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Rating: I was born in 1977, and I grew up with Kiss.
At three years old, I already knew "Destroyer" and "Dynasty" by heart, thanks to my uncle's record player. Over the years, my interest in them waned a bit; the lineup changes, musical shifts, and even the abandonment of their masks left me somewhat with a bitter taste.
Then, 11 years ago, Gene Simmons and company reunited in the original lineup, first during an unplugged evening, and then, after the official reunion, complete with a return to masks and costumes, they created "Psycho Circus."
A great emotion for me, even if the album wasn't the best, hearing them together again after 20 years was truly fantastic. But it didn't last long.
Today, only Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley remain from the original lineup, who since 2003, along with Tommy Thayer on guitar and Eric Singer on drums, have released the latest album at the beginning of October, "Sonic Boom."
Reviewing an album is something that can't be separated from the personal tastes of the reviewer, and in this case, more than focusing on the content of the CD, I want to talk about what I liked and what I didn't like about the whole operation.
"Sonic Boom" contains 11 new tracks, plus, in the deluxe version, another CD with 15 hits from the group, re-recorded for the occasion with the current lineup, and a DVD of a concert in Argentina.
Regarding the new tracks, they were preceded by some statements from Gene Simmons, claiming that this album was something that resembled records like "Destroyer," "Love Gun," etc.
For someone like me who loves them so much, a statement of this kind, even though you know it's likely just made to promote the album, doesn't fail to stir some emotion.
So, I buy the CD, deluxe version, return home, and play it.
It starts right away with "Modern Day Delilah." The initial riff immediately brings to mind "Hotter Than Hell," an album from 1974. Clearly, the sounds have changed, but the approach is the same... good. A song sung by Paul Stanley, who, honestly, I don't know how he does it at his age (the guy is 57), but he's still the same. Grit and great expressiveness. I listen to the track a couple more times and move on to the next one.
In "Russian Roulette," Gene Simmons takes the lead vocals. A pleasant track, which somewhat departs from the 70s sounds I found in "Modern Day Delilah," but still a nice track.
The album continues pleasantly, nothing groundbreaking, but it's listenable. Paul Stanley, with his unmistakable voice and compelling style, takes the lead as always. Gene Simmons makes his bass vibrate like in the old days, and the tracks he has written are well-sung. The two leaders are in good form, and you can feel it, they always believe in what they do; that's the strength of Kiss.
The riffs of all the tracks are classic Kiss riffs. On lead guitar, Ace Frehley is absent, and it shows, but Tommy Thayer does his job well, and Eric Singer plays his part well.
On vocals for track no. 7 "All for the Glory," there is Eric Singer, while on track no. 10, "When Lightning Strikes," Tommy Thayer takes the lead vocals. The album closes with "Say Yeah" by Paul Stanley.
It won't go down in history, but "Sonic Boom" is a good rock album.
A separate chapter, however, is the second CD, which contains the 15 re-recorded hits. I'm disappointed here.
The tracklist is okay; they certainly chose the most representative tracks of their career, but I didn't expect to hear them executed identically to the originals. They're the same, except for the fact that these were recorded using modern equipment.
I expected reinterpretations, rearranged or even completely revamped tracks, but nothing; they're identical. The worst part is the poor attempt by the two replacements to emulate the feats of the original members, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
Especially in the guitar solos, Tommy Thayer never tries to do something different from Ace Frehley's original solos, only he's not "Ace Frehley," and the difference is noticeable. "The Spaceman" was certainly not the greatest guitarist in the world to me, but he was unique, that much is true...
Listening to "Detroit Rock City," for example, in the middle of the song, you can hear the engine of a car racing in the background; it makes you wonder if the car is the same one used in '77 or not...
Wasted effort, in my opinion, it would have been better to just put together the original tracks, and they would have made a better impression.
Final result: As a fan, I would have bought the CD anyway. Of course, from the store to my home, I kept imagining who-knows-what, not so much from the new tracks, which are certainly pleasant and to my liking, but from the hits.
Well, as my first review, maybe it wasn't the best, so all I have left to say is...
... "You wanted the best! You've got the best! The hottest band in the world... KISS!"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Deuce (03:07)
Get up
And get your grandma outta here
Pick up
Old Jim is workin' hard this year
And baby
Do the things he says to do
Baby, if you're feeling good
And baby if you're feeling nice
You know your man is workin' hard
He's worth a deuce
Honey
Don't put your man behind his years
And baby
Stop cryin' all your tears
Baby
Do the things he says to do
Do it
Baby, if you're feeling good
And baby if you're feeling nice
You know your man is workin' hard
He's worth a deuce
And baby, if you're feeling good
Yes baby if you're feeling nice
You know your man is workin' hard
Yeah
03 Shout It Out Loud (02:53)
Well, the night's begun and you want some fun
Do you think you're gonna find it (think you're gonna find it)
You got to treat yourself like number one
Do you need to be reminded (need to be reminded)
It doesn't matter what you do or say
Just forget the things that you've been told
We can't do it any other way
Everybody's got to rock and roll, whoo, oh, oh
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
If you don't feel good, there's a way you could
Don't sit there broken hearted (sit there broken hearted)
Call all your friends in the neighborhood
And get the party started (get the party started)
Don't let 'em tell you that there's too much noise
They're too old to really understand
You'll still get rowdy with the girls and boys
'Cause it's time for you to take a stand, yeah, yeah
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
You've got to have a party
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Turn it up louder
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Everybody shout it now
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Oh yeah
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
Hear it gettin' louder
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
And everybody shout it now
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud
04 Hotter Than Hell (03:09)
Come on
She looked good
She looked hotter than hell
All dressed in satins and lace
I looked at her and it was just too clear
I had to get on the case
I said "Lady, oh lady, can I take you home
There's just so much we could do
I'll take you all around the whole wide world
Before the evening is through"
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
Burn you like the midday sun
I asked her why she couldn't make up her mind
She said "You don't understand
I'd love to go, but there's something you should know"
She showed me her wedding band
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
She'll burn you like the midday sun
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
She'll burn you like the midday sun
06 Love Gun (03:14)
I really love you baby
I love what you've got
Let's get together, we can
Get hot
No more tomorrow, baby
Time is today
Girl, I can make you feel
Okay
No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
You can't forget me baby
Don't try to lie
You'll never leave me, mama
So don't try
I'll be a gambler, baby
Lay down the bet
We get together, mama
You'll sweat
No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love)
07 I Was Made for Lovin' You (04:41)
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Tonight I wanna give it all to you
In the darkness
There's so much I wanna do
And tonight I wanna lay it at your feet
'Cause girl, I was made for you
And girl, you were made for me
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
Tonight I wanna see it in your eyes
Feel the magic
There's something that drives me wild
And tonight we're gonna make it all come true
'Cause girl, you were made for me
And girl I was made for you
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
Can you give it all to me?
