May 2004 Archives

Holy WOW! That’s what I have to say about this record.

This is awesome, because not only do I get to review a new release, but here’s a release that’s either about KISS or at the very least, KISS related, and that makes me very happy. So let’s get on with it!

Allow me to begin by going back and remembering an article I read on Billboard about both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley doing solo albums. I read this last year sometime, maybe around this very part of the year:  mid-spring. I was very pleased to see that both of them were continuing to record new music, even if they weren’t new KISS records. Regardless, it’s like revisiting 1978 all over again. For the non-KISS fans, in 1978, KISS released four solo albums—Paul, Gene, Peter and Ace, and all of them went platinum, which is lovely. Everyone had a chance to branch away from the trademark KISS sound and explore their own musical desires. Out of everyone’s solo projects, Ace’s and Paul’s were closer to the KISS sound than Peter’s and Gene’s. Peter’s was a lot more mellow, and Gene’s went from rock to easy listening. Hehe, he was all over the genre chart. I can proudly state that with this new album by Gene, he continued to stay in that same vein.

Let’s review this album in two ways—overall quality and track-by-track.

Overall Review. In its entirety, this recording fucking OWNS! I am really surprised how well it gets very in-your-face musically, lyrically and both. You’ll see what I mean by that when you read the track-by-track reviews. It’s also so wonderful to finally hear something hard-rock related come out now, and totally grab my attention big time.

This album has a song or two for everyone, because as I stated earlier, Gene once again jumps all over into different styles of music. It’s a fucking pleasure to listen to this album over and over again. It never gets old.

Another cool aspect about this record is the handful of some great collaborations. Guest appearances are made by Bob Dylan, the late Frank Zappa, ex-KISS member Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer, and includes a cover of The Prodigy’s track, "Firestarter" featuring Dave Navarro on guitar. It really rocks, and I cannot say enough about this CD! HAHAHA! Here’s one thing I can say about it, though: Go out and get it when it comes out! You can even pre-order the album from places like Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. Go go go, now now now!!!

All right, people, let’s get into the track-by-track reviews!

Asshole. The CD opens with the title track, and what an appropriate song to begin with. It’s safe to say this would be a funny continuation or follow-up to the song "Mr. Blackwell" from KISS’ (Music from) The Elder, and not because it sounds the same way—no, no, no, far from it—but because it’s about pointing out that some person is a real asshole. It’s pretty funny, and the music and lyrics are very catchy. It’s nice and hard, and Gene’s singing sounds phenomenal. This song gets 4 out of 5 stars. Listen carefully for the hilarious animal sample, hahaha!

Carnival of Souls. This track may have been written for the KISS CD bearing the same name, but actually it sounds very KISS-esque, if you will. Maybe something from the Creatures of the Night era, just performed a little lighter. Excellent heaviness, however, in the drumming, guitars, and bass; drumming like this really reminds me of the late Eric Carr. This is a very in-your-face song. I feel this track may be some sort of rock and roll tribute, but don’t quote me. I just really freaking dig it. It definitely gets 5 out of 5 stars!

If I Had A Gun. One thing I like about KISS is that around the time Carnival of Souls came out, the lyrics and music were quite dark for them. Usually you expect the band to sing about "happy" stuff—good times, sex, women, standing up for what you believe in, that sort of thing. I remember reading somewhere that Gene wanted to make that CD a dark record, and that they did. With this track however, maybe it’s new or maybe it was written from that same time period, because lyrically, it is dark.   It talks about someone who’s having a hard time in their life and they just want to tell everyone to fuck off, and if you won’t fuck off, he or she will just blow you away, hehe! It’s a pretty mellow rock track, and I dig it more for the lyrics than the music. On that alone, I have to give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Weapons. Jumping right back into the heaviness, this track is seriously a true reflection on what’s going in current events today. I’m almost positive this is about the war in Iraq, or maybe terrorism; Muslims, perhaps even Saddam Hussein or President Bush himself. Politically-influenced tracks from KISS or even just from Gene Simmons himself are very rare, and there are some key lyrics in here that really are bold, such as the line of the chorus with the title in it, I bring you—the weapons of mass destruction. Very powerful, indeed.

