Jewish rockers boom back with a classic
Jewish Telegraph, October 2009
WHEN Gene Simmons said that Kiss would never release another studio album, it was either a statement he had not thought through properly or made to test the response.
Either way, fortunately, Simmons was wrong and the group have stormed back with Sonic Boom (Roadrunner), which ranks alongside their best releases.
Israeli-born Simmons told the press conference at last year’s Download Festival that he could tell you when a group was playing new songs at a concert . . . it was when the crowd sat down.
He also claimed illegal downloading was another factor stopping the legends going back into the studio.
But Simmons, who hit 60 in August, and Paul Stanley, a sprightly 57, decided to treat the Kiss Army to 11 new tracks.
They’ve done away with the hired songwriters and returned to the sound which made them such megastars in the 1970s.
In fact, the first couple of times I heard the single Modern Day Delilah on the radio, I was convinced I already knew it — but couldn’t work out which album it was from.
Waiting for the CD to arrive took me back to my youth. Since the advent of downloading and iPods, it has been hard to get excited about a new release.
I rarely listen to a full album anymore, preferring instead to put my iPod on random. But I’ve listened to Sonic Boom continuously.
My favourite track is Stand — an instant Kiss anthemic classic — but there really isn’t a bad song on there.
Drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer fit in perfectly, contributing lead vocals on a track each.
And everyone claims that Gene — real name Chaim Witz — is obsessed with money, yet the new album is a real value-for-money package for fans.
As well as Sonic Boom, it includes a CD of Kiss Klassics re-recorded with the current line-up and a six-track DVD recorded in Argentina in April.
From the recent live shows I’ve heard in America, Paul’s voice is suffering quite a bit — and there are even rumours that the artist formerly known as Stanley Eisen will need an operation.
Hopefully, when they finally make it to the UK, they will have incorporated a lot of the new album into the setlist.
And then, Gene, you will notice that not one person will sit down.
It’s amazing that it is 36 years since Gene and Paul formed Kiss, but two other Jewish youngsters hoping for such a long career in the music business are Michael Kintish and Nick Ingram — better known as The Yeah You’s.
I desperately wanted to like debut album Looking Through You (Island), but after the first listen I was very disappointed.
But a couple of days later I decided to give it another chance — and this time I was struck by its brilliance.
Michael and Nick have fashioned an album that brings to mind so many other artists, yet retains an identity of its own.
Influences range from Take That to Pet Shop Boys to ELO.
First single 15 Minutes burrows its way into your head and refuses to leave, while follow up, Getting Up With You, has such a catchy chorus it should come with a warning.
Obviously there are some fillers on the CD, but on the whole it promises much for the future — now just do something about that rogue apostrophe.
