Artist: KISS Title: “Double Platinum” (remaster) Label: Universal Music Release Date: 9/16/1997 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 5/5
It was 1978 and KISS was one of the biggest selling bands in the world in terms of album sales and concert attendance. However, despite all the financial gain and public notoriety, there were members of the band who were growing discontent and wished to move on. It was Ace and Peter for the most part who wished to perform solo for a change. The group decision to disband temporarily so they could each record a solo album would prove to solve this dilemma for the time being, and just prior to these albums a comprehensive Greatest Hits would hit the shelves. In the vast KISS catalog this is the first such album of this type and it has long been referred to as one of the best hits compilations that they would release (there would be several more in the bands future). It would focus on the original classic lineup and feature music from the years 1974-1977 (or from the album KISS to Love Gun). Continue reading “Double Platinum” (remaster) by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “Unmasked” (remaster) Label: Mercury/Universal Release Date: 10/7/1997 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 3/5
After KISS found renewed commercial success with some of the tracks on “Dynasty” the band would once again test new waters by trying another vein of sound. “Dynasty” had some Disco moments which sent some fans off bridges while at the same time finding others who embraced their attempt at trying to be different. “Unmasked” would have a polished and very “Pop-sensible” feel to it and really distance more fans as a result of the yet again different vibe. The album opens with “Is That You?” which is a raucous stance of attitude ala KISS of old but this would be one of the only real powerhouse numbers on the album. The attempt to follow the hit-maker “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” led the band to giving us “Shandi” and “Tomorrow”. Sadly the two tracks would not find the level of commercial success as the ones on the preceding album. Ace Frehley sings three tracks on this one and they are among the best. “Two Sides Of The Coin”, “Talk To Me” and “Torpedo Girl” were excellent and not only gave some solid music but catchy lyrical content. Gene’s numbers of “Naked City” and “She’s So European” seemed to move him from the menacing Demon just a little more. The album itself was not one of my personal favorites but I did like half of it and I think most KISS fans felt the same way. I admit that songs like “You’re All That I Want” and “Easy As It Seems” were Pop drivel and made the band look like some sort of joke rather than the Rock super heroes that they actually were. The recording of this album also came with the realization that original member Peter Criss was no longer part of the lineup. Drumming was performed by studio drummer Anton Fig who not only took the drumming up a notch on some tracks but introduced a double-bass drum feel to some of the songs. The KISS purest might argue some of these points and make it part of their collection just the same, but for the most part this is among the weakest in the bands large back catalog. Continue reading “Unmasked” (remaster) by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “Dressed To Kill” (remaster) Label: Mercury/Universal Release Date: 7/15/1997 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 8/10
The third album by KISS would be the one that found the band in desperate need of a hit. Their shows were consistent sellouts by this point in 1975 but despite this fact – the albums were not selling well at all. “KISS” and “Hotter Than Hell” showed people what KISS was all about but for some reason the world at large was still unaware and the sales showed this in black and white. “Dressed To Kill” would be a finely polished Rock recording with tunes such as “C’mon And Love Me” and “Room Service” but the group would find this single with the albums closer. After giving you some catchy numbers, it would lay you out with the coupe-de-grace. It was a song that would become the Anthem that would define the band and it has stood strong in the world of music for decades; the song was “Rock And Roll All Nite”. The track itself seemed simple and its lyrical content was right to the point about their life and desires as they aimed for world domination. There was a high level of appeal in the driving beat of the song but its chorus would especially be memorable based on its easy to sing-along with composition. This track would become the signature track for KISS and the soon to be recorded “Alive” release would set the world on its ear and make KISS a household name. Other songs of note are “Rock Bottom” with its amazing and calm intro before a bombast of Rock power and “She” which has some ripping guitar work and primal drive to it. This is a recommended release more so than “Hotter Than Hell” in my KISS book. Continue reading “Dressed To Kill” (remaster) by KISS→
Artist: KISS: Gene Simmons Title: “Gene Simmons Solo” (remaster) Label: Mercury/Universal Release Date: 9/18/1978 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 3/5
In 1978, KISS did the unthinkable and released solo albums for each individual member of the group. It allowed the band to showcase what drove them musically on an individual level. Gene’s album would be the most diverse of the four recordings and would have a wide varity of musical guest stars offering up their help to be a part of the recording and I think this is what makes it “the biggest” in terms of the overall production in comparison to his other KISS peers. The guest stars included Michael Des Barres, Cher, Donna Summer and an at the time unknown Katey Sagal (you know her as Peg from “Married With Children of course). There were even members of “Beatlemania” and the legendary Bob Seger. Whew what a roster but what kind of album would this become with that kind of roster? Simply put a very “different” one from that which you might expect. Continue reading “Gene Simmons Solo” (remaster) by KISS→
Artist: KISS Title: “Alive II” (remaster) Label: Mercury/Universal Release Date: 8/12/1997 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 9/10
Recorded during the “Love Gun Tour” of 1977, the album Alive II is both a special and a powerful one from the second it begins. At the time before this album I remembered only listening to KISS a little bit yet when life was set to change that with the album hitting the record shops (yes, records were sold in shops once upon a time). I remember clearly almost blowing up the family stereo as the announcer growled “You Wanted The Best And You Got The Best”. The explosions literally shaking the house and making my Mother scream at me more than usual. As a budding musician as well I made sure to learn this album from top to bottom. While I don’t do that much anymore I am pretty sure that I can still knock out a bunch of these songs from memory. To this very day it remains one of my favorites in their catalog because it was among the first records I was allowed to buy and it had so many of the songs that were on the radio (“Dr. Love”, “Christine Sixteen” & “Detroit Rock City”). Alive II would focus on the three releases that followed the classic concert release Alive featuring material from “Destroyer”, “Love Gun” and “Rock & Roll Over”. The band was a little heavier now and walked a little taller over the competition – stepping over them in lizard faced platform boots. The stronger emphasis on their individual identities and bombastic shows made them officially referred to as Hard Rock super-heroes by this point. There was not a member of the now formed KISS Army that would argue this fact with you. KISS ruled, and that was that. While Alive is considered the original masterpiece, Alive II is a lot cleaner and tighter if you asked me. Songs like “King Of The Night Time World” and “I Want You” literally explode like the firebombs presented during the show. There is a hotter drum solo by Peter Criss and not only do we get a unique guitar solo from Frehley but we hear him sing live for the first time on record during “Shock Me”. Continue reading “Alive II” (remaster) by KISS→