Oh, can't get enough, oh, oh
I can't get enough, oh, oh
I can't get enough
Yeah, ha
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
Oh, I was made, you were made
I can't get enough
No, I can't get enough
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
08 Heaven's on Fire (03:23)
I look at you and my blood boils hot, I feel my temperature rise
I want it all, give me what you got, there's hunger in your eyes
I'm getting closer, baby hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you'll never leave
Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire
I got a fever ragin' in my heart, you make me shiver and shake
Baby don't stop, take it to the top, eat it like a piece of cake
You're comin' closer, I can hear you breathe
You drive me crazy when you start to tease
You could bring the devil to his knees
Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire
Oho Heaven's on fire, oho Heaven's on fire, oho
I'm getting closer, baby hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you'll never leave
Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire
09 Lick It Up (03:56)
Don't wanna wait 'til you know me better
Let's just be glad for the time together
Life's such a treat and it's time you taste it
There ain't a reason on earth to waste it
It ain't a crime to be good to yourself
Lick it up, lick it up, it's only right now
Lick it up, lick it up, ooh yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, come on, come on
Lick it up, lick it up
Don't need to wait for an invitation
You gotta live like you're on vacation
There's something sweet you can't buy with money - lick it up, lick it up
It's all you need, so believe me honey
It ain't a crime to be good to yourelf
Lick it up, lick it up, it's only right now
Lick it up, lick it up, ooh yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, come on, come on
Lick it up, lick it up
Come on - it's only right now (it's only right now)
Ooh yeah (ooh yeah) ooh yeah (ooh yeah), yeah yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, it's only right now
Lick it up, lick it up, yeah yeah yeah
Lick it up, lick it up, come on, come on
Lick it up, lick it up
11 Forever (03:52)
I gotta tell you what I'm feeling inside
I could lie to myself but it's true
There's no denying when I look in your eyes
Girl, I'm out of my head over you
I lived so long believeing all love is blind
But everything about you
Is telling me this time it's
CHORUS:
Forever, this time I know
And there's no doubt in my mind
Forever, until my life is through
Girl, I'll be loving you forever
I hear the echo of the promise I made
When you're strong you can stand on your own
But those words grow distant as I look at your face
No, I don't wanna go it alone
I never thought I'd lay my heart on the line
But everything about you
Is telling me this time it's
REPEAT CHORUS
Solo
Oh
I see my future when I look in your eyes
It took your love to make my heart come alive
Cause I lived my life believing all love is blind
But everything about you is telling me this time it's
REPEAT CHORUS (2X)
12 Christine Sixteen (02:59)
She's got me dizzy, she sees me through to the end
She's got me in her hands and there's no use in pretending
Christine sixteen, Christine sixteen
She drives me crazy, I want to give her all I've got
And she's hot every day and night, there is no doubt about it
Christine sixteen, Christine sixteen
"I don't usually say things like this to girls your age, but when I saw you
coming out of the school that day, that day I knew, I knew, I've got to have
you, I've got to have you."
She's' been around, but she's young and clean
I've got to have her, can't live without her, whoo no
Christine sixteen, Christine sixteen
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah
So clean, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, Christine, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, Christine, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen, Christine, yeah, yeah
Christine, Christine, sixteen, sixteen
Christine, yeah, yeah, yeah
14 Black Diamond (04:19)
Out on the street for a living
Picture's only begun
Got you under their thumb
Hit it !!!
Out on the streets for a living
Picture's only begun
Your day is sorrow and madness
Got you under their thumb
Whoo, black diamond
Whoo, black diamond
Darkness will fall on the city
It seems to follow you too
And though you don't ask for pity
There's nothin' that you can do, no, no
Whoo, black diamond
Whoo, black diamond
Out on the streets for a living
Picture's only begun
Your day is sorrow and madness
Got you under their thumb
Whoo, black diamond, yeah
Whoo, black diamond
15 Rock and Roll All Nite (02:48)
You show us everything you've got
You keep on dancin' and the room gets hot
You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You say you wanna go for a spin
The party's just begun, we'll let you in
You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin', you keep on shoutin'
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
You keep on saying you'll be mine for a while
You're lookin' fancy and I like your style
You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You show us everything you've got
Baby, baby that's quite a lot
And you drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin', you keep on shoutin'
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
I wanna rock and roll all night
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Other reviews
By De large
"From the very first notes you can’t help but exclaim: 'damn it’s Kiss!'"
"This album silences everyone, fans and critics alike, who would have expected such an album from these over-fifty-year-olds?"
