I’ve heard “Beth”. Who hasn’t? Or “Detroit Rock City”? Even “Strutter” and others. But this band has put out, like, 235 albums. Well, more like 19 but still! And that doesn’t include the 4 “Alive!” albums. Or the 4 Solo albums. And I’m not even talking about Simmons’ later solo albums but the cheesy quad-set that the band foisted on America in 1978, during the height of Kiss Mania.
Since I just heard the new album and realized I had, well, quite a bit of the back catalog in various forms (Alive II was one of my “free” records during my 9 year old self’s experiment with the Columbia House record club, a sojourn that also provided me with an unheard for 15 years Steve Miller Band “Joker” and a couple Barry Manilow albums, which I listened to wayyyyy too many times) it was time to delve into this massive catalog, pound my ears, get myself ready for some truly crass, disposable rock and settle in to the musical stylings of…..KISS!
Kiss – Kiss – 1974
The first thing I noticed when about halfway through “Kiss” was how sorely this album was missing a cut by seminal glam-rock producers Chinn & Chapman. If it had a “Little Willy” or a “Wig Wam Bam” or a “Who the Fuck is Alice?” it would easily be one of the greatest glