Gratitude that this guy is actually still alive to sing and play.  Peter has had much to deal with in both his personal and professional lives over the years, with serious drug addiction and testicular cancer both coming into play and ensuring that Peter is now something of 'a changed man' having survived both living nightmares.

As former guitarist in Porno For Pyros (a Jane's Addiction offshoot band that also featured Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins), this is Peter's first solo LP for a major label, although he has previously released two albums independently.

Armed here with 10 tracks, the short-but-sweet running time of just 30 minutes means that all songs are gorgeously concise and to the point.  Masterfully, no corners have been cut, it's just that Peter seems to realise that there is such little purpose in epic guitar solos and the like.

'Hypocrisies' is the opening tune that immediately startles the listener with a bewilderingly cool and mesmerising bass-line, while the melody and overall vibe of the tune might put one in mind of The Byrds' poppiest music.

'New Clear Day' comes early on and is one of the many highlights of 'Gratitude’, being blissfully uplifting and propelled by backing narrative and angelic backing vocals, before 'Coming Down' sounds to be dealing with his former drug addiction directly, as Peter sings of the “poisons in me” and more importantly of hope.

Eight of the ten tracks are utterly spellbinding for being so relatively chilled-out, but there is something deep inside that still inspires this man to rock out with huge guitar riffs when he best sees fit, as both 'Sunshine' and 'Poisons Slight Return' coolly testify.

DiStefano openly admits that “this album is the story of my life” and, fittingly the final track in the brief acoustic tenderness of 'Alone' hears him confide “I can't run away”.

Thankfully, he goes on to say that “I can take what I've learned and use it in a positive way”, which is exactly what this majestic and proud album in Gratitude represents.  Above all else, this is a masterpiece and everyone should be deliriously glad that Peter saw the light at the end of what must have seemed, at one time, to be one hell of a very dark tunnel.  
(5/5)

Release date: 17 May 2004