Asshole

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Customer reviews

review by: maz date: 2008-01-07 rating:
Bloody awful
I'm a big fan of Kiss, but I'm frequently irked by Simmons constant slating of former Kiss members Criss and Frehley. Frehley had his problems, but he is a great guitarist and penned some of Kiss's best songs. br / br /I'm afraid Gene, I would compare the music that on this album to the subtance that comes out of a..holes. Infantile, second rate rubbish. br / br /At the moment I'm listening to Greatest Hits Live by Mr Ace Frehley. Sorry mate, but Ace leaves you in the starting blocks. br / br /Avoid at all costs

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review by: date: 2004-11-10 rating:
Uncle Gene Does Karaoke
When I got this CD, I had the lowest of expectations, but even with that in mind, I found very little if anything salvagable on this horrible excuse for a CD. With lyrics like "you got a personality, yeah, just like a bucket full of pee...," we're scraping the bottom of the "creative" barrel here. Is this the stuff Gene was busting at the seams to put onto disc? Even Gene's '78 solo album (which out of the four comes in at a #3, just barely nudging out Peter Criss's) was miles ahead of this. brMuch of the album sounds like bad karaoke. Listen to "Beautiful" and "1000 Dreams." It sounds like Gene programed a 1984 Casio keyboard's drum machine and went to town. The same goes for "Waiting for the Morning Light." Damn, he tries hard, but with Gene single tracking his voice, uh, the straining... it's fingernails on a chalkboard. Gene threw a curveball on his first solo album with "When You Wish Upon a Star," but in an odd way it fit. "1000 Dreams" sounds like it was supposed to be this album's radical departure, but it only serves to embarrass...kind of like how I feel when my elderly uncle, after a few too many drinks, starts singing "What's New Pussycat." He likes it, but no one else does. pThe two good songs are "Dog," which sounds kind of like the Beach Boy's "Kokomo" on an acid trip, and "Black Tongue," a tip of the hat to Frank Zappa. These two songs show a little bit of inspiration -- just a little. pAs much a Gene has been known to criticize Peter Criss and Ace Frehley's ability to write songs, this CD gives him absolutely no ground to stand on. I know Gene intended this to be a departure from Kiss music, but all this CD shows me is that in his heart of hearts, Gene would like to be Barry Manilow.

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review by: brother_of_sadako date: 2004-09-19 rating:
A Mix that Ultimately Disappoints
I am a huge KISS fan and so did not even think twice about buying this album. Gene has assembled it from pickings of many random songs of many different genres written over the years - and it shows! The album is terribly disjointed with most of the materials not making it onto earlier KISS albums because it simpy was not good enough. As with his first solo effort in 1978, Gene has taken a stab at a new kind of music and showing fans an alternative side to the big bad demon. And just like before one is left wondering when he will go back to sticking his tongue out, spitting blood and growling his way through God of Thunder. Aside from the title track which rocks, the album is not terrible but is not good enough.

