100 Days of Ayum Hamasaki: What Happened?

I'm sure you're dying to know.

You're not?
Well, forget you - I'll tell you anyway!

Firstly, did I succeed in my mission? Yes and no.

When I got to about Rainbow, I hit a crisis and almost cancelled the trip. So once I hit A Ballads, I kinda didn't want to keep listening, because listening to Ayu when I was going to miss out on seeing her live for the millionth time was just frustrating. But after a few weeks, crisis was averted and the trip was back. Which meant I was back to my listening schedule, just with a reduced time frame - each album got 3 days now. So not quite 100 days of listening. So that "yes and no" is quite a Nigel Tufnell "yes and no".

Secondly, why didn't I keep the bLog going?
No idea on that one. I have my draft sitting there for A Song for xx. Maybe I got a bit behind and didn't quite know how to catch up? Maybe I was so focused on trip planning and learning Japanese that I forgot to update the bLog? Maybe I was actually working?

Bahahahaha we all know that wasn't it.

So I apologise to anyone that was looking for my input there. But then also, I like it when I write funny satirical bLogs, and I'm hardly going to do that with Ayu because she is my future wife and it would be rude to mock her livelihood in any way. I'm a respectful and caring young man!

Maybe I'll do something like Kissathon, where I just listen to the albums once and then make quick notes while I'm listening? Maybe? Again, it worked with Kissathon, because for every album that made me cheer there were 2 that made me "WTF?" and then another that made me go "Fuck you, Tommy Thayer!".

Either way, before then I have to do last year's WrestleMania, then this year's Royal Rumble, and then the next WrestleMania. Because I hate myself and want you to hate me even more. And before all that, I am going to finally write up about my trip to Japan. Because it was amazing and you should all be jealous like I am of the people that live in Japan or get to go there. So jealous. Seriously, even watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills the other day and Lisa Rinna went to Tokyo with Erika - bah gawd was I jealous. And her fucking kids got to go and hang out with Japanese people and enjoy Japan and oooooh I'm so jealous right now!

Hmmm... maybe I should try and do an Ayu-thon for her 20th Anniversary? It would be the perfect occasion to explore her catalogue and make a totally chronological playlist. But I don't have 100 days between then and now, so I could just do it like Kissathon and try and find ways to make some jokes. Most likely they'll be made at my expense, as I'll enjoy it so much and will get so annoyed when people interrupt me during a great song. But I don't have anything to write about next month - could be a good idea.

Look at this free-flowing thought, growing in front of you. I'm like a fucking tree: long goofy arms and growing up right in front of your eyes, albeit in a boring and slow fashion that you really don't want to stand around and watch. Just pass by every so often on your way to work and enjoy the beautiful leaves. Probably produce some nuts. But if you think your dog is going to pee near me, boy howdy we got a problem!

TROUBLE WALKIN' (1989)

Having retired from Kiss, Ace was finally able to follow his dreams and open his puppet theatre...

Oh hells the fuck yeah!

Ace returns on his own. Except this time he is packing a guitar case full of in your face rock'n roll. Maybe even a couple of guitar cases. And a drum case. Though really, those cases should be used for their intended design or it might void the warranty. He should just spend the dough and get some custom heavy duty road cases to carry all this rock'n roll...

The album opens with a blistering attack, with Shot Full of Rock. I'm telling you, Ace, that's not enough to contain all this rock. Then we get some sort of cover or something. I don't know and I don't care. All I care is that the song is awesome. And then it's Five Card Stud. Because he's Ace - get it? It is one of his greatest tracks, giving you a hard hitting account of how he will destroy you at gambling. Probably drinking and drugs, too. Not only is he a "five card stud", but he's also a six string legend. Such a legend that he then pulls out a new Paul Stanley song a couple of months before Kiss can even release their version!

Now Ace is Lost in Limbo. I'm lost in a sea of awesome rocking songs. I had read on some shows of his last tour that he actually opened with this song - I really wish he had performed it when I saw him live this year. But then again, that concert was so loud I could barely make anything out. Apart from that gorgeous girl dancing and singing along to Talk to Me like she was my soul mate or something. Next up is the title track, where Ace and Peter Criss declare they are Trouble Walkin'. For some reason, I used to think they were saying they HAD trouble walking. That would make for a totally different song...

Holy balls, I am enjoying this right now!

Shit gets heavy with 2 Young 2 Die. This has Richie Scarlet on lead vocals - the only song on the album that doesn't feature Ace on lead vocals. This was also the only song from this album they did at the concert. Pretty fitting track, especially with Ace and Peter singing the chorus. Peter has 9 lives. And hasn't made an album in years. He needs to go Back to School. HAHAHA oh that was a brilliant segue! I am incredible!

Things chill a little with a possibly live track, Remember Me. I say "possibly live" because I don't trust anyone in Kiss when it comes to crowd noise in a song. For all I know, it could have been recorded at a rehearsal in my bedroom and that's just me cheering in the background. Oh please let that be the case! On second thoughts, I don't remember it so please DON'T let that be the case...

Fractured III sends us out in typical 'fractured' style and I cry because not only is it one of the best of the series, but gawdam this album is awesome and now it is ending.


Highlights:
Almost every fucking song. EVERY FUCKING SONG

Lowlights:
A reminder that I will never see Ace Frehley live again and we are not actually friends in real life, even though we totally should be...



Verdict = 5 Smoking Les Paul Guitars and a hearty thumbs up

ACE FREHLEY (1978)

The young woman was confused by the blue light, causing her makeup to be applied strangely...

Ace Frehley's first solo album!

And it legit rocks harder than any Kiss album before it. Probably after it, too. Lots of awesome guitar licks, lyrics about partying hard, and a killer instrumental to end things off. There are reasons Ace is my favourite member of Kiss and this album is a fine example of why my reasons are correct.


Highlights:
The surprise that the guy who has only sung one song for Kiss so far put together such a fucking awesome solo album without any help from the others

Lowlights:
The solo albums the others put forward at the same time


Verdict = 5 Smoking Les Paul Guitars and a hearty thumbs up