The
February 2012 issue of U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine
features KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley's thoughts on
six songs from KISS's upcoming album, "Monster",
which he is co-producing.
"I wasn't interested in making an album unless I was in charge and no one agreed to it half-heartedly," says Stanley. "The band's all there, all the time, and we cut the tracks all facing each other in the same room. Chemistry and camaraderie, that's essential. That's what made 'Sonic Boom' so great, and this album is thunderously better."
"It's A Long Way Down"
Stanley: "It says that those who reach heights and don't appreciate them fall mightily - it's a long way down from the top. It's a defining track in the sense that it's very up-tempo and very much a signature song. Eric's drumming is incredible on this."
"Back To The Stone Age"
Stanley: "One that Gene sings. It's exactly what you'd expect it to be from the title. I come from a school where you write a verse, a bridge, a chorus, and then you go back. That's in my blood. It's in Motown, it's in The Beatles, it's in Led Zeppelin, it's in The Who, its in all my favorite bands."
"Shout Mercy"
Stanley: "That's a great track. There's a lot of tracks that could start the album, and this is one of them. I like to think that the opening song is a declaration of what the album really is, whether it's a 'Love Gun' or a 'Detroit Rock City'. It's important to start with a song that defines what you're gonna be getting."
"Out Of This World"
Stanley: "That's one of Tommy's. He really pushed the limits. His playing is phenomenal. It has the kind of excitement that I like to hear where you're not quite sure if it's gonna go off the rails or not. That's what makes great rock n' roll."
"I wasn't interested in making an album unless I was in charge and no one agreed to it half-heartedly," says Stanley. "The band's all there, all the time, and we cut the tracks all facing each other in the same room. Chemistry and camaraderie, that's essential. That's what made 'Sonic Boom' so great, and this album is thunderously better."
"It's A Long Way Down"
Stanley: "It says that those who reach heights and don't appreciate them fall mightily - it's a long way down from the top. It's a defining track in the sense that it's very up-tempo and very much a signature song. Eric's drumming is incredible on this."
"Back To The Stone Age"
Stanley: "One that Gene sings. It's exactly what you'd expect it to be from the title. I come from a school where you write a verse, a bridge, a chorus, and then you go back. That's in my blood. It's in Motown, it's in The Beatles, it's in Led Zeppelin, it's in The Who, its in all my favorite bands."
"Shout Mercy"
Stanley: "That's a great track. There's a lot of tracks that could start the album, and this is one of them. I like to think that the opening song is a declaration of what the album really is, whether it's a 'Love Gun' or a 'Detroit Rock City'. It's important to start with a song that defines what you're gonna be getting."
"Out Of This World"
Stanley: "That's one of Tommy's. He really pushed the limits. His playing is phenomenal. It has the kind of excitement that I like to hear where you're not quite sure if it's gonna go off the rails or not. That's what makes great rock n' roll."
"Wall Of Sound"
Stanley: "We're not trying to reinvent the wheel here; we're at our best when we don't over-think. It's not a Rubik's Cube, it's a song, you know? This one is absolutely, immediately recognisable and identifiable and true to being KISS. I put the blinders on us to keep us from being derailed or the attention span broken by things going on around us."
"Hell Or Hallelujah"
Stanley: "Another up-tempo song, and it's very definitive. That's what I think is so great about this album: every track is quintessential. No one does it better — and many have tried. When we hit the bulls-eye, we hit it full on. We've cut 14 tracks. How many we'll use or how this will play out will be interesting, but there's no filler."
There's been no release date announced for "Monster".
Stanley admits that he's never surprised by how deep KISS' fan devotion continues to run worldwide. "It really for me, resoundingly once again, I guess validates for me why this band exists," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "It's not a tepid recreation of the past, it's really an ageless beast that dominates at will. It's timeless."
KISS'
Gene Simmons has issued the following update:
"KISS Studio Album is done. Great job by Paul producing. Tommy (Thayer) and Eric (Singer) = really kicked it up a notch. Without overstating the obvious, when you hear the album, every single track rocks. No ballads. No outside writers. No keyboards. No children's choirs. No nothin'. Just meat and potatoes."
"KISS Studio Album is done. Great job by Paul producing. Tommy (Thayer) and Eric (Singer) = really kicked it up a notch. Without overstating the obvious, when you hear the album, every single track rocks. No ballads. No outside writers. No keyboards. No children's choirs. No nothin'. Just meat and potatoes."
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