KISS (Music From The Elder) 1981

KISS (Music From The Elder) 1981

Front Cover

Back Cover

What has been considered the worst KISS album of all time (or at least when it was released anyway) has slowly been growing on me over the years. It's a concept album like that of The Who's Tommy, which was intended to go with a proposed film based on the album. But with the fan backlash and critical drubbing of the final product, the KISS house of cards finally collapsed on itself. I understand why it was universally hated. I was one of them. Music From The Elder is definitely an acquired taste.

To the average fan or non-fan if you will, the common reaction upon listening for the first time would probably be something like "what the fuck is this shit?" Like I said, an acquired taste, which I seem to be agreeing with lately. I just choose to look at it as a non-KISS album, which it is, and look at it more as something different to listen to.

Now, even though I have grown to like this album a lot over the years, it is far from a perfect album. I can actually see myself giving this a higher rating if I continued to listen to it more and more. But the rating wouldn't be much higher than that of a half a star more. I have issues of being biased when it comes to KISS albums and in those cases I have always been able to put those biases aside and just listen to it for what it is. But for some strange reason, I just can not do that with The Elder and I think that is why it is stuck on the rating it gets from me right now.

Out is Peter Criss, and in is new drummer Eric Carr. The album did not showcase what a monster drummer he is. He would have to wait a year for that to happen. But the wait is well worth it. This album would also be the last for Ace Frehley in KISS, until Psycho Circus in 1998.

Fave Songs: The Oath, A World Without Heroes and I

Fun Fact: The hand on the cover is NOT that of Paul Stanley, which has been the myth going around for years.

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Music From The Elder Music Videos

KISS - A World Without Heroes

KISS - The Oath

KISS - I (Solid Gold Appearance)

KISS (Killers) 1982

KISS (Killers) 1982

Front Cover

Back Cover

After the disaster that was The Elder, the record company wanted to do damage control and release a greatest hits package. At the request of the suits, they wanted 4 new songs to add to it. I love the 4 that are include: I'm A Legend Tonight, Down On Your Knees, Nowhere To Run, and Partners In Crime.

These songs are the only ones I listen to on this, as the others you can find on any other of their 20 million or so greatest hits packages. My album rating reflects only the new songs and not any of the Greatest hits that come after.

This album was my first Import that I ever bought as a kid. Originally I picked this up along with The Best Of Solo albums, and just like that one, I thought that I had scored a rare misprint cover since the SS were now ZZ. I soon learned that this was only released overseas and not in the states, and for obvious reasons, they change those letters in Germany. Ended up picking up the CD Import a little while back as well. But I prefer the Vinyl version. There is just something extra cool holding the artwork in your hands when it's bigger.

And no, Ace had nothing to do with this record even though he was on the cover. Guitar duties went to Bob Kulick. Remember him? He will play a big role in the future of KISS in shaping the sound of the band. Stay tune.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

KISS (Creatures Of The Night) 1982

KISS (Creatures Of The Night) 1982

Front Cover

Back Cover

Creatures Of The Night is best KISS album during this era of replacement players. Not only that, it's the best KISS album of their entire career, and that includes Destroyer as well. Creatures has the most aggressive, ferocious playing and singing that to this day has yet to be matched, although Revenge did come pretty damn close.

Let's get this review started off right by saying that even though Ace Frehley is on the cover, he had nothing to do with the album. He had already quit the band but they decided to put him on the cover to once again dupe us into believing all was well. The pattern continues. 

More lies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that that is out of the way. The reason for Creatures being so aggressive and full of balls comes down to the two new guys in the band: Eric Carr and Vinnie Vincent. Eric's drumming was a complete 180° from Peter Criss. Where Peter was more swing influenced, Eric came from the school of hard rock with his idol being John Bonham. Even though Eric had joined the band for The Elder, it was on Creatures that he finally got to shine. And did he ever shine.

Creatures is one of the all time best sounding drums ever recorded on tape. It is full of thunderous drumming that just makes you piss your pants. It's that fucking good. The mix of the drums was pushed to the front without it overwhelming any of the songs. And on top of that the sound of the drums themselves is still my favorite of all time. Props to Mr. Carr. 

The other half of the equation of why Creatures fucking rules is Vinnie Vincent. Where Ace was definitely old school in his playing, Vinnie was a guitar shredder with all the bells and whistles that come along with it. But he was kept in check to service the songs and not his ego and that's why the songs work so well. Also of note, there were a couple of additional guitar players that lent a helping hand in the writing and recording of COTN in the form of Bob Kulick, Robben Ford and Steve Farris.

