Ace Frehley: Space Invader

Ace Frehley is the most affable member of the original KISS and is responsible for more kids picking up guitars during the 1970s than anyone. He’s a cool guy. His output since leaving KISS more than 30 years ago has been minimal but often impressive. So news that the Spaceman was returning with a new one five years after 2009’s Anomaly was more than welcome. Unfortunately the album doesn’t quite sing like the Frehley material of old. Yeah, his lead guitar playing is strong and yeah, his idiosyncratic voice has its charms, but much of the material is forgettable, most of the songs washing one into the other into the other. A skilled interpreter of outside material, his version of “The Joker” doesn’t quite have the gas one would hope for from this music legend. It’s good to have Frehley back and no doubt he’ll continue to be one of the most revered figures in rock guitar, but Space Invader won’t be doing much to enhance his reputation.