KISS Retrospective Part 12:Creatures Of The Night(1982)

KISS were at the lowest of their career. The misguided attempt of a concept album, the exit of their longtime lead guitarist and even Gene losing sight trying to break into hollywood was slowly poisoning the band. In order to get their fans back the band new they had to recraft their sound from the ground up. They had to be bigger and badder than they ever were before....but how? Well to start off, the band tried out multiple guitarists who are featured here including Robben Ford, Steve Farris and one Vinnie Vincent who specifically played a bulk of the solos. The band then released what would be their heaviest album entitled "Creatures Of The Night"

Track List

1 Creatures Of The Night-Starting off with Erics thunderous drums, this tune starts off with a bang. Right away you can tell the drums have never sounded so powerful and the guitars have a real bite to them. Pauls voice is incredible here also and in subsequent sped up versions he does as well. This song features the only solo from Steve Farris and personally its one of the best on the album I love the tone.

2.Saint and Sinner-This song slows things down to a dirtier heavy blues kind groove. Genes voice sounds great and the chorus is catchy as hell. Vinnies solo spot isnt too bad either.

3.Keep Me Comin- This song kinda forshadows the full blown glam metal band KISS would turn into soon enough with its Zeppelin esque main riff and Pauls more high pitch vocals. Its again slower but its got a reao heavy groove to it.

4.Rock N Roll Hell-Easily my favorite song the album. This is a total ear worm from the verses through the chorus and the riffs and drums sound so big it really has everything for a great tune. The bass cuts sharply through as well which i like alot.

5.Danger-One of the faster songs on the album and this one pulls no punches. Its extremely energetic with everyone giving it 110%. The bass here is played by Jimmy Haslip and he does a very tight job. The solo is great and the pre chorus just has so much power and energy behind it. Great song.

6.I Love It Loud- The most well known song on the album and its a great anthemic tune. The drums especially are so powerful as well they really make a statement. Genes vocal lines are very catchy and the chorus just begs for a live audience.

7.I Still Love You-KISS' darkest ballad and my favorite as well. Pauls vocals are a major highlight and the solos across the board are incredible.

8.Killer-Love this one as well a total early "KISS does Speed Metal" type tune. Genes vocals again are killer and the riffs are crushing. I love the chorus and how sleazy it kind of sounds as well.

9.Ending with probably the heaviest song on the album. The chorus riff is the heavieat probably since "God Of Thunder". This one also begged for a crowd to sing along with it. Hell of a closer.

Overall, this album is a 10 out of 10 for me. It has everything I want from a KISS album and should have really put them back on top. The songs are all great and the production is so sharp and big. Unfortunately this would be their worat tour to date when Paul realized how to get peoples attention:Time to take the makeuo off. 

KISS Retrospective part 11:Music from "The Elder"(1981)

After a relatively successful tour for the "Unmasked" album especially in Australia, KISS realized crowds were starting to dwindle as well as album sales.Aces relationship with the band was becoming super fractured as well now and was looking for a way out soon. Paul and Gene meanwhile were looking to get more critical praise so they decided to try a very left field option: a concept album. The olan was simple(at least it seemed to be): Get Bob Ezrin in to produce, create a flowing story and a film to conicide with its release. The film would have been called "The Elder" and the album would be entitled "Music From The Elder". Gene came up with a barebones story of a young boy chosen to fight evil threatening the universe. Its as basic as it gets but they were intend on making it work. However, this would be the album that would nearly kill them.

Track List

1.Fanfare-A quick intro track and quite bizarre to hear from KISS. Its basically this quick medeval sounding track to set some atmosphere. Nothing too amazing but doesnt overstay its welcome.

2.Just A Boy-This track right away shows where the band was going with a big kind of Rock Opera feel to with a classical sense. Pauls vocals are good but the lyrics like most of the album feel severly underdeveloped. 

3.Odyssey-The album does flow quite well i can give it that. This song has a more epic feel to it that i do actually kind of enjoy. If the band would have done a type of rock opera tour i feel this one would have been cool with an orchestra behind it.

4.Under The Rose-I do feel like this song has almost a bit of a pink floyd feel to it but it repeats too much for being nearly 5 minutes. The chorus is pretty cool with Genes more epic sounding vocals. I do wish the drums had more depth to them for this being Erica first full length debut.

