Great episode! For me the best KISS Solo album still for me is Ace Frehely, hands down. I am bias since I am a guitar player ( Ace,Hendrix,Beck,EVH and Michael Schenker are why I still play guitar) and have ALWAYS been an Ace Frehely fan. To me these were NOT KISS albums but Solo albums because Gene and Paul did it to appease Peter and Ace. Yes Rip it out, Snowblind, New York Groove, Fractured Mirror. All songs I still listen to. I will revisit Paul's solo album though. Thank you Reed and Marco!
@@petebrown3715 hey thanks for the comment! 🙏 I agree all strong songs, it’s an Ace solo album but it’s still one of the top KISS records which is saying a lot, kudos to Ace, sometimes I wonder how KISS would have sounded if Ace stayed in the band in the 80s
@@thecontrarians2438 Honestly, they would have sounded stuck in the 70's. Whatever his other relative merits, Ace was a very 70's player. Kiss needed a new player to fit the new musical times, and Bruce was definitely the right guy. To the extent that Ace worked in the reunion line-up at all, he worked because it had been long enough for nostalgia to be the most important factor in their success. Some future episode we can do 80's Kiss vs 70's Kiss!
Ace by far. This album still blows me away, not only is it the best of the 4, it's one of the best solo albums by a band member ever. One of those magic albums. Paul is #2 then Gene and Peter. Cheers!
My Contrarian choice is Peter's Solo album, a fantastic album! his best vocals. A TRUE solo record, as well as Gene's. a lot of people/fans forget these ARE solo records, four different personalities that make up the band (no pun intended... lol) if Peter put out a hard rock record it wouldn't be true or honest to him and would of sounded forced. Although ACE's is my favorite (and my favorite member) Peter's is a great and True Solo record!
My first KISS-related album, and actually, my first rock album, period, was Paul's solo album, which I requested as a Christmas gift from my parents in '78. I was only five years old, and they adamantly refused to buy it for me. I replied that if *they* wouldn't buy it for me for Christmas, then I would just ask *Santa* for it, lol! They bought it for me, and it's still my favorite of the four solo albums! :-)
Paul's album was the first album I purchased back in '78 because he was my favorite member of the band. I was thirteen years old. I bought it on 8-track and loved it, even Hold Me Touch Me; the guitar solo is great and I enjoy a love song. Over time Ace's album has probably become my favorite. Musically, it's very interesting. Lyrically, well...Ace lyrics can be pretty horrendous at times, elementary school stuff (some of his lyrics made me cringe when I was thirteen). But overall, the album rocks and Fractured Mirror is a beautiful composition. I've never been a fan of New York Groove. It's ok, but definitely not the best song on the four solo albums. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about this very thing the other day and I truly believe the best song from the four solo albums is "Tonight You Belong to Me". From the ballad-like intro to the heavy crunchy guitar riff to Paul's passionate vocal delivery and Bob's fantastic guitar solo. It's the best song KISS song from 1978.
Ace's album took so many people by surprise that it got all the attention., but Paul's album is full of great songs too. Gene's is fun and my grandmother liked Peter's.
I would rank them Ace, Gene, Paul, Peter. Ace’s is a great record, don’t think I need to say anything else about that. Gene’s I like because he takes a risk, shows some of the areas outside of the Kiss sound he likes. Paul’s album is good but I mark it down a notch for playing it safe, basically making his own Kiss album. Nothing wrong with that in principle, but I would have liked to see a little more of his personality. Peter’s is tge worst, but still worth hearing if you like Peter’s voice & can dig the blue-eyed soul direction he goes. So there’s my thoughts. Might have to discuss these on my channel some time.
ya that sounds awesome, if youre looking for someone to discuss with let me know! I agree about Gene's I actually quite like it! some good beatle-esque melodies!
Will Lee and Anton Fig were a killer rythmic section on Ace album Will Lee was the Brecker Brothers bassist as was Neil Jason who played on Gene's solo album
First Kiss song i ever heard was I stole your love when i bought Love Gun in 1977 i was 11 years old.. I became a big fan but i remember getting the solo albums in 78 and feeling let down.. Then Dynasty came out and it was ok got to see the Dynasty tour was my first concert... Then i found Black Sabbath and the rest is history.. But i thank Kiss for getting me into Metal music...
Good Intelligent takes. I personally like Ace’s album the most. Steady, jamming, hard rock tunes all the way through it. Paul’s is really good too, but there a a number of songs I tend to skip over, unlike Ace’s album. Peter’s album is really good too, but because it is not a Kiss 70’s hard rock sound, people tend to discard it. However, I like it as much as Paul’s as far as an album in general. Gene’s has maybe 4 songs I like, but not an album I would pick often. For me: #1 Ace, by far, #2 Paul & Peter tie and #4 Gene.
Ace's to me is a lot like the odd ball who's always been shy and introverted... then it's his turn to bat and he just knocks it out of the park... leaving the others to have their jaws drop.
I am a Peter Stanley guy through and through. I like everything he does and I love hearing the guy sing (heck, I even like to hear him talk). I consider him to be in the top 3 greatest frontman of all time up there with Freddy Mercury and Bono. Hence, his solo record is my favorite. Out of the original 4 members of Kiss, I think Paul Stanley is the one that understood Kiss the most from an artistic perspective. Long live the Starchild!
I liked them all and actually liked Peter's album. At the time, 7th grade, I enjoyed the soul and the ballads. "I can't stop the rain" is by far the best song and still stands up. At the time they came out I ranked them: Ace Peter Gene Paul On re visiting them as an adult I rank them Ace Paul Gene Peter But unlike many, I didn't HATE any of them. The main problem at the time was that the albums didn't deliver what was expected; but if you remove expectations, they are fine.
I also experienced these records in REAL TIME, took my birthday money to buy all four on the day of release! Loved all four now as much as today. I always mix all four on the anniversary September 18 lol... tho I do spin Ace's and Peter's the most.
I had the same experience. I couldn't afford al four though so when they came out I had to decide what two I would buy first and what two had to wait - HORROR! People talk down Peter's album but when you were younger back then you understood that album more - in the 70's there were a lot more call backs to the 50's and soul a lot more. It was actually the most accessible to a 7th grader at the time.
1) Paul (96%); 2) Ace (90%); 3) Peter (66%); 4) Gene (45%) The general consensus is .... that the general consensus would be Ace is no 1. ..... by that I mean: so many people state that Ace is the best "as a fact", yet whenever this comes up on Kiss fan sites Paul is at the top of just as many lists.
As a very long KISS fan from 1974 to 2001,the Ace Frehley solo record is the best out of the 4 solo records. Don't get me wrong,Paul Stanley's solo record is great,and has some really cool guitar riffs that stay true to the KISS sound. However,Ace's solo record is very colorful and has more energy to make his solo record more unique,and in a league of its own. As far as the "Music From The Elder" album,I firmly believe that's the best KISS album they ever did from a musical perspective. Again,"musical perspective." It's definitely the most underatted and misunderstood album of their time. Unfortunately,many of the fans didn't understand or get what the band was trying to accomplish with the music,sound,and direction the band was going in. That's my subjective thought on this.
