Love Gun
was
Kiss
' fifth studio album in three years (and seventh release overall, peaking at number four on
Billboard
), and proved to be the last release that the original lineup played on. By 1977,
merchandise was flooding the marketplace (lunch boxes, makeup kits, comic books, etc.), and it would ultimately lead to a
backlash in the '80s. But the band was still focused on their music for
, similar in sound and approach to
Rock and Roll Over
, their previous straight-ahead
rock
release. It included
Ace Frehley
's lead vocals on
"Shock Me,"
as well as one of
' best and most renowned hard rockers in the thunderous title track. The album's opener,
"I Stole Your Love,"
also served as the opening number on
' ensuing tour, while
"Christine Sixteen"
is one of the few
tracks to contain piano prominently.
"Almost Human"
is an underrated rocker and features a great
Jimi Hendrix-esque
guitar solo from
Frehley
(no doubt due to ex-
Hendrix
producer
Eddie Kramer
manning the boards again), while
"Plaster Caster"
is a tribute to the famous groupies of the same name. The only weak spots on an otherwise stellar album are an obvious
"Rock and Roll All Nite"
ripoff titled
"Tomorrow and Tonight,"
and a pointless remake of the
Phil Spector
-penned classic
"Then He Kissed Me"
(reworked as
"Then She Kissed Me"
). ~ Greg Prato