Artist: KISS Title: “The Very Best Of KISS”
Label: Mercury/Universal Release Date: 8/27/2002 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 8/10
Despite this being yet another greatest hits compilation from KISS, I felt this one was pretty good as a whole. Focusing its content on the band’s makeup years, the release of “The Very Best Of KISS” gives you a 21 song spectrum of some anthems and soon to be classics. Most of the standards are present and that is because KISS is known for including a lot of the same songs on these releases. It’s hard to envision a hits package from the foursome with no “Detroit Rock City” or “Shout It Out Loud” (both present by the way). Some interesting aspects were the inclusion of only one solo album track: the Ace Frehley mega hit “New York Groove”. It’s pretty much the most well known track from all four of the solo albums. Unlike many other hits releases, this one does not include any new recordings. While the albums span the band’s history from their debut “KISS” until “Revenge”; nothing from “Asylum”, “Animalize”, “Crazy Nights”, or “Hot In The Shade” is present on this. An album like this is not much for KISS fans unless they want a solid compilation for the car or Ipod device. It is, however, perfect as a gift for someone who is looking into the band and might have some overall interest in their music. There’s enough present on this CD to give you a healthy sample of the best years in the band’s history. The short and catchy tunes are bound to make a fan even of the most casual listener. So get out that greasepaint and spread the word of KISS. Continue reading “The Very Best Of KISS” by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “eXposed” Label: Universal Music Release Date: 2/19/2002 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 7.5/10
I remember when this DVD first came out as a VHS tape very clearly. When it was advertised we were told that not only would we get to have a lot of KISS’ videos on one tape but we would also for the first time-ever get an authorized product that featured 8 makeup years live performances. These clips would range from very early in the career to just before the makeup was taken off. Originally released in 1987 I don’t think that there was a KISS fan in existence who did not race to the store to get a copy. The video was setup as a “mock-umentary” with a member of the short-lived television show “Fridays” as the host who would be interviewing the members of KISS in their homes on a normal day. Obviously the outrageous settings of these homes was not true to what living was like for them yet in the needs of the video it fit in. Cutting between comedic lines we do get some good information on some of these clips and the old live performances especially. The earliest footage suffers a little due to its time of record while the later material such as the 1977 stuff is crystal clear and makes you long for a full show. At the time the band was Gene, Paul and Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick and sadly these last two members are hardly visible in the video and do more of a “Walk-In” appearance rather than contribute to anything being discussed. There is no commentary from original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss either. Continue reading “KISS: eXposed” by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection – The Best Of KISS v.2” Label: Mercury/Universal Records Release Date: 6/15/2004 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 5/10
Released as a follow-up to the 1st volume in the Millennium Collection comes volume II which continues its “Best Of KISS” editions. The first CD handled a brief sampling of the bands earlier material from the “KISS” to “Dynasty” albums. This release delivers some choices from “Creatures Of The Night” to “Hot In The Shade” and as you can see the pickings are on the slim side. These releases under the “20th Century Masters” label seem to be merely a nice way to introduce a person to a particular band as they leave far too many seminal tracks off to fully be a “Best Of” with any note to it. In a nutshell this CD features 2 songs from each of the 6 albums that it covers and while there are a few highlights among them they have left off tracks that should be represented. For an introduction piece this is fine but for a retrospective piece it falls very short. This CD leaves off “Revenge”, “Carnival Of Souls” and “Psycho Circus” so perhaps a Volume 3 was being planned but of that I am not all that certain. Continue reading “20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection 2” by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “Konfidential & X-Treme Closeup” Label: Universal Music Release Date: 1/25/2005 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 8/10
This DVD finds two individual VHS tapes that were released in the nineties finding a new home on one single DVD release. As someone who owned these originally and finding my own copies in sore need of replacement I was very happy to see them come out in this fashion. Given they are two unique programs we will address them as such for the review.
KISS: Konfidential: This was a live concert that featured the “Revenge” lineup of Simmons, Stanley, Eric Singer & Bruce Kulick. The concert as a whole is good and is also what viewers will find on the CD for “Alive III”. As the concert plays the band interlaces a lot of backstage and studio banter with the members of the group. Some of it is amusing and some is filler but it is still fun to see KISS in a relaxed manner. With their album “Revenge” we would find KISS at their strongest with a Hard Rock/Metal record that showed that they were not only back but meant business. I would have preferred that the bantering and discussions be left as a bonus which would allow for the show to be watched alone but this DVD is essentially a straight transfer of the original VHS . There are also four full makeup era clips from live shows around 1975-1977 and those always make for fun watching. Seeing these will probably cause the same reaction in you as other fans who are demanding full concert releases from these years. The teaser clips prove to us that they have this footage and it is high time for their release on individual products. Continue reading “Konfidential & X-Treme Closeup” [DVD] by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “20th Century Masters: The Best Of KISS – The DVD Collection” Label: Universal Music Release Date: 3/30/2004 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 1/10
I love KISS and there is no question about it. Yet in all that love of everything, or almost everything that bears the brand that I can possibly buy – this particular item goes down as perhaps the most sub-par of the entire batch of what one can own on video. I come to this conclusion based entirely on the minimal amount of content that we are given for it is quite ridiculous. Releasing five KISS videos all from what seem to be an album apiece this DVD is not a collection by any means and instead a mere handful. Perhaps there was some legal issue with Universal releasing a larger and more content rich product but I feel this was done without KISS’ blessing or approval. I do know that a lot more KISS videos exist even from the time frame that this piece supposedly covers. In that I can’t recommend this for any fan of the group in any fashion whatsoever and as a matter of fact I watched a friend’s to even review it. That is how much a disappointment I had felt it was. If you are wondering that if by passing on this you be kept from owning these videos then you will be happy to know that all are available in some fashion on KISS licensed releases. You are better served by purchasing either “KISS Exposed” or KISS X-Treme Closeup” for they have these clips and a whole lot more. Leave this on the shelf at all costs and save your money for something else. You will thank me later, I just know it.
Track Listing:
1. I Love It Loud
2. Lick It Up
3. Heaven’s On Fire
4. Tears Are Falling
5. Crazy, Crazy Nights
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