at 23:12 on October 14, 2009, EDT.
By Wayne Parry, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kiss, "Sonic Boom" (Kiss Records)

"Sonic Boom," the first Kiss studio album in 11 years, is one of the best hard rock albums of 2009. But what keeps it from being truly great is the massive musical identify theft by guitarist Tommy Thayer. Since being promoted from travelling assistant to Ace Frehley's replacement in 2003, Thayer has worn Frehley's makeup and costume, copied his solos note for note - including his extended concert solo - and even briefly sang Frehley's signature tune, "Shock Me," to the dismay of longtime Kiss fans.

So surely on his first studio session, Thayer would put his stamp on the band, recording his own solos in his own style. Right?

Wrong. On song after song, Thayer lifts key parts of classic Frehley solos rather than creating his own, and the theft is immediately recognizable. On "Russian Roulette," he steals from Frehley's solo on "Rock and Roll All Nite." On "Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)," he takes from "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "See You in Your Dreams."

On "Hot and Cold," Thayer lifts a Frehley solo bend from "Trouble Walkin'," and on "All for the Glory," he cops the heart of Frehley's "Parasite" solo. "I'm an Animal" sees Thayer lifting licks from "Makin' Love" and "Love Gun."

Paul Stanley, who produced the album, shines on "Modern Day Delilah," the epic "Stand" and the anthem-in-waiting "Say Yeah," with its shout-it-outloud chorus. Gene Simmons has his moment of modesty on "Nobody's Perfect," with the follow-up line, "but baby I come awfully close."

Drummer Eric Singer wears predecessor Peter Criss' catman costume and makeup. But Singer earned his whiskers through his 1992-96 tenure in Kiss during the unmasked era. More important, he brings his own style to classic Kiss songs, and his album vocal debut on "All for the Glory" is a decent one.

"Sonic Boom" also includes a second disc of Kiss classics re-recorded with the current lineup, and tracks like "Calling Dr. Love" and "Heaven's on Fire" have never sounded as fresh and raw. There's even a bonus DVD of an April 2009 concert in Argentina.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: Thayer makes his vocal debut on "When Lightning Strikes," one of the best tracks on the album and his lone moment of true creation. Yet even here, on what should be his signature statement song, Thayer can't help himself, copping the heart of Frehley's memorable solo on "Love 'em and Leave 'em."


©The Canadian Press, 2009

Yeah, I noticed this. I started to mention it on the other KISS thread but thought "Nah, fuck it.". I was first hip to Tommy when he played in the KISS tribute band Cold Gin. That band was the shit. I had seen them 4 times because they were THAT good and truly caught the essence of KISS circa 1975. I first met Gene at one of Cold Gin's shows at The Troubadour. Paul was at the same show but he was upstairs in a VIP section. All of the members in that band were dead on, including Tommy. When the o.g members got back together to do the Reunion Tour, Tommy, who had worked as Gene's assisant, was hired to help Ace remember his own solos! That was the rumor anyways.

Again, I noticed Tommy evoking Ace's solos but I figured that's what Paul, who produced the album, and Gene, both wanted. It had been written about for awhile before this album came out that this was to be a KlaSSiK 70's styled KISS sounding album. So I can totally see Paul and Gene both wanting Tommy to do his "Ace-isms" to capture that overall sound. When Bruce Kulick played with KISS, as great as Bruce was, he sometimes would get knocked by o.g. KISS fans that his solos didn't fit KISS's sound. They wanted the solos to be more "Ace-ish". This was no doubt welcomed by Paul being the producer of the album.

I personally am not a fan of the idea of Tommy and Eric, who is a great drummer and a very nice dude, wearing the Spaceman and The Cat outfits and makeup. Not anything against them personally but anyone wearing those outfits seems odd to see. I feel that since Ace and Peter decided that they didn't want to do it then Paul and Gene shouldn't perform in make up. Although of course, it's their right to do so. But that's why I dug the way they went about it in 83 onward. They respected the KISS characters individually and only went with it when ALL of the o.g members were present. I understand it's a business and what sells and so forth. I'm hip to that and God bless them, I just like to see the 4 original members in those outfits and make up, that's all.
[Edited 10/15/09 1:19am]

Dross

I am surprised that people are worrying about the guitar work when Paul Stanley's vocals these days are quite shockingly bad. The man really does need to hang up his platform boots and wipe off the make-up for good.


Having said that, is there anybody in their right mind in 2009 that likes Kiss?!

rocknrolldave said:

He's had a reasonable amount of help from Mr Autotune on Sonic Belch.

TyphoonTip said:

He needs it!

Even so, I heard one track in my local record store yesterday, and even Mr Autotune hadn't salvaged the vocals completely.

Just....eeeeewwwww.

If it sounds like vintage KISS, then yeah I'm interested. I personally hate it when ancient bands try to sound "modern" - it almost never translates. And I really couldn't stand much of what KISS has done since 1980 or so

At first I didn't dig the fact that Eric and Tommy were wearing Peter and Ace's makeup and costumes. But I understand why they went that route. It's purely business as BG said. Gene and Sony Signatures have those images trademarked and copywritten..so if Gene and Paul want to put those images on anything they can, they'll do it. And they know the $$ will come in if the merch sells well.

Plus I think it's too late in the game to come up with new characters. That was cool in 1980. Most KISS fans today are now 35 years old or older. The general public doesn't really care either. And Gene and Paul know that the public (whether they're KISS fans or not) are familiar with "Starchild", "Demon",
"Catman" and "Space Ace". Those 4 are the famous faces.

As an old school 70's/80's KISS fan, I have no problem with Singer or Thayer. They helped make "Sonic Boom" a cool "vintage/modern" CD. My buddy saw them the other night in Philly and he said the show was great and packed. If this is their final CD I'm cool with it.

^
Agreed.
I was also turned off by the "fake" Ace and Peter thang and was very resistant
to KISS in this formation. But in the end, whatver lineup and they've had many, it's still KISS. And I like KISS. Do I prefer the originals, of course. Do I think Tommy and Eric should've had their own identities, yes, but like SPYZ said prolly too late in the game for all that.I'm cool with it now. I'm just glad they are making great new music. And Sonic Boom is a great new KISS album. Imo
I know BG, and SPYZ are with me on that one.

Let me add that I now enjoy Eric and Tommys presence in the band. I only wish Tommy was more, well, Tommy and less Ace. But I guess that's a fine line in his position.
And I would love KISS to do one more album with same focus but more of an eye on the first album. Meaning longer songs with more instrumental sections and jamming. You know 100,000 Years, Black Diamond etc..But if SB is the last I'm cool with that.