Paul Stanley's record is no doubt the best one: it has the best songs/melodies, lyrics and vocals. What a singer he once was! Reed is a bit dismissive of Wouldn't You Like To Know Me, which I think is one of the best songs on the album; pure power-pop perfection. I don't agree on his somewhat harsh assessment of Ace's solo album and What's On Your Mind is a fab tune :-)
Yeah, Ace's album has really not aged well for me. When I was a kid I liked it more or less equally with Paul's, but as the years go by I find that Ace's voice becomes more and more of a negative factor. We'll agree to disagree on What's On Your Mind; it's all good. :-)
I bought Ace's album in 1978, I've been listening to it regularly through the years, I'm now 53 and I've probably played it twice in the past month. Sooooo.... I guess we disagree? 😁 But hey, that's cool, right? Takes all kinds.
Ace is my number #1, I love his voice on the 78 solo album and only song I never liked was What's' On Your Mind. Paul's is #2 Tonight You Belong To Me blew me away with it's awesome power and that was my introduction to Heavy Metal (though I didn't know it at the time) and the 11 year old kid in me still loves Hold Me Touch Me, haha. Peter's and Gene's albums are half assed in comparison imo....Yet they still have their moments too.
They are all great got them all the day they came out...did not grow up rich... my awesome Mom bought em for me but I was grounded from KISS and had to wait to get them .....Me and my buddy went up to the mall record store and he put all 4 up his jacket and we ran like hell back to my house and listened over and over! KISS!
When I started seeing reviews like this of the kiss solo albums I thought maybe I just didn't give them a chance when I was a kid .....so I went back and gave them all a listen....I feel the same today as I did when I received these four albums as a Christmas present back in the day.. ACE S ALBUM IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST O🎉F THE SOLO ALBUMS!! It's honestly the only one I can listen to.. I was hoping that I just didn't give the others a chance but sorry I still feel the same today as I did back then !! Oh and my Love of Aces album has nothing to do with New York Groove.....I do like this song but I love this whole album.....I wore it out....and I actually passed these on to my son and his favorite is also Ace.....Lol......maybe a father/son thing I don't know.
I like Ace's best and Gene's second best. I don't like Peter's first solo album at all but I actually like the follow-up after he left Kiss a lot, Out of Control and then Let Me Rock You has some tracks I think are good and some I think are terrible.
I agree that Paul's was always my favorite and definitely the most KISS sounding...definitely the best songwriting, with the exception of "Hold Me, Touch Me" which is just painful...No surprise as Paul is the frontman, so the singing is consistently charismatic and Bob Kulick truly shines on guitar...I do, however, love Ace's record and like his voice. The energy and swagger of Ace's guitar playing may be the highlight of his career...Although the least like KISS, I dig Peter's record, as I love Peter's voice, and it is cool for what it is...Because he wrote so many of the klassic KISS tunes, Gene's LP was a big disappointment to me, as I don't like much on it and the production just leaves me cold.
Genes when You wish upon a Star totally jumped the shark on that one. And living in sin was another dialed in one to me. The novelty of him spitting blood that's why they shipped a whole lot more they thought the demon would sell a whole lot more units but in reality starchild had the most quality one. Ace had its moments Peter was just kind of there LOL didn't do much for me
Ace’s solo album by far is the best. Killer riffs and solos. Ace the space ace feel to a lot of the songs. Fractured Mirror in the beginning makes you feel like your floating in space and it’s real calm and peaceful. Then it builds like maybe you are going through some meteor shower then turns calm and peaceful again and look…there’s Earth. How beautiful. Paul’s would be second. Definitely Kiss sounding. Gene’s is third just for a couple songs. Peter’s unfortunately I would just hell PULL and shoot it with buckshot. Good show guys
Agreed. For about 20 years I swore black and blue that Aces was the best but about 12 months ago I listened to all of them and now I like Paul’s the best but only just. It’s Alright is a classic I agree, it reminds me of Cheap Trick
@@thecontrarians2438 True. Just listened to both albums again, still just going for Paul’s. Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me is actually the one that sounds more like Cheap Trick
An Aussie fan of Kiss since 1979. For me, Paul Stanley's album is by far my favourite. Listing where I rank the solo albums among their other studio albums you will see how big the gap is.... 5. Paul Stanley 15. Gene Simmons 20. Peter Criss 23. Ace Frehley
I bought all 4 solo albums on the same day when they first released, as I was a huge Kiss fan back then. However, I thought 3 out of the 4 albums were terrible, and they followed those albums up with my 2 most hated albums from them being Dynasty and Unmasked. My love for Kiss ended at that point. In my opinion, Ace's album is the only listenable album out of the four. Paul's has 2 good songs, but the rest are stinkers, and Gene's and Peter's albums are 2 of the most awful albums of the 70s.
I also experienced these is real time. Ace was always my favorite and I got his album from my great Aunt for Christmas 1978. My Grandparents bought me Gene's the same day. I think Ace's is by FAR the best. I do like Paul's a lot more now as an adult. To say it sounds more KISS is fine but even at 8 years old I wasnt looking for KISS songs I was dying to hear Ace sing more and play guitar. I was very disappointed by Gene and only got Peter's to finish the set. Actually never bought his on CD. Ace doesnt sing particularly well but this is his finest vocal moment I feel. All the garbage on Gene's was only saved partially by Radioactive and the long list of the day's stars (Joe Perry was exciting but Helen Reddy?) I will give Paul's album 4 stars but Ace is 5
I like Paul and Ace's albums pretty equally. The real contrarian comment here was Bob Kulick being a better guitar player than Ace. I can hear the old school KISS fans pounding their fists, looking for their torches,lol. Bob was a great player though. Just listen to his work in '93 with supergroup Blackthorne. Blistering guitar work! P.S. @Reed, I like Sonic Boom too!
That's actually the opinion that I stand by the most! Ace is a good player within a very narrow style. Bob, as a studio musician, has a much broader musical palette. I have never heard of Blackthorne, but I clearly need to check them out. Thanks for the recommendation!
agree, I met Peter and the only KISS tattoo i have is Peter, but I think its more that Peter was probably not in the greatest place, imagine a peter solo album full of tunes like Black Diamond and Strange Ways with one ballad similar to Beth on it
Still an easy one for me. Of course, Paul Stanley's album is by far the best of the 4, simply because of the number of not only good, but also some outstanding tracks that are among the best he has ever written. I cannot understand the criticism of some fans that he "played it safe" and that one would have wished for "more of his own personality". The material on the album IS AN expression of his personality, top to bottom. The stylistic spectrum ranges from soulful-bluesy ("Ain't Quite Right", "Take Me Away (Together as One)") to KISS trademark Hardrock ("Tonight You Belong to Me", "Wouldn't You Like to Know Me", "It's Alright") and that except for a few too bland moments ("Move On", "Hold Me, Touch Me (Think of Me When We're Apart)") at a consistently high level. In contrast to that, the Ace Frehley album - which often ranks a bit overrated for me personally - only features two really outstanding tracks ("Rip It Out", "Snow Blind"), otherwise maximally average material. The latter is still in second place for me, followed by Gene's and Peter's albums, which I still respect for their courageous stylistic, but - to my ears - musically largely irrelevant contributions.
