Episode 596. We discuss Creem Magazine’s review of Rock N Roll Over… you need to sit through seven paragraphs of “what the hell is he talking about” before we get to the actually album review, but it is worth it! KISS –

Rock And Roll Over by Billy Altman Creem Magazine Feb 1977

In the last few years we’ve seen the notion of image stretched beyond belief, because most of our biggest stars turn out to be all too ordinary offstage and off the record. If pop music reflects the times, and it usually does, then we’re all in the middle of one huge personality crisis. Which is why Kiss makes perfect sense. Their image, their act, is no more or no less an image or act than Elton John or Lou Reed or Rod Stewart. Rock ‘n’ Roll Over’s one concession to the need for an AM follow up to “Beth” is “Hard Luck Woman”, a hilarious compilation of four Rod Stewart songs roiled into one with Peter Criss singing in perfect Stewartian tones. It will probably annoy a lot of people and I like that. Because Kiss’s masks are as valid as Rod’s Sam Cooke vocal mask, aren’t they?

Rock ‘n’ Roll Over does what it says. It rock ‘n’ rolls over. And over. And over. It is loud. It is simple. And it is fun. “Mister Speed” has an Ace Frehley solo that is as succinct and devastating as that incredible break in Slade’s song “Mama, Weer All Crazee Now.” “See You In Your Dreams” is a primer in tongue-consciousness, creating spaces and then filling them with exactly what you anticipated. “Calling Dr. Love,” on the other hand, leaves all of the spaces open, causing a buildup of tension that doesn’t get resolved until the beginning of the next song Ladies Room.”

Add to this a little Hendrix overtone on “Baby Driver” and some Led Zep thump on “Makin’ Love” and you’ve got an amazing album from a band that knows just what rock ‘n’ roll is, and they don’t just like it, they love it. And I love it. And the little girl from Paterson loves it. And what the hell is wrong with fantasies, anyway?

Forget the haters, we won!

Press requests please contact Michael Brandvold at www.michaelbrandvold.com

Since launching in 2012 Three Sides of the Coin has been viewed or listened to over 6,000,000 times. Three Sides of the Coin has been joined by special guests including former KISS lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, Eddie Trunk, AEW Superstar and lead singer of Fozzy Chris Jericho, Angel lead guitarist Punky Meadows, Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook, Vinnie Vincent Invasion and Slaughter lead singer Mark Slaughter, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, comedian Craig Gass, KISS’ former business manager Chris Lendt, the Black Veil Brides’ Andy Biersack, Frank Munoz associate producer for Ace Frehley’s Anomaly album, award winning songwriter Adam Mitchell, Ed Kanon (Peter Criss’ drum tech), Kevin Valentine (drummer on KISS’ Psycho Circus album). Three Sides of the Coin was picked (October 2013) as a ‘What’s Hot’ podcast by Apple’s iTunes.

In the early ’90s, Michael Brandvold launched the fifth ever website on the Internet devoted to KISS, KISS Otaku. He built, launched and maintained Kissonline.com (KISS’ official web presence). He now owns Michael Brandvold Marketing, providing marketing services and digital strategy to musicians. Tommy Sommers spent 15 years on the record show circuit collecting, trading and selling memorabilia / Kiss merchandise. He is now a successful residential Real Estate agent in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Tommy has also produced a KISS song For The Oddfathers and is the owner of Rock Steady Digital Photography. Mark Cicchini, is a world renown KISS collector. KISS have used parts of Mark’s vast KISS collection for audio, video & print materials including their book NOTHIN TO LOSE, CD re release of the LOVE GUN album & the VH1 Ultimate Album KISS ALIVE! special as well as many other KISS projects. His wife also makes a mean meatloaf!!!

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