5.Dark Light-This one while a bit more rocking doesn't do much for me as Ace sounds completely checked out of it. This one is very incomplete feeling. Aces solo still is pretty good on it though

6.A World Without Heroes-One of the best songs on the album with a really nice atmosphere to it as well. The only issue, again, is the story just feels incomplete like where exactly are we in it at this point.  But as a song its great and Aces emotional solo is quite the centerpiece.

7.The Oath-Easily the heaviest song here with the band giving it all they have. I just wish Erics drums sounded bigger like they did on "Creatures" later on especially the double bass. There are some great vocal harmonies as well. This is usually the song fans point to as the highlight.

8.Mr. Blackwell-This seems to be the villains theme and its not bad if not a little cheesy. I do like the heavy bass and al.ost bluesy feel but the guitars and drums just feel a bit flat in the production. Not bad.

9.Escape From The Island-Straight into a tight energetic instrumental. If only the album had a bit more of this energy i feel like it would be a bit more memorable.

10.I-The energetic closer to the album and again the lyrics could use some reworking. The dualing vocals from paul and Gene are pretty nice as well. Its not as epic as a closer to a concept album should be, but it gets its point across.

Overall, I give the album a 6 out of 5. While the weakest effort from the band so far, it definitely has its moments. Its also a concept album so its really only enjoyable all the way through. However, because it seems that the story was rushed, that the whole concept sort of falls apart. Give it another year or two and this could have actually been a very solid release. As it stands though, its alright but alot of missed opportunities. This is the only KISS album that did not have a tour and Ace called it quits soon after and the band spent time writing their next album while trying out new guitarists. Little did fans know but the band would come back with their heaviest release and a step in the right direction...

KISS Retrospective part 10:Unmasked(1980)

KISS entered into 1980 essentially as a 3rd of a band. Peter Criss was officially gone and Anton Fig came back to provide his studio drum work. This confused many fans as Criss still appeared on the artwork and even in the video for "Shandi". The album that was released delves harder into pop territory than ever. This created more short term fans yet alienated long time fans. However, is it as bad as alot fans say or, like Dysnasty, is this one a hidden gem?        

Track List

1.Is That You?-Opening up with a mid tempo pop rocker and one that I actually enjoy. The main riff has a nice groove to it and still has enough bite to make it on any rock playlist. There is some really nice poppy melodies that lead into a catchy as hell chorus as well. A decent poppy opener.

2.Shandi-This one became a minor hit in Australia and is a decent pop ballad. Musically, its got some great stuff in the background with some nice acoustics. This one you could definitely dance to as well.

3.Another Signature Ace tune to add to the library. Its so catchy and his vocals sound great here. The energy is definitely there as well. The solo is a great upbeat one as hell that gets stuck in your head. A major highlight on the album.

4.Naked City-A nice rocker with Gene singing and a darker chorus riff. The verses have this slower tempo to them and Gene trying some higher range vocals definitely is a nice touch to the song. Its simple but another pretty catchy song.

5.What Makes the World Go 'Round?- This is one of the lesser tracks on the album. It has KISS' older rock n roll feel but it feels lile it could sound bigger in terms of its poppier tendencies. It just doesn't stick in my head as the other songs. Its not bad just a little generic.

6.Tomorrow-This one brings some of that energy back with one of my favorites on the album. It feels kinda like "KISS does Cheap Trick" which certainly isnt a bad thing. Its got a big hook that feels so 1980s its great. The solo is great even if.it doesnt last long. Definitely a major highlight from this album.

7.Two Sides Of the Coin-This is a great mid tempo rocker with some really good energy again especially for the chorus. The overdriven guitars really rock too. I love the middle part when the guitars get really.melodic as well its actually kind of unexpected but it works.

8.She's So European-While the name is kind of cheesy, the song overall isn't bad. Its a typical Gene sleazy rocker but with some keyboard in the backgroound which is a nice tough. Its again a simple power pop rocker but its pretty fun.

9.Easy As It Seems-This is another super underrated KISS song with Paul giving it his signature powerful vocals against a really poppy bassline and an intensley catchy chorus. Definitely one that cant be missed.

10.Torpedo Girl-The bassline to this song is pretty damn good with some interesting rhythm segments to it. Its detinitely the most out there song on the album. Its poppy but it has a creativity to it. Its one of the tunes here than takes a few listens to get into.

11.You're All I Want- This song kinda falls flat for me it just doesn't carry the same energy most of the album has. It isn't bad but it feels like it again could be more. The chorus just feels unfinished especially.