Paul's is good, Tonight you Belong to me is incredible, and actually is quite heavy... snowblind is a stand out track for sure too, at the end of the day theres some good stuff that came out of the records, whichever one is your fave, its all subjective anyway
Well this is contrarian for sure cause Ace’s is the best record of the 4 and it’s not even close. I too have been a kids fan since 77 when I was 5. I don’t even own the other 3, it’s all Ace all day.
12:10 in, had to stop watching, Ace keeps getting insulted!?! Rediculous. These are solo albums, not made to be KISS albums. I think Ace's album is better than 90% of any KISS albums. Rip It Out, Speedin' Back To My Baby, Snowblind, Ozone. Amazing, after amazing, after amazing. Fractured Mirror is beautiful!! All the layering of those beautiful guitars can and has brought me to tears since it's release. Nothing by Bob Kulick has ever brought me to tears. Still is 1 of the 5 CD's in my car to this day. It's all opinions but, I had to stop watching....
no worries but if you decided to stick around you would have seen me defend Ace's as the best solo albums, the style of our show is a debate, but i hear ya
Paul's is my favorite, Ace's is awesome too, both are miles ahead of Gene's & Peter's. I like Peter's the least by far but I was more disappointed with Gene's, I like some of the tunes but it was weak. A guy calling himself, The Demon, he looked cool as shit but the music was pop for the most part, I guess I expected some heavy rockers from him and he didn't deliver. I think Paul's has more songs on it I like than Ace's but some of the best tunes on Ace's were just as good as Paul's, if that makes sense. lol They're both good, very close for me, I disagree that Fractered Mirror was bad, I really like that song, a creative tune, I much prefer it over New York Groove. Good video guys.
Thank you for the comment!!!! In how you described it, Gene's was kind of a missed opprotunity, it would have been cooler and he would have slayed it if he did like 8 or 9 God of Thunder tracks and then did "wish upon a star" at the end lol
@@thecontrarians2438 Yes, iroincally I do like See You In Your Dreams ( and a couple others! )but I wanted some rockers too, I love the opening intro, the eerie and ominus music and then... Radioactive comes on. lol I don't hate that song either but it wasn't the kick off I wanted I guess. I know Gene loved the Beatles ( I do too ) and it shows on that album but I always found it funny that Paul and Ace wrote the more rockin' tunes ( for the most part, there are exceptions of course ) and Gene ( The Demon ) did too but he had a Beatle pop sound on some of his stuff and especially on the solo album. I always liked Gene's look and stage presence the best but for me I always wished some of his stuff was heavier, to go with the whole, spitting blood, tongue wagging, demon image. I still love his songs in KISS though, they're one of my favorite bands for sure. Take care man!
Ace's solo album is the best by a hair over Paul's. Pauls solo album comes across as a sophisticated version of KISS, I like that and wish KISS would have taken that approach in subsequent albums, especially Unmasked but IMO what really hurts Paul's solo album when comparing it to Ace's is "Hold Me Touch Me Think of Me When We're Appart" sorry but I just can't stand that song - LOL. Paul's "Tonight you belong to me" is by far the best song on any of the four. Of special note, I wish I could hear Peter's "That's the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes" fleshed out and re-worked as a full-blown KISS song.
It's factually untrue that most of us like Ace's album the best because of New York Groove, sorry. We like it because it has great playing by Ace and Anton, a genuine rock spirit, some wonderful power pop ( What's On Your Mind is a fab song! ) and even a lovely instrumental. We also don't mind Ace's voice, it works perfectly for this record! Yeah, so there, Ace for the win, though I like bits and pieces of Paul's solo album as well - especially Wouldn't You Like to Know Me!
That Ace’s album was the most successful is a bit misleading. Gene’s album actually charted the highest. I think people assume aces album sold the most just because he had the only hit. But his album didn’t chart higher than Gene’s did. So maybe Ace sold more 45s but didn’t necessarily sell more albums. Also it’s interesting to note that most people who love Ace’s album the best site New York Groove as their least favourite song on the album, noting that it was a cover, was commercial, and didn’t have a guitar solo. Izzy Presley’s Another fucking podcast recently did a track by track episode featuring Mike Portnoy, Eddie Trunk, Charlie Benante, and others, and when New York Groove came up, it finished dead last, with even a Peter Criss ballad finishing ahead of it. I don’t think choosing Paul as the favourite is actually very contrarian. It’s easily my favourite, and I think most fans choices would be Ace and Paul in a very close contest.
yep good point, we actually pointed that out too that genes charted the highest, but its hard to argue Ace's wasnt the most successfuly, theres an interview with gene and paul where they admit it sold the most copies in the end, but ya good point, i actually dont mind new york groove btw!
@@thecontrarians2438 in the Larry Harris book "...And Party Every Day" Casablanca shipped 1,000 more units of Gene's album thinking it was going be the more popular choice with fans since he was the Face of KISS. 1000 each of Ace, Paul and Peter, and 2000 of Genes
@@drewrose374 makes sense! i remember when they put each member on the cover of i think Spin magazine, and they did 50% of the covers featured Gene, 25% featured Paul and trhe other 25% was split between Ace and Peter
I like Ace’s weirdness and rocking tunes the best, but Paul’s is brilliant as well. These are on the same level as my other favorite Kiss albums. But… Gene and Peter are far worse than any other Kiss stuff from the 70s. Gene has 1 or 2 great songs, but Peter has nothing I ever want to listen to.
Over all, I like Ace's a little more than Paul's. Every song is great except "What's on Your Mind?" which sounds like a Bay City Rollers track. If he had saved "Rocket Ride" as the replacement to end side one, the album would be flawless. Great guitar album too. All of the songs on Paul's album I dig, except the two ballads. I agree with Gene in that I turn off when Paul goes soft. Ick. I've always thought Peter had the best voice. Although he gets credit, he had very little to do with the songwriting. That was Stan Pendrige and Sean Delaney. That doesn't bother me though. I just love to hear him sing. "I'm Gonna Love You" and "Hooked on Rock and Roll" are good ones. Gene had lost the plot at this point. "Radioactive" and "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the two Beatle-esque tunes are cool. I also have a soft spot for when goes over the top, as on "Living in Sin." Cracks me up.
My order is: 1. Ace 2. Paul 3. Gene 4. Peter I think the gap has closed for me when it comes to Ace and Paul. I think the Gene album, which I wasn't a huge fan of for years has grown over the years. It's definitely Beatlesque. Now Peter's on the other hand, it's still a flaming turd for me. If anyone remembers the movie "Multiplicity" with Michael Keaton, there was that version of his cloned self, which was let's call challenged. Now, take Barry Manilow and apply that same logic and that's what you have with this album. The songs for the most part are just bad. It's a challenge to like much of what's going on there.
Re watching this now I always thought it was what you expected from these albums and this would have influenced your opinion on them. Had to buy them one a week (I was still at school so finances were tight. I haven't changed my opinion in the 45 years since. Paul's is the best by a long way. Great songs and his voice is excellent. Aces is next but it's too one dimensional in my opinion and his voice is definitely an acquired taste. Gene next, not great with a couple of good songs, and Peter's last. Kudos to him for doing a style of music that he loves but it left me cold.
