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 Gene
Simmons – Asshole **Hole
Sanctuary Records – Release date: June
8, 2004
So you think you know Gene Simmons, eh? After co-founding Kiss
some 30 years ago and leading the band to being the reigning
kings of gold record earnings – one might think they have
seen all that Gene Simmons is capable of. You’ve got the
albums, the toys, the t-shirts, maybe even have a Kiss casket
laying around keeping your beer ice cold. Well, I’m here
to tell you as far as Gene Simmons’ creative ability goes
- you ain’t seen nothing yet!
For each Kiss album that there is, there’s an entire
cache of material that never made it past the demo stage and
went unheard by the masses. Now, with Simmons release of Asshole,
his second solo album, we get to hear some of those songs, but
this album has got several other surprises as well.
Each of the 13 songs on this disc sound different from one
another and most of which explore all new musical terrain for
Simmons - proving that you really can teach a black-tongued
dog some new tricks. Asshole, brimming over with its diversity,
is frankly quite hip.
The best song on the disc also happens to be the first release,
a remake of the 1996 hit by The Prodigy, “Firestarter.”
With Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction spicing up the guitar
parts, Simmons’ version of this song is explosive. With
a progressive groove and techno-based backbone, this song still
rocks. One can almost envision smoke and laser beams shooting
out of Simmons from the first note to the last.
The video for “Firestarter” is just as volatile.
Lots of gorgeous, scantily clad women of course, along with
Simmons walking on water, looking like a gangster, and rocking
out.
“Black Tongue,” another gem on Asshole, written
by Simmons and Frank Zappa. Yes, you read correctly, the late,
great Frank Zappa. Utilizing some of Zappa’s previously
unreleased riffs and vocals Simmons incorporated them into this
song, which by the way is quintessentially Gene Simmons in musical
form. Zappa’s children join Simmons on the backing vocals
as well.
http://www.genesimmons.com/
Other Asshole highlights include:
“Sweet and Dirty Love” - The original version of
this song was penned back in 1977 and was initially called “Jelly
Roll.” Then it was recorded for the Psycho Circus album
but in 2004 Simmons put a new spin on this song. The result
is a solid and very likeable rock groove that will get you shaking
your butt.
“Weapons of Mass Destruction” – Now who ever
expected Simmons to record a song that flirts with almost a
slight thrashy feel to it? Inspired by President Bush’s
constant talk of WMDs just before going into Iraq, and how cliché
the term became – only Simmons turns it up a notch to
a slightly more evil point of view.
“Waiting For the Morning Light” – The music
to this song was written by Simmons and the legendary Bob Dylan.
An airy, almost jazzy, ballad.
“Beautiful” – Written by Kitty Gordon’s
Nina Singh and Mark Addison - Simmons version of this song is
light and whimsical.
The title cut, “Asshole” – The original version
of this song was written by a band from Norway. Simmons purchased
the song and reworked the arrangements and lyrics. “Asshole”
is everything you’d expect from its name. Tongue-in-cheek
and catchy…just don’t play it in front of the little
ones if you don’t want them singing it in preschool.
“Now That You’re Gone” – A somber,
jazzy song about the passing of Simmons’ father. Written
back in 1977 with Bob Kulick, the brother of former Kiss guitarist
Bruce Kulick. The backing vocals include Simmons’ daughter,
Sophie, and her friends that add a refreshing element to the
melancholy theme of the song.
“Whatever Turns You On (Turns Me On)” – Funky,
fun, and sexy with a kind of street R&B feel.
“Dog” – A raunchy and raw tune that drips
of sexuality. Simmons’ play on the Little Red Riding Hood
banter between the wolf and his prey couldn't’t have been
more perfectly fit than for this song…or done better by
anyone but Simmons.
And “1,000 Dreams” – Where Simmons is the
crooner weaving fairytale dreams into a song with a country
twist. One can imagine Fred and Ginger dancing along to this
tender piece.
Over all, Asshole is a divergent array of very likable songs
that seem to be free of boundaries…the way rock music
should be. And who better to remind us of that than a rock and
roll legend like Simmons?
-Melanie “Sass” Falina
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