Click Above To Order This Great KISS Tribute CD!!!!!
"Kissin' Time" - An excellent version of this song by the KAOL All-Stars! Bart Collins, Nile Carter, and John Stockwell each take a verse, backed by the multi-talented Kathy LaBonte on all instruments. The music has a much more modern feel than than the original, with some really heavy guitars. I actually like this version better than KISS's!
"100,000 Years" - Once again Bart "Bone Daddy" Collins lets rip that killer voice of his. Bart sings with as much inflection and emotion as you'll hear anywhere, an it's very easy to picture him center stage belting this out as his band rocks behind him! An extremely cool echo effect used on the last word of each line of the verses, and there's a nice little drum solo/breakdown in it, complete with Peter Criss like cow bell!
"Deuce" - Not what I expected that's for sure. Sounds more like a cover of Lenny Kravit's cover of KISS's version..... played at half speed. Don't get me wrong, it certainly is a unique interpretation of one of KISS's best known ROCKIN songs, and I give the band Rip & Destroy credit for trying something different with their interpretation. For me, however, the song kinda drags up until the very end when someone lights a fire under the musicians for a few bars of REAL jammin to the track's fade out. A little more of that fire throughout would have been nice.
"Shout It Out Loud" - Ok everyone, "Come on get happy!" Partridge Family fan or not, you can't help but get caught up in this manically upbeat, 70's evoking version of the Destroyer classic. The background vocals are what really capture that Partridge feel, and there's no doubt that rock legend Bob Ezrin had a hand in the mix. A very cool version, even if it did make me feel like I was in that new "Amigo" commercial that re-does the Slinky song! =)
"Jungle" - KICK ASS! KAOL producer Kathy's instrumental version of this track is one of the coolest things I've heard in quite some time. The song's original backing music is skillfully reproduced by Kathy, but it is the haunting, eerie effect produced by the use of space-age sounding synthesizes in place of vocals that is the crowning glory of this piece! The opening "verse" immediately brought to my mind images of the film "Blade Runner" as I thought how well the track would fit as background music in that film (and I LOVE that film so that is a huge compliment Kathy!). One of the extreme highlights of the cd for sure!
"Love Gun" - Very cute and creative use of the KISS pinball start up sounds (including RARAN sound bite) at the opening of the track. Unfortunately, that's the highlight of this one for me. Psycho Cafe's lead singer is obviously a HUGE 80's metal/Slaughter fan..... at least that the only way I can account for his stratospheric (there are a few notes in this one that will have your dog cringing in pain) delivery of the lyrics. The backing band, however, does a superior job with the music, the bass guitar being particularly well positioned in the mix.
"Goin' Blind" - Another fine performance by our old friends The Mass, the same folks who's excellent version of "Got Love For Sale" graced the original KAOL disc. The singer's delivery is very reminiscent of The Black Crows' Chris Robinson, a very blusey and emotional delivery. This acoustic version brings to mind KISS's Unplugged performance, and The Mass more than measures up to that version here.
"Parasite" - Like "Love Gun," this is another track that has excellent backing music, but comes with "distracting" vocals. This time in the form of an oddly "flat," monotone delivery during the verses. The choruses, however, sound much better with the singer delivering the lines with a wailing, bluesy feel. Too bad he doesn't keep that up during the verses.
"Rockin' in the USA" - KISS tribute band Destroyer turns in an excellent version of this Alive II offering. Very faithful to the album, the band's "Gene" sounds a respectable amount like our beloved growling Demon, and the background vocals are mixed well. A very enjoyable romp with a "Love Gun-esque" rat-a-tat snare drum ending!
"Hard Luck Woman" - To the track, to the wall...... HOME RUN!!!!!! Nile's version of "See You Tonite" is my favorite track on the first KAOL disc, and now it's official - his version of "HLW" is absolutely my favorite track on KAOL II (but watch your back Nile 'cause Kathy's "Jungle" is nippin' at your heels!). Nile and the acoustic guitar setting must have been made for each other. His voice sounds so amazingly at home on this track, which is faithfully reproduced word for word, note for note all the way up to an amazing twist/addition to the song's ending! After what you think is the fade-out, Nile has added a few new lines of his own creation that fit brilliantly with the rest of the song. I won't give it all away by actually sharing the lines with you, but you should definitely pick up this cd, check out this song and see for yourself what an amazing job Nile has done! Ok, with all due respect to all the artists who have contributed to both KAOL projects, I want an all Nile Carter & Kathy LaBonte project and I want it NOW!
