Customer Reviews

One for All

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(34)

 

 

Lots of reviewers like to throw their credentials out there as they review this release, so I figured that's a good way to start as well:

1) I am as hard-core a Kiss fan as they come, having joined the ranks of the Kiss Army in 1976 upon the release of "Destroyer."

2) I am a professional musician, having earned a PhD in composition as well as being a percussionist.

There! Now that that's out of the way, my opinion shouldn't matter any more than anyone ELSE'S out there. Because ultimately, you'll decide on your own whether on not you think "One For All" is a worthwhile CD. As far as I'm concerned, I think this is a touching and honest release from Peter, perhaps the most codified collection of songs he's ever released. A few particulars:

1) Peter's singing: he's not all over the place in terms of intonation...far from it. I think Peter has a good ear, and his vocal performance is solid and heartfelt. Sometimes the timbre of Peter's voice is a little flat, without any of the interesting throatiness of Paul or the growling quality of Gene. And, much of the time he sings from his throat, which can make him sound strained in higher registers. But he really explores his low voice on the album, especially on the great Sondheim cover "Send in the Clowns." If you accuse Peter of being out of tune, you need to level the same accusation at singers from John Lennon to Janis Joplin.

2) Peter's drumming: I've never understood complaints about Peter's drumming, from other fans or from Gene. Look, if Pete needed someone to pound a cardboard box to keep him on-tempo during the recording of "Rock & Roll Over," then how could he play all those concerts WITHOUT that? I know that he deliberately sabotaged tempos during the "Dynasty" tour, but every time - EVERY. TIME. - I've heard him with Kiss, he's rock-solid. The same goes for his new CD, which is filled with interesting syncopations and creative beats that fit the songs so well...up to and including some tasty brush work. Is he Eric Singer, or Eric Carr? Nope. Why should he be? His sound is all "Peter Criss," and that's honesty at its finest.

3) Peter's producing: I really think ALL professional musicians should work with a producer...even Paul Stanley. An extra set of ears in the studio is just a good idea, in the same way that having someone else proofread a paper is a good idea. It's a different perspective, and how can that hurt? Having said that, I think the delicate sounds on this disc are well-conceived and clear. There are a few studio tricks - Pete's psychedelic vocals on "Space Ace," or the rain on "Whisper" - but otherwise the instruments are allowed to just sound like themselves. This is especially true of Pete's drums, which (thankfully!) lack the amplified trigger sound of recent Kiss releases and instead are tuneful and wooden; he also makes some great cymbal choices.

4) Pete's songwriting: to just read the lyric sheet, the songs seem a little trite, often something I find a particular weakness of Peter's. But he consistently works with Mike McLaughlin, and upon HEARING the lyrics within the structure of the songs, they are beautiful and honest. The arrangements are tight, and a few interesting harmonic choices pop up now & then to keep the music from falling into a 3-chord monotony.

If I had to compare this release to anything, it certainly wouldn't be Kiss. Kiss has always been a unique collection of four individuals, all of whom contribute to the sound of the band. Depending on the lineup and band effort, this has resulted in either some of the greatest rock & roll ever, or vapid verse/chorus anthems with musical inventiveness so insignificant it can't even be charted. Individually, each original member of Kiss does what he does best: Paul records sparkling pop rock and radio-friendly ballads, Ace delivers hard-driving rock with monster riffs, Gene goes all over the map with ballsy crunch and McCartney-esque triflings, and Peter...well, Peter lets his voice flow over smooth R&B with a little swing & rock thrown in for good measure. "One For All" sounds more like an Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach collaboration, with perhaps a little late-60s Moody Blues/Procol Harum thrown in. I wish folks would detach Pete from his Catman persona and give this album a chance...just as I hope Kiss fans will understand that this music is Peter unencumbered by the rules and dictates of his former bandmates. He is stronger for it.

