[ NEW ON CD ]
Despite a cavalier
attitude, Simmons’ album
comes across well
"***hole" Gene Simmons (Sanctuary)
It must be good to be Gene Simmons.
You're still playing bass in one of the world's biggest rock bands, KISS, with and without the demon makeup. You're a cocksure womanizer who's equipped with a notoriously large tongue. You've penned a self-congratulatory autobiography titled "SEX MONEY KISS." You're the publisher of a men's magazine called Gene Simmons' Tongue (always with the tongue!).
And now you've just put out a solo album with a censor-worthy title. Sure, it's got its share of Simmons' randy and lascivious persona -- check out the CD booklet artwork by fashion photog David LaChapelle for ample visual proof. The album, at times, is non-PC lyrically, self-indulgent, and the whole thing has that tossed-together, cavalier attitude behind it.
But, I gotta admit, I found listening to this album an unexpected pleasure.
What could've come off as a total vanity project (well ... it is, in a way) instead has its moments, starting right off from-the-get-go with "Sweet & Dirty Love," which sounds like prime KISS, not surprising since it includes former bandmate guitarist Bruce Kulick and current drummer Eric Singer. Ditto "Weapons of Mass Destruction," which may -- or may not -- be an anti-war song. It all depends on your personal politics.
And Simmons does a credible remake of The Prodigy's "Firestarter," the album's single/video, featuring a cameo by Jane's Addiction Dave Navarro.
But it's the paths-less-taken that show his, dare we say, sensitive side. He may not be the world's greatest singer, but he convincingly throws himself into songs like "Waiting for the Morning Light" (written with, of all people, Bob Dylan several years ago), the Beatle-ish "Now That You're Gone" and a tropically lilting "1,000 Dreams."
He even pays tribute to another man who did it his way, the late Frank Zappa. "Black Tongue" uses some previously unreleased live Zappa archive recordings, and along with guitar and background vocal help from the man's entire family, Simmons makes a song I'm sure Zappa himself would've loved for its attitude.
That's something Simmons is in no short supply of. The best material on "***hole" are good-humored sendups of himself and his rock lifestyle.
And he's smart enough to team up with fine indie musicians as Austin, Texas' Mark Addison and Nina Singh ("Beautiful") and Norwegian band Shirley's Temple on the raucous title track.
Love him or hate him, this album is Simmons unfiltered. His ego wouldn't have had it any other way.
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