Also, right after that verse, we have, E Pluribus Unum (the motto found on most U.S. currency)…illusion…delusion." This is my favorite tune on this album. A true, well-deserving 5 out of 5 stars. Excellent job, Gene, on this statement.

Waiting for the Morning Light. After going insane with that powerhouse of a song, Gene mellows out completely. With some strings, piano, and light drumming, Gene croons about waiting for someone, hehe. How quaint, Just for its position on the record alone, I have no choice but to give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Don’t fret, though, I like it a lot. I like the way Gene sings it, the music is good, and the lyrics reminds me of my elevatorium.

Whatever Turns You On. This song seriously could make it as a radio single, and I’m not saying it in a bad way. It has a nice "yee hah!" type of vibe, and with the large background vocal group, along with the prodominant organ, this is very fun to listen to. I feel like skipping down the Garden State Parkway without a care or worry in the world. Isn’t that what Effexor does to me already?! HAHAHA! This track gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Sweet and Dirty Love. Ohh yeah! We are right back into the rock and roll we love oh so much!

With a great small guitar solo introcution of sorts, we get right back into the exercising of our heads as we headbang or head-bop right along the beat to this fine, fine tune. I swear I could hear Paul Stanley somewhat involved in background vocals of this song, but hey, I could be wrong! I give this track 4 out of 5 stars, just for the vibe and the guitar work.

Beautiful. Did someone bring in Brad Laner of Medicine into the studio? Or maybe Gene went to visit him when they recorded their latest effort, The Mechanical Forces of Love? Why am I saying this? Simple—this track sounds like an outtake from those recording sessions:  A happy-go-lucky song about making someone feel good about who they are and how they look like, perhaps after plastic surgery or someone considering to do so.

It’s a little silly sometimes, but it sounds good, anyway. It is worthy of 3 out of 5 stars.

Dog. Hahahahaha! Oh, this tune is funny from the way it’s sung, to the sleazy-groovy music, it’s all there. This is so Gene, I just don’t know exactly, but I know it’s present somewhere. And what’s up with these Little Red Riding Hood references? HAHAHA!!! It gets 3 out of 5 stars, just for something or other, it’s very wOnky in a good way.

Now that You’re Gone. This track immediately reminds me of The Beatles or maybe just a John Lennon track. You have these children singing in the background, and honestly, it sounds like the story should come before the track ’Waiting by the Morning Light," which means this track is elevatorium-esque in its own away. I believe it may be about Gene’s father, which would be a first as far as I know. Mellow shit is always good. It gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Black Tongue. Chemical Brothers first come to mind when I hear the beginning of this track. I believe Frank Zappa is the voice in the beginning of this one, perhaps may have contributed a long time ago before his untimely death. Really good song, gives me a feeling of reflection and being happy with what I’ve done with my life thus far. That’s the great thing about music.  It gives anyone the ability to identify with the music in whatever way they see fit. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam made that statement, and he couldn’t be more correct.

Actually, this tune may very well be a tribute to Frank Zappa, just by the lyrics alone. Is that a didgeridoo I hear in the background?!?! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I Dream a Thousand Dreams. This is what happens when you go back to 1978 and re-live covering "When You Wish Upon A Star" during the Psycho-Circus recording sessions on a deserted island wishing you were at Hawaii. HAHAHA! Did you make any sense out of that, because once you hear this song, that’s what you’ll feel like you just went though within the first 15 seconds of the track! Did someone leave the Hawaiian record on the turntable? I think they did at Gene’s house! I’ll call Paul and ask him to run down the street and turn it off! HAHA!!

It is a sweet song, though, so for that alone, it gets 3 out of 5 stars.

Firestarter. We come to a close with this kick-ass cover of The Prodigy’s hit single. Dave Navarro wonderfully lends his awesome guitar talents into this track, and Gene does an excellent job singing. If you like the original, you’ll dig this alternate cover. Great way to end the album! I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

New! Click on the ’Play’ button to hear the sample!