There are quite a few folks who don't like this album. To that I say, Good! Music these days stinks bad. It all sounds the same. It's all made cookie-cutter and it's freaking boring. Since there are some who will compare Peter's effort to Gene's and Paul's, I will only briefly. Paul writes the same tired, frayed tunes he always does. Gene, well, Gene is quite possibly the worst song writer to come down the pike since, well, me. :)

Peter wrote what he liked, sang the way he sings and released and album that is not something you will find anywhere else. You will know it's Peter Criss.

When I first heard the snipits, I was like, what the heck is that? But I waited. I don't want to get disappointed until I heard the whole thing.

When the CD arrived, I put it in the CD player and slapped on the headphones to give it an honest listen. After three listens I was hooked. Why? Because it's honest. It's real. It's not over produced like his last release was, like Stanley's or Simmon's. It's the real Peter Criss there, not a computer. That's why I like it.

I grew up in the 70's when stuff was real and there was no such thing as protools. So no matter if the pitch is perfect, or the lyrics don't meet your standards, it's from the heart, it's real and it's honest. Britney Spears could learn a thing or two here.

I haven't stopped listening to it. The songs stick in my head and I can't get them out. They're catchy tunes and quality tunes. I'm glad I bought this album. Peter captures an era here that has long since passed. I'm glad he did.

He's coming out with two more, so this is only the first. As I understand it, we'll here rock and swing! Can you imagine that? What we here from the others? The same old tired stuff. If you like that, it's cool, dude, but if you are looking for something different, catchy and a lot different, than this CD is worth the price. At the very least you know when you buy this CD you won't be buying a studio's version of a band. It's the real guy.

To Peter I say congratulations. You flip your bird at the nay-sayers and did it your way.

Thanks for reading. :)

This seems like a far more genuine set of tunes from Peter than Cat #1's rock stance ever provided but does it mean its better well frankly yes and no. But there are some nice moments and one great moment. Lyrically clumsy and tone wise often head scratch-ingly askew it does have what perhaps was last displayed on Peter's first post Kiss release "Out of Control" a sense of 'screw you I'll do what makes me happy' and for this I say good for you. For the uninitiated Peter's blues and R&B leanings are not going to be a big draw, the 'Beth' brigade may feel let down by the quality of the ballads and the 'Baby Driver' metal crowd are going to be horrified by the non rocked-ness, but you know what I quite like it (at times). So what works well is "Last Night" which is a tender ballad over acoustic guitar and the cover of "Send In The Clowns". Both are genuine and have that realism that the other more up beat material seems to lack. "Don't Get Better Than This" is heartfelt but not too great lyrically "Falling All Over Again" with its country twinge is quite nice but lacks a a hook, "Whisper" reminds me a little of 'First Day In The Rain' from 'Let Me Rock You' with an almost Mac like 'Albatross' sense to it. I think I will appreciate this more from a few more listens. "Memories" is also kinda sweet in intent but a little under constructed. Outside of that group the rest is a less than stellar. Honest and from the heart, ambitious or just plain bad on the first few spins I am not really sure, I guess time will tell?

It must be tough to be Peter Criss these days. He must be brave to take in all the criticisms and release an album he knew would piss most Kiss fans off.
I find it's a shame some people insist Peter needs to do a 'rock' album. One should understand better. Besides having produced One For All very well he also played and sang masterfully. Actually I believe One For All is his most focused album, the one he didn't go with the trends of the day. Just bared his soul and let it be.
I also loved his amazing tribute song to Ace Frehley 'Space Ace'. It's got a very distinctive feel and it kind of flies in through the speakers. The whole album manages to keep my attention since it feels true as opposed to Paul's and Gene's recent efforts.
Don't let yourself be fooled by people's musical limitations and lack of vision, this is a great and courageous album Peter has released.

I love Peter, in fact I think his 78 solo album is the best one, and also like "Let me rock you" and "Out of control" quite a lot. Peter was involved in many of my very favorite KISS songs ever ("Dirty livin'", "Baby Driver"...)
But this album is PLAIN AWFUL, starting with a cover that Peter designed himself, that sucks big time. The songs sound pretty much the same, have no power, no chorus to remember, no nothing. The lyrics are laughable, And the song about Ace? Probably Ace won't ever talk to him after this one!!!
I have given it a second (and a 3rd, and a 4th...) try and, well, there's something here, and there, some hooks, some melodies... but the problem is that not very many people will be as patient as me giving it so many chances.

