Customer Reviews

W.o.w.

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is a mystery how Gene could be so unfocused during the eighties whilst in Kiss but whilst twiddling the knobs for punk priestess Wendy O Williams on this release he did his best Kiss work for many years. Gene wrote much of the material on offer here and complete with 'Creatures' style production it has everything going for it. Kicking off with "I Love Sex (And Rock N Roll)" it is obvious right off the bat that this is not going to be subtle. An obvious declaration of a head on lifestyle it comes off (if you'll pardon the clumsy puns) as a sleezier version of "I Love Rock Roll" by Joan Jett. "Its My Life" is the best unreleased Kiss song ever, finally showings its face as a "Psycho Circus" reject on the Kiss Box Set, but its the version here that is the best. A snarl of a vocal and covered in attitude its far more believable this time round. "Priestess" is saved by great Kiss style backing vocals and a Frehley style guitar break. "Thief In The Night" is okay but not special, but "Opus in Cm7" is special with grand piano and a sympathetic vocal. A perfect structured ballad with another blazing and innovative guitar lead break. "Ready To Rock" features Paul Stanley on a nice tasty guitar sound and is an anthemic chant much in the "I Love It Loud" mode. With those thunderous drums (which sound like the late great Carr but go uncredited)you can forgive the fact that the song really goes nowhere fast. "Bump and Grind" is better with a far more tongue in cheek approach, at least you hope it is with the saucy line of 'got a problem in my head got a problem in my pants do ya wanna bump and grind with me'. A orbit launching solo from Space Ace also adds a nice touch and reminded me at the time how much he was missed in Kiss's sound. How Gene Simmons (credited as bass player Reginald Van Helsing on this cd) couldn't persuade "Legends Never Die" to appear on a Kiss album but could persued them to release a field of second rate dross for almost a decade defies understanding. The best song on this CD hands down a touching tale of life in the spotlight being cut short. Even more sad when it became all too true with Wendy O Williams ending her own life years later. "Ain't None of Your Business" sounds like a "Lick It Up" left over with a very Vincent sounding guitar sound, not suprising as he receives a co-writing credit. If not bitter sweet in the fact that it showed Gene was still capable of delivering the goods "WOW" does just that. Buy on site with no regrets what so ever.

'Wow' was Wendy O.William's(R.I.P.)first solo effort.Though it's got some bite to it,'Wow' really cannot match up to any of the Plasmatics lp's.It can give the listener(s)a good run for their money.Decent hard rock release.Tunes that I liked the best were "I Love Sex(And Rock And Roll)","It's My Life",the in-your-mug "Priestess","Bump And Grind" and "Legends Never Die".Line-up:Wendy O.-vocals,Wes Beach-guitar,Reginald Van Helsing(aka Gene Simmons)-bass and T.C.Tolliver-drums.The one time I saw The Plasmatics in concert,I was SO wired after the gig, I honestly couldn't eat or sleep for the next day and a half.All I kept thinking to myself was "WOW!!".To this very day,whenever I enter a contest in,say an area newspaper about the most memorable concert I've ever seen,all I need to do is mention Miss William's onstage antics,and my comments usually get printed in the next edition that comes out.Long live Wendy O. and The Plasmatics!!

1984's "WOW" is the first of three solo records released in Wendy O. Williams's career. This particular CD will please alot of Kiss fans because it was produced by Gene Simmons and features surprise appearances by Paul Stanley, Eric Carr (who had replaced drummer Peter Criss just a couple of years before), and even Ace Frehley (who quit the band at the start of the 80's). This hard rock collaboration happened after Jean Beauvoir, the original Plasmatics bassist, co-wrote a few tracks for Kiss's "Animalize" album, including the hit song "Heaven's On Fire." "WOW" may as well be a sonic time capsule, for it reflects a decade when hair bands ruled the earth and backstage parties were glamourous.
"I Love Sex" and "Bump and Grind" feature Wendy as a wild groupie from LA's Sunset Strip. Obviously, both tracks reflect the sleazy decadence that was once indulged by Poison and Motley Crue. In "Priestess," she declares herself as a predator of men; a psychotic piranha out for cheap thrills. "It's My Life" is a typical rebel anthem that may as well have been sung by Paul Stanley. "Legends Never Die" is a beautiful acoustic ballad about the many casualties of rock & roll stardom. In a way, this particular song could have been written for Plasmatics drummer Joey Reese, who passed away at a young age. "Thief in the Night" was clearly composed for Gene Simmons's vocals. Of course, a similar version of the tune was eventually included in Kiss's "Asylum" CD. "Ain't Young of Your Business" is an anti-complacent declaration of independece from the brainwashing institutions of society. The heartsick "Opus in Cm7" stands out as a result of Mitch Weisssman's streetwise piano. The worst track on the "WOW" album in undoubtedly "Ready to Rock," an inane stage anthem that was probably written in 5 minutes.
Unlike the Plasmatics's past records, which were dangerous offerings of nihilistic punk and heavy metal, "WOW" is intended to be a slick, radio-friendly package sold to the masses. That, unfortunately, is what makes the CD fall short in quality. Because Wendy herself was always an uncompromising artist who despised the commericial market, it's a sad surprise for her to willingly try to sell her image to adolescent boys. Even her raspy vocals sound empty, as they had lost that sensual growl ravenous Plasmatics fans had grown to love. However, this album doesn't mark the end of Wendy's legacy. She came back louder and more violent than ever before in "Kommander of Kaos" and the ultra-gory "Maggots" LP.

