Kiss in the 80’s – they certainly got better as the decade progressed. OK, so they weren’t the ground-breaking band they had been during the mid-to-late 70’s, and some of their stuff had drifted into the average fluff stage. Sometimes you just have to admit the best years have gone, and not judge new material on past performances.
Hot in the Shade is very much in the mold of their previous release, Crazy Nights – these are good party songs, and should be taken that way. Certainly, the songs Paul Stanley sings always seem to have that feel about them anyway. This album isn’t as good as its predecessor, but if you taken it in a similar vein then you will get the most out of it.
Don’t be scared off by songs like “Forever”, just because it is co-written by Michael Bolton (even though that is good grounds to be scared!). Most of the songs here have that soft rock feel to it, and aren’t really in the same category as early Kiss material. Even the country twang at the start of “Rise To It” might be a turn-off, but get into the song and take it for what it is, and you’ll see it ain’t all bad.
In summary – not a classic, but not a bad listen either. Some good tunes here that become habit to sing along to. When I first bought it back when it was released in 1989 I was looking for something it was not, and didn’t give it a chance. In my advancing years – and it may just be in searching for my lost youth – I have come to appreciate it better.
Rating: Don’t write it off without a decent hearing. 3/5.
Hot in the Shade is very much in the mold of their previous release, Crazy Nights – these are good party songs, and should be taken that way. Certainly, the songs Paul Stanley sings always seem to have that feel about them anyway. This album isn’t as good as its predecessor, but if you taken it in a similar vein then you will get the most out of it.
Don’t be scared off by songs like “Forever”, just because it is co-written by Michael Bolton (even though that is good grounds to be scared!). Most of the songs here have that soft rock feel to it, and aren’t really in the same category as early Kiss material. Even the country twang at the start of “Rise To It” might be a turn-off, but get into the song and take it for what it is, and you’ll see it ain’t all bad.
In summary – not a classic, but not a bad listen either. Some good tunes here that become habit to sing along to. When I first bought it back when it was released in 1989 I was looking for something it was not, and didn’t give it a chance. In my advancing years – and it may just be in searching for my lost youth – I have come to appreciate it better.
Rating: Don’t write it off without a decent hearing. 3/5.
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