Difficult to understand some of the conclusions. Ace’s record is head and shoulders above any of the other solo records. Paul’s album is like leftover Kiss. Boring. IMO. Sorry. Still a fun episode.
Yes, and what does that tell you? That Paul is the biggest part of the KISS sound - regardless of who sang, produced or got writing credits, the KISS sound is predominately influenced by Paul Stanley.
@@thecontrarians2438 lol would love it honestly. Really enjoying your kiss videos. Kiss fans just have so many differing opinions. Ive gotten alot of disgusted reactions when i tell people i enjoy bang bang you. Guilty pleasure.
I have to agree to disagree. I thought Paul’s album was pretty pretentious for the most part, I have always thought Ace Frehley was by far the best solo album. I personally thought New York Groove was the worst song on the record, it didn’t fit with the rest of the album. I do agree that Ace isn’t a strong vocalist, but neither was Jimmy Hendrix. Ace sounds best when he is doing a Hendrix type vocal where he is sort of speaking as opposed to singing, but again, he never claimed to be a vocalist. The other thing about Ace’s record was the production, Eddie Kramer and Ace Frehley were a perfect match.
Wrong!! Ace's is the best, not even close. Tonight You belong To Me is a great song by Paul, that's about it. Blue Kool-Aid Drinker. Peace out from the Southern Tip of Vancouver Island, B.C. CANADA
Could not agree more with this, Paul's solo album is a masterpiece, though I enjoy all of these and love KISS in general. I absolutely believe that Paul could have made it on his own as a solo artist, He has the best voice in the band (at least he USED to), it sucks now. That being said he also writes the best, most commercial sounding tracks.and is a brilliant songwriter and absolutely a rock star and fantastic frontman
@@thecontrarians2438 It was a unique and pretty ballsy move to release 4 solo albums from a band simultaneously. If they released a regular Kiss album it probably would've been good. I like Dynasty which came out a year later so.
Even though Paul's album is great and is Paul's idea of the best KISS album . Ace is by far the best even without New York Groove . The idea of solo albums was to make just that a solo album away from KISS . Paul's album is 2nd in my opinion would have been equal with Ace's if Hold Me Touch Me was never put on it . Peter's is 3rd Gene's is at the bottom of all the KISS catalogue . Ace to this day has proven he has the most talent out of the four musically just not vocally but it works . KISS has become stagnant and lives off the 70's as a tribute band of itself with Tommy and Eric . l mean no disrespect to Eric ... or Tommy but should have there own makeup . Tommy and Eric are great players but are told how to look play and act . Ace rules over KISS where as Paul is KISS . This is only my opinion and I have been a KISS fan from 77 still today .
Paul's has the best songs; Ace's has the best production, Gene's is out there but fun (and I'd rate it higher than Ace's song wise,) Peter's is garbage.
All over the place with the criteria. "I like Paul's the best because it sounds the most like Kiss" and "I like Peter's even though it sounds nothing like Kiss" just does not compute. Do you want a Kiss solo album to sound like Kiss or not? And if yes, why? They are SOLO albums. Also: "I don't like Ace's album because it sounds like a band with not enough Ace" then a few minutes later: "There's too much Ace on it." Really? Dude, just say you don't like the album. You're all over the place with your criteria.
ya good point, about the "its sounds like kiss, doesnt sound like kiss" i think we were both guilt of that, because they were solo, as evidenced by Peter's output. Now personally i would have loved to have seen Peter go heavy and do stuff like Strange Ways, Peter had an incredible voice, it didnt have to sound like KISS he could have done stuff like "back in the Saddle" (aerosmith) to be fair though, its hard not to compare the solo albums to kiss just because, each album had the trademark makeup on the front and the KISS logo but ya good point. Im such a huge KISS fan that even the albums I "dont like" i still like and appreciate lol
Yes, as a Kiss album Paul is the best, but as a rock album Ace's much better than any Kiss album and up there with the best albums of all time. Ace made this album as a contrarian because he kicked specially Gene, Paul asses so bad while everybody was not expecting it. So you can't be a contrarian here, sorry.
At the end of the episode I come out as both for and against Sonic Boom. This is because I was actually thinking of Monster, which I really enjoy. Oops.
Ace was never a good singer. In fact, I just saw him in Tampa opening for Alice Cooper. He was never a singer to begin with and basically the guys in the band have to cover him. As far as songwriting and guitar skills: mediocre, but backed by the legacy of having been in KISS.
I think you're way off. Ace easily had the best, your comments about his album were so dumb they take all credibility away from everything else you say. Definitely a hard pass on subscribing and liking
sorry we didnt keep you around, it is a debate style show so we go back on forth, i picked Ace's as the best if you watched the whole thing, but its all good
Thanks Reed for joining me on this cool KISS discussion! Comment below and tell us what the best KISS solo album is and why!
Great episode! For me the best KISS Solo album still for me is Ace Frehely, hands down. I am bias since I am a guitar player ( Ace,Hendrix,Beck,EVH and Michael Schenker are why I still play guitar) and have ALWAYS been an Ace Frehely fan. To me these were NOT KISS albums but Solo albums because Gene and Paul did it to appease Peter and Ace. Yes Rip it out, Snowblind, New York Groove, Fractured Mirror. All songs I still listen to.
I will revisit Paul's solo album though.
Thank you Reed and Marco!
@@petebrown3715 hey thanks for the comment! 🙏 I agree all strong songs, it’s an Ace solo album but it’s still one of the top KISS records which is saying a lot, kudos to Ace, sometimes I wonder how KISS would have sounded if Ace stayed in the band in the 80s
@@petebrown3715 Thanks Pete, glad you enjoyed it!
@@thecontrarians2438 Honestly, they would have sounded stuck in the 70's. Whatever his other relative merits, Ace was a very 70's player. Kiss needed a new player to fit the new musical times, and Bruce was definitely the right guy. To the extent that Ace worked in the reunion line-up at all, he worked because it had been long enough for nostalgia to be the most important factor in their success. Some future episode we can do 80's Kiss vs 70's Kiss!
@@reedl2353 i do wish though vinnie stayed for animalize at least!
Ace by far. This album still blows me away, not only is it the best of the 4, it's one of the best solo albums by a band member ever. One of those magic albums. Paul is #2 then Gene and Peter. Cheers!
My Contrarian choice is Peter's Solo album, a fantastic album! his best vocals. A TRUE solo record, as well as Gene's.
a lot of people/fans forget these ARE solo records, four different personalities that make up the band (no pun intended... lol)
if Peter put out a hard rock record it wouldn't be true or honest to him and would of sounded forced.
Although ACE's is my favorite (and my favorite member) Peter's is a great and True Solo record!
wow you are very contrarian! You should be on the show lol, im actually a big peter fan though!
