The 1986 Listening Post - Keel - The Final Frontier

Keel - The Final Frontier

#152/1317

April 30 1986

Keel

The Final Frontier

Genre: 80s Metal

2.25 out of 5

This is my third go round with Keel. I hated the first, disliked the second and here we are at number three and…the best thing I can come up with is, hey, they made a third record.

Also, damn you Motley Crue. Smoking’ in the Boys room’s success means that every damned glam metal band has to do a crunchy cover of some past rock and roll hit and this time it’s Springsteen’s “Because the Night” and it’s porcelain bowl huggingly awful. 

Stuff like “Raised on Rock” repeats the AC/DC lets sing about rock formula but they just aren’t up to that task. It’s hollow. That’s what this whole record is, callous and hollow. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-final-frontier/1443511547

The 1985 Listening Post - Keel - The Right to Rock

Keel - The Right to Rock

#85

March 26 1985

Keel

The Right to Rock

2.25 out of 5

“The Right to Rock” is straight out of the ACDC playbook. Except that Ron Keel isn’t Brian Johnson. Instead, he sounds like he’s trying not to throw up while impersonating every 80s metal voice he’s ever heard. 

Is this just a Twisted Sister wannabe band? They prove that Gene Simmons is a shittier producer than he is a songwriter and he co-writes half the songs on this album. Listen to “Easier Said than Done”. It’s 80s era Kiss. I mean, it sounds JUST like Kiss. How did it not end up on a Kiss record? Did it? I mean, it sounds like every other Kiss song from the era. 

The rest of this is exactly what you’d expect. (Although the lead singer is marginally better than Graham Bonnet)

Just seeing if you’re paying attention. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-right-to-rock-25th-anniversary-edition/350502109

The 1984 Listening Post - Keel - Lay Down the Law

Keel - Lay Down the Law

#315
November 1984
Keel
Lay Down the Law
1.5 out of 5


Oh this is ugly.
The cover is ugly. The lead singer is ugly sounding. The band is a mess. Their best song is the Rolling Stones cover and even THAT is interminable.
I got through it but, ultimately, it's like Kiss if Kiss had the stomach flu and still thought they were hot shit.
I hope this band never shows up on our lists again.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lay-down-the-law/1049104650