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review by: date: 2004-05-24 rating:
Would you believe it !
The first album in 26 years from Gene Simmons somewhat amazingly does not disappoint. Who would have thought the old demon still had it in him to produce a great album ?br brLet's put it all in context. In the early to mid-70's Gene released with KISS some of rock's all time classics in songs such as Calling Dr. Love, Deuce, Christine Sixteen and many more. His pinnacle of creative genius was definitely his 1978 solo album - a simply brilliant work which showcased both his trademark cock-rocktastic formula songs like Radioactive, Burning Up With Fever and Living in Sin, as well as more subtle and well crafted, and often Beatlesque songs like See You Tonight, Man of 1,000 Faces, Mr. Make-believe and the awesome Always Near You.br brThe 1978 album stands up against any other album ever released. If you don't own it yet - buy it.br brNow, after a couple more interesting contributions to KISS, most notably The Elder, Gene went downhill, or more accurately, nose-dived in the mid 80's as he metamorphosised from God of Thunder to silly old bassist in pop-metal band still sticking his tongue out and wearing a syrup. His songs over the course of several albums from Animalize to Hot In The Shade, were dreadful, shocking, pathetic. The thought of Gene ever releasing another solo album was a joke. He had died in about 1983 as far as I was concerned.br brBut, as you probably know the story, Gene steadily improved from Revenge through to Psycho Circus and is now pretty much back to being a credible musician again...well almost.br brThis solo album however seals it. Simmons is back !br brShocking is it not ?br brThis is an album I will play and play - I am confident of that. Does it compare to his 1978 solo ? Obviously not, you cannot expect a man in his 50's, in the 2000's to come up with something a man in his 20's did in the 70's. Having said that, this is miles better than you could really expect, and what's more, miles better than 99.9% of all other music released in the last couple of decades. This is a great album for 2004, but also a great album in any era.br brThat's enough of the background....here are the details.br br1. Sweet and Dirty Love - Turn it up loud and you are forgiven for believing that it's 1977 again. Fabulous classic seventies rock with all the balls and cocksure attitude of Simmons of yesteryear. If only the tasty slide guitar had instead been the even more tasty lead of one Ace Frehley. Classic KISS. Turn it up.br br2. Firestarter. Absolutely dreadful, painful song. Give it a miss. Unless of course you have no taste in music and like stuff like the Prodigy.br br3. Weapons of Mass Destruction. Unholy meets Hate meets Boomerang. Very heavy and pretty bad...but not that bad. Metal heads might like it but it's a bit too scary stuff for me.br br4. Waiting For The Morning Light. Light-hearted, soothing, mellow pop song - so unlike the rubbish Gene spouted in the 80's. A good little tune.br br5. Beautiful. A really beautiful song, slightly Beatlesy, a bit Cheryl Crow. Very, very good.br br6. A**hole. Would you believe it - a song in the US-College band genre (which I detest) that is absolutely corking good fun. Quite possibly the best song on the album, great production, big chorus, silly lyrics - great delivery. Should be a hit - but don't hold your breath.br br7. Now You're Gone. Great Beatlsey type of ballad with Oasis overtones.br br8. Whatever Turns You On. Cool old school rock with big party sing-along chorus. Enjoyable.br br9. Dog. Fantastic, groovin' hip Gene doing drum'n'bass, hilarious vocals, cool singing and backing vocals. Top drawer.br br10. Black Tongue. Good rocker, somewhat spoiled by pathetic drum machine - but tasty nonetheless.br br11. Carnival of Souls. Much as I thought I would dislike this one, it's actually pretty good and better than 90% of the songs on the KISS album of the same name. Although heavy in a Revenge/COS mode, it's also has a funky strut via the Ritchie Kotzen chords, and boasts a huge nasty chorus and wicked widdlefest of a guitar solo. br br12. If I Had a Gun. Another great modern sounding, well crafted, song, that could be from Cheryl Crow, if it wasn't for the dodgy deep voice.br br13. I Dream 1,000 Dreams. The When You Wish Upon a Star of the album. An interesting mix crossing Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and Hawaiian hula all in one. Only Gene can pull that lot together and come up with a great song and apt ending to an album. He even goes as far as to reprise his falsetto crooning to end the album, as in 1978. Haha.br brAll in all this album is great fun, something you will like, something your wife will like too, a few headbangers for old times sake, and a few nods of the hat to his classic '70s album. You can't really ask for more.br brSure the production is slightly inconsistent, and it sounds more like a collection of songs than a single production, but hey - this is beyond all expectations that I had. I'll be playing this in 25 years from now I am sure. When was the last time I thought that of a new album ?


