KISS Retrospective part 4:ALIVE(1975)

By 1975, KISS were facing near exctinction. While they built up a good following in the live circuit, their albums failed to sell big numbers. They just couldn't translate exactly what made them so hot live. The idea was then to record a live album. Essentially four sides of KISS' then most well known songs "live". The band recorded multiple shows including ones in Detroit and Cleveland for what would be at the time, their biggest album.

The album boasted mostly the best of the best from the first three releases including incredible renditions of songs like "Black Diamond", "Hotter Than Hell" and even a killer extended version of "100,000 years". This would also produce their first hit, the live rendition of "rock n roll all nite" which is the version that is played on every classic rock station. The songs especially from "Dressed To Kill" sound alot better here with alot more power behind them. The production, though dubbed to enhance the experience and tighten up live mess ups, still leaves enough to believe that this is what a perfect 70s KISS show may have sounded like.

Overall, this album I give an 8.5 out of 10. Theres a few songs I wouldve loved here in place of others but this album is really what made the double live album a huge deal. It essentially spawned the idea that when you record one, youve made it. Thin Lizzy, UFO, Cheap Trick and plenty of others would make major career highlights with this format and for KISS really did pioneer it for hard rock and heavy metal going forward. 

KISS retrospective-part 3:Dressed To Kill(1975)

Barely over a year since KISS released their debut, the band was in dire straights. Casablanca Records was out of money and the band though a hot commodity live, were selling little records. It was so desperate that for their 3rd album Neil Bogart, the head of their label, produced as they couldn't hire a producer. This album would produce some of KISS' best known songs and its tour would finally help pay off their dues.

Track List

1.Room Service-A faster rocker opening up the album. The production right away feels a bit less exciting where every instrument feels a bit...thin. However this is a decent opener that im sure live was quite powerful. 

2.Two Timer-This one slows down the tempo to a bit of a bluesy rock feel. The chorus is pretty catchy as well with a nice swagger to it. This one has a bit of a heavier feel to it as well.

3.Ladies In Waiting-This one feels like its a bit empty like the tempo never got to where it really wanted to go by the chorus. Just feels a bit like its lacking power. This one has always felt a little forgettable to me.

4.Getaway-The energy goes up a bit here but the guitars still sound a bit flat. Another song im sure benefited in the live scene. The chorus I will say is pretty damn catchy though and the solo sounds great.

5.Rock Bottom-Opening with some extended acoustic guitar playing, this one launches into the hardest rocking tune so far. The energy feels higher than the previous few tracks. This is one of the highlights I tend to throw out when this album is mentioned.

6.C'mon and Love Me-This is, to me, the standout track on the album. Pauls vocals are very catchy and I love Ace's high string bends it just has the DNA of a great KISS tune.

7 Anything For My Baby-At first, the gang vocals sound really off but as the song progresses they sound a lot better fitted. Its a pretty catchy pop rock number but its one that took a few listens for me to get into. Its definitely another highlight.

8.She-This one steals some of the heaviness from the last two albums with a real good main riff. This one could have easily been on Hotter than Hell. There is some great vocal harmonization going on as well. 

9.Lover Her All I Can-This one has a good upbeat riff to it and I can feel that if the production wasnt as thin, it would pack alot more powerful. As it is though its a pretty decent track especially this far into the album. 

10.Rock and Roll All Nite-The one KISS song im sure noone can ever listen to again its so overplayed. Well the live version anyways. Listening to it more critically there is some interesting things going on such as Genes busy bassline and Ace's solo will always be the best part. A good song to end the album no matter how many times its been beaten into our heads.

Overall, the album gets a 7 out of 10. This one personally is the weakest out of the first three records. The album doesnt start to really sink in until about 4 songs in. The production also just feels incredibly thin and takes away what could make some of the lesser songs have more staying power. However, the songs that are good are VERY good and make the album still worth a listen for those tracks alone. Now with album three under their belt, the band figured in order to really make a mark in the industry it was time to bring the excitement of the live show to wax and here is where the major turning point for the band would happen.

KISS Retrospective part 2:Hotter Than Hell (1974)

Not even a year later in the fall of 1974, KISS kept the flame going with their sophmore album Hotter Than Hell. Boasting 10 tracks that were both carry overs from the previous albums sessions as well as new tracks, this album right away felt like something way different from their first.

Track List

1.Got To Choose- Right away this album feels alot heavier than the first. The very bassy and grungy production is very welcome. This track is a slower rocker but has this sludgy live vibe about it I really like. It doesn't hit as hard as "Strutter" but its  got that heavy yet accessible feeling in spades.

2.Parasite-The abosolute highlight on this album. The frantic feel of the main riff always hits hard. I always got heavy Budgie vibes from this song with the bass riff following the guitars close. Genes voice also fits the tune very well with a simple yet effective chorus. Ace was apparently suppose to sing this one originally which wouldve been awesome to hear. 

3.Goin' Blind- this song goes for a more ballad type vibe but again everything has this growl to it that really gives it an edge. Not an amazing tune but not bad by any means. The solo however, kicks alot of ass.