With the inclusion of both Eric and Vinnie and their playing at A-game level here, Gene and Paul had no choice but to step up their own game. For the last few albums it was all about pop and disco with those two, not to mention the ill fated Elder album. Both sing with a new sense of purpose. They were going for the throat to reestablish their credibility that was long gone by now. They all aced their test and passed with flying colors. (pun intended)

Fave Songs: Every last mother-fucking-one-of-them. Even their lone ballad has gravitas. It's so hard to pick an single MVP here. So, the award goes to the entire album.

Great, and I mean GREAT fucking album cover. All time best ever for KISS during the replacement era. 

KISS (Creatures Of The Night - New Cover Version) 1982 

Front Cover

Back Cover

I'll jump ahead a few years now for the sake of explaining the second cover of the same album. Once KISS had reestablished themselves and were experiencing a resurgence in popularity, they went back to re-release Creatures with a new cover. Only problem is that they were once again trying to con the fans that may have already bailed on them when it originally came out to push this as a "new" recording. And on top of that they put Bruce Kulick on the cover to further drive home the point that it's HIM playing on the album. Shameful. 

I have both versions, the one with the original track list and this current one. The current one I won't listen to because the original track order is so ingrained in my psyche that listening to the other track order is just too jarring for me.

Just like before with Peter Criss, the band had Ace go out and help promote the album as if he were still in the band. So he did a video and a handful of promos trying in vain to air guitar along to Vinnie's playing. 

Rating: 10 Stars out of 10 (Absolute must have for any collection. You don't even have to be a fan of KISS to enjoy this one.)

Review by Chiprocks1

Creatures Of The Night Music Videos

KISS - I Love It Loud

KISS - I Love It Loud (German TV)

KISS (Lick It Up) 1983

KISS (Lick It Up) 1983

Front Cover

Back Cover

As great as Creatures Of The Night was musically to the band and few fans still around, it was a commercial flop. So, what to do? Drop the make-up and hope for a fresh start with a new identity. What we get is a fantastic follow-up to Creatures with Lick It Up. Overall the album is more polished while keeping that hard edge established with the previous effort,  although the drums do recede to the background here as it's not the focus as it was before.

The lineup here is still the same with Vinnie Vincent now an "official" member of the band. His imprint is all over the album. He definitely was the key to changing the bands sound and sending KISS in a different direction musically so much so that to me they didn't sound like they were from New York anymore, but a band from LA with the growing explosion of the hair metal scene. Was this a good thing or bad thing? Who's to say. But the band regained a lot of fans with this album. It was good to see that their last album wasn't a fluke and that they were on the right path musically. 

The biggest hit here was obviously the title track Lick It Up. Their first video to show them without their make-up was surreal watching it for the first 100 times.  This song is the most popular here, but it's not the best song on the album though. You can't go wrong with the opening track Exciter. It sets the tempo for the entire album that follows. And easily the best song for Gene is Not For The Innocent. I really wish that KISS would perform this song live as well as a handful of other songs from this album. 

Fave Songs: Exciter, Not For The Innocent, Lick It Up, Gimme More and A Million To One, which gets the MVP for the best on the album.

The Cover kicks ass. It's simple in it's design with just the band against a white backdrop.

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Lick It Up Music Videos

KISS - Lick It Up

KISS - All Hell's Breakin' Loose

KISS (Animalize) 1985

KISS (Animalize) 1985 

Front Cover

Back Cover

Well, Vinnie Vincent's reign as KISS' axe shredder was short lived. After reviving the band musically, he became increasingly difficult to work with, both on stage (20 minute guitar solos!! wtf!) and off, making certain financial demands. So out with the old and in with the new. Stepping into the meat grinder was Mark St. John.

Mark was another gun slinger in the mold of the LA scene. But this time Gene and Paul would write all the songs with no input from him, more or less telling him what to play so as not to have another Vinnie fiasco on their hands. Even Gene's partcipation on Animalize was minimal since he was off making movies. Hell, they had Jean Beauvoir come in and play his bass parts on half the album. On brother!  So it all falls onto Paul's shoulders, and because of that, this album suffers from it. It's not that it's a horrible album as much as it was just inconsistent to my ears. But Mark's tenure with the band was short lived as he suffered from Reiter's Syndrome. So, he was out of the band after the first leg of the tour.

