second album Premonition, and the single “Poor Man’s Son”, so much so that they were picked to write the single “Eye Of The Tiger” for the Rocky III feature, which has been a phenomenal success. The kind of song that may have durability due to its universal themes. The song has become a flatform for their next of the same. This is a band that has already been dismissed by peers, for their AOR format, but I think this presumes a great deal when you consider the songwriting craft and secret weapon of the Peterik / Sullivan team. There’s a narrative intelligence behind the writing, and even a philosophical perspective on various songs. Keyboardist and Guitarist Jim Peterik, and Guitarist Frankie Sullivan make a solid team, and the rhythm support from Ellis and Droubay is quite good. Dave Bickler is an exceptional rock vocalist who is able to read the material well. While I wouldn’t say the writing is at the level of Dylan or Mitchell, there’s a lot more than there if you listen. Jim Peterik had been involved with The Ides of March and the impressive “Vehicle”, so the band has a good foundation.

    The potency of the title number leaves little surprised with its success, but the album would hold up well without the single. The brisk guitar and keyboard rocker “Feels Like Love” feels it could be a winner as a future single. The dual guitars of “Hesitation Dance” nearly has the feel of an AC/DC number, which seems to play on high school drama. The song craft of “The One That Really Matters” is impressive, while the guitar interplay with Sullivan and Peterik works well, at various points there’s hints of Brian May with the lead work. With the piano ballad, “I’m Not That Man Anymore”, Sullivan’s guitar fills offers some nice work, a number about a man who has grown up from a woman’s manipulation. It shifts into some high drama for Sullivan’s solo.

    The second half opens with the excellent guitar interplay of Peterik and Sullivan on “Children Of The Night”, an acoustic 12 string acts as extra bedding for the number. The exceptional piano ballad “Ever Since The World Began” has a universal depth and another possible single, and Sullivan sits out any leads to just serve the song. Bicker offers his best vocal, it just shows that they have instincts that one shouldn’t underestimate. The synth work that creeps in on various numbers doesn’t intrude. One of the true surprises is the drum and synth rock of “American Heartbeat”, another number that could have fit within Rocky III.  The album closer, the guitar and piano based “Silver Girl” offers some sentiment and dynamism, and heartfelt vocals. 

    Yes, this band is formulaic, it is anthemic, it is built for stadiums, it follows in the similar vein as Journey, REO Speedwagon, Loverboy, or, at its hardest AC/DC, but the band is a little more elevated than an act like Kiss. As have said it before, this is the type of band that teens and people in their early twenties will put in the cassette in their cars, and cruise at night – and that is a tradition I hope doesn’t disappear.