Before I begin, it should be stated that this is first and foremost a KISS record. You're not going to get any angst about the whales, you're not going to get gay Dave Matthews diatribes on the human condition, you're not going to get sniveling moaning about what a shitty life it is.
You're going to get relatively shallow sexually-based lyrics, lots of guitars, heavy drums and and some occasional wailing by Paul Stanley.
Chances are you'll either get it or you wont -- much like you either get KISS or you don't. If you don't get it, you won't like this album because you won't be able to put it in perspective.
KISS didn't set out to record an album for you. They did this for me -- the guy who's loyally followed them for years. They did this for people who still remember when rock was pretty basic and about having fun.
Ace and Peter are gone,replaced by Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer (who's actually played with the band longer than Peter did). The two try to stay out of the way and make you forget that they're there. It's like they're doing Ace and Peter impersonations. Thayer, in particular, seems to try to replicate Ace's sound down to the last toggle.
Now... a track-by-track analysis.
Modern Day Delilah
The boys have always sucked at choosing which songs to make "singles." Beth was a B-side release and never would have seen the light of day had DJs not fllipped the 45 and played the other side. Their first release off this CD is Delilah. It's a serviceable song, but not really noteworthy. Good guitar work, some questionable lyrics. It's not the best track, but it's okay. It's better than anything on Ace's CD by leaps and bounds.
Russian Roulette
The first of two obligatory Gene Simmons' "look at my dick" tracks. Okay, we get it, Gene. You've got a big one. And you like to stick it places. The pacing on this song is bad. It's a throwaway.
Never Enough
Remember what I said about "fun" rock? You can hear whispers of Poison's Don't Need Nothing But A Good Time meandering through this song. And by meandering, I mean leaping out at you. If you listen to this and don't hear yourself singing "Working, Slaving, EvAREE day" and then going oh, wait, that was another song then you're not listening. That aside, the song is actually pretty standard KISS fare. I do have a problem with 60-something year old guys chanting "give me rules, just for breaking" because I wonder if they're talking about not getting their senior citizen discounts at Wal Mart....
Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)
Another look at Gene, he's a love machine song. "Nobody's perfect, but I come awfully close. Maybe it's time to take off your clothes..." That's a lyric. Seriously. Gene sings which reminds me of Domino off the Revenge album. It's even got one of Gene's solo "yeah'" in there just like Domino. Still, the song's got a nice little groove to it. It is what it is. No harm no foul.
Stand
Nice trade of vocals between Gene and Paul. Good harmonies between the two (yes, I know that's hard to believe). Sounds like a song that would have been on any album from Dynasty to Revenge. One of the better tracks on the CD. I like it. It pulls in a little "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" vibe.
Hot and Cold
Wow. Another Gene wants to stick a dick in you song. Hey, Gene. Your daughter will be 18 next year. There are about 14 million guys who want to run hot and cold on her. Think about that for a while. Another throwaway song. But still not bad. As good as anything on Ace's CD, unfortunately. Meanwhile Ace, errrr.. Tommy ... tosses in a nice solo riff on this track.
All For the Glory
The opening riff is my favorite of any song on the CD. Very KISS-ish. Singer, who has drummed for Ozzy and Alice Cooper in addition to KISS, gets his turn on vocals. Funny. Sounds very much like Peter. The lyrics are a little cheesy, but so what? Ace ... errr... Tommy launches into a very KISSy guitar riff. This is a song that would fit a football montage very, very well. Somebody needs to get on that stat. Seriously. Football montage. Like tomorrow. I want to see it. Another good track.
Danger Us
An extremely KISSish opening riff. Very derivative of their earlier work. Again some weak lyrics, but the overall groove overcomes that -- something Ace was unable to accomplish on his CD. This song is nothing really special, it's more filler. But it still isn't BAD. We're eight songs in and I've yet to come across a track that is just awful. Nothing is spectacular, but it's all solid. It fits the KISS mold. I can't remember the last KISS CD where I went through eight tracks and didn't cringe at least once or twice. I've run through this song twice now and I liked it better the second time through.
I'm An Animal
Has an opening hook that brings to mind a little of the gritty grind of "Unholy" off the Revenge CD. Revenge was probably the best KISS CD of the past 20 years (except for Carnival of Souls which was a complete diversion and a good one, unfortunately swallowed up in the furor over the reunion tour and basically cast aside). Animal isn't as demonic as Unholy, but it has some of the same low growl. Unholy is a much better song. But again, this isn't bad, it's just what it is.
When Lightning Strikes
Tommy Thayer gets his opportunity on the mike. Sort of a cross between Eric Singer/Eric Carr/Peter Criss and Paul. Tommy singing really adds nothing to the band. This song is really just meh. It doesn't have enough focus and seems to drag when it should be kicking ass -- and trying to kick ass when it should be dragging. Probably my least favorite.
Say Yeah
What the fuck? One of the better tracks on the CD and its last. Paul's early vocal efforts almost derail it, but then the chorus kicks in. Yeah, it's about fucking a girl which is a little creeper when you wrap your mind around the ages of the band members, but KISS is about suspending reality anyway. Before you bitch about the content would you really want to hear them sing about getting up to piss a couple of times a night, getting the kids off their lawn or how shit used to be better when they were kids? Seriously? Not me.
So that's it. Every track on this CD, even the bad ones is better than any track off Psycho Circus. This is much more a KISS album than anything they've put out since who knows when.
It's not as advertised. It's not a 70s sound. It's more of a 70s and 90s sound merged with a dash of 80s tossed in for good measure.
But here's the thing in the final analysis. When the band comes out with Alive VI (which you know it will) and when they release Greatest Hits Version 317, I just don't know that there's a single track off this CD that makes the cut. All are obvious KISS songs that will satisfy those of us who still enjoy their efforts. But none are so kick ass that we know we'll be hearing it in concert 35 years from now. It is what it is. It's like Chinese food. It was good. I liked it. But ultimately it didn't completely satiate me. I'm hungry again.
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