Remember Bob Kulick that I mentioned a few times before? Well Gene and Paul asked him to come on board full time. He declined the offer, but he recommended his little brother Bruce for the gig. He got it and went on to become the longest tenured guitarist for KISS in it's history. Longer than Ace Frehley himself.

I admit that when Animalize first came out, I thought it was great. But over the years it's getting harder and harder for me to listen to it. It has certainly lost a lot of it's edge over time. Average at best is about all I can give it these days. The only song that sees the light of day now on tour is Heaven's On Fire, and rightly so. It still kicks ass with a pretty cool riff to boot and the thunderous beat of Eric Carr on drums.

Fave Songs: I've Had Enough (Into The Fire), and Heaven's Of Fire.

Cover is meh.

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Animalize Music Videos

KISS - Heavens On Fire

KISS - Thrills In The Night

KISS (Asylum) 1985

KISS (Asylum) 1985

Front Cover

Back Cover

Asylum is another album that I thought was great back in the day but has been falling apart over the years. It's now an above average album to me. From my perspective, the band was more focused on touring and taking the show out on the road rather than working hard at songwriting and putting together a quality album. They more or less were of the mind set to throw whatever songs they had together simply for an excuse to go on tour, since that was where their bread and butter lay. This was also around the time KISS decided to re-release Creatures Of The Night with the new cover with Bruce Kulick on it.

Bruce did get some killer solos out on Asylum to show the world what he could do and he pretty much nailed it with Tears Are Falling. Not bad for the new kid in the band if you ask me. I also love the riff and solo for Who Wants To Be Lonely.

Fave Songs: King Of The Mountain, Who Wants To Be Lonely, Trial By Fire, and UH! All Night. MVP goes to Tears Are Falling. <-----earworm. Duh.

Worst album cover in their existence, along with Sonic Boom. Seriously, I just don't get the cover at all, other than that they were trying to revisit the color scheme for each member in the band as in regards to the 4 solo albums.

Worst excuse for "costumes" in their entire career are presented in all their cringe-inducing glory in the videos. Oh God...how horrible.  The Demon Child Gene Simmons reduced to that of a drag queen! Sheesh!!

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Asylum Music Videos

KISS - Tears Are Falling

KISS - Who Wants To Be Lonely

KISS - Uh! All Night

KISS (Crazy Nights) 1987

KISS (Crazy Nights) 1987

Front Cover

Back Cover

The music climate had changed drastically by 1987. This was at the peak of hair metal and power ballads and lots of keyboard-influenced songs were dominating the airwaves at this time. KISS was not immune to this and just like every other time before, tried to jump on it's band wagon. Big mistake. KISS and Keyboards are not a happy marriage. Years earilier they had a pretty good song with Christine Sixteen on the Love Gun album. But that was with a piano and it was still a rock boogie song. Here, it's just a bit much with the keyboards and way out of character for a band that was all about power chords and big drums and thunderous bass lines. 

Overall, the production of Crazy Nights was garbage to my ears as they decided to make the most "pop" oriented album up to now. Barf. I blame Ron Nevison, the album's Producer for what the final product turned out to be. There are a couple of songs that are ok, but the majority of Crazy Nights is pretty forgettable. This gets a 1 star bump only for Bruce Kulick's opening guitar intro/solo for No, No, No. As for the rest of the song itself. No, No, No indeed.

Really, the only song I play from this album on a pretty consistent basis is Good Girl Gone Bad. It has a pretty sweet, kick ass groove. And as always, Gene's lyrics here are pretty tongue-in-cheek-awesome as well. :)

Fave Songs: Good Girl Gone Bad

Album cover is better than Asylum, but still needs some work on getting creative once again.

Rating: 1 1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Crazy Nights Music Videos

KISS - Crazy Crazy Nights

KISS - Reason To Live

KISS - Turn On The Night

KISS (Smashes, Thrashes & Hits) 1989

KISS (Smashes, Thrashes & Hits) 1989

Front Cover

Back Cover

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is a Greatest Hits package and just like before, they felt the need to remix all the songs. They even fucked up I Love It Loud with this remix. The drum sound is super thin and has none of the balls from the original. My guess is that they had to tone it down to keep in line with the rest of the album or it would have stood out like a sore thumb. But the biggest gaffe was having Eric Carr re-record the lead vocals for Beth. I'm a huge fan of his, but this is a big no-no in my book.

