Bruce
Kulick – BK3
Twenty 4 Records
www.kulick.net
Rating: B
Currently on the road slapping
the axe for Grand Funk, Bruce Kulick prepares to
release the third in a series of solo albums in
February simply titled BK3. This time around the
former Kiss guitarist has called in a few famous
friends for help, most notably his former boss, Gene
Simmons, and his offspring Nick Simmons. Gene
guests on the song “Ain’t Gonna Die” while Nick
makes his recording debut on the best song on the
CD, the epic “Hand of the King.” Someone needs to
snatch this youngster up as he has better sounding
chords than his pops.
The Knack’s Doug Fieger, who
nearly lost a battle to cancer, sings on the quirky
“Dirty Girl” while Bruce’s old band mate John Corabi
takes the microphone for “No Friend of Mine.” Steve
Lukathur and Kulick go head-to-head in a guitar
battle on the instrumental masterpiece “Between the
Lines.”
Kulick sings a few songs,
mostly the emotional slower ones. His voice is
unique, sublime and inviting. “I’ll Survive” and
“Life” show Bruce reflecting on all things human.
At the end of the day this is
the best of Bruce’s solo albums. The songwriting is
well thought out and the music is delivered with
strength when needed and finesse when called for.
BK3 shows many sides to Kulick’s complex
musical persona yet, as with most good albums, the
different styles work well together.
By Jeb Wright
