Ace Frehley ANOMALY DELUXE

When all four original members of Kiss released solo albums in 1978, critics and fans alike hailed lead guitarist Ace Frehley's disc as the best of the bunch. Additionally, Frehley was the only one to score a genuine hit (an energetic cover of Hello's "Back in the New York Groove"). Though the Bronx-born guitarist/singer found limited post-Kiss chart success with his band Frehley's Comet, he never seemed to be able to follow through on the creative promise of ACE FREHLEY or classic Frehley-penned Kiss tracks such as "Shock Me" and "Hard Times." 2009's ANOMALY, however, surprised even longtime supporters with its forceful, confident performances and sharp songwriting. Mixing Kiss's tight '70s hard rock sound with a bit of '80s pop metal tunefulness and '00s-style, bone-crushing, stoner metal-esque guitars, the album re-made a case for Frehley as one of rock's most potent, soulful axe-slingers. The hard-grooving "Pain in the Neck" and opening track "Foxy & Free" (which briefly refere