You lost me as soon as you said Ace's wasn't a good album lol
13:51 wow, I sincerely didn't know that it is a cover tune! mind blown ... that tune is an early childhood memory
ya its one of those "really?" songs because i dont think i knew that either for a while... and it totally sounds like an ace tune
My first KISS-related album, and actually, my first rock album, period, was Paul's solo album, which I requested as a Christmas gift from my parents in '78. I was only five years old, and they adamantly refused to buy it for me. I replied that if *they* wouldn't buy it for me for Christmas, then I would just ask *Santa* for it, lol! They bought it for me, and it's still my favorite of the four solo albums! :-)
Paul's album was the first album I purchased back in '78 because he was my favorite member of the band. I was thirteen years old. I bought it on 8-track and loved it, even Hold Me Touch Me; the guitar solo is great and I enjoy a love song. Over time Ace's album has probably become my favorite. Musically, it's very interesting. Lyrically, well...Ace lyrics can be pretty horrendous at times, elementary school stuff (some of his lyrics made me cringe when I was thirteen). But overall, the album rocks and Fractured Mirror is a beautiful composition. I've never been a fan of New York Groove. It's ok, but definitely not the best song on the four solo albums. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about this very thing the other day and I truly believe the best song from the four solo albums is "Tonight You Belong to Me". From the ballad-like intro to the heavy crunchy guitar riff to Paul's passionate vocal delivery and Bob's fantastic guitar solo. It's the best song KISS song from 1978.
Ace's album took so many people by surprise that it got all the attention., but Paul's album is full of great songs too. Gene's is fun and my grandmother liked Peter's.
I would rank them Ace, Gene, Paul, Peter. Ace’s is a great record, don’t think I need to say anything else about that. Gene’s I like because he takes a risk, shows some of the areas outside of the Kiss sound he likes. Paul’s album is good but I mark it down a notch for playing it safe, basically making his own Kiss album. Nothing wrong with that in principle, but I would have liked to see a little more of his personality. Peter’s is tge worst, but still worth hearing if you like Peter’s voice & can dig the blue-eyed soul direction he goes. So there’s my thoughts. Might have to discuss these on my channel some time.
ya that sounds awesome, if youre looking for someone to discuss with let me know! I agree about Gene's I actually quite like it! some good beatle-esque melodies!
Everything you just said is factual and correct.
@@TheRealRonMoses Why thank you!
Will Lee and Anton Fig were a killer rythmic section on Ace album
Will Lee was the Brecker Brothers bassist as was Neil Jason who played on Gene's solo album
My order of preference
Ace
Paul
Gene
Peter*
*= only if I lost my other albums in a fire.
First Kiss song i ever heard was I stole your love when i bought Love Gun in 1977 i was 11 years old.. I became a big fan but i remember getting the solo albums in 78 and feeling let down.. Then Dynasty came out and it was ok got to see the Dynasty tour was my first concert... Then i found Black Sabbath and the rest is history.. But i thank Kiss for getting me into Metal music...
Good Intelligent takes. I personally like Ace’s album the most. Steady, jamming, hard rock tunes all the way through it. Paul’s is really good too, but there a a number of songs I tend to skip over, unlike Ace’s album. Peter’s album is really good too, but because it is not a Kiss 70’s hard rock sound, people tend to discard it. However, I like it as much as Paul’s as far as an album in general. Gene’s has maybe 4 songs I like, but not an album I would pick often. For me: #1 Ace, by far, #2 Paul & Peter tie and #4 Gene.
Ace's to me is a lot like the odd ball who's always been shy and introverted... then it's his turn to bat and he just knocks it out of the park... leaving the others to have their jaws drop.
ya good point up to that point he kinda was, now he has a big personality
Paul's has always been my favorite Kiss solo album. I loved Ace's too but, it's a distant 2nd.
I am a Peter Stanley guy through and through. I like everything he does and I love hearing the guy sing (heck, I even like to hear him talk). I consider him to be in the top 3 greatest frontman of all time up there with Freddy Mercury and Bono. Hence, his solo record is my favorite. Out of the original 4 members of Kiss, I think Paul Stanley is the one that understood Kiss the most from an artistic perspective. Long live the Starchild!
He's the heart and soul of Kiss!
Yes Peter Stanley is great ..lol
I liked them all and actually liked Peter's album. At the time, 7th grade, I enjoyed the soul and the ballads. "I can't stop the rain" is by far the best song and still stands up. At the time they came out I ranked them:
Ace
Peter
Gene
Paul
On re visiting them as an adult I rank them
Ace
Paul
Gene
Peter
But unlike many, I didn't HATE any of them. The main problem at the time was that the albums didn't deliver what was expected; but if you remove expectations, they are fine.
I also experienced these records in REAL TIME, took my birthday money to buy all four on the day of release!
Loved all four now as much as today. I always mix all four on the anniversary September 18 lol...
tho I do spin Ace's and Peter's the most.
I had the same experience. I couldn't afford al four though so when they came out I had to decide what two I would buy first and what two had to wait - HORROR! People talk down Peter's album but when you were younger back then you understood that album more - in the 70's there were a lot more call backs to the 50's and soul a lot more. It was actually the most accessible to a 7th grader at the time.
1) Paul (96%); 2) Ace (90%); 3) Peter (66%); 4) Gene (45%)
The general consensus is .... that the general consensus would be Ace is no 1. ..... by that I mean: so many people state that Ace is the best "as a fact", yet whenever this comes up on Kiss fan sites Paul is at the top of just as many lists.
In my teens, Ace. In my 20s, Paul. In my 30s, Peter. Gene…..his album was okay.
I hear there’s a book out about the solo albums. In-depth stuff.
Ya im pretty sure there's books about quite a few KISS albums like there's one about The Elder too I've heard good things about
As a very long KISS fan from 1974 to 2001,the Ace Frehley solo record is the best out of the 4 solo records. Don't get me wrong,Paul Stanley's solo record is great,and has some really cool guitar riffs that stay true to the KISS sound. However,Ace's solo record is very colorful and has more energy to make his solo record more unique,and in a league of its own. As far as the "Music From The Elder" album,I firmly believe that's the best KISS album they ever did from a musical perspective. Again,"musical perspective." It's definitely the most underatted and misunderstood album of their time. Unfortunately,many of the fans didn't understand or get what the band was trying to accomplish with the music,sound,and direction the band was going in. That's my subjective thought on this.
Paul Stanley's record is no doubt the best one: it has the best songs/melodies, lyrics and vocals. What a singer he once was! Reed is a bit dismissive of Wouldn't You Like To Know Me, which I think is one of the best songs on the album; pure power-pop perfection. I don't agree on his somewhat harsh assessment of Ace's solo album and What's On Your Mind is a fab tune :-)
Yeah, Ace's album has really not aged well for me. When I was a kid I liked it more or less equally with Paul's, but as the years go by I find that Ace's voice becomes more and more of a negative factor. We'll agree to disagree on What's On Your Mind; it's all good. :-)
I bought Ace's album in 1978, I've been listening to it regularly through the years, I'm now 53 and I've probably played it twice in the past month. Sooooo.... I guess we disagree? 😁 But hey, that's cool, right? Takes all kinds.
Ace - 8.5
Paul - 7
Gene - 5
Peter - 3
Ace is my number #1, I love his voice on the 78 solo album and only song I never liked was What's' On Your Mind. Paul's is #2 Tonight You Belong To Me blew me away with it's awesome power and that was my introduction to Heavy Metal (though I didn't know it at the time) and the 11 year old kid in me still loves Hold Me Touch Me, haha. Peter's and Gene's albums are half assed in comparison imo....Yet they still have their moments too.
