Bob Kulick - Skeletons in the Closet

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“Some musicians don’t need further presentations” is an old saying that you all known from reviews you saw on the past. In BOB KULICK’s case, I truly believe that you all heard about him before. So on “Skeletons in the Closet” you can bet that you’ll find an excellent work.

It’s a solo album filled with Hard Rock/Rock ‘n’ Roll/Glam Metal songs with a modern outfit. And by the names of the guests, you’ll have a clear idea of what Bob is about with his musical work. For those that still don’t know something about him, he is the guitarist that played some guitars on KISS’ “Alive 2”, co-wrote songs as “Killers” and “Naked City”, played as a guest on Paul Stanley’s 1979 solo album, as has works with MEAT LOAF, BALANCE, LOU REED, W.A.S.P., SKULL, MURDERER’S ROW and many others. He is also known as the older brother of former KISS guitarist, Bruce Kulick (who plays on this album too). I could spend the entire review talking about his past works, experience and career as a musician and producer, but I really think that it’s enough.

Bob co-produced the album with Bobby Ferrari at Vegas View Recording in Las Vegas, Nevada. Of course, that the sonority of “Skeletons in the Closet” is really amazing, being clear, heavy and aggressive, always done with extreme care, having in mind that the fan must understand what is being played to like it. On the album, new songs are placed along some tracks from other bands and projects that Bob played, as “India” and “Skeletons in the Closet” (from MURDERER'S ROW), “Eyes of a Stranger” and “Guitar Commandos” from SKULL (the last one with a duel between Bob and his brother Bruce). In other words: half of the album is composed by new songs, and the other half is a tribute for his past.

All the songs are excellent pieces of Rock ‘n’ Roll. But “Rich Man” and its nasty tempos, the Boogie of “Not Before You” (what a lovely presence of keyboards and fine vocals), the hooking and tender melodies of “Goldfinger”, the nasty Hard Rock of “Player” and “India”, that old and nasty charming melodies from Hard/Glam Metal from the 80s presented on “Can’t Stop the Rock” and on “Guitar Commandos” (do I need to speak about the six strings duel?), and… Who I am trying to fool? The entire album is wonderful, has that same magic that Hard Rock showed. And I don’t need to say that Bob is a fine guitarist, worried to create good songs (he doesn’t have to feed his ego with shreds or speed, because his playing is amazing as it is). So I have to be honest: “Skeletons in the Closet” fucked my personal top 10 choices of the year up!

Buy it, and don’t dare to ask anything before keeping in mind that “Skeletons in the Closet” is excellent!

Originality: 9
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 10
Production: 10