It returns! More guitar noise and more atmospheric lyrics return in a whole new way, and I’m lovin’ it.

Continuing the great and happy sound of organized guitar noise, Medicine returns with their third effort. Seriously people, why call recordings "efforts" to begin with if they’re so damn good!

I bought this CD in late 1995 while attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia, and I recorded it onto cassette to walk to school with it every single goddamn day. By far, this is my favorite of the Medicine CDs I own, quite possibly one of my all-time favorite CDs.

Noticable changes within this cd include all your traditional Medicine usuals, but now they’re more pushed into the background. Of course they are surely heard, but this feels like more of a chilled, melodic rock record than a record trying to make a statement. Is that so wrong? Hell no! I love this cd so much I don’t care if there are any statements even trying to be made.

How does this cd grab your attention? It’s quite easy really, just start it all off with about eight minutes of nothing but continuous guitar noise and feedback. Have some drony, almost a whine rock sound kick in a little later, and you have the music of Medicine. Lyrics are quite good, too, sung in that same simple, light but drawn out way. It sounds like they don’t even notice what kind of music they are singing to, and that’s why this CD works. It just speaks to you in 100 different noise tones and the clarity of their singing ties it altogether.

It would be pretty hard to pinpoint my ultimate favorite track from this CD, because seriously, I enjoy every single one, but that’s really a load of crap. There are always songs that stand out to you. Those tracks would be "I Feel Nothing At All" (track 4), "Aarhus" (track 8), "Seen the Light Alone" (track 9) and their jam session-esque closer, "Heads" (track 10). Ear candy all the way. Listen and you tell me why.

Let’s get something straight: Medicine isn’t your run-of-the-mill little brother’s band—no 2-minute songs that sound the same filling up a record. These tunes are big and beefy and clock in a nice number of time, rangng from 3.5 to almost 8 minutes a piece, with of course the exception of track 6, "Farther Dub," which is about 1.5 minutes. Didn’t someone once say there are always exceptions to the rule?

Her Highness is definitely one of those cds I would keep with me if i was marooned on a desert island. Sometimes i feel that way while listening ’cuz it just takes me to that special place.

Buy it. Love it.

Click on the ’Play’ button to hear a 30-second sample!

Superb; organized guitar noise with floaty-sung lyrics to match. This is what rock ambient noise could evolve to.

Medicine was a band introduced to me back in, I think 1995, just as I started to break out of my KISS-only listening phase and giving my dollars the chance to do something i seriously thought it wouldn’t do—buy other music!

if you’re into music that makes an original statement, this is a great cd to invest in.

Hailing from the Los Angeles area, Medicine is a trio led by Brad Laner, who was influenced, obviously, by some truly avant garde artists. Fans of guitar, especially experimental loud guitar noise, take note: appreciate this release, let alone the band’s musical capabilities.

Is this reasonable enough for airplay? Not for teenyboppers. You have music here that is to be listened by the mature. It needs to be enjoyed by people with an appreciation for experimentation and who can use their imaginations to allow themselves to go where no mind has gone before. How does this cd grab your attention? It’s quite easy really, just start it all off with about eight minutes of nothing but continuous guitar noise and feedback. Have some drony, almost a whine rock sound kick in a little later, and you have the music of Medicine.

Lyrics are quite good, too, sung in that same simple, light, but drawn out way. It sounds like they don’t even notice what kind of music they are singing to, and that’s why this CD works. It just speaks to you in 100 different noise tones and the clarity of their singing ties it altogether.

What is my favorite track, you may wonder? I definitely would have to say track nine, "Christmas Song." It’s not even based on its lyrics or track placement, though its truly a great choice for a ending song. It’s just a good feeling I get from it, all this noise action going on, overlays of feedback, noise, sounds like three to four guitars going at it and makin’ some truly sweet love. You can feel every vibe, moment and emotion the CD has ever given you in one shot, and this is its way of saying, thank you for buying me, we’ll see you real soon. And that indeed, we surely will.

Click on the ’Play’ button to hear a 30-second sample!