Overall, Unmasked gets an 8.5 out of 10. While continuing on their path into Pop rock, KISS still for the most part crafted a solid album of memorable power pop excellence. While it may have came out at the wrong time as bands like Sabbath and ACDC were making big heavy comebacks, today it seems more fans look at it with an open mind for the fun album it is. With a tour coming up, however, the band needed some new blood. Enter my favorite member of KISS, Eric Carr. This would be the start to the band becoming heavier but not without one more misguided step in their career.

KISS Retrospective part 9:Dynasty(1979)

After a massive tour and each member releasing their individual solo albums(i'll get to those eventually), KISS shot back into the studio with some new ideas and some unfortunate setbacks. Peter Criss would only commit to one song on vocals and drums as his relationship with the band was severly fractured at this point. Enter session drummer Anton Fig who played on every song except "Dirty Livin". While this may seem like a huge issue, I honestly think this album, Disco influence and all, is actually quite a hidden gem in their discography.

Track List

1.I Was Made For Loving You- This song was a huge hit with its huge disco influence as Paul had been hanging around Studio 54 alot at the time. Its honestly a total earworm of a tune and totally a product of his time. The poppy bass with Figs energetic tight drumming really works and the chorus is just classic pop era KISS.

2.2000 Man-One of many tunes Ace sings and its a really rockin rendition of the Rolling Stones tune. Aces voice sounds great here and the guitars have some real bite to them as well.

3.Sure Know Something-This is a great AOR type track with a big bombastic chorus and some damn good bass lines. Its got a great pop sensibility to it that gets it stuck in your head.

4.Dirty Livin-My favorite Peter Criss penned tune even though his drumming os quite weak on it. It also has a bit of a disco feeling but holy hell is it catchy. You can't help but tap your foot to this one. The bass sounds great too and is the big highlight of the song.

5.Charisma-One of the very few penned Gene songs on the album but its a damn good sleazy rocker with Genes more laid back slithering vocals. The chorus kinda catches you off guard a bit at first but it fits the song the more you hear it. Its another damn gpod catchy song.

6.Magic Touch- One of Pauls most underrated tunes he wrote. The main riff has this dark magical feel to it with some heavy primal like drums during the vocals and this giant chorus that screams for a live audience to sing along with it. Truely one of my favorite mid tempo tunes from the band.

7.Hard Times-Yet another Ace tune and a damn hard rocking one with his vocals having a real raw quality to them. Another absolute gem on the album and one of the heaviest chorus on a KISS album.

8.X-Ray Eyes-The second and only other song Gene sings. This is the closest to get to their old rock n roll roots and has this darker kinda riff to the chorus. Its another catchy tune that borders on pop rock and hard rock.

9.Save Your Love-A very bombastic closer with Ace giving it everything hes got. The chorus hits so hard its impressive how noone talks about this song. The solo is absolutely amazing as well, easily the best on the album.

Overall, this album gets a 9.5 out of 10. I am so shocked this album doesn't get the love it deserves. The hard rocking moments are still there but the pop rock influence is very prominent and works so damn well. It feels alot like Ace took the reigns for alot of the songs present as well. There is definitely a perfect balance here between pop and rock. "I Was Made For Loving You" was again a huge hit with the band going on another huge tour, this time noticing a more family friendly crowd watching. Peter criss couldnt take anymore though and by the end of 1979, he was out. The band scrambled as their popularity in their hardcore fanbase started to dissipate and in 1980 they would see themselves shoot for an.egen poppier feel.

KISS Retrospective part 8:ALIVE II(1977)

After "Love Gun", KISS embarked on their biggest tour with the biggest stage show up to that point. Recorded once again on multiple dates, "ALIVE II" featured exclusively songs from their last three albums as to not repeat tracks. To fill up a full four sides, however, the band hastily recorded a few new songs as well.

"ALIVE II" captures the classic lineup at their absolute peak in the live setting. From this bombastic version of "Detroit Rock City" to the more raw iterations of "Christine Sixteen" and "I Want You". The version of "God Of Thunder" here is the centerpiece of the album. It sounds so evil and the small drum interlude in the middle adds to it as well. The only real complaint I have is that a few of my favorite tracks off "Rock and Roll Over" are not on here and this album is clearly overdubbed again. However, the bigger sound here is warranted as KISS were playing to huge crowds at the time.

