Audio Dog

On his first-ever solo album, 2001's Audio Dog, former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick presents an album that -- rather expectedly -- doesn't stray far from the renowned Kiss sound. Although his songwriting contributions while a member of Kiss were never as pronounced as those by founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, he has certainly absorbed their songwriting styles, as most of the tracks on Audio Dog would've sounded right at home on a late '80s or early '90s Kiss release. This is especially evident on the album's opening and closing tracks -- "Pair of Dice" and "Skydome," respectively -- while the slow and bluesy "Liar" allows Kulick to show off his six-string chops. Kulick also supplies lead vocals throughout the album, and despite his voice not being as strong as his former Kiss mates, it certainly doesn't hinder such tracks as "Strange to Me" and "Need Me." Compared to the other solo albums released by Kiss members past and present circa the early 21st century, Audio Dog is certainly one of the better ones, as well as one of the most Kiss-like.