Heard Peter on Rockline and they previewed this album. I have since ordered myself a copy off of ebay as it appears that Best Buy are sold out of the autographed copys they were selling and I wanted an autographed copy. My parents are huge KISS fans so I have heard KISS all my life. Peter is my fav then I would say ACE. Even though Gene and Paul write and perform most of KISS music, I do like Peters songs and I really like his solo albums. I can't wait to get my copy in the mail. On the rockline interview Peter also said he has a CD of Swing music ready to put out. :) I hope this is true.

A producer is an important though invisible member of any band. They are the ones that mold the songs. Peter should have used a producer to help him with his vision. Has anyone heard the original version of Hooligan before Eddie Kramer re-arranged it? It was a horrible country/western song. The finished version is one of my favorite songs on Love Gun. Any artist who doesn't think they need an outside person to arrange their music is taking a big risk as,unfortunately, Peter has done with this CD. Sorry Pete...I love 'ya but this CD is hard to listen to.

Kudos to Peter for this new CD.

Remember back in '78 when all the original Kiss members released solo albums at the same time? Ace's rocked, Paul's rocked in a very contemporary way, Gene's was all over the place and Peter's was all R&B and ballads.

Here we are, decades later. Ace has been "working" on the same solo album for twenty years. Paul released a CD that rocked in a very contemporary way and Gene's was all over the place. And Peter? Peter did what Peter seems to do best. He stayed true to himself and to the music that best suits his voice. R&B and ballads. Only this time he included jazz to wonderful effect.

The best songs are "Doesn't Get Better Than This" which comes off as so laid back it's sexy, "What a Difference a Day Makes" and the emotional blues "Heart Behind These Hands." But his cover of the standard "Send in the Clowns" should not be overlooked. And his tribute to Ace Frehley, "Space Ace" is just rife with Bowie-era psychedia and ends the disc with a wonderful jam.

This disc is really good, especially if you enjoy laid back material. In short, if you liked Peter's 1978 solo album, you'll like this one. There are things here and there that might have been tweaked to perfection, but I give it four stars (when it probably deserved three) just for it's unabashed HONESTY. Peter's voice is aging, but in a very leathery Leonard Cohen kind of way that lends credibility to the lyric. Don't expect the screams of yesterday. Don't expect "Baby Driver" or "Dirty Livin'" or even "Beth." This is a grown-up Peter Criss singing blues and jazz and adult contemporary stuff that would be perfectly at home in a bar in New Orleans. This is not stadium rock. This is the real Peter Criss. And it's about time!

1st, let's get the creds. I have been a KISS fan since 1975. I love KISS, no doubt, in ALL its forms. That said, I love Pete. I love ACE, Love them all. With that said, I have all the P.C. recording. This is great stuff. Don't think this is KISS stuff, cause it's not, and that is OK. Pete is unique, and that is what should be celebrated about this LP. In fact, I like this CD as well as his past solo stuff. This is true Peter, for that we should celebrate. I love the songs, it relaxes me. I am not one dimensional as some KISS fans are. I appreciate his artistic ability. I have NEVER bought into the crap that Gene pushes out about Pete's lack of abililty. This is one talented human, we are blessed to have an American with such talent. I love you Pete. Keep being true. You and Ace are true. I love you both. I love your music, I love your honesty. Keep it up. Keep it coming, Please. The ORIGINAL Peter Criss fan. Gil.

I think Peter is at his best as a contributor...as part of a band, working with a team...getting feedback on his creative ideas. This is the best situation for most musicians in my view. Peter needed a producer on this one. A few of the songs on this record are ok, but thats it.
I'll always remember Peter in KISS singing Black Diamond, Nothin to Lose, Baby Driver, Hard Luck Woman, and Beth. The classics can't be matched.