The biggest treat are the studio tracks especially ones like the heavy as hell "All American Man" which is one of the tracks that features the legendary Bob Kulick on lead guitar. He also plays solos on "Rockin in the USA" and "Larger Than Life" as well which both are great heavy rockers. Up next is "Rocket ride" which had to have clearly influenced early Pantera albums like "Metal Magic". The song is pure Ace and a real highlight. Finally we have a cover of "Anyway You Want It" ands its not bad. Its got great energy and follows the original quite faithfully.

Overall, this album gets a solid 9 out of 10. The band is at the height of their golden era and really captures some of their best songs here. The studio tracks are also a welcome addition as they really dont feel half baked. This would be as high as the band got as they began to splinter and by the end of their next album cycle they would be down a member.

KISS Retrospective part 7:Love Gun(1977)

 

By 1977, KISS were on top of the world after finally breaking big just two years prior. While some members were starting to show some signs of burnout, others began to really flourish musically. "Love Gun" was released at the apex of KISS' studio outputs in terms of popularity. This was also the time they were marketed in everything from comic books,action figures and lunchboxes to your very own KISS radio. However, does the album suffer from burnout? Or is the music still just as good as the image of the band?                                                                                                                                                             Track List

 1.I Stole Your Love-My all time favorite KISS song! The main riff is so good and its really a great album opener with grrat verses and a powerhouse chorus. The production it seemed that Kramer went more bass and drum heavy with the snare really standing out in this one. A perfect opener in my eyes.                                                                   

2.Christine Sixteen-A great little pop rock number that you...probably couldn't write today. Love the touch of Piano in the background as well. This one is very much in the vein of classic early KISS.

3.Got Love For Sale-A great sleazy rocker and one where Genes voice really shines. This is one where the bass really sounds forward in the mix and I dont mind it as it gives the song a bit of a heavier edge. Another powerful Chorus here as well and the album is three for three.     

4.Shock Me- And finally, Ace is giving his time fully in the spotlight on vocals. This song just screams coolness. Aces swaggering vocals may not be as developed as they would be on his solo album and later KISS songa but dammit its still a great song. His solo really is amazing as well as the memorable as hell riff.       

5.Tomorrow and Tonight-KISS delivers another throwback rocker with a very bubblegum rock feel similar to a band like The Sweet. A simple but fun tune

6.Love Gun-An awesome title track. I love the busier bassline here and the solo kicks ass. This is a song thats made for a live setting.

7.Hooligan- Very similar in style and structure as "Baby Driver" from the previous album. This one however doesn't hit as hard or is as memorable personally.

8.Almost Human- One of the hidden gems on this album. A really heavy riff with some good shuffled drumming with Simmons vocals sounding exceptional. It sounds so different from anything they had done before even with almost a psychadelic kind of vibe.

9.Plaster Caster-One of the bands best straight head rockers with some really heavy bass and a good sleazy feel to it.

10.Then She Kissed Me- This is the song that absolutely falls flat for me though. It just has a very generic feel and isnt a great closer. Just kinda leaves the album on a stale note.

Overall I give this album an 8.5 out of 10. Besides one clunker, this is a fun solid hard rock album and KISS knew it as they went out all through 77/78 and toured relentlessly culiminating in what I feel is their best live album...ALIVE II. This would however be the last full studio album with all 4 original members as burn out would slowly settle in.

KISS Retrospective part 6:Rock and Roll Over(1977)

Kiss were riding high at the end of 1976 as they entered the studio for fifth studio album in roughly three years. This time with Eddie Kramer producing, the band would do a little backtracking from their last album to their core hard rock sound. 

Track List

1.I Want You- This song catches you off guard with its soft opening but right away hits you with its swaggering hard rocking riffs front and center. The big highlight is Stanley and Frehleys dualing bluesy soloes. The guitars sound razor sharp here as well as the rest of the album.

2.Take Me- A major favorite for me. This one is a hard energetic rocker with some great shuffled drumming from Criss as well. The chorus is also catchy as hell and always gets stuck in my head. Its simple but oh so effective.

3.Calling Dr. Love- The most well known track on the album and with Gene singing it reallt has that good sleazy factor. The chorus is classic with the kinda laid back background vocals. Pure 70s hard rocking excellence.

4.Ladies Room-This one definitely feels like it was cut from the same cloth as "Dressed To Kill" but way more beefed up thanks to the legendary Eddie Kramer. It keeps the energy the album has going  at a very consistent pace with KISS' typical rock n roll throwback feeling. 

5.Baby Driver- This song has a really great groove and Criss' more raspy vocals really fit it. The pre chorus riffs sound so big and Aces bluesy string bends really give this song a heavy vibe as well.

