Paul Stanley
Live To Win

Well, I am therefore about to write my first de-review...

My choice falls on an album that I think will go almost unnoticed by the public for various reasons: firstly, Stanley hasn't released a solo album since his eponymous album in 1978, and moreover, this work hasn't been much promoted in Europe...

An additional deterrent to the sale-listening of this album comes from the fact that the Kiss (the American band that's been around for thirty years, of which Stanley is still the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist... to clarify, he's the "StarChild" who sings "I Was Made For Loving You") haven't released an album of original material since the now distant 1998 (Psycho Circus) and they haven't been seen or heard in our continent for who knows how long...

I've known Kiss for quite some time, and I've always considered Paul the most brilliant and charismatic member (a completely personal idea... contrary to many Kiss fans who prefer Simmons or Frehley) of the original American quartet, and thus I awaited the release of "Live To Win" with a certain interest: it is quite a short album (34 min) and just as smooth and immediate. The opening is left to the title track: gritting and rather simple guitar riffs at the same time, combined with a powerful and very catchy chorus (one might say in pure Kiss style, though the song sounds vaguely Bon Jovi-esque... don’t worry... only very vaguely!).

The almost progressive rock of "Lift" gives way to another one of those tracks that immediately sticks in your head: "Wake Up Screaming" has a fast rhythm and leaves the desire to be replayed. "Everytime I Look You Around" opens with acoustic guitars and represents the best ballad of the album, in my opinion, an excellent love song followed by "Bulletproof", an energetic track in full hard rock style, with a very engaging rhythm where Stanley proves he can reach very high tones. "It's All About You" is perhaps the track closest to the Kiss of Psycho Circus, also very catchy, followed by another pleasant ballad such as "Second To None". The series of electric and rhythmic riffs returns in full force with "It's Not Me". The album closes with the third mid-tempo ballad ("Loving You Without You") and with "Where Angels Dare", the last track of the album.

In my opinion, it is a very pleasant album, without too many pretensions, that follows the philosophy of Stanley and the Kiss: simple music, rock sometimes rough and aggressive, wisely mixed with catchy ballads and immediate melodies.

Certainly one of those carefree and positive albums, stress-relievers... I don't know about you but every now and then I feel the need to listen to something like this...