review by: date: 2004-05-24 rating:
Would you believe it !
The first album in 26 years from Gene Simmons somewhat amazingly does not disappoint. Why would have thought the old demon still had it in him to produce a great album ?br brLet's put it all in context. In the early to mid-70's Gene released with KISS some of rock's all time classics in songs such as Calling Dr. Love, Deuce, Christine Sixteen and many more. His pinnacle of creative genius was definitely his 1978 solo album - a simply brilliant work which showcased both his trademark cock-rocktastic formula songs like Radioactive, Burning Up With Fever and Living in Sin, as well as more subtle and well crafted, and often Beatlesque songs like See You Tonight, Man of 1,000 Faces, Mr. Make-believe and the awesome Always Near You.br brThe 1978 album stands up against any other album ever released. If you don't own it yet - buy it.br brNow, after a couple more interesting contributions to KISS, most notably The Elder, Gene went downhill, or more accurately, nose-dived in the mid 80's as he metamorphosised from God of Thunder to silly old bassist in pop-metal band still sticking his tongue out and wearing a syrup. His songs over the course of several albums from Animalize to Hot In The Shade, were dreadful, shocking, pathetic. The thought of Gene ever releasing another solo album was a joke. He had died in about 1983 as far as I was concerned.br brBut, as you probably know the story, Gene steadily improved from Revenge through to Psycho Circus and is now pretty much back to being a credible musician again...well almost.br brThis solo album however seals it. Simmons is back !br brShocking is it not ?br brThis is an album I will play and play - I am confident of that. Does it compare to his 1978 solo ? Obviously not, you cannot expect a man in his 50's, in the 2000's to come up with something a man in his 20's did in the 70's. Having said that, this is miles better than you could really expect, and what's more, miles better than 99.9% of all other music released in the last couple of decades. This is a great album for 2004, but also a great album in any era.br brThat's enough of the background....here are the details.br br1. Sweet and Dirty Love - Turn it up loud and you are forgiven for believing that it's 1977 again. Fabulous classic seventies rock with all the balls and cocksure attitude of Simmons of yesteryear. If only the tasty slide guitar had instead been the even more tasty lead of one Ace Frehley. Classic KISS. Turn it up.br br2. Firestarter. Absolutely dreadful, painful song. Give it a miss. Unless of course you have no taste in music and like stuff like the Prodigy.br br3. Weapons of Mass Destruction. Unholy meets Hate meets Boomerang. Very heavy and pretty bad...but not that bad. Metal heads might like it but it's a bit to scary stuff for me.br br4. Waiting For The Morning Light. Light-hearted, soothing, mellow pop song - so unlike the rubbish Gene spouted in the 80's. A good little tune.br br5. Beautiful. A really beautiful song, slightly Beatlesy, a bit Cheryl Crow. Very, very good.br br6. A**hole. Would you believe it - a song in the US-College band genre (which I detest) that is absolutely corking good fun. Quite possibly the best song on the album, great production, big chorus, silly lyrics - great delivery. Should be a hit - but don't hold your breath.br br7. Now You're Gone. Great Beatlsey type of ballad with Oasis overtones.br br8. Whatever Turns You On. Cool old school rock with big party sing-along chorus. Enjoyable.br br9. Dog. Fantastic, groovin' hip Gene doing drum'n'bass, hilarious vocals, cool singing and backing vocals. Top drawer.br br10. Black Tongue. Good rocker, somewhat spoiled by pathetic drum machine - but tasty nonetheless.br br11. Carnival of Souls. Much as I thought I would dislike this one, it's actually pretty good and better than 90% of the songs on the KISS album of the same name. Although heavy in a Revenge/COS mode, it's also has a funky strut via the Ritchie Kotzen chords, and boasts a huge nasty chorus and wicked widdlefest of a guitar solo. br br12. If I Had a Gun. Another great modern sounding, well crafted, song, that could be from Cheryl Crow, if it wasn't for the dodgy deep voice.br br13. I Dream 1,000 Dreams. The When You Wish Upon a Star of the album. An interesting mix crossing Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and Hawaiian hula all in one. Only Gene can pull that lot together and come up with a great song and apt ending to an album. He even goes as far as to reprise his falsetto crooning to end the album, as in 1978. Haha.br brAll in all this album is great fun, something you will like, something your wife will like too, a few headbangers for old times sake, and a few nods of the hat to his classic '70s album. You can't really ask for more.br brSure the production is slightly inconsistent, and it sounds more like a collection of songs than a single production, but hey - this is beyond all expectations that I had. I'll be playing this in 25 years from now I am sure. When was the last time I thought that of a new album ?

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