6.Love 'Em and Leave 'Em-Another catchy simple rocker in the vein of "Ladies Room". This may be the least memorable song on the album for me but it still isn't bad by a long shot. Its just one that repeats alot. The solo however is a highlight with Ave going absolutely mad.

7.Mr. Speed- My favorite track on the album with a great upbeat groovy riff and catchy vocal lines. The chorus especially makes this song so infectious. Its also got one of my favorite Ace solos as well. 

8.See You In Your Dreams- Kiss go for yet another straight rocker with some nice gang vocals on the chorus. Couple yet another powerful solo and you got another great tune especially this late into the album.

9.Hard Luck Woman-We get a slow down more ballad type track with Paul handing Peter vocal duties again. It seems he wanted to spawn Beth part 2 but it didn't quite happen. However, I like this one more with the acoustic guitars and bass, it feels more like a band effort. I feel like it still matches the album with having an energy to it.

10.Makin' Love- THIS is how Destroyer should have ended. This song is pure 70's hard rock with a fast riff and Paul screaming and crooning his way around some of classic KISS' most ferocious riffs. However, it still has that KISS groove to it to keep it from going full on 70s metal. I really like the acoustic guitars before the chorus hits too its a nice touch. Ace again is a major highlight here with his solos. Easily one of KISS' best closers.

Overall, Rock and Roll Over easily gets a 9.5 out of 10. This is my favorite album of their 70's outputs just for its sheer consistency and quality. The songs that rock really rock and the one ballad is nice and doesn't overstay its welcome. Frehley is the major highlight here even though he had zero songwriting credits, his soloing is top notch. Kramers production also really hit the nail on the head with how full the drums and guitars really sound. The album wasn't as high profile as "Destroyer" but it still kept the band in the limelight. However, it would be the next album that really made KISS a true cultural phenomenon.

KISS Retrospective part 5:Destroyer(1976)

With the success of "ALIVE!", KISS were about to enter the mainstream in a big way. Now with a little bit of money, the band joined up with Alice Cooper producer Bob Ezrin. What Ezrin would do in his recording and writing for the band would more than catapult them to superstardom. It also mark the beginning of another trilogy of classic albums before the gigantic "ALIVE II". However, as a whole how well does Destroyer hold up?

     Track List

1. Detroit Rock City- Right away, you can tell KISS are back and bigger with the extended opening of someone cruising down the road right into their definitive opening track. With the callback vocals, Genes awesome bassline and a great melodic yet simple solo, this song has it all. Even as the studio version, the production is done extremely well with  the bass drums and guitar in equal volume and all sounding very full.                              

                 

 2.King Of The Nighttime World- the band launches right into a great pop rock tune. This is another song that sounds absolutely huge and is very catchy. 

3.God Of Thunder- Three for three so far and this is easily one of KISS' best songs bar bone. A heavy groove and Genes wicked dark vocals this one is pure 70s heavy metal! Even the solo has this very dark feel i like and feels very different for anything else theyve done.           

4.Great Expectations-This one never hit me right. Its got alot of an orchestral feel but the vocals feel off and it feels like such a left turn from the rest of the album besides "Beth". It just doesn't me like most of the other songs.

5.Flaming Youth-Another terrific pop rock number that shouldve been a hit. Its got a great uplifting vibe to it and this great pumping old school rock n roll feel.

6.Sweet Pain- This one also felt alittle flat to me as well it just doesnt exactly feel like it goes anywhere. I will say the acoustic guitar additions are a nice tough but it just does't have the power like most of the album has so far.

7.Shout It Out Loud-Another major song for the band. They seriously fire on all cylinders here with such a great chrous with piano giving it some extra depth. Overplayed but also welcome.

8.Beth-This is the mega hit from the album ironically sang by Criss. Its an okay ballad where i feel myself always drawn to the actual orchestration as there is alot of great sounds going on in the background. 

9.Do You Love Me-Personally, this song isnt bad but its not a great closer an album this colossul deserves. Its got a more laid back sleazy vibe to it that i do dig but is not a hard hitting tune. 

Overall, and I know ill get shit for this, I give "Destroyer" a 6.5 out of 10. While the songs that are good on this album are absolutely great, it feels too soft and disjointed to be considered a real rock juggernaut as a whole to me anyways. Regardless, the hits spawned from this album really helped KISS propel themselves even further and later in '76 they would sort of go back to their roots..

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...