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| Ace Frehley - Anomaly |
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By: Silver
English version: Maila-Kaarinaina
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After 20 years without a solo release and promising one since mid-2002, the eternal Kiss guitarist, Ace Frehley, finally did it on the 15th of September, 2009. Fans were anxiously waiting for "Anomaly" and now here it is for e everybody´s great fun!
At the end of July the first single was released: "Outer Space" and it was a great blow in the years for all those who had been waiting for the album giving that “something good is coming out” feeling to the fans. Now, here you are, anomaly´s review!
I have to admit: even though I´m a Frehley´s big fan and have admired his solo career for years, I couldn´t enjoy this album at first. The same thing happened to many friends of mine. This feeling came out probably because "Anomaly" isn´t a predictable album. Most of people thought Ace would do something conventional as usual but it didn´t happen. The rock-a-roller core of Mr. Paul Daniel Frehley is still here but full of unexpected elements.
The opening starts with the great "Foxy & Free" and you can see it´s a great song from the first riff. The cool Ace vocals are great and the guitar is, as always, amazing.
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We can be sure from the first minute that the drums were recorded by Anton Fig, it´s really good and the bass is perfect just as the song asks for. Besides all these, the chorus is excellent and the solo leaves us breathless.
"Outer Space" starts breaking through with a heavy riff and excellent drumming, then it gets a punch reducing that made my blood pressure reduce together. It´s too much for my ears! The chorus shows a mixing of Blues and Hard Rock which is just perfect, besides Ace´s voice in a low tone. Listening to the bass we have the feeling it was played with a slide and the the sound is perfectly connected to the guitar. It´s not necessary to mention that the solo is amazing, we´re talking about Ace Frehley!
"Pain In The Neck" keeps the level: a heavy riff, strong drumming, well played bass but here Ace´s voice starts to bring back those “drunk highs” he is used to. The chorus progression is very psychedelic and, although I don´t think it fits on the rest of the song, I liked it. After the second chorus the song slows down and gets very calm but soon it goes back to the punch. I consider it the best of the album.
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Now, one of the songs I was really curious to listen to, the version made for "Fox On The Run", originally from The Sweet. Mr. Frehley didn´t disappoint me. If the song was already great by the The Sweet, it got even better with Ace and his band! An extra doze of punch and more modern playing were added. Nothing overdplayed. Actually, it made the song even better. Great choice, great playing, great track!
Many people say that the album is over after this song and goes back to life only in the 10th track. It´s true that the atmosphere gets a little broken.
"Genghis Khan" is the longest track with 6 minutes duration and although the instrumental is well done with some country rock spices, it´s a little repetitive – the same sentence is repeated all the time. But Ace´s guitar is amazing here, he even plays with the wah-wah and there are some very suitable acoustic guitars. A very good song but with no chorus and short lyrics. If were instrumental or with longest lyrics and chorus probably fans would enjoy it more.
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If the atmosphere was broken by "Genghis Khan", it was completely destroyed by "Too Many Faces". With a calmer proposal the song would have fit very well if it were heavier. Riffs and liks are very good, though and the drumming and the bass playing too. Vocals are ok but not special (Ace´s voice doesn´t fit well in calm songs). The solo is good and we can say the song is too.
Getting even further from the Hard Rock with some bluesy and metal atmosphere, "Change The World" begins with a very...Nickelback rhythm. The purpose of the song is completely different from what Ace Frehley usually does – lyrics are more “serious” and the rhythm is totally 'ballad” besides a crying guitar and an annoying chorus. The song could be good if it weren´t an Ace Frehley´s song.
The punch comes back with the instrumental track "Space Bear", which is a fusion of Jimmy Page with Jimi Hendrix. Actually, Ace invested a lot in the instrumental atmosphere here, ha! It´s really good. It could have been easily a fan-hit if there were vocals. The main riff sounds like "Rocket Ride" as if they were twin riffs. I´d highlight the drums here.
If Change The World" is a ballad, "A Little Below To Angels" is a tinylitllesmally ballad. Only acoustic guitar and voice with a soft percussion for almost 2 minutes. Lyrics are almost like a self-biography with some “gospel” atmosphere. When the drums and the bass start the song begins a promise, but the promise is broken when Frehley makes the same mistake made in "Dolls", from his first album Frehley's Comet: PUTTING CHILDREN TO SING. What´s the goal here?? Trying to sound serious? The music essence is good but when the drums and the bass stop giving place to the acoustic guitar again, things get ugly here. No doubt, the weakest song of the album.
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But on the the 10th track rock ´n roll on Ace´s mode is back with the song "Sister". Ace´s biggest fans already know this song since it comes from an old demo. It has never been to any of his albums and I don´t know why ´cause the song is great! It starts with a strong drumming, heavy guitar and dirty bass. Same as the first 4 tracks. But "Sister" is one of the best songs of this album and takes back the sound of Ace´s geniality as in songs such as "Five Card Stud", "We Got Your Rock" and some other great ones along his career. Of course the solo is perfect!
"It's A Great Life" breaks the atmosphere with a kind of Funk/Soul rhythm, but you can still feel Ace´s identity. It reminded me of Pink Floyd´s "Another Brick In The Wall"! A good song although it isn´t very appropriate to precede the closing of the album, which is a classic moment in Ace´s solo project.
From the series Fractured, let "Fractured Quantum come"! In the same shape as the others, "Fractured Quantum" closes the album in very classy way however I think"Fractured Mirror" is the best. Ace´s geniality and talent is 100% reflected here. The “crying” guitar is excellent!
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To finish off, I say this album was made exclusively for the fans. If you´re not either Ace´s nor a Kiss fan, you will get a little lost, although I´d rather not say you woudn´t like it. It´s necessary to listen to it some times and then understand what´s going on. Within the time fans will get it better.
Well, the good thing is that Ace seems to be very happy with the album and finally he´s doing what he likes best after so many problems even with Kiss. Long live Spaceman!
Final Grade: 8,75 of 10. |
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