Review Summary: Sometimes you just need a slice of pure rock n roll
Mr. Frehley had an ace up his sleeve to make the news again: Just as Kiss decided to say goodbye and their fanbase was mourning, the legendary Spaceman decided to land on Earth to release a magnificent album, proving wrong anyone who thought that the legacy of the historic band ends with Gene and Paul.
10,000 Volts comfortably fills the void left by Kiss, with eleven songs of electrifying dynamite, which have nothing to envy from Sonic Boom and Monster, i.e. the last two albums of rock holy monsters. In fact, there were moments while listening to Ace’s new record, when the original coolness of the New Yorker was so addictively captured in his charming compositions, that memories of Unmasked and his first personal record were awakened!
If one wonders what the 72-year-old legend has to offer in the life-saving year 2024, the answer is simplicity, directness, catchy choruses and fiery solos. Ace Frehley doesn’t waste a moment blabbering from 10,000 Volts’ 40-minute total, he has chopped away the excess to leave only the juice. His co-writing with Trixter’s Steve Brown proved to be a miracle, each track stuck in your head, in the most simple yet meaningful way that rock n roll has to offer.
The album is clearly divided into two parts, where the first half of the album confirms the frenetic status of Spaceman who gives generous smiles and catchy melodies. The single “10,000 Volts” – “Walkin on the moon” take their place in the pace of the record and immediately stand out as a little time machine in the 70s, back in simpler times when you just wanted a good riff and volume to stand out. The first breath comes with the romantic “Back in my arms again”, which takes us back to our first kiss, our first love disappointments, the first heartbreaks.
I want to focus specifically on the explosive two punch of “Fightin for Life” and “Blinded” right in the middle of the album, where the atmosphere suddenly darkens and Ace goes wild, much to my surprise. They are by far the sharpest songs on the album, and they even differ lyrically, the former as an autobiographical flashback to Frehley’s wild life and the latter as a critique of the impact of technology and science on our lives. You didn’t expect that, did you? I love Ace for the eternal moments of carefree and sunny fun that he offers us from 1974 to the present day, but I appreciate unimaginably when he manages to escape from the familiar mold.
Ace’s playing is unquestionable, he has an old fashioned yet totally personal style that can make the simplest riff sound fun and party ready. On the other hand, his vocals are clearly a matter of taste. Personally, i think they fit his music perfectly, with this almost narrative style of interpretation, his swagger and street-wise personality makes everything more colourful. Just listen to “Life of a Stranger” and tell me it didn’t remind you of Ozzy’s most emotional moments, it completely makes sense.
Such records as 10,000 Volts can fool you at first, as they come in oversimplified fashion. At first you think they have nothing to offer you, like another night out with the regular gang. But, like a new acquaintance, song by song, drink by drink, it drops your defenses and intoxicates you. After 40 minutes, it has won you over, because life is simple after all.
Ace Frehley once again aimed for our hearts and he hit a pure home run.