:58. Even Petah Criss doesn’t wanna be Petah Criss, Lois.
They are all great got them all the day they came out...did not grow up rich... my awesome Mom bought em for me but I was grounded from KISS and had to wait to get them .....Me and my buddy went up to the mall record store and he put all 4 up his jacket and we ran like hell back to my house and listened over and over! KISS!
I rate them:
1. ACE
2. Paul
3. Peter
4. Gene
When I started seeing reviews like this of the kiss solo albums I thought maybe I just didn't give them a chance when I was a kid .....so I went back and gave them all a listen....I feel the same today as I did when I received these four albums as a Christmas present back in the day.. ACE S ALBUM IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST O🎉F THE SOLO ALBUMS!! It's honestly the only one I can listen to.. I was hoping that I just didn't give the others a chance but sorry I still feel the same today as I did back then !! Oh and my Love of Aces album has nothing to do with New York Groove.....I do like this song but I love this whole album.....I wore it out....and I actually passed these on to my son and his favorite is also Ace.....Lol......maybe a father/son thing I don't know.
I like Ace's best and Gene's second best. I don't like Peter's first solo album at all but I actually like the follow-up after he left Kiss a lot, Out of Control and then Let Me Rock You has some tracks I think are good and some I think are terrible.
I agree that Paul's was always my favorite and definitely the most KISS sounding...definitely the best songwriting, with the exception of "Hold Me, Touch Me" which is just painful...No surprise as Paul is the frontman, so the singing is consistently charismatic and Bob Kulick truly shines on guitar...I do, however, love Ace's record and like his voice. The energy and swagger of Ace's guitar playing may be the highlight of his career...Although the least like KISS, I dig Peter's record, as I love Peter's voice, and it is cool for what it is...Because he wrote so many of the klassic KISS tunes, Gene's LP was a big disappointment to me, as I don't like much on it and the production just leaves me cold.
Genes when You wish upon a Star totally jumped the shark on that one.
And living in sin was another dialed in one to me.
The novelty of him spitting blood that's why they shipped a whole lot more they thought the demon would sell a whole lot more units but in reality starchild had the most quality one.
Ace had its moments
Peter was just kind of there LOL didn't do much for me
Ace’s solo album by far is the best. Killer riffs and solos. Ace the space ace feel to a lot of the songs. Fractured Mirror in the beginning makes you feel like your floating in space and it’s real calm and peaceful. Then it builds like maybe you are going through some meteor shower then turns calm and peaceful again and look…there’s Earth. How beautiful.
Paul’s would be second. Definitely Kiss sounding.
Gene’s is third just for a couple songs.
Peter’s unfortunately I would just hell PULL and shoot it with buckshot.
Good show guys
Thanks for the comment!!!
Agreed. For about 20 years I swore black and blue that Aces was the best but about 12 months ago I listened to all of them and now I like Paul’s the best but only just.
It’s Alright is a classic I agree, it reminds me of Cheap Trick
honestly its more like 1A and 1B for me but its still fun to debate!
@@thecontrarians2438 True. Just listened to both albums again, still just going for Paul’s. Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me is actually the one that sounds more like Cheap Trick
Is that Reed dude for real? When he said Paul was his favorite.
In thet moment you know it was a parody.
Thank you Marco for telling him how it is! 👍
I assure you he's for real! and haha your welcome
An Aussie fan of Kiss since 1979. For me, Paul Stanley's album is by far my favourite. Listing where I rank the solo albums among their other studio albums you will see how big the gap is....
5. Paul Stanley
15. Gene Simmons
20. Peter Criss
23. Ace Frehley
Ace has always been my favorite followed very closely by Paul’s. Gene’s and Peter’s are very distant 3rd and 4th.
I bought all 4 solo albums on the same day when they first released, as I was a huge Kiss fan back then. However, I thought 3 out of the 4 albums were terrible, and they followed those albums up with my 2 most hated albums from them being Dynasty and Unmasked. My love for Kiss ended at that point. In my opinion, Ace's album is the only listenable album out of the four. Paul's has 2 good songs, but the rest are stinkers, and Gene's and Peter's albums are 2 of the most awful albums of the 70s.
I also experienced these is real time. Ace was always my favorite and I got his album from my great Aunt for Christmas 1978. My Grandparents bought me Gene's the same day. I think Ace's is by FAR the best. I do like Paul's a lot more now as an adult. To say it sounds more KISS is fine but even at 8 years old I wasnt looking for KISS songs I was dying to hear Ace sing more and play guitar. I was very disappointed by Gene and only got Peter's to finish the set. Actually never bought his on CD. Ace doesnt sing particularly well but this is his finest vocal moment I feel. All the garbage on Gene's was only saved partially by Radioactive and the long list of the day's stars (Joe Perry was exciting but Helen Reddy?) I will give Paul's album 4 stars but Ace is 5
I like Paul and Ace's albums pretty equally. The real contrarian comment here was Bob Kulick being a better guitar player than Ace. I can hear the old school KISS fans pounding their fists, looking for their torches,lol. Bob was a great player though. Just listen to his work in '93 with supergroup Blackthorne. Blistering guitar work!
P.S. @Reed, I like Sonic Boom too!
That's actually the opinion that I stand by the most! Ace is a good player within a very narrow style. Bob, as a studio musician, has a much broader musical palette. I have never heard of Blackthorne, but I clearly need to check them out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Ace and Paul were my favorites. It was a shame that Peters was the worst but that was my favorite cover art and the insert poster was cool too
agree, I met Peter and the only KISS tattoo i have is Peter, but I think its more that Peter was probably not in the greatest place, imagine a peter solo album full of tunes like Black Diamond and Strange Ways with one ballad similar to Beth on it
Yeah, I'm basically Ace - 7.5, Paul, 7, Gene - 5.5, Peter 2.
Ace's album rocked the living ass off the other 3♠
Still an easy one for me. Of course, Paul Stanley's album is by far the best of the 4, simply because of the number of not only good, but also some outstanding tracks that are among the best he has ever written. I cannot understand the criticism of some fans that he "played it safe" and that one would have wished for "more of his own personality". The material on the album IS AN expression of his personality, top to bottom. The stylistic spectrum ranges from soulful-bluesy ("Ain't Quite Right", "Take Me Away (Together as One)") to KISS trademark Hardrock ("Tonight You Belong to Me", "Wouldn't You Like to Know Me", "It's Alright") and that except for a few too bland moments ("Move On", "Hold Me, Touch Me (Think of Me When We're Apart)") at a consistently high level. In contrast to that, the Ace Frehley album - which often ranks a bit overrated for me personally - only features two really outstanding tracks ("Rip It Out", "Snow Blind"), otherwise maximally average material. The latter is still in second place for me, followed by Gene's and Peter's albums, which I still respect for their courageous stylistic, but - to my ears - musically largely irrelevant contributions.
