ANOMALY (2009)

The sea monster used its x-ray glasses to see through everyone's swimsuits...

Ace is back!

Seeing as everyone else had already released albums, it made sense for Ace to finally show the 21st Century how it is done...

Foxy & Free is a great rockin' opening in true Ace style. Then he kicks up the heavy notch with Outer Space. I'm glad he's still rolling with the whole Spaceman gimmick, even if he isn't allowed to wear the makeup or anything. Ace calls someone a Pain in the Neck - I can only assume he means Paul and Gene. Or maybe even Tommy Thayer. Just because. Fox on the Run is a fairly harmless cover of Sweet's classic 70s groove. I prefer the original, but Ace's version is still pretty cool. Ace makes awesome instrumentals, and Genghis Khan is no exception. In fact, it is probably quite high on the example list.

Both Too Many Faces and Change the World follow the same Ace rock formula, before we get hit with another instrumental, Space Bear. A Little Below the Angels is pretty humorous when the little girl is singing and Ace is telling her a story or something. I'm not sure what was going on there. Sister is so kick ass, I wouldn't be surprised if it was like a b-side from Trouble Walkin'. It's a Great Life has some sort of 80s groove mixed with Ace's usual rock groove. That works well when I'm wearing my groovepants. Then we get the final Fractured instalment - Fractured Quantum. And it is absolutely one of the best, which is saying a lot considering how amazing Fractured Mirror and Fractured III are. I can not stress just how awesome Ace's instrumental work is. I wish I was able to meet him again so I could tell him.

Yeah, I met Ace.

Because I have graduated from novice level, I get a bonus track - The Return of Space Bear. It is just Space Bear with Ace re-enacting his legendary dialogue from The Tomorrow Show, where he was smashed off his head and claimed he was a plumber that played the trout. It is comedy gold, especially watching Gene get very grumpy at Ace getting attention instead of him.

Nice to have you back, Ace!


Highlights:
Genghis Khan, Sister, Fractured Quantum

Lowlights:
That it took 22 years for Ace to sort his shit out and make another album



Verdict = 4 Smoking Les Paul Guitars