Thursday 29 July 2010

Paul Stanley - Paul Stanley (1978)


After listening to Tigertailz, I'm almost embarrassed to put Mr Stanley's record next to it. I haven't a clue why the heavy metal marketing machine known as Kiss released solo albums. Sure, Ace Frehley's isn't bad at all, but the rest are pointless. We don't want to hear the drummer sing, and Mr Simmons, you may have a long tongue and once had the ability to scare young American kids, but your image and voice makes no impression in the UK. After Slade, T-Rex, Bowie, Sweet and Roxy music, Kiss sound exactly as they are - a watery, barely glittered publicity stunt which has gone on too long. Stanley as a frontman had no real swagger or presence, and that's reflective in his voice, because this solo album is full of tracks which wouldn't even make Kiss b-sides. 'Tonight You Belong To Me' and 'Move On' are just tiresome rock tracks so mediocre that the middle of the road is even too wild a place for them to be slotted. It's the same ol' thing, empty of oomph, bereft of weight, ridden with cliche, and simply another addition to a rock 'n' roll circus which often failed to entertain. Tepid to say the least!


4/10


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