Tunes: Spaceman (2018), by Ace Frehley

The Space Ace is back!

Please note that this album review includes my review from Amazon and additional comments.

Ace looks and sounds better than he has in years on Spaceman. Of all of his recent releases (from Anomaly in 2009 and on), this album has the best production quality. I found Space Invader and Origins, Vol. 1 to be lacking in sound quality, but Spaceman more than makes up for it.

The album features two cuts co-written and performed with former KISS bandmate Gene Simmons. Simmons’ influence is heavy on the album’s opener, Without You I’m Nothing, especially in the lyrics, and can also be felt in Your Wish Is My Command. 

There are no soft tracks on this album (as expected) and Ace sounds like he’s really enjoying himself on the harder tracks such as Bronx Boy (my favorite track on the album) and Off My Back.

Like all of his other solo efforts, Ace included a cover tune. This time around he tackled I Wanna Go Back, which was a big hit for Eddie Money in the mid 1980’s. Ace’s version comes across a tad slower but just as enjoyable. Ace also included an instrumental piece, Quantum Flux, which showcases the Space Ace’s talents.

This album does not disappoint. In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting much from Ace with this release. He “shocked me” with this album and how solid it really is compared to his other recent releases. Many of the lyrics hearken back to his youth and his early years in rock n’ roll. That seems to be a theme with many of the older rockers that are still around and still putting out original music. No matter the subject, though, Spaceman is a solid effort and I recommend any fan of Ace pick it up and give it a listen.

There seems to be a lot of talk (primarily rumors) about Ace and Peter Criss (the Catman) possibly rejoining KISS for their End of the Road tour.  I seriously doubt that this will happen, especially considering the fact that Tommy Thayer has been the band’s lead guitarist since 2002 and Eric Singer has been hitting the drums for the band longer than any other drummer.  Criss has made it clear on numerous occasions that he is done with the band and touring as a solo artist as well.  I’d still love to see both of them pop up for a few shows here and there, especially the band’s final show, even if it’s just to perform one or two songs.

Ace really outdid himself with this album.  Hopefully I’ll get to catch him on tour.  Let me know what you think about the album in the comments section.  As always, thanks for reading.  More posts will be coming very soon.