Strip away the excessive pyrotechnics, makeup and extreme chauvinism and Paul Stanley is just another 1970’s rocker looking to outshine the stigma of his band KISS.

“Live to Win” is Stanley’s first solo release since 1978 and a far cry from the Neanderthal rock he has churned out on KISS albums for the last 32 years.

Anyone familiar with Stanley’s other solo release knows he likes ballads, and “Live to Win” has no shortage of them. Oddly, there is very little rock-oriented material on the album; many of the songs are suited for Top 40 Radio — a place KISS is completely unfamiliar with — and feature the same generic hooks that often plague the singer-songwriter genre. While the writing isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just plain boring at times.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that Stanley’s solo album sounds like it was produced by Aaron Carter, the songs are devoid of any decent guitar playing whatsoever.

Stanley has worked with several great guitarists (Ace Frehley, Bob Kulick) during his career and should have made space on the recording for more guitar solos and better instrumental parts.

His song-writing won’t be mistaken for Lennon or McCartney anytime soon, but the man can still sing and handles the album’s soft, painfully sweet songs with ease.

Unfortunately, his voice is the only acceptable reason for listening to this pile of contemporary rock garbage.

Stanley needs to remember the songs and loud guitars next time around.