Kiss: Ace Frehley

One of my all-time favorites. Way better than the efforts of the other 3 members, no disrespect intended. Ace’s guitar is awesome as always, but even with incredible guitar work, songs are only as good as the songwriting, and it is also incredible on this album. No clunkers on this entire album. Give it a listen if you like good, straight ahead hard rock.

Ignore the iTunes review for this album. Ace Frehley did *not* have an “unpleasant voice”. In fact, it was absolutely perfect for Rock’n’Roll and Punk (some of his songs could have easily been punk songs, both on this album and with KISS). His vocals are straightforward and often carry a trace of good-natured humor. His guitar work often gets dismissed by snobs who think music is all about technical skill and forget about *feel*. Ace’s playing invokes an immense feeling of pleasure because it seems flows from a place of heart and good instinct. His solos never seem to indulge his ego and I don’t even know if he could tolerate such a thing. The man is 100% Rock’n’Roll. This album is a treat from start to finish. “I’m in Need of Love” is a trip, with a spacey guitar that will do peculiar things to your brain. “What’s on Your Mind” is dangerously close to a bubblegum tune (and who cares? It’s fun.) but Ace never lets it get away from him. Of course, there is his cover of “New York Groove”, which is great and well known. Don’t just listen to “New York Groove”, explore this whole album. If you only go for what you know, you’ll miss out on a very pleasing “Fractured Mirror” and the wicked rocker “Rip It Out”. I mostly dismissed KISS as a young girl in the 70’s. I decided to explore their catalogue in the past couple of years. Ace Frehley was the standout with KISS (“2000 Man” makes a moderately dull Jagger/Richards tune a punkish delight) and he was the standout with his solo album. Because I dismissed KISS, I dismissed Ace... and I missed out for about 40 years.

A Kiss fan and KISS Army Member since 1977, I was pleasantly surprised to see any reviews for this album! I agree completely with the two reviews above mine. The only other solo album that even comes close to Ace's is Gene Simmons - IMHO. I came across this CD while cleaning out some old boxes - forgot I even had it!! Who would've thought that as I flirt with age 50 (I'm 48) I would rediscover music I had forgotten about. I ripped this bad boy to iTunes and it was like listening to it the first time - almost. Made my day!! Ace Frehley was, is, and always will be a great freakin' guitarist.

I, out of nowhere, got the tune 🎶 I’m Back in the New York Groove 🎶 stuck in my head. I had the song going around and around for days. I didn't even remember that Ace Frehley, of Kiss game, performed it. “Search and ye shall find,” the biblical proverb states. I found the song on YouTube and purchased it on iTunes. I actually owned the Ace Frehley solo album as a boy. This album proved that Ace Frehley was very talented and entertaining even without his counterparts. He knows how to sing and his main weapon is his electric guitar. He can rick with the best of them. My vinyl album got misplaced, since cassettes, CDs, and, eventually, streaming took over over the music world . Ouch, I just dated myself. I no longer live in NYC. When I hear Billy Joel sing “New York State if Mind,” I feel nostalgic for New York. When Sinatra sang “New York, New York” it made me proud to be a New Yorker. Ace proved that it is fun to be in the “New York Groove,” even you are not a New Yorker. But over all, I am reminded that “Kiss: Ace Frehley” is a great album!

Not only is this easily the best of the four solos, IMO, this is maybe the best KISS ALBUM, period. No weak points - just all out guitar assault.