"Two Timer" - The Palace Guard turns in a great version of this oft overlooked early KISS song. The vocals are top notch, and lead singer Tommy Rifai has slipped in a little creative improvising during one of the verses by altering one of the lines. A very noticeable, and very cool, addition to the song. It's this kind of thing that really helps a group make a song "theirs."
"Detroit Rock City" - Updated radio/DJ intro segues into a kick ass cover by the same people who brought you the fire & damnation version of "God of Thunder" off the first KAOL disc. Ever wondered what Paul Stanley would sound like if he was possessed by an Exorcist type demon? The vocal delivery here will give you a pretty good idea!! Nasty, snarling, double bass rock-n-roll that'll knock you on your ass right up to the car crash ending!
"Plaster Caster" - Very cool version of this Unplugged/KISS Konvention revitalized classic. The drumming is excellently positioned in the mix, as are the backing vocals. However, it's the aggressive guitar work, particularly the lead, that is the stand out part of this track for my money..... excellent work Mark!!
"Larger Than Life" - Hearing this song makes me all the more sad that Matt & Co. have threatened that this track marks the last appearance of Loungelizardboots. After "War Machine" on the first KAOL I was really, really looking forward to this one and man was I NOT disappointed! Matt's one of a kind delivery is once again backed by that Vegas act on acid synthesizer mix and sultry backing vocals. Once again, a masterpiece that must be heard first hand to be truly appreciated!
Matt: Please, for me, you HAVE to bring Loungelizardboots back one more time for the KAOL 3 finale! "Tunnel of Love." "Livin In Sin." Just THINK of the possibilities!!! ;-)
"Christine Sixteen" - One of my favorites on the disc, this one is very, very well done. The music is excellent, and lead singer Rolando D'Lugo has a superior delivery, adding very cool little "vocal fills" toward the end of the song. There's also a nice guitar "effect" (just toggling on and off I think) about 2/3 through the track that sounds really nice. Rolando also runs his vocal through some type of light distortion, with wonderful results! A stand out track for sure!
"Master & Slave" - First, it's great to have not one, but two songs from "Carnival of Souls" already showing up on tribute discs. Beyond that, the music on this track is very, very impressive! And, overall, the vocals are done very well. The verses are fine, but unfortunately Black Star's lead singer just doesn't have the range he needs to really wail on the choruses. That, however, is the only setback to this track, and it's a minor one at that. The backing vocals are strong, and stand out in particular at the end of the track where "Gene" sings solo on the original version. Overall a very cool song!!
"Rip and Destroy" - Beginning with an audio bite from "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park," this track does indeed proceed to RIP, RIP, RIP and DESTROY! John Stockwell & Bart Collins share lead vocal duties on this one, with ample backing help from the other Phantoms of the Park: Nile Carter, Jheni Clason, Kathy LaBonte, Jim Schwilk, and CJ Sciosscia. The song is faithfully reproduced from the film, and it's very cool to actually have a version of it recorded somewhere now! And even if you know the tune, you're in for a treat with this version's "Fight Scene" Musical Score Finale from Kathy! Must have been fun in the studio with this one!!
"I Cry At Night" - An early, previously unreleased song featuring Eric Carr from his time with the Cellarmen, this Beatles-esque track demonstrates that Eric always had the skills of a true musician, both behind the drums and in front of the mic. The quality is less than perfect, but given the age and rarity of the recording I'm sure you will, like I was, just be glad to have the track at all. A very nice touch to help us all remember the man who inspired these KAOL projects. Hats off to the Caravello family for supporting KAOL & MusiCare Online's efforts to raise money for charity in the memory of Eric by donating this track for the disc..
"Epilogue" - Another fine example of why I, and many others I'm sure, would love to see a Kathy LaBonte solo project, even if only an EP. Kathy's beautifully orchestrated ending instrumental expertly incorporates bits and pieces from several KISS songs, including Beth, RARAN, and Love Theme From KISS (KAOL!)..... but in a way that is all her own! A classy way to end a classy tribute disc. Kudos to everyone involved!!
This CD really is a superior product, and if you are a KISS fan (or just a fan of good music) you really owe it to yourself to add this tribute disc to your collection. Just click on the banner at the top of the page for all the details you need on how to order this great CD. And remember while you'll get a disc full of great music, you are also helping support cancer research in memory of Eric Carr.
KISS Museum
News Archive
Features
Tour Dates
Photos