Reviews .:. Music from The FAQ

Amazing true story of a young immigrant

Reviews

May 9, 2008 - originally published on the reviewers private blog and reproduced on the KissFAQ forum.

CD – 'Music From The FAQ'
ARTIST – Various
LABEL – None. For free download only.
YEAR – 2008

Tribute albums are almost always hit and miss affairs. You tend to get radically altered versions of songs you’d rather not have changed in any way, and alternatively you get carbon copies of the originals and question why you would want an exact replica of the original.

But some of these ‘tributes’ should be approached differently to others.

And so to 'Music From The FAQ'.

KISSFAQ is the net’s premier information site, which has a very active forum. On this forum are a motley bunch of diehard fans that decided to get together and record their versions of KISS songs. We’re talking home-made tributes on a strict time limit here … no big studios, no fancy, big budget productions … just a lot of passion for the subject and, as it turns out, a whole lotta talent. Most of you here will already know of my history with KISS (if you haven’t just click the tag below) and you’d probably expect me to cast a rather critical ear over this collection of 23 songs.

Not so.

It doesn’t matter how minimal the production is at times, or how good the musicianship is. This is about people taking their fave songs and presenting them from the heart… and it works like crazy!!

If you’re a KISS fan you will ‘get’ this s**t!

Without going into minute detail about each song, I’ll start with the more altered arrangements first;

It all kicks off with Beeblesaurus’ version of ‘Uh! All Night’ from my least favorite era of the band. The cock rock cheese is totally stripped away and this version positively bounces along, sounding like it coulda sprung from the mid-late 60s (kinda Doors-ish actually) and it’s catchy as hell. Beeblesaurus also weigh in with a very different take on Ace’s ‘What’s On Your Mind’. This gently loping, half-paced rendition is aided by a dainty piano figure throughout and it’s complemented by a neat double tracked vocal that soothes as it pleases. I’d love to hear an album’s worth from these guys Terrific stuff indeed.

Of particular note are the amazing acoustic versions of some lesser known KISS klassics. 2000 Man’s ‘I Can’t Stop The Rain’ is a superb Peter Criss song and this version does it justice… and then some! It features a stunningly beautiful female vocal, great guitar and a great arrangement, as does their version of ‘Hard Luck Woman’. Same immaculate voice and guitar, same impact.

Another acoustic beauty is Necronomicon’s ‘Tomorrow’. Again featuring a great female vocal, (complete with superb harmonies) it’s a wonderfully peeled back version of a great pop song.

Romonovich’s version of Gene’s ‘Mr Make Believe’ is gorgeous, with yet another superb vocal performance and great acoustic chops. The Demon would (and should) be impressed.

Another Peter song featured (and there are surprisingly, but happily, quite a few here) is Les Paul’s ‘Don’t You Let Me Down’. The original, almost reggae tinged, arrangement gives way to a more straight ahead rock and roll chug, more in line with the tastes of the average rocker KISS fan.

One of the most fun songs is the Coal Bin Bros entry ‘Dirty Sugar’, which melds two Criss songs (Dirty Livin’ & That’s The Kinda Sugar Papa Likes) into one awesomely funky mix, complete with an opening twin kazoo attack (I kid you not!), bells, glockenspiel and some funked up rock and roll guitar. This really is an odd, but inspiring entry. Sounds like there was some serious, yet tongue in cheek, KISS lovin’ going on during the recording of this one.

The instrumentalists also get their shot, with some inspired entries dotting the CD. Mr Blackwell’s stunning ‘Reason To Live’ showcases some high quality acoustic and electric virtuosity that never overshadows the actual song. From it’s initial George Benson-ish flourishes to it’s brilliant Vai-esque lead guitar(s), this one’s worthy of any big label tribute. Simply superb.

LoveGun07’s ‘Shandi’ is another instrumental winner, pared back to an acoustic guitar with a tasty, wailing lead prevailing throughout. A more crunching instrumental is his take of ‘Love Gun’, with it’s biting leads replacing the Starchild’s vocals.

Ypke’s ‘electro acoustic’ version of Lick It Up has one of the more passionate vocals of the project and a simplicity that just plain ‘works’.

‘Nightmare’ is an instrumental from Cosmicblues that has great chops and a lotta atmosphere. I’d like to hear more of this guy’s stuff.

The more faithful to the original arrangements on here are no less impressive!

Yahoo & The Beaters’ c-r-r-r-unchy version of War Machine is awesome in it’s ferocity. A great vocal and hot, stinging leads are highlights of this lumbering, demonic attack. Their version of 'Strange Ways' is a f**king classic! With a nod to The Darkness in the vocals and a heavy, heavy vibe, this one's sure to please the most ardent KISS headbanger.

Evo999 weighs in with two sterling efforts (Mr Speed & Rip It Out). Both feature delightfully dirty and faithful guitars and excellent vocals. If this guy ain’t wailin’ up front for some band somewhere, then he should be.

From Dressed To Kiss comes ‘Christine Sixteen’, an old fave of mine in case ya didn’t know! Everything is sounding great here, with nice guitars, a twin lead expertly executed and neato vocals throughout. Just to prove he’s my sorta guy, he tackles another Simmons favorite of mine, the sleaze laden ‘Ladies In Waiting’……and nails it in the process!

im93 comes up trumps with ‘Love Her All I Can’ too. Tight and punchy, as per the KISS version, with a vocal (and musicianship to match) that would make the Starry Eyed dude smile, if only he’d take the time out from painting f**king circles to notice (a FAQ in-joke folks, forget it).

Iris chips in with a steely version of ‘Detroit Rock City’. It takes balls to tackle a classic like this and it takes nerve to pull it off. Kudos to the man!

Tommy Thayer’s… oops, Space Ace’s ‘Shock Me’ is next, courtesy of Moor Cowbell and it smokes, as does it’s solo. Solid and metallic, it’s a beauty.

That leaves the most ambitious track… gshaller’s ‘1978 (Kiss Me). A mishmash of bits and pieces from the 1978 KISS solo albums all strung together with such precision and care that it couldn’t fail to impress with it’s complexity. Who does this f**king Brian Shaller or Gary Wilson think he is!!?? Anyways, there’s more than a hint of Beach Boys here to complement the many vocal layers and instrumentation to please even the most ardent BB or KISS devotee. Creative chap is old Gazza.

Really, I’m not doing these songs or the guys that created them justice by skimming through like this (and for that I humbly apologise) so please go to the link provided below and make your own minds up. It’s worth it.

After all, how many compilations do you know of that have a twin kazoo attack, huh?