Paul Stanley
Live To Win

2 to 0. Yes, that's exactly it: Paul Stanley 2 Gene Simmons 0. It's needless to say, but Paul had already outclassed the Demon 18 years ago when Kiss ventured into recording the solo albums.

Two clear and evident things emerge from this album: Paul Stanley seems rejuvenated, he has no intention to joke around with this "Live to win" but above all, he demonstrates his great musical superiority compared to Gene Simmons, who could only offer us a pathetic cover album "Asshole." The Starchild is cold, decisive, and determined, and he is also clear if we want because with this record he clarifies his intentions: either Kiss put in the effort, or he has no time to waste. He is great and will always be, but now let's proceed with the review!!!!!!!!!!!!

It starts immediately, first track, a very brief snare fill, and then here they are, immediately striking the ears, the precise, short but incredibly powerful riffs from Paul's guitar along with John 5's (who collaborated on this CD recording some tracks). The riffs are intentionally short, precise, aiming straight, and such riffs are not easily forgotten. Here Paul Stanley really put a lot of effort: short, powerful riffs that get straight to the point, it's useless to make a 10-minute song if you already change it by the third minute. The tracks on this album are short but sharp to the point. The "old" school of Kiss in composing music and choruses is strongly felt and many fans will surely buy this album believing they are facing the new Kiss album, but it’s not so. Stanley is Stanley and Kiss are Kiss, and in 2006/7 Stanley certainly has much more power and fame than Kiss. The second track is "Lift", slow with a metal spirit hidden inside and Paul's voice fits perfectly in this beautiful, well-balanced, and rhythmic song.

The third song is "Wake up screaming", the introduction may be deceiving: it starts particularly pop but then Paul "redeems" himself by adding some honest rock 'n' roll to a song that initially seemed barren and senseless. The fourth track is neither rock nor hard rock. It's none of these but is merely a piece to break the rock of the previous ones "Every time I see you around", in fact, it is a very commercial (pop) piece which still hides its purely "Kissian" soul. The fifth song is called "Bulletproof", even though I don't like it much I have to admit it is a well-constructed, squared, and perfectly rhythmical song and even this track is built on a hard rock base. "All about you", the sixth song, remains in Stanley's most commercial branch and is therefore a song that can be listened to by all types of listeners (sorry for the wording). Stanley with his record has always aimed at this: the immediacy and direction of his thought through music that can be listened to by the farmer as well as the greatest music guru. The seventh song, in my opinion, is quite useless "Second to none", indeed it is neither fish nor fowl, Stanley tried to find riffs to launch the song but the piece remains flat and static. Also, the eighth piece may seem static and flat "It’s not me" yet it is a piece that in its commerciality encloses an innate aggressiveness.

"Loving you without know" is practically a "facsimile" of "Every time I see you around". However, the two songs are so beautiful that Stanley is forgiven for everything. It is needless to say how strong the influence of Kiss has been in this album. And reaching the last piece "Where angels dare", it can only be said that Paul Stanley is one, like him there is no one, he is inimitable and Kiss at this time surely have to pay tribute to the headliner of the group because the Starchild is not only a myth but also a great musician. Unlike Simmons, when there's need to make good or memorable records, Stanley does it.

Greetings from Kissarmy