This set also comes with 2 new songs: Let's Put The X In Sex and (You Make Me) Rock Hard as incentive to buy it. It worked. This is the last KISS album to sell in excess of 2 million copies. The lyrics for Rock Hard are pretty damn clever if you think about it. It can mean so many things. Haha. 

Fave New Songs: (You Make Me) Rock Hard <------It's got more cowbell in it!!!! :)

Album cover is meh.

Rating: 2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits Music Videos

KISS - (You Make Me) Rock Hard

KISS - Let's Put The X In Sex

KISS (Hot In The Shade) 1989

KISS (Hot In The Shade) 1989

Front Cover

Back Cover

Hot In The Shade is the longest running album in their career clocking in at just under 1 hour. Overall I enjoy the album immensely. Thank the almighty stars above that they got rid of the keyboards. But they basically jumped from one ship to another. This time around, acoustic and unplugged songs were all the rage. So of course, KISS once again tapped into this. But they finally were able to get it right with Forever, their first Top 10 (and last) hit since Beth. The album was back to what they do right, writing and playing rock songs. Deciding to produce the record themselves, both Gene and Paul crafted a solid disc full of songs and got rid of that awful "polished" sound of Crazy Nights, which makes me ill to this day.

This is also the final album with Eric Carr on drums before passing away. It's just ironic that they wait all this time to give him his first song to sing lead vocals on which can be found on Little Caesar, which is actually pretty good. RIP 

Another great song that got plenty of airplay was Hide Your Heart. This song was so good, that even Ace Frehley covered it the same year for his own solo album Trouble Walkin'. But of course their biggest hit on the album was Forever, which was co-written with Michael Bolton, whom Bruce Kulick was a member with in their band Blackjack as the lead guitarist back in the day. Say what you will about Bolton, but when he wants to write a rock song, he can write some pretty impressive stuff. This was the first notable songwriting collaboration with KISS and a high profile singer since Bryan Adams co-wrote songs for Creatures Of The Night.

Fave Songs: Rise To It, Hide Your Heart, Love's A Slap In The Face, Forever, Cadillac Dreams, King of Hearts and Little Caesar

Album cover is ok. Nothing to write home about. But the cover did inspire them to construct a working Sphinx as their main stage piece for their Hot In The Shade Tour. 

Fun fact: The video for Rise To It was the only time between 1983-1996 that either Gene or Paul put the KISS make-up back on in full costume. It was cool to see when the video came out.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Hot In The Shade Music Videos

KISS - Rise To It

KISS - Hide Your Heart

KISS - Forever

KISS (Revenge) 1992

KISS (Revenge) 1992 

Front Cover

Back Cover

Revenge is the hardest, heaviest hitting KISS album since Creatures Of The Night. For this one the band enlisted the midas touch of Bob Ezrin, who produced Destroyer. But the biggest help they got was in the form of Vinnie Vincent. He was brought back into the fold to help write songs for the album. What's weird is that Gene and Paul would even put themselves in this position given that they fired him for unethical behavior as well as being sued by him a few years after that. Oh well...

With him on board, the sound was definitely harder and faster. And that was a good thing. Also on board for drum duties is Eric Singer, taking over for Eric Carr who was hospitalize at the time. He would pass away a short time later. :( The album itself was dedicated to his memory as well as getting the final song on the album with Carr Jam 1981, and extended drum solo piece which he recorded shortly after joining the band.

Unholy set's the table off on the right foot. This is the balliest song in sound and style in their existence. They could not have opened with a better song to open any KISS album. I remember hearing that even Steve Vai sought out Bruce Kulick to give him props for his leads on the song. Nice. God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II is another fantastic song. Of note, during the making of the album, Eric Carr was still a member of KISS, but had open heart surgery. So when he felt good enough to leave the hospital, he was able to make his final apperance as a member of KISS in the music video, even though it's not him playing. 

The opening riff to Take It Off is pure coolness. And Everytime I Look At You is one of the best power ballads ever with the string sections backing the band.

Fave Songs: Unholy, Take It Off, God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II, Domino, Every Time I Look At You and I Just Wanna. MVP goes to God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II as the best song because it's so reminiscent of classic KISS with both Gene and Paul trading lead vocal duties.

Very cool album cover. 

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Review by Chiprocks1

Revenge Music Videos

KISS - Unholy

KISS - God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II

KISS - Domino

KISS - Every Time I Look At You

KISS - Take It Off (Live - Uncensored)