Casablanca - 1978
8.5/10
Who would have thought that only a year after taking his first swing behind the mic, Ace Frehley would get his own album? 1978 sees the next stage of Kiss, with all four albums of this… “era” being released on the same day. What’s even more wild is the fact that the guy who never does vocals arguably made the best solo album out of all four members. You would think that you’re going to get four albums of the exact same thing, when actually, each member’s fronted disc brings its own personality (for better or for worse). If any added something new to the formula, it’s this one.
First and foremost, Ace Frehley may just be the heaviest album not only of the four, but also since the debut. While I may struggle to go as far as calling this metal oriented, the heavier moments of Destroyer and the debut meet a new iteration of the ‘60s revival we’ve seen. “Speed Back To My Baby” is loaded with upbeat licks and ascending guitar crawls that boast plenty of energy, without being afraid to cake on sugary vocals. “What’s On Your Mind” works its strength into the chorus with an idea that cements a more contemporary version of the older rock style; truly some of the catchiest stuff! The acoustics mixed into the harder riffing truly leaves a mark.
On the other end, you’ll find some heavy-hitters that need no toppings. Opener “Rip It Out” is as aggressive as it sounds for the time, focusing on a steady pace to boost choppier rhythms, and “Wiped Out” combines fast elements with a bouncy foundation and bass path. Some of the more experimental moments like “Ozone” don’t quite land with me, but I have to admit that this angle made the classic “New York Groove” cover fit in far better than it should have. Placing it next to the doom oriented “I’m In Need Of Love” certainly helped, less because of its intensity and more because of its spacey cadence. “Snow Blind” is the only other weak spot, being void of any inspiration.
While it may have a hiccup or two, Ace Frehley is overall a very strong spin. Letting the lead guitarist do all of the writing opened some new avenues for the future, as well as laid the foundation for his eventual solo career. Every time I come back to this one, I ask myself why I don’t more often, and the spacey “Fractured Mirror” bookend should be every bit the reminder that we have something different. If you only listen to one solo record, let it be this one.
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