Buy this CD and play it at the loudest volume your speakers will go. Nothing, not Motorhead, not Twisted Sister, not Judas Priest, not the Misfits, not the Ramones, not latter day Dick Dale, NOTHING is louder than this album. Wendy may be gone, but WOW lives on.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha

While I always found Wendy O Williams and the Plasmatics entertaining, I was only moderately interested in their punk/metal hybrid. For sure there were some good songs on earlier albums but, to me, WOW is Wendy's peak. What we've got here is a highly memorable set of crunchy riff-rockers, many written (and featuring performances) by various members of Kiss (bassist Gene Simmons handles production chores). You could almost claim WOW to be a lost Kiss album;at times Wendy's vocals even sound like a cross between Simmons and Joan Jett. No matter how hard rocking the songs are there's always a strong sense of melody (a trait that always gave the savvy Kiss an edge on their competition). With the tragic passing of Williams WOW stands as a positive testament to her unique personna.

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at the recording of this album. Ace Frehley had just left KISS, but he and Gene Simmons both contributed to this album. Wendy was the leader of the punk band Plasmatics, but this album took her toward a more hard rock/metal direction.

The album kicks off with the sleazy anthum I love sex (and rock n roll). It doesn't get more in your face than that. Look for resemblences between her 'Thief in the Night' and the KISS version that would appear later. This was not the first time Gene Simmons did this. Check out the 1990 album 'Doro' by Doro Pesch. Her version of 'Only You' is very similar (lyrics) but completely different (music) compared to KISS' version on 'The Elder'.

All in all songs like Bump n Grind, Ready to Rock, It's my Life, and Priestess are exactly what you'd expect from Wendy. Hard, fast, rebellious, fist in the air rock. She was a one of a kind and is sorely missed by her fans. Why she left us behind to endure this Britney Spears dominated world is beyond me. If only she had had a comeback tour. Complete with the mohawk and black electrical tape. She could have gotten the chain saw back out and showed teeny boppers how a real rocker performs a show.

RIP Wendy..........

To start off with, I have been a KISS FAN since I was in the 5th
grade. I used to bring my KISS ALIVE II albums to school.
This cd Rocks very hard. After KISS was done with "UN MASK", they
recorded this so HEAVY METAL ALBUM. I wish that they would have done this together as a group. Don't get me wrong, Wendy O Williams does a Fantastic job taking care of the Lead vocals.
KISS today, needs to go back to this sound. THIS Heavy Metal Sound, Is almost Heavyer than "Creatures Of the Night". You can't get better than this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Music like this,,they do not make anymore. Songs like I love sex and Rock and Roll,Thief in the Night, Opus in Cm7, and the best one of the cd, "BUMP AND GRIND". Ace Frehlely is so AMAZING ON LEAD GUITAR, I was so glad that Ace, Gene, Paul, and Eric worked together on this cd.I have to say, Wendy O Williams and Kiss go so good together, It's too bad that Ms. Williams is no longer with us today, she is so missed dearly. KISS AND HEAVY METAL FANS, BUY THIS CD TODAY, I DID. It sure feels so good to hear
METAL MUSIC LIKE THIS, "Legends Never Die", I sure believe that.
I will be Rocking to this cd for a long time.

Im rating this three stars in an attempt to be neutral. This album is , I'd say, exactly what it attempts to be. As far as my personal tastes go I wouldn't take a leak on this album if was on fire next to a 50ft stack of hundred dollar bills. If you think KISS makes good music then you need to buy this album for all the reasons better explained by most anyone who gave this a five. This album ----> IS NOT PUNK <----- and thats o.k. as long as you know that ahead of time. Sorry to all the KISS fans now looking to stomp my head in their 16" platform leather combat boots. Im really just trying scare off the punk leaning plasmatics fans from wasting any money on this.

you can't ask for a more kickin' cd from a female rocker (god rest her soul). even with the heavy kiss influence, she still is as original as they come. i find it to be in the same vein as coup d'etat. also worth noting is ace frehley's smokin' guitar work on bump and grind (that's worth the price alone).

I think it took 1.5 months before it came in my post. But it is a long way from U.S.A till Norway.
A cheap cd and it made it back home.. so no problem