Back in 2008, I’d never have believed that Ace Frehley would become such a late-career prolific releaser of new music. In the ten years since then, Ace has released four new studio albums.
For perspective: that’s just as many solo studio albums as he released in his entire career before then.
It is especially pleasing that the new albums hold an overall high standard. The general consensus seems to be that the ‘lesser’ moments are mostly found on the covers album Origins, Vol. 1 (2016). I like that one too, with some of them being amazing, but ultimately such an effort is always going to be a bit hit and miss depending on which songs are picked. But if the covers album is mostly seen as the weaker one, that is certainly a good sign for his own material.
So, leaving that covers album aside, each of the remaining albums all have some incredible gems of songs and a lot of cool Ace moments, which is exactly what we want from him. There are very few genuinely bad moments, just the odd ‘take them or leave them’ ones here and there.
The new album Spaceman does not change the formula. It is more or less yet another serving of songs from the iconic Spaceman in the style that we know and expect. This may sound very predictable and boring, but only in the same way that some people would find every AC/DC album predictable and boring. Working within a very defined expression is also an artform, where it becomes all about giving each song something different and delivering it with the same qualities and glint in the eye that your fans have come to expect.
Ace is a great performer who is probably as aware of his strengths as he is of his limitations. Most importantly, he knows what those of us who grew up with his music wants from him. And honestly: if he tried to change now, I am not sure what we would make of it.
Ace represents a musical fountain of youth. I grew up listening to this guy and his music. The way he sounds and the way he writes still has the ability to take me back to those times. Losing that would be a let-down. An Ace release has always been much more than ‘just’ a new album from an artist I love.
The album he is most remembered for is his first solo album in 1978, released on the same day as his then band mates Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss released their own. That album is rightly hailed as a triumph, even spawning a hit, and has become the impossible benchmark that every album he has released since then is judged by. Ace is aware of this, but does not seem intimidated. On the contrary, in interviews he has spoken widely about how Spaceman has the same vibe as the 1978 album.
Does it live up to that claim? To some degree. The thing is, everything was right on the 1978 album. The songwriting was incredible. The playing was razor sharp. The production excellent. The vibe was in-your-face rock’n’roll attitude. The artist was also out to prove his worth, especially to his KISS bandmates, so the mindset was very hungry and determined. Can that be replicated in 2018 with the circumstances being so different? There are a lot of things that need to be right for any new album to hit that mark.
Spaceman does have the vibe. I enjoy the feel coming out of the speakers. The tracks are street-tough and with attitude. The biggest difference may be the difference in approach and style that age will bring. Ace was 27 in 1978, and 67 when he made this album. Of course that will influence the end result. Not in a negative manner, just in terms of it being different. In that regard, the corresponding records should actually be much less connected than they are. Ace still sounds like Ace.
Ace is never going to be one of the best singers in the world, but he will always be one of the coolest singers. He’s got the attitude down. Every song is sung in a wonderfully blasé manner, and with the authority of someone who has lived that rock’n’roll lifestyle – at times quite hard. Ironically he seems to have emerged on the other side with more vitality than many who swore by sobriety and healthy living. There’s got to be a life lesson in there somewhere.
On Origins, Vol 1 Ace roped in Paul Stanley for a co-performance (a cover of Free’s Fire And Water). It was only fitting that he reached out to Gene Simmons for a collaboration on the next album. They ended up penning two of the songs on Spaceman together, including opener Without You I’m Nothing where Gene also guests on bass. This makes sense, as the bass line is put front and centre of this song, which consequently rumbles along quite nicely with a cool, percussive bedding.
Rockin’ With the Boys follows – the second single (and lone video) from the album. This was allegedly written back in the 1970s. That timing is interesting, as the lyrical themes are similar to those of the song Beth which was released in 1976. Both songs are about sending a message home that band activities are preventing them from coming home just yet.
