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Kiss – Crazy Nights – 1987 Taking two years off from releasing a studio album for the first time in their 13 year career, (probably due to Gene’s burgeoning film career), Kiss returns with a new album built for the 80s excess. Filled with pandering Pop Metal, crappy cover art Continue Reading

Kiss – Asylum – 1985 It’s been a long time coming. The only year that Kiss didn’t put out an “official” album (or two) was 1978 and that was the year of the FOUR solo records.That’s a lot of music. some of it fun, a lot of it great, much Continue Reading

Kiss – Animalize – 1984 So, there seems to be a pattern with Kiss. They do their own thing, gain popularity, establish market share, sell records, go back in the studio and come out with a watered down version of their successful sound, alienating core fans and drilling their own Continue Reading

Now, them’s some handsome rockers, yes? Hello? Anyone? Kiss – Lick It Up – 1983 So, realizing that the gimmick had come to an end (it had) and that it was time to let the music speak for itself as it had on Creatures of the Night (it did), Kiss Continue Reading

19 studio albums. 4 “Alive” albums. 1 Unplugged album. 4 Solos. 28 freaking albums in this band’s catalog. I’ve done 16 of them. Sometimes I even impress myself. Kiss – Creatures of the Night – 1982 (Incidentally, this is the 10th Studio album by Kiss and there are 9 more Continue Reading

Kiss – Music from “The Elder” – 1981 Kiss imagined a future for this concept. But, like their tv movie or the solo albums, this idea would fall flat on its face. One gimmick, I think, is sufficient. Kabuki paint. That should have been enough, right? Glam rockers dress in Continue Reading

Kiss – Unmasked – 1980 Don’t mistake the title, THIS is the true Kiss. Unmasked, honest, true to themselves– Okay, I can’t. This is just a bad record. I’m not quite done with it. So, I’ll be back in a bit. But, from what I’ve heard there’s nothing good on Continue Reading

Kiss – Dynasty – 1979 So, lemme get this straight. One year after the infamous Comiskey Park immolation of Disco Records, where dance artists had to lay fallow until their messiah (Michael Jackson) resurrected them, Kiss, dirty Kiss, Knights in the Service of Satan (apocryphal legend), Gods of Thunder, who Continue Reading

Peter Criss – 1978 I’ve been dreading this moment. I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about this record. 1. I’m Gonna Love You – A swingingly inoffensive honky tonk completely with jangly piano and 70s era variety show backup singers. 2. You Matter to Me Rupert Holmes. Billy Joel. AOR Continue Reading

Paul Stanley – 1978 The biggest problem with putting out a Paul Stanley solo record in 1978 versus Gene Simmons is that Simmons is not a musician. He’s a salesman. Stanley actually comes across as a musician. He would have done it no matter what. He would have ended up Continue Reading