Gene Simmons: Remastered

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Customer reviews

review by: brother_of_sadako date: 2006-08-01 rating:
The Best Cover of the Four Solo Albums...
When Gene Simmons was first introduced to Paul Stanley in the early 1970s, the future Demon arrogantly asked to hear some of Paul's material. After playing Gene 'Sunday Driver' (not one of Paul's best by any means), Simmons in his own words thought: 'Wow this is better than my stuff, this guy is good'. Listening to their two solo albums it should come as no surprise to hear why Gene was so impressed by Paul's work.

After years growling his way through sex and blood and thunder laden tracks, Gene took his chance to show there was more to him than met the eye. Despite a cover showing Gene with blood dripping from his mouth and an intro to the first song inspired by the Phantom of the Opera, the album lacks any teeth. Gene's bass playing is pure pop. Despite a fairly interesting beginning in Radioactive (sounded much better when played live by KISS on 1979's Dynasty tour), the album is a massive letdown. Many songs, like Burning up with Fever, Tunnel of Love and the trite Living in Sin sound ridiculous and so out of place. The album regains some credibility with tunes my Always Near You (Nowhere to Hide) and Man of 1,000 Faces and rip-roaring rendition of See you in Your Dreams (much improved from it's first appearance on Rock and Roll Over) but these are good but certainly not great. The album ends with the Demon crooning his way through When You Wish Upon a Star. Gene's heartfelt singing is the only thing that saves this it from mediocrity (give me Jimminy Cricket's version any day).

There is no doubting Gene's ability. This man introduced such classics as Deuce, Calling Dr. Love, Watchin' You, Christine Sixteen, War Machine, I Love it Loud, Unholy and Domino but here, he simply goes too far in trying to be something else. Gene was at his best when trying to be bad. Curiously though, he did succeed in being something else on future KISS records with wonderful songs like Naked City, World Without Heroes and Under the Rose. But here, Gene really crashes and burns.

Without any shadow of a doubt, this is by far the worst of the four solo albums and in my opinion is also the worst of all KISS' studio releases. Gene Simmons - my idol, great businessman, unrivalled showman and talented musician, although you'd never know it by listening to this.

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review by: spaceacefrehley date: 2005-01-07 rating:
Nil Points!
Judging from the cover this is going to rock, yeah? Does everyone agree so far? The intro music is promising then...then.................Nothing! THERE IS NO ROCK ON THIS ALBUM.
This is like Ozzy doing Sinatra standards and having a gothic, metal album cover so people will buy it!
I understand Simmons wanting to step away from the usual stuff he was doing with Kiss and having a go at something new but this record is poor by anybody's standard.
The most amazing thing is he's still getting away with it 27 years later !!!!!

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review by: jason10672 date: 2004-09-10 rating:
God of Chunder!!
I agree with the previous reviewer. I bought this record on the strength of Kiss gems like, Sweet Pain, Flaming Youth, and God of Thunder. I really believed that Gene Simmons was the lord of the waste land, a modern day man of steel, I even believed he had the night time to please him and that he commanded people to kneel. But that was all lies. After hearing this, I felt cheated, lied to and used. I can no longer bring myself to play with my Kiss pinball machine!

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review by: jamesfranklin22 date: 2004-01-28 rating:
Most varied and surprising solo album falls short
Gene Simmons solo album was widely regarded as the most different and varied of KISSes solo efforts. Instead of the cartoony heavy metal he had previously peddled with KISS, fans were surprised to see softer side to the blood dribbling bass demon.
Opener "Radioactive" begins with a mock operatic entrance with chants of "Satan!" adding to a sinister atmosphere, but shocks by breaking into a groovy 60's inspired song, with foxy female bakcing vocals and a nice solo provided by none other than Aerosmiths Joe Perry. After another bizarre intro, "Burning up with Fever" is a funky number with more soulful backing singers and "See you Tonite" is Simmons's own tribute to the Beatles, a nice poppy number reminiscient of mid-60's Lennon and McCartney compositions.
Songs like "Tunnel of Love" and "Living in Sin", although undoubtedly catchy are lacking somewhat in the punch that his songs with KISS displayed. Other songs like "Man of 1,000 Faces" and "Mr Make Believe" show that Simmons does have a softer side, with their crooned vocals, childrens choirs and string arrangements, but seem a little lethargic at this point in the album. "See you in your Dreams", a remake of a KISS song off of "Rock n' Roll Over" is a more classic rock number featuring Cheap Tricks Rick Nielson on lead guitar, and some more bakcing singers. The album ends on a strange note with a cover of the Disney theme "When you Wish upon a Star" sung with Simmons own inimitable style - finishing a bizarre album on a suitably bizarre note.


review by: spaceacefrehley date: 2003-08-20 rating:
Under no circumstances should you buy this C.D.
In the great musical scheme of things this a terrible record.
Picture the scene,it's1978, you're Gene Simmons, Bat lizzard, fire breathing, rock god .Your band Kiss has conquered the world (not all of it Gene).
The world is at your feet waiting for your solo album.
You believe in yourself so much you cobble a load of bile together, and this is it.
"When you wish upon a star" is the worst thing ever commited to tape.
I could go on..............Nil points.

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