Famous rock stars paying homage to a genre that inspired them is nothing new, though more often than not, these vanity projects manifest themselves in the form of well-meant but heavy-handed Americana "roots" collaborations or the inevitable jazz standards record. As the frontman for
Kiss,
Paul Stanley has made a lasting impact on rock & roll, marshalling one of the industry's most die-hard fan bases, the Kiss Army, well into its fifth decade of obsession. While
Stanley-penned classics like "Lick It Up" and "Hotter Than Hell" are far from subtle, his voice has always been a particularly nuanced instrument with more range than
Kiss' music usually allowed. Before donning the face paint and frightening generations of parents as
the Starchild,
Stanley was just another 1960s New York teenager listening to
Otis Redding, Philly soul, and
Motown hits on the radio. On
Now and Then, his first release fronting
Paul Stanley's Soul Station, he honors that particular era of R&B and soul, offering up vivid renditions of much-loved classics as well as five originals written in the same vein. Unmasked and guitarless in front of a nimble 15-piece band, his takes on evergreen hits like
Smokey Robinson's "The Tracks of My Tears" and
the Five Stairsteps' "O-o-h Child" are decidedly faithful, coming across as affectionate tributes rather than self-serving showpieces. Wielding his warm falsetto with ease,
Stanley gamely tackles
the Temptations' enduringly sweet "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)," sounding nothing like the hard rock god of "Love Gun" or "Detroit Rock City" fame. Dappled with horns, strings, backing singers, and a robust rhythm section,
Soul Station's arrangements are elegant and lively, pumping up the energy when needed without going over the top. A record like this could have easily gone south, but
Stanley's love for these songs is quite apparent, making
Now and Then a surprisingly pleasing listen. ~ Timothy Monger
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