Gene Simmons [Import]

Gene Simmons, Kiss | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 21, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B00092QRIS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,151 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All Sides Of The Demon Explored!, August 6, 2002

By 

Brent Evans (Rockhampton, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gene Simmons (Audio CD)

This underrated classic has drawn heavy criticism from so-called "fans" because it refuses to bend to one musical style.To say that Gene didn't take his solo project seriously is stupid; it gave him a chance to show a hitherto unseen musical side. Many of the tracks were old ones that wouldn't have suited the heavy metal stomp of Kiss.This is the my favourite of the solo albums.Ace's reveals a talent to be reckoned with; Paul's is good,but predictable; and Peter's . . .let's just say he tried,and leave it at that. Give GENE SIMMONS a listen again . . .you might be happily surprised.

RADIOACTIVE - A chilling laugh starts off the show in fine style. After an intro of puesdo-operatics, the real song emerges; a piano-led rocker with great harmony vocals. Love the 'bubbling' sound effects!

BURNING UP WITH FEVER - We kick off this little tune of with a couple of 'rushed' acoustic guitar(and a comment of "Lovely" from Gene!). What follows is a number in the syle of ALIVE II's 'Larger Than Life', guitar funk complete with female backup on the chorus and Donna Summer's vocals near the end of the track.

SEE YOU TONITE - Mr Simmons has always expressed an admiration for the Beatles, and when he couldn't get Paul MacCartney to contribute to this album, he got not only a soundalike,but a lookalike to take his place! Two members of the hit Broadway show
Beatlemania contribute backup vocals on a few of the tracks. This soft number was brought out for Kiss' MTV UNPLUGGED show to great effect!

TUNNEL OF LOVE - Could have been a castoff from either 'Rock'n'Roll Over' or 'Love Gun'. Good crunchy guitar riffs and female backup on the chorus.

TRUE CONFESSIONS - I don't know how Gene got Helen Reddy for backup vocals on this song; it's a nice touch. Clever lyrics too:"I'm not your social security, I'm not your star opportunity".

LIVING IN SIN - The lustful demon we all know and love. He really gets into the role so well with this one. Cher contributes a cameo as an excited fan in the song's middle (Gene would reciprocate with a cameo on one of Cher's tunes). Love the grunting noises simmons utters in the songs fade out . . .LOL!

ALWAYS NEAR YOU/NOWHERE TO HIDE - Soft rock complete with choir and orchestra. This track somehow leaves me cold. I guess the lyrics seem a bit 'too simple'.

MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES - A tribute to one Simmon's cinematic heroes, Lon Chaney Sr; this was written by the 'Dressed To Kill'

sessions, but somehow didn't fit in with the 'Kiss'image. The lyrics could be used as a metaphor in describing the personality of Gene Simmons himself.

MR MAKE BELIEVE - The original 'monster of rock' showing his tender side,complete with backup vocals by his 'Beatlemania' buddies. Probably my favourite GENE SIMMONS track.

SEE YOU IN YOUR DREAMS - I don't understand why Gene wanted to remake this song (only recorded two years before on 'Rock'n'Roll Over).The only difference is an extra verse. The original is much simpler and better sounding. Another Simmons RARO tune 'Love 'Em And Leave 'Em',was also re-recorded, but not released.

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR - Gene copped a lot of flak for covering this, his favourite Disney song. He claims the lyrics ring true in real life. Not as bad as it could have been; which is a good summing up for the entire solo album.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shows Gene's creative side, April 18, 2005

By 

Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gene Simmons (Audio CD)

In 1978, at the height of KISS's popularity, rather than release a new studio album, all four members simultaneously released a solo album. Although critics have often called this nothing more than a gimmick, there is no denying the quality of these recordings. All four albums are well written and crafted. All four members of KISS really put their heart and soul into this project and made a solo album that really reflects their personality. KISS was like a stew, made up of four separate ingredients. The KISS solo albums of 1978 really let you see each member and what it is exactly they brought into KISS.

The Gene Simmons album is probably the most musically surprising and diverse of the four. By looking at the album cover, of Gene with the demon makeup, with blood dripping down the mouth, you might expect to hear a no-holds-bar heavy metal album. But if that what you are looking for, you'd be better off listening to the Ace Frehley album. The Gene Simmons album is really a grab-bag of styles and makes for a very interesting listen. Despite the eclectic nature of the album, everything works and it's a great collection of songs, except for the unwise inclusion of "When you wish Upon a Star."

This album is surprisingly mid-paced. The rockers on this album, "Radioactive," "Burning Up With Fever," "Tunnel of Love," "True Confessions" "Living In Sin," are all somewhat tepid, but still interesting. There is also a surprising amount of a Beatles influence on the Gene Simmons album. "See You Tonight," "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide," "Man of 1,000 Faces," and "Mr. Make Believe" sees Simmons either playing homage to the Beatles (like in See You Tonight) or at least has an element of the Fab Four. "See You in Your Dreams" is really the album's only fast-and-heavy rocker. The female backup singers in that song are a nice touch. My only real complaint is the album closes with "When You Wish Upon a Star." It's a pretty corny song to begin with and doesn't really fit the mood or vibe of the album. But despite its inclusion, it doesn't end the album on a sour note.

All, in all, this is a good, solid collection of songs and shows the creative/Beatles side of Simmons.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is bad, March 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gene Simmons (Audio CD)

I think that this album should have never been released. A little better than Criss' solo album, which is not saying much, Radioactive and See You Tonight are average at best while the rest is BAD!