Ohhh yeah Don't Come Easy is by far the best Tyketto album. Great record!
Greeno, actually my first Kiss album was Double Platinum then Alive & Alive II, as well as the Kiss My Ass video, and through seeing them in 1997 on the Reunion Tour when I was 14, so I actually got into through the make-up era. But I think maybe just coz my fave kinda stuff is sleaze/hair metal is probably why I like the non-makeup era better.
I can't stand Ace's voice (except on Shock Me). But he wrote some good songs that Gene sung actually in the early days (Parasite, Cold Gin, etc). As I said, I think Gene has LOTS of great songs like Unholy, Not For The Innocent, War Machine, Calling Dr Love, Parasite, Cold Gin, Hell Or High Water, Dance All Over Your Face, Domino, A World Without Heroes, Christine Sixteen, Goin Blind, etc etc... but he also wrote ALOT of really terrible songs and also quite alot of the songs he wrote (particular during their hair metal era) would've sounded better with Paul singing because he is by far the best vocalist in the band, and a very underrated rock vocalist all round in my opinion as he doesn't get the respect as a singer that he deserves. Paul's songs on the other hand were far more consistent. How many bad songs were there that Paul wrote/sung? Almost none in Kiss' entire career!!!
I think the solo albums were also a test of their talent as writers. Gene's album was pretty poor, and Peter's totally sucked. Ace had good songs as he is a solid writer and creative guitarist, but his voice let some of the songs down. Paul's solo album was great from start to finish and one of my fave makeup-era Kiss albums easily. Great songs, great hooks, awesome vocals.
This is the great thing about Kiss though I think, there's been so much variety with them that everybody has different favourite eras, singers, members, albums, songs, etc. Whereas with most bands there is usually a general concensus on which albums are the best & worst. Personally, I'm a big Paul Stanley fan which I think is the key factor in what my favourite songs, albums and era of the band are because in the '80s Paul was really running the show by himself and was driving the band. And the great thing is that if you ask 10 Kiss fans what their favourite member, album, and era is you would get all different answers!
By the way if I had to choose between Kiss' guitarists (the main 3)... you could judge based on each of their solo careers to see how good they are at writing on their own.
Ace Frehley - his solo stuff is boring I think, and he had lots of co-writers (including the great Desmond Child) to help him! But perfectly suited to Kiss in the '70s and had an amazing chemistry & magic with them. Great at writing riffs and catchy solos too.
Vinnie Vincent - easily the best writer. He wrote the 2 Invasion albums almost entirely on his own and the material smokes. Blows away 99% of other hair metal bands I think and hair metal is my fave music! The debut is better than any Kiss record too.
Bruce Kulick - decent writer but nowhere near as good as Vinnie, but a killer guitarist and totally underrated. The best guitarist in Kiss I think coz Vinnie's style didn't suit them as well!
I think Ace & Bruce were both perfectly suited to Kiss. Ace in the '70s but definitely had to go in the '80s coz as Paul said "he didn't blossom" and couldn't keep up with the '80s style of guitar. Bruce was the perfect man to fill his shoes throughout the non-makeup era. Vinnie didn't have a place in Kiss because he needed more freedom and couldn't be a "yes man" to Gene & Paul but had a great writing chemistry with them.
Sorry for the long post! I get excited talking about Kiss, they're my all time favourite band! I live and breathe Kiss! It's cool to have somewhere to get all this stuff out and discuss it!