Paul's is good, Tonight you Belong to me is incredible, and actually is quite heavy... snowblind is a stand out track for sure too, at the end of the day theres some good stuff that came out of the records, whichever one is your fave, its all subjective anyway
Totally agree with your assessment of Paul's album! I'm not a fan of Ace's album, and in fact I rate it the lowest of the 4
I think its they are all Great..they reflect on all members where they are at that time ..
I too like Criss album alot because they are great songs
As soon as I hear "My favorite by far is Paul's" I know I've left my bubble and must quickly scamper away...
I like Hold Me, Touch Me, but it should not have been Paul's first single.
Well this is contrarian for sure cause Ace’s is the best record of the 4 and it’s not even close. I too have been a kids fan since 77 when I was 5. I don’t even own the other 3, it’s all Ace all day.
@Necramonium disagree.
I really like Ace’s, but I really love Paul’s.
12:10 in, had to stop watching, Ace keeps getting insulted!?! Rediculous. These are solo albums, not made to be KISS albums. I think Ace's album is better than 90% of any KISS albums. Rip It Out, Speedin' Back To My Baby, Snowblind, Ozone. Amazing, after amazing, after amazing. Fractured Mirror is beautiful!! All the layering of those beautiful guitars can and has brought me to tears since it's release. Nothing by Bob Kulick has ever brought me to tears. Still is 1 of the 5 CD's in my car to this day. It's all opinions but, I had to stop watching....
no worries but if you decided to stick around you would have seen me defend Ace's as the best solo albums, the style of our show is a debate, but i hear ya
Paul's is my favorite, Ace's is awesome too, both are miles ahead of Gene's & Peter's. I like Peter's the least by far but I was more disappointed with Gene's, I like some of the tunes but it was weak. A guy calling himself, The Demon, he looked cool as shit but the music was pop for the most part, I guess I expected some heavy rockers from him and he didn't deliver. I think Paul's has more songs on it I like than Ace's but some of the best tunes on Ace's were just as good as Paul's, if that makes sense. lol They're both good, very close for me, I disagree that Fractered Mirror was bad, I really like that song, a creative tune, I much prefer it over New York Groove. Good video guys.
Thank you for the comment!!!! In how you described it, Gene's was kind of a missed opprotunity, it would have been cooler and he would have slayed it if he did like 8 or 9 God of Thunder tracks and then did "wish upon a star" at the end lol
@@thecontrarians2438 Yes, iroincally I do like See You In Your Dreams ( and a couple others! )but I wanted some rockers too, I love the opening intro, the eerie and ominus music and then... Radioactive comes on. lol I don't hate that song either but it wasn't the kick off I wanted I guess. I know Gene loved the Beatles ( I do too ) and it shows on that album but I always found it funny that Paul and Ace wrote the more rockin' tunes ( for the most part, there are exceptions of course ) and Gene ( The Demon ) did too but he had a Beatle pop sound on some of his stuff and especially on the solo album. I always liked Gene's look and stage presence the best but for me I always wished some of his stuff was heavier, to go with the whole, spitting blood, tongue wagging, demon image. I still love his songs in KISS though, they're one of my favorite bands for sure. Take care man!
There's only one answer of which is the best , the only debate is which is second, a distant second, but still second
Ace is the best. Peter n gene tied for putrid
Ace's solo album is the best by a hair over Paul's.
Pauls solo album comes across as a sophisticated version of KISS, I like that and wish KISS would have taken that approach in subsequent albums, especially Unmasked but IMO what really hurts Paul's solo album when comparing it to Ace's is "Hold Me Touch Me Think of Me When We're Appart" sorry but I just can't stand that song - LOL.
Paul's "Tonight you belong to me" is by far the best song on any of the four.
Of special note, I wish I could hear Peter's "That's the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes" fleshed out and re-worked as a full-blown KISS song.
peter criss solo is the best...absolutely.....
I love Peter Criss!
Nothing wrong with that album, but I prefer "Out of Control", his second solo album. Cheers!
It's factually untrue that most of us like Ace's album the best because of New York Groove, sorry. We like it because it has great playing by Ace and Anton, a genuine rock spirit, some wonderful power pop ( What's On Your Mind is a fab song! ) and even a lovely instrumental. We also don't mind Ace's voice, it works perfectly for this record! Yeah, so there, Ace for the win, though I like bits and pieces of Paul's solo album as well - especially Wouldn't You Like to Know Me!
I too got into kiss In 77 I was 8
i was about 5 or 6 and they were the best thing in the world i had seen at that point lol
That Ace’s album was the most successful is a bit misleading. Gene’s album actually charted the highest. I think people assume aces album sold the most just because he had the only hit. But his album didn’t chart higher than Gene’s did. So maybe Ace sold more 45s but didn’t necessarily sell more albums. Also it’s interesting to note that most people who love Ace’s album the best site New York Groove as their least favourite song on the album, noting that it was a cover, was commercial, and didn’t have a guitar solo. Izzy Presley’s Another fucking podcast recently did a track by track episode featuring Mike Portnoy, Eddie Trunk, Charlie Benante, and others, and when New York Groove came up, it finished dead last, with even a Peter Criss ballad finishing ahead of it. I don’t think choosing Paul as the favourite is actually very contrarian. It’s easily my favourite, and I think most fans choices would be Ace and Paul in a very close contest.
yep good point, we actually pointed that out too that genes charted the highest, but its hard to argue Ace's wasnt the most successfuly, theres an interview with gene and paul where they admit it sold the most copies in the end, but ya good point, i actually dont mind new york groove btw!
@@thecontrarians2438 in the Larry Harris book "...And Party Every Day" Casablanca shipped 1,000 more units of Gene's album thinking it was going be the more popular choice with fans since he was the Face of KISS. 1000 each of Ace, Paul and Peter, and 2000 of Genes
@@drewrose374 makes sense! i remember when they put each member on the cover of i think Spin magazine, and they did 50% of the covers featured Gene, 25% featured Paul and trhe other 25% was split between Ace and Peter
I always felt Peter’s album sounded a bit like John Lennon’s “Rock n’ Roll” album.
aces would have been the best if he got some guest vocalists or good background vocals because ace's singing just doesnt cut it for me
interesting point!
I like Ace’s weirdness and rocking tunes the best, but Paul’s is brilliant as well. These are on the same level as my other favorite Kiss albums. But… Gene and Peter are far worse than any other Kiss stuff from the 70s. Gene has 1 or 2 great songs, but Peter has nothing I ever want to listen to.
I think if you're faulting a solo album for not sounding like a KISS album, you're completely missing the entire point of a solo album.
Over all, I like Ace's a little more than Paul's. Every song is great except "What's on Your Mind?" which sounds like a Bay City Rollers track. If he had saved "Rocket Ride" as the replacement to end side one, the album would be flawless. Great guitar album too.
All of the songs on Paul's album I dig, except the two ballads. I agree with Gene in that I turn off when Paul goes soft. Ick.
I've always thought Peter had the best voice. Although he gets credit, he had very little to do with the songwriting. That was Stan Pendrige and Sean Delaney. That doesn't bother me though. I just love to hear him sing. "I'm Gonna Love You" and "Hooked on Rock and Roll" are good ones.
