Paul Stanley – Live to Win
Paul Stanley has released his first solo album in 28 years. Does it live up to the hype? Read on.
If you are picking this up, and thinking you are going to get a new KISS sounding CD, you are wrong. I would say that Live to Win is closer to the Bon Jovi style of music than KISS.
This CD is laden with a bunch of pop metal tunes some of which are obviously better than others. The title track Live to Win is pretty decent, and is one of the better tracks on the CD. Lift sound more like a modern rock tune and isn’t too bad. Wake Up Screaming starts with that electronic drum beat thing going on, and for some reason, this song gets on my nerves. Stanley’s voice cracks in a couple of places here as well. Everytime I See Your Around slows it down, and is not a good song to follow up W.U.S. I usually have to skip those to songs.
Bulletproof picks up the pace a little bit. Its another decent Pop Metal effort. I could almost hear this one on a KISS album.
The lyrics for All About You makes me think about Happy Bunny. 
It is an ok song.
Second to None, slows it back down again, and it is a better song than I expected it to be. It’s Not Me is a mid tempo pop/rock and it is a pretty decent song.
Loving You Without You Now slows it back down again. I do not like this song at all. It grates on my nerves.
Where Angels Dare ends this disc with a pretty good rock number. If more guitars and bass were added to this song, this could also easily be a KISS song. Not a bad way to end this disc.
I have listened to this a few times, and I don’t love or hate this disc. I think the guitars and bass on some of these songs are pretty thin. Stanley’s voice is certainly the focal point of all of the songs here. Paul sounds great on most of the tracks, but I can hear his voice crack in a couple of places. Its a solid effort from Paul Stanley. This disc makes me wonder how good a new KISS CD with new material would sound today.
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Live to Win*
- Lift
- Wake Up Screaming
- Everytime I See You Around
- Bulletproof*
- All About You
- Second To None
- It’s Not Me
- Loving You Without You Now
- Where Angels Dare*
Best Tracks*
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I have always bought the Kiss albums because of Paul’s songs.Is there anyone that can say that it was Gene’s songs that sold the albums?But back to Paul’s solo. I hated the album.I bought it in the 2.oo dollar bin.I didn’t even dare go near the Gene Simmons album.
I have seen Gene Simmons solo album A**hole used many times, but I never wanted to spend my hard earned dollars on it.
Ok, this is coming from a HUGE Kiss fan from the 70’s and 80’s. Granted, I haven’t heard Pauls solo album but here’s the thing, I have come to learn in my old age (37) that both Paul and Gene are a living joke. They have both made a living, and a very good one, merchandizing and selling everything they possibly can, while making passable music on the side. After making 35 (?) records, they were bound to have a couple of decent songs over the years. Think about their good song percentage. Out of all the songs they have ever put down, how many are actually good? I’d say they’re shooting about one percent. These two are not musicians, they are businessmen, why would you expect good music from them? Just expect good business.
Funny, you don’t sound like a “HUGE Kiss fan”!
HUGE KISS fan here, BUT i was really dissapointed in this album,the 1st ten listens i thought it was pretty damm good, but after the newnest wore off, it actually if very unforgettable and wuite boring. I expected alot more from Paul Stanley. The best song on it is “All about you”, i like the 70s disco vibe it has.
LOL…yep…Asshole was a joke for sure.
If you aren’t expecting a KISS album, then you’ll love it. I’ve been a KISS diehard since 1977 and I really enjoy this album. Listen to Gene Simmons’ solo album ASSHOLE, then listen to Paul’s. After that, you’ll know who has the talent in KISS.
Yes, some songs sound very modern but PAUL STANLEY´s voice makes everything good and even die hard metal/hard rock fans of the 80s like me like this album. Killer review and killer cd lol.