ONE LIVE KISS (2008)

"Only the power of rock'n roll can defeat these evil zombies!"...

Paul Stanley solo live album!

More like Paul Stanley with a band, but you know what I mean. A fairly decent mix of songs from the '78 solo album, Live to Win and various Kiss classics. With lots of backing vocals and shredding guitar. And keyboards. Which sound weird in Got to Choose.

Other than some clown doing stupid shredding all through the Kiss classics, this is all pretty standard. What holds it back from being anything special is this is 2008 Paul Stanley, whose vocal powers are greatly diminished at 56. Don't get me wrong - he can still sing, it's just a solo performance from him would have been so much more powerful about 15 years earlier. I would have loved to hear 1992 Paul Stanley singing Move On or Tonight You Belong to Me. Or especially Goodbye. And someone else on guitar with him, like Slash. Someone makes this happen!

But with his vocals not being amazing, he falls back to relying on the band to be impressive. And that shredder dude is only awesome when battling the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Especially in the latest incarnation - man he is all kinds of badassery. I'm not a great fan of the actual design, but personality-wise he is exactly what you want from an evil Ninja master.


Highlights:
That episode where Shredder defeated the turtles, injured Leonardo and left Splinter for dead. That shit had me on the edge of my seat.

Lowlights:
A Million to One, I Want You, Lift



Verdict = 3 Smoking Les Paul Guitars

LIVE TO WIN (2006)

Paul Stanley's career as a wax dummy was proving to be very lucrative...

Paul Stanley is back with his first solo album in almost 20 years!

And it's mostly kinda average. Not bad or anything, but nothing outstanding. The title track was pretty cool when it was on South Park. Lift and Wake Up Screaming both have a problem, where the music sounds like a cross between Hoobastank and Evanescence, while the vocals sound like Paul is singing on a Michael Bolton album or something. It's a weird juxtaposition that doesn't quite work. Everytime I See You Around is a pretty cool little semi-power ballad and Bulletproof is listenable. All About You is an example of where Paul lets his balls hang out and rocks the party.

Second to None is a box of cheese. Paul really likes these cheesy love songs. And then it's just more cheese, whether it rocks or is soft. I don't mind cheese - in fact, I quite enjoy it. But for some reason, the obvious nature of these songs just doesn't rock me. It all sounds the same.

If I want a Creed album, I'll listen to Creed.

The band, not the movie. Though I'd prefer the movie.
The trailer rocks and I'm really looking forward that film. Might have to do a Rocky marathon to get in the mood...


Highlights:
All About You, Reminding myself to buy my ticket to see Creed

Lowlights:
Loving You Without You Now - what the fuck does that title even mean???



Verdict = 3 Smoking Les Paul Guitars