BRUCE KULICK - Transformer

Posted: 8/25/05

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Rock / Hard Rock

Released: 2003

Artist URL: www.kulick.net

Bruce Kulick joined KISS during their 1984 Animalize tour, and stayed with the band until their big reunion in 1996.  After his exit from Kiss, he tried to get Union going with John Corabi but it just didn't take off.  In last few years, he even survived getting shot during a random shooting after leaving a nightclub in California.  Currently, he does guitar clinics and is a member of Grand Funk.  He also released this solo album, Transformer, independently in 2003. 

With a title like Transformer, you get images of searing guitar licks, but the album title is somewhat misleading, as much of the disc has a melodic and even laid back structure.  While you might expect Transformer to be an all instrumental album, it isn't. Bruce attempts to display his songwriting skills, as opposed to just his guitar virtuosity. Bruce made a daring move and decided to add his vocals to many of the songs, but while his guitar playing is solid, things go terribly wrong in the vocal department.  Bruce just isn't a singer and sounds awkward as hell and even out of key.  John Corabi handles vocals on one song, "It's Just My Life," and this turns out just fine.  Unfortunately, Bruce did not get John to sing on the entire album.  I guess that would not have made sense though, because then it just would have been a Union record.  Another problem is that some songs suffer from bad/goofy/cheesy lyrics.  "All That I need" has lyrics like 'Now your body's all glistening/I'm starting' to sweat/Don't you hear my heart poundin' from what I'm hoping to get."  Additionally, songs like "Beautiful To Me" and "Truth Or Dare" are so laid back that they are not going to interest his KISS fanbase.

The Bloody Truth: Bruce is a more than competent guitarist and if I could tune out his vocals, I would say that Bruce does display his ability to play different styles with ease.  Honestly, though, his capability of writing vocal melodies is less than spectacular and his singing ability is atrocious.  He should have either had someone else sing on the entire album or just did a guitar instrumental album.  Either way songs like "All That I Need" need to go in the trash.  Listen before you buy this one.