Music review: Ace Frehley 鈥� 鈥楽pace Invader鈥�
When Ace Frehley left Kiss in 1982, I never thought he would continue to maintain a successful solo career.
When each member of Kiss simultaneously released solo efforts in 1978, I expected Frehley鈥檚 album to be the third best out of the four.
Surprisingly, Frehley鈥檚 album was significantly better than all the rest with vigorous arrangements such as 鈥淩ip It Out,鈥� 鈥淪peedin鈥� Back to My Baby鈥� and 鈥淣ew York Groove.鈥�
The Bronx native would follow up with three more spirited efforts before taking a 20-year hiatus.
If 2009鈥檚 鈥淎nomaly鈥� was Frehley鈥檚 comeback release, 鈥淪pace Invader鈥� launches the eccentric guitarist to the next level as a solo artist.
The new material features the founding Kiss guitarist and 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in prime form, sounding remarkably focused and solid.
Celebrating over seven years of sobriety, Frehley is clearly concentrated on displaying his exceptional guitar licks and making a great album.
The opening title track explodes with a hefty dose of fierce guitar playing and soaring vocals.
鈥淕imme a Feelin'鈥� delivers more infectious rock and blazing guitar work. This fervent rocker stands up to Frehley鈥檚 1977 lead vocal debut on 鈥淪hock Me鈥� with Kiss. With songs like 鈥淚 Wanna Hold You,鈥� 鈥淚mmortal Pleasures鈥� and 鈥淲hat Every Girl Wants,鈥� Frehley effortlessly serves up palpable rock with a pop sensibility.
On 鈥淐hange,鈥� Frehley makes reference to his personal struggles and triumphs, while 鈥淧ast the Milky Way鈥� is a power ballad about his current relationship. The only misstep comes on an uneventful cover of Steve Miller鈥檚 鈥淭he Joker.鈥�
It鈥檚 not that it鈥檚 dreadful, but Frehley鈥檚 version does nothing to enhance Miller鈥檚 original classic. 鈥淪tarship鈥� is an ethereal number that sounds like a cross between Pink Floyd and David Bowie and serves as an appropriate way to close an album from an artist affectionately known as 鈥淪pace Ace.鈥�
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.