Rock Album Analysts

Mötley reunite with producer Tom Werman to record an album featuring two classic songs, "Wild Side," and "Girls, Girls, Girls," that become concert staples. We take an in depth look at the 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...

Prior to the forming of Mötley Crüe Tony Pacheco (drummer for The Claws) hung out in the same circles as Tom Bass (aka Tommy Lee), Nikki Sixx, and Vince Neil. He ran into them again years later when recording at The Record Plant, and members of his band ended up contributing background vocals to "Fight for Your Rights." Tony shares with us some fascinating memories of his interactions wi...

Mötley Crüe reunite with producer Tom Werman to make an album that includes two hit singles: a cover of Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys Room," and one of the all time great power ballads, "Home Sweet Home." Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first female pol...

For the past twenty years, from the KISS Box set to Paul Stanley's Soul Station and everything in between, Tom Jermann has been KISS's go to graphic designer for CDs, DVDs and a dozen tour books. He's also done design work for Slipknot, Metallica, Van Halen, Cheap Trick & many others. Learn how a boy from Switzerland who told his dad he'd one day design a KISS album cover made...

Mötley Crüe record their breakthrough album with producer Tom Werman and engineer Geoff Workman at Cherokee Studios . Shout at the Devil sells 200,000 copies in two weeks and eventually goes on to sell more than four million copies. 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...

Mötley Crüe record their debut album Too Fast For Love with engineer Michael Wagener at Hit City West and release it on their own Leathür Records label. Once signed to Electra Records, they partially re-record and remix the record with Gordon Fordyce under the supervision of producer Roy Thomas Baker . Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime dr...

Our final word about KISS: an overview of their recording career, what we'd like to see from them in the future, & the emotionally packed heaviest question of all: What does KISS mean to us? 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 calle...

Paul Stanley reunites with co-producer Greg Collins to record the final (as of now) KISS studio 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 Empire, " and is also a tribute to his mother,...

Paul Stanley teams up with producer Greg Collins to produce the first new KISS album in 11 years. Special guest David O'Leary tells us how he may have contributed to making Sonic Boom happen. 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 &...

Fresh off the mega successful reunion tour, KISS team up with superstar producer Bruce Fairbairn to make Psycho Circus that will ultimately feature original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley on only a few tracks.  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...

We take a deep dive into one of the most polarizing of KISS albums, the  "grunge" album, Carnival of Souls. Also, learn how a chance meeting between co-host David Lucarelli and Gene Simmons may have influenced the album title, and the inside scoop on how Gene and Paul were getting along in the studio. Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period...

Fresh off the road from their acoustic performances at the KISS Konventions, KISS team up with producer Alex Coletti to record before a live studio audience at Sony Music Studios in New York. The deep cut heavy set list features a four song reunion with original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss that ultimately leads to the mega successful reunion tour. Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠...

KISS reunite with producer Eddie Kramer to produce a slick live album that mixes newer songs with new versions of some long time classics. 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 Empire, " an...

KISS reunite with  producer Bob Ezrin to make one of their best albums in years. 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 Empire, " and is also a tribute to his mother, Miriam Lucarelli, who p...

The analysts along with special guest David O'Leary take an in depth look at Hot in the Shade, as well as the 2 new songs on Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. 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 Boardwa...

The analysts are joined by KISS super fan David O' Leary as they take an in depth look at the Ron Nevison produced album, Crazy Nights. 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 Empire, " a...

The analysts take an in depth look at the Asylum KISS album, the "KISS riots," that made the news in Pittsburgh on the following tour, and the greatest Paul Stanley rap of all time. 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 &quot...

In a special bonus episode, the analysts are joined by music lawyer and journalist Andrew Carter as they review the recent New Year's Eve show by KISS. 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...

The analysts are joined by music lawyer & journalist Andrew Carter as they take an in depth look at the songwriting, production and performances on KISS's most successful non-makeup album, Animalize, and reminisce about one of the most famous local groupies of that era. Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series...

The analysts take an in depth look at the first KISS album without makeup, the Michael James Jackson produced, Lick it Up. Bonus: Dave tells the story of going backstage on the Lick it Up Tour at the age of 13, and interviewing Paul Stanley! Check out Analyst David Lucarelli's ⁠⁠⁠ Tinseltown: Losing the Light ⁠⁠⁠ , a period crime drama graphic novel series about one of the first female police...

Fresh from the disappointing sales of The Elder, at the behest of Casablanca's parent company Phonogram Records, KISS issue a foreign market only best of release that includes four new straight ahead Paul Stanley rockers. Working with producer Michael James Jackson and KISS ghost guitarist Bob Kulick the band deliver new tracks that reflect the influence of newer hard rock bands. The straight...

KISS reunite with Destroyer producer Bob Ezrin and along with new drummer Eric Carr produce their first and only concept album. The album is a commercial failure, alienating many fans who find the coming of age tale of heroic journey pretentious and overwrought. Though the band themselves largely continue to disown it today, it has inspired a devoted cult following who hail it as one of the best K...

Kiss work again with producer Vini Poncia and opt for a more power pop influenced approach. Working exclusively with session drummer Anton Fig, Poncia elicits slick and polished vocal performances and sophisticated arrangements featuring keyboardist Holly Knight. Rhythm Paul Stanley contributes more lead guitar than usual, including on "Shandi," a soft rock hit in Australia. Check out An...

KISS return to the studio with Vini Poncia, producer of the Peter Criss solo album, only to have Anton Fig, fresh from playing on the Ace Frehley solo album play drums on eight of the nine tracks.  Poncia elicits strong vocal performances from the band, heavily filters and treats the lead guitar, and lends a pop sheen to the material. The album yields the  disco influenced hit song "I Was Mad...