Peter Cetera - Another Perfect World (1st Press Japan) (2001)

Several years after his last solo album, the former voice of Chicago is still searching for material that can live up to the songs he sang in his heyday. Here, he actually scores best in that quest by adding extra edge and zip to the old Beatles number "It's Only Love," and he seems very earnest on slightly more generic sentiments like "Rain Love," "Just Like Love," and "Feels Like Rain." "Only Heaven Knows" features a trip-hoppy ambience in its verses that sets it apart, which is undermined slightly by the bland sentiments and power pop attitude of the chorus. Peter Cetera has always sounded awesome surrounded by a full horn section, but producer Michael Omartian only puts these to good use on the bluesy opener "Perfect World." That tune sounds closest to old Chicago (well, maybe David Foster-ized Chicago), and thus it's one of the most engaging tracks here. While this won't prompt his fans to toss aside even his previous solo efforts, Cetera convincingly proves, at age 56, that he's still got a great voice and can still play a vital role in adult contemporary music.