| KISS revisits classic vibes with Sonic Boom |
KISS
Sonic Boom
Universal/Roadrunner Records/KISS Records
www.kissonline.com
By Thom Copher
Sonic Boom marks the first album of new material from the self-proclaimed "hottest band
in the world" since 1998's Psycho Circus. Time certainly hasn't mellowed the Paul
Stanley/Gene Simmons machine as the new offering belches a familiar tried-and-true
arena-rock formula with machismo which clearly targets the band's 1970s-heyday sound
with a few latter-day highlights thrown in for good measure.
Produced by singer/guitarist (and all-around Rock God) Paul Stanley, Sonic Boom is a
throwback in more ways than one. No time is wasted as the opener/lead single "Modern
Sonic Boom
Universal/Roadrunner Records/KISS Records
www.kissonline.com
By Thom Copher
Sonic Boom marks the first album of new material from the self-proclaimed "hottest band
in the world" since 1998's Psycho Circus. Time certainly hasn't mellowed the Paul
Stanley/Gene Simmons machine as the new offering belches a familiar tried-and-true
arena-rock formula with machismo which clearly targets the band's 1970s-heyday sound
with a few latter-day highlights thrown in for good measure.
Produced by singer/guitarist (and all-around Rock God) Paul Stanley, Sonic Boom is a
throwback in more ways than one. No time is wasted as the opener/lead single "Modern
Day Delilah" hits with a guitar shear and sonic thud reminiscent of the classic "God of Thunder." "Delilah" sets the stage for this virtual
eleven-song stroll down Nostalgia Avenue. "Stand by My Side" borrows as much from (non-makeup-era) "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" as it
does from "Do You love Me" (Destroyer, '76). Guitarist Tommy Thayer does a fine Ace Frehley impersonation, playing praise to The Spaceman
at every turn. His lead for "Russian Roulette" is ripped straight from 1975 and "She" while "Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)" is rollicking a-la
"Let Me Go Rock and Roll."
Lyrically, Stanley and Simmons walk down a well-worn path. "If it's too hot you're too cold/If it's too loud you're too old" proclaim The
Starchild and The Demon on "Hot and Cold." Also, it simply wouldn't be KISS without a little groupie chasing, and Simmons is at his
tongue-wagging best with lines like "Hey, what's your name/Yeah, we're both thinkin' the same thing." Drummer Eric Singer ("All For the
Glory") and Thayer ("When Lightning Strikes") add to the lead-vocal mix, bringing KISS back to the (much overlooked and highly under-rated)
four-singer setup which hasn't been visited in far too long. Stanley, need it even be mentioned, proves once again with his front-and-center
vocals that he is one of rock's most powerful singers... not bad at 57.
eleven-song stroll down Nostalgia Avenue. "Stand by My Side" borrows as much from (non-makeup-era) "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" as it
does from "Do You love Me" (Destroyer, '76). Guitarist Tommy Thayer does a fine Ace Frehley impersonation, playing praise to The Spaceman
at every turn. His lead for "Russian Roulette" is ripped straight from 1975 and "She" while "Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)" is rollicking a-la
"Let Me Go Rock and Roll."
Lyrically, Stanley and Simmons walk down a well-worn path. "If it's too hot you're too cold/If it's too loud you're too old" proclaim The
Starchild and The Demon on "Hot and Cold." Also, it simply wouldn't be KISS without a little groupie chasing, and Simmons is at his
tongue-wagging best with lines like "Hey, what's your name/Yeah, we're both thinkin' the same thing." Drummer Eric Singer ("All For the
Glory") and Thayer ("When Lightning Strikes") add to the lead-vocal mix, bringing KISS back to the (much overlooked and highly under-rated)
four-singer setup which hasn't been visited in far too long. Stanley, need it even be mentioned, proves once again with his front-and-center
vocals that he is one of rock's most powerful singers... not bad at 57.
While Sonic Boom doesn't even pretend to be
groundbreaking, its seemingly tireless effort to revisit
"best of" moments is refreshing in a "Yeah, I've been a
KISS fan for 35 years" kinda way. If nothing else,
Sonic Boom re-establishes the band's claim that the
music can stand on its own without all the makeup and
fireworks. Here, too, credit Stanley as producer for
capturing a live-performance feel that Rock and Roll
Over and Love Gun nailed in the late 70s but was lost
during the following two decades.
An added highlight to the presentation is the two-disc
bonus. One disc, aptly titled KISS Klassics, provides
15 favorites which have been re-recorded... pretty
groundbreaking, its seemingly tireless effort to revisit
"best of" moments is refreshing in a "Yeah, I've been a
KISS fan for 35 years" kinda way. If nothing else,
Sonic Boom re-establishes the band's claim that the
music can stand on its own without all the makeup and
fireworks. Here, too, credit Stanley as producer for
capturing a live-performance feel that Rock and Roll
Over and Love Gun nailed in the late 70s but was lost
during the following two decades.
An added highlight to the presentation is the two-disc
bonus. One disc, aptly titled KISS Klassics, provides
15 favorites which have been re-recorded... pretty
cool, if you're into that kind of thing. The other is a six-song live DVD which features the band live in Buenos Aires, Argentina during its
2009 South American tour. Simply put, this is KISS, ageless and doing what it does best. The live disc, in fact, is worth the price of
admission alone.
Now, does Sonic Boom contain any instant KISS Klasics? Truth be told, likely not. However, the album is solid and familiar throughout. As
KISS hits the road for its "Alive 35" tour, not to mention the fact that The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has finally nominated the band for
membership, this old-dog-doing-pretty-much-the-same-old-tricks serves once again to remind listeners that KISS' bottom-line is the
essence of all that is good about rock and roll.
2009 South American tour. Simply put, this is KISS, ageless and doing what it does best. The live disc, in fact, is worth the price of
admission alone.
Now, does Sonic Boom contain any instant KISS Klasics? Truth be told, likely not. However, the album is solid and familiar throughout. As
KISS hits the road for its "Alive 35" tour, not to mention the fact that The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has finally nominated the band for
membership, this old-dog-doing-pretty-much-the-same-old-tricks serves once again to remind listeners that KISS' bottom-line is the
essence of all that is good about rock and roll.