CRR Review - Frehley’s Comet

RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average D = yawn F = puke

Frehley’s Comet – Second Sighting
Rock Candy Records
www.rockcandyrecords.com

Rating: B-

By 1988 Kiss had long moved on without Ace Frehley. They had massive success while Ace was struggling with substance abuse issues. He could still play and he could still write music, and he still had the fire in his heart and soul for his special brand of rock and roll. Ace proved that with Frehley’s Comet’s self-titled debut in 1987.

The Kiss Army stayed true to Ace and snapped up both the debut and this, his sophomore efflort. The album, while not as beloved as his first Frehley’s Comet release stands up well to Ace’s past.

Let’s face it, this is a bunch of three-chord, maybe four on a challenging song, and a boat load of pentatonic box scales. This is not music that is going to be lauded over. However, Ace writes with not only simplicity, but also with personality. And it is that personality that makes this album good.

There are lots of raw and gritty musical moments, the best of which are “Insane,” “Loser in a Fight” and “Fallen Angel.” There are some songs that make you wonder, ‘What the hell?’ such as “The Acorn is Spinning.” Yet it is the very fact of such weirdness that makes Ace such an interesting dude. And this album is interesting from beginning to end.

Rock Candy Records did it up right as they have released this classic album in a Special Deluxe Collector’s Edition, fully remastered sound shaped from 24 BIT digital technology, with a 16 page full color booklet, a 3,500 word essay and enhanced artwork and rare photos.

Track Listing:

By Jeb Wright