4.Hotter Than Hell-The classic title track that has some great sounding guitars and this simple but very catchy chorus. Ace's raw soloing and genese bass playing are top notch here as well.

5.Let Me Go, Rock N Roll-Another high energy absolute classic. The chorus is just made for the live stage especially. Another highlight for Ace's swaggering hard rocking soloing. Also love the sound of Petrs drums here they sound so big.

6.All The Way-Side two has a lot of deeper cuts opening with this one. Very simple like the title track in structure but again with this big chorus that gets you hooked after a few listens. This is total oldschool hard rock.

7.Watchin' You-Arguably the second or third heaviest song on the album. The sludgy dirty feeling here is nearly unmatched by any other tune on the album. There is alot of great riffing and the vocals feel so raw. This is one especially that needs to be listened to on a full stereo.

8.Mainline-Another more kind of 50s inspired rocker which totally couldve been a radio hit at the time. Peters vocals work very well for it. Again, simple but effective!

9.Comin' Home- A sludgy yet upbeat rocker. I remember first hearing this and not being so much into it. However, after hearing it on my stereo it hits alot harder and is another one that would do very well live.

10.Strange Ways-the band ends the album with a darker riff heavy rocker that pulls no punches. This is another one of my favorite tunes on the album for how dirty it sounds. Ace's flanged out solo is another major highlight here too and really showcases his playing. 

Overall, This one gets a 9.5 out of 10. Not as memorable in the sense as their debut but a whole lot heavier. This album is bursting with hidden gems and flows just a bit better. Unfortunately at the time the sales on this one fizzled quite fast but it has become a fan favorite for big and casual fans alike. With the band not quickly becoming a radio hit and their lable Caseblanca coming closer to sinking, they would give it one more studio effort before cutting their losses and daring to try even riskier moves.

KISS Retrospective part 1:KISS(1974)

KISS are a band that have always passed by and didn't cause much of an impact for me. When I first got into hard rock and metal i always swore by ACDC, Metallica, the usuals but never KISS. However, lately ive been curious about what I may have been missing and started digging into the lesser known cuts. Finally it clicked that KISS have alot better straight ahead rock tunes than I gave them credit for. Then I figured why not go big? Not just talk about one album but because its KISS, I want to talk every album and significant live releases as with this band they are as important as the studio releases! So get your face paint, your pyro and your fake blood as we start at the beginning with KISS' self titled debut!

1.Strutter-Opening with Peter Criss' heavy drum opening, this song has always been instantly recognizable. I remember being a kid playing Grand Theft Auto San Andreas blasting this song. Its got that great rock bite in the riffs but perfect amounts of accessibility in Pauls voice. I also love Genes busy bassline and Aces solo just has a great swagger.

2.Nothin To Lose-that chorus riff always gets me its got such a cool feel it while the rest of the song has a bit of a stones/chuck berry groove going on but with more bite especially with Genes more overdriven bass.

3.Firehouse-this one is a fan favorite though it took some time to grow on me. Its got a good slower bluesy groove to it with some great gang vocals behind it. However the live versions of this tune do pump some needed energy into it.

4.Cold Gin-An all time classic in general, not just KISS. Gene's vocals, love him or hate him as a person, have always been kick ass and that chorus just kicks you straight in the gut. The swagger in the main riff pretty much laid down the ground work for just about every glam and sleaze metal band in the 80s too. You can really feel that here. Theres a really cool deviation in the riff in the middle too that is unexpected but welcome.

5.Let Me Know-One of the deeper cuts here, its a standard rocker and doesnt do anything spectacular but it shows paul and genes love for that beatle-esque kind of sound at times. Live im sure it definitely packs alot more of a punch. However, it does get really good...as it fades out. What a tease.

6.Kissin Time- The production here feels more like what their sophmore album overall sounds like. Its a real gem it has this really grungy bassy production to it that i love. It also walks that very fine line of being heavy yet accessible especially for the time. 

7.Deuce-my favorite song on this album for two reasons. 1.Genes vocals are badass and 2 Ace's solos while very simple have this swagger and power to them that really capture the raw power of early KISS. This is the band firing on all cylinders!

8.Love Theme From KISS- a very throwaway instrumental and really the only skippable song on the album. It feels like an idea that was never fleshed out and kinda put here to fill time. Though there is some cool bass grooves i do dig in here.

9.100,000 Years-This tune goes back into a heavier territory and one of my favorite tunes from the first three albums. Pauls vocals really have good power and that overdriven bass gets me everytime. There are also alot of great riffs throughout here as well.

10.Black Diamond-Once again another absolute classic this time with Peter Criss taking vocals through the majority of the song. The riff with the guitars and bass in perfect harmony works so damn well. This is also another one that shows how good KISS were with vocal harmonies as well! Ending with every instrument down tuning into the pits of hell, its a great way of ending the start to a long and exciting journey.

Overall, KISS' self titled debut gets a strong 9/10. This was a very strong start for the band bringing this sort of power pop vibe like bands like cheap trick would accomplish as well. However certain songs would catch you off guard for how heavy they are. Theres a reason some of these tunes never left the setlist. Now with album one under their belt the band was destined to keep going and were about to unleash album 2 not even a year later...