In Beth the lyrics go “Beth I hear you calling but I can’t come home right now; Me and the boys are playing and we just can’t find the sound; Just a few more hours and I’ll be right home to you.” On Rocking With the Boys, the story goes: “No need to worry, I’ll be home soon ‘cause I’m rockin’ with the boys; Don’t be sad I’m working tonight.” They are obviously very different overall, but it’s an interesting coincidence.
The song has a very catchy and recognisable gang vocal section in the chorus which according to several reports works very well live. I can see that helping to make the song into a great live moment.
Your Wish Is My Command is the second song with songwriting input from Gene. In fact, Gene wrote the whole song and gave it to Ace (although Ace may have tweaked it a little, as he has a co-write).
Gene has previously mentioned that he wrote this song in 2013. With typical bombast, Gene has also described it as the next Rock And Roll All Nite and even as something that could have been recorded for Destroyer. Bold claims like that rarely work in any song’s favour, but at least we now have Ace’s version of the song and can make up our own minds about it.
Personally I prefer the other Ace/Gene cooperation on the album, but it’s a fun rock song with nice harmonies in the chorus combined with some powerful chords. Hearing Ace exclaim ‘Abra Cadabra!’ ahead of the solo cracks me up every time.
Bronx Boy was the first single, and a physical vinyl 12’’ single at that (I love my marble-coloured copy)! This is easily one of the better songs on the album, with aggressive guitars chugging along nicely in the verses while Ace recalls his early days running wild with an street gang. “Now there’s a golden rule: be ready to attack; Remember loyalty ain’t gotta watch my back.”
Pursuit Of Rock And Roll is one of two songs featuring his old band mate and musical partner Anton Fig on drums. Fig is a perfect fit for Ace, and the performances just seem to be better all around when he is involved.
The song itself seems a straightforward rock song, but there are nice details (like echo) which recall some of the experimentation on his 1978 solo album. Which, incidentally, also featured Anton Fig.
My personal favourite on the album is likely a bit of an outsider. Ace has always had a knack for doing amazing cover versions on his albums, and I Wanna Go Back was originally a hit for Eddie Money in the 1980s.
This song sees Ace taking a step back from the hard rock style with a more laidback and reflective song. I suspect this song hits home for Ace, as it would for all of us who indulge a bit in nostalgia from time to time.
I was listening to the radio
I heard a song, reminded me of long ago
Back then, I thought that things were never gonna change
It used to be that I never had to feel the pain
I know that things will never be the same
I wanna go back
And do it all over
But I can’t go back, I know
Ace has certainly been looking back in recent years, including connecting with (and often playing music with) former bandmates. And who knows what reunions may or may not still be possible. As the song says, one can’t go back, but one can certainly reconnect with elements of that past and find peace in that.
Next track Mission To Mars is energising and a cool rock moment, but reasonably straightforward with typical “Space Ace” lyrics. It is a fun, but reasonably typical track. This is the obligatory ‘take it or leave it’-moment of the album.
Off My Back is the second song with an Anton Fig appearance. This song has more substance with a slower, groovy riff. Lyrically it is a cousin of Pain In the Neck from the Anomaly album (2009), expressing annoyance at a relationship that isn’t working. “We go in circles with no end in sight; You’re drivin’ me crazy, now I’ve seen the light.” Hopefully for Ace these type of songs aren’t autobiographical, but if they are, at least they are fuelling the creativity.
Going all the way back to his first 1978 solo album, Ace has a tradition for ending his solo albums with an instrumental. This time we get Quantum Flux, which is a very enjoyable prog-instrumental which starts slowly and builds up intensity. It has many great melodic hooks that make the track a great finale to a good album from the Spaceman.
The best songs on Spaceman (Without You I’m Nothing, Bronx Boy, I Wanna Go Back) are amazing, and even the couple of lesser moments are still ‘all right.’ Ace is still able to make music in the vein that he has always done – this is classic, timeless rock’n’roll as it was made back in his formative years, which makes me feel good just for that style alone. Thanks for another shot from that musical fountain of youth, Ace! May your (relative) new-found productivity last a while yet!
P.S.: See how I managed to get through this entire piece without mentioning KISS by name a single time?
Ah. Damn.
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