Rock Album Analysts

The laid back rhythm and blues and saccharine pop offered up on the debut solo album of drummer Peter Criss was a bridge too far for many young KISS fans at the time, but catchy songs like "That's the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes,"  with Peter's signature shuffle and a powerful vocal performance, and the autobiographical "Hooked on Rock and Roll," both elevated by the guita...

This week on the podcast the analysts take an in depth look at the self proclaimed "Man of 1000 Faces," Gene Simmons and his 1978 solo album. Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first female police officers in Hollywood that's been called " L.A. Confidential meets Boardwalk Empi...

Guitarist and lead singer Paul Stanley stays true to the hard rock sound of KISS but stretches himself vocally and musically with a powerfully melodic and melodramatic album. Guitarist Bob Kulick's on point lead work elevates the material that lyrically  dwells on the pain of separation and frustrated romantic love. Using Ebows, synths, piano and background singers as tasty accents and flouris...

Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley forms a tight musical bond with drummer Anton Fig, while producer Kramer helps Ace transform from an insecure vocalist into a confident solo artist. Frehley experiments with a backwards solo, guitar synth, double tracked drums and other outside the box recording techniques to produce a self-assured and focused album that mixes elements of heavy metal, funk, power pop, an...

At the peak of their career KISS capture the over the top energy of their live performance with producer Eddie Kramer while providing five new studio cuts that offer a promising new direction but rely heavily on at least one outside musician to get there. While arguably less "live" than their previous live record (at least 3 cuts were recorded during sound checks & there are extensiv...

BANG!  KISS returns to New York City with producer Eddie Kramer to record at  the Record Plant and mix at Electric Lady to produce the last of the  "classic" KISS studio albums. With Ebows, keyboards, & backup  singers KISS marry the immediacy of Rock and Roll Over with a touch of  the production sheen of Destroyer. In three weeks the band captures such  signature songs as Ace's...

We're joined by guitarist Mike Gavigan who has played Ace Frehley in tribute bands Mr. Speed & Gods of Thunder as we take an in depth look at Rock and Roll Over. KISS team up with Eddie Kramer and record in a theater to capture a live feel for their 5th Studio Album. Taking a left turn from the lavish production of Destroyer, a stripped down meat and potatoes approach gives most of the son...

Fresh off the success of ALIVE! , KISS returned with their fourth studio album Destroyer , produced by noted rock producer Bob Ezrin . "The spit shined Cadillac of KISS albums,"  today it is widely considered their best album by the fans and the band alike. So why did the first three singles tank in the states, and at least one KISS fan upon its release threaten to go to Canada and punch...

Hosts David Lucarelli (from Dame Fortune) & John Carson take a look at the album that saved KISS from being a minor footnote in rock and roll. KISS Alive! stands as a timeless classic, but what, if anything hasn't aged well? Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first female police officers...

Hosts David Blake Lucarelli (guitarist/singer for Dame Fortune) & John Carson take an in depth look at the third KISS album Dressed to Kill and the reason why Rock and Roll All Nite became the "rock and roll national anthem." Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first female police of...

Hosts David Blake Lucarelli (guitarist/singer for Dame Fortune), and John Carson are joined by special guest music journalist Andrew Carter as they take an in depth look at the sophomore KISS album: Hotter Than Hell. Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first female police officers in Hollywood tha...

Intellectual rockers David Blake Lucarelli (from Dame Fortune) and life long friend (and frequent band mate) John Carson take a deep dive into analyzing the music, lyrics and minutiae of the 1974 self-titled debut album by the theatrical rock group, KISS. Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first...