Gene had lost the plot at this point. "Radioactive" and "Man of a Thousand Faces" and the two Beatle-esque tunes are cool. I also have a soft spot for when goes over the top, as on "Living in Sin." Cracks me up.
why does everything have to be a comparison? I think the Ace Frehley album sounds like Ace Frehley
My order is:
1. Ace
2. Paul
3. Gene
4. Peter
I think the gap has closed for me when it comes to Ace and Paul. I think the Gene album, which I wasn't a huge fan of for years has grown over the years. It's definitely Beatlesque. Now Peter's on the other hand, it's still a flaming turd for me. If anyone remembers the movie "Multiplicity" with Michael Keaton, there was that version of his cloned self, which was let's call challenged. Now, take Barry Manilow and apply that same logic and that's what you have with this album. The songs for the most part are just bad. It's a challenge to like much of what's going on there.
Re watching this now I always thought it was what you expected from these albums and this would have influenced your opinion on them. Had to buy them one a week (I was still at school so finances were tight. I haven't changed my opinion in the 45 years since. Paul's is the best by a long way. Great songs and his voice is excellent. Aces is next but it's too one dimensional in my opinion and his voice is definitely an acquired taste. Gene next, not great with a couple of good songs, and Peter's last. Kudos to him for doing a style of music that he loves but it left me cold.
Difficult to understand some of the conclusions. Ace’s record is head and shoulders above any of the other solo records. Paul’s album is like leftover Kiss. Boring. IMO. Sorry. Still a fun episode.
Agree
At least Paul could hold a tune, Ace should never have been let near a microphone.
Paul’s solo album is really good but it’s a Kiss record with out the other three
I could never understand why his solo poster depicted him with no chest hair, but gave him man boobs...
@@LarryFleetwood8675 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yes, and what does that tell you? That Paul is the biggest part of the KISS sound - regardless of who sang, produced or got writing credits, the KISS sound is predominately influenced by Paul Stanley.
i guess im the ultimate contrarian because i think peters solo album is the best
yes lol you should be on the show!
@@thecontrarians2438 lol would love it honestly. Really enjoying your kiss videos. Kiss fans just have so many differing opinions. Ive gotten alot of disgusted reactions when i tell people i enjoy bang bang you. Guilty pleasure.
Mine in order Paul Peter ace gene
I have to agree to disagree. I thought Paul’s album was pretty pretentious for the most part, I have always thought Ace Frehley was by far the best solo album. I personally thought New York Groove was the worst song on the record, it didn’t fit with the rest of the album.
I do agree that Ace isn’t a strong vocalist, but neither was Jimmy Hendrix. Ace sounds best when he is doing a Hendrix type vocal where he is sort of speaking as opposed to singing, but again, he never claimed to be a vocalist. The other thing about Ace’s record was the production, Eddie Kramer and Ace Frehley were a perfect match.
Wrong!! Ace's is the best, not even close. Tonight You belong To Me is a great song by Paul, that's about it. Blue Kool-Aid Drinker. Peace out from the Southern Tip of Vancouver Island, B.C. CANADA
Could not agree more with this, Paul's solo album is a masterpiece, though I enjoy all of these and love KISS in general.
I absolutely believe that Paul could have made it on his own as a solo artist, He has the best voice in the band (at least he USED to), it sucks now.
That being said he also writes the best, most commercial sounding tracks.and is a brilliant songwriter and absolutely a rock star and fantastic frontman
Ace had flash and balls . Bob didn't.
The only one of the four solo albums I have any time for is Ace's. That's a solid album. The rest are meh at best imo.
what a concept though, wonder what we would have got with a traditional kiss album in 78, it probably would have been quite good
@@thecontrarians2438 It was a unique and pretty ballsy move to release 4 solo albums from a band simultaneously. If they released a regular Kiss album it probably would've been good. I like Dynasty which came out a year later so.
14:15 Voices was a great song
Even though Paul's album is great and is Paul's idea of the best KISS album . Ace is by far the best even without New York Groove . The idea of solo albums was to make just that a solo album away from KISS . Paul's album is 2nd in my opinion would have been equal with Ace's if Hold Me Touch Me was never put on it . Peter's is 3rd Gene's is at the bottom of all the KISS catalogue . Ace to this day has proven he has the most talent out of the four musically just not vocally but it works . KISS has become stagnant and lives off the 70's as a tribute band of itself with Tommy and Eric . l mean no disrespect to Eric ... or Tommy but should have there own makeup . Tommy and Eric are great players but are told how to look play and act . Ace rules over KISS where as Paul is KISS . This is only my opinion and I have been a KISS fan from 77 still today .
ACE
This clown is stuck in his 10 year old mentality!!!!
Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul's has the best songs; Ace's has the best production, Gene's is out there but fun (and I'd rate it higher than Ace's song wise,) Peter's is garbage.
All over the place with the criteria. "I like Paul's the best because it sounds the most like Kiss" and "I like Peter's even though it sounds nothing like Kiss" just does not compute. Do you want a Kiss solo album to sound like Kiss or not? And if yes, why? They are SOLO albums. Also: "I don't like Ace's album because it sounds like a band with not enough Ace" then a few minutes later: "There's too much Ace on it." Really? Dude, just say you don't like the album. You're all over the place with your criteria.
ya good point, about the "its sounds like kiss, doesnt sound like kiss" i think we were both guilt of that, because they were solo, as evidenced by Peter's output. Now personally i would have loved to have seen Peter go heavy and do stuff like Strange Ways, Peter had an incredible voice, it didnt have to sound like KISS he could have done stuff like "back in the Saddle" (aerosmith) to be fair though, its hard not to compare the solo albums to kiss just because, each album had the trademark makeup on the front and the KISS logo but ya good point. Im such a huge KISS fan that even the albums I "dont like" i still like and appreciate lol
Yes, as a Kiss album Paul is the best, but as a rock album Ace's much better than any Kiss album and up there with the best albums of all time. Ace made this album as a contrarian because he kicked specially Gene, Paul asses so bad while everybody was not expecting it. So you can't be a contrarian here, sorry.
haha ya, i kinda see them as 1A and 1B but its still fun to debate!
At the end of the episode I come out as both for and against Sonic Boom. This is because I was actually thinking of Monster, which I really enjoy. Oops.
Haha no worries that was a lot of fun, we’ll have to do something about sonic boom and monster though!
The second guy should talk about the albums from his heart like the first guy and not stats. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Ace was never a good singer. In fact, I just saw him in Tampa opening for Alice Cooper. He was never a singer to begin with and basically the guys in the band have to cover him. As far as songwriting and guitar skills: mediocre, but backed by the legacy of having been in KISS.
The solo albums all suck. But, then again, their studio albums as a band all suck too. Alive and Alive II only good Kiss albums.
haha thanks for chiming in Pedro!
The best thing about these albums is the beautifully painted covers because the content is embarrassing.
I think you're way off. Ace easily had the best, your comments about his album were so dumb they take all credibility away from everything else you say. Definitely a hard pass on subscribing and liking
sorry we didnt keep you around, it is a debate style show so we go back on forth, i picked Ace's as the best if you watched the whole thing, but its all good
@@thecontrarians2438 I appreciate the reply. I'll watch the rest of the video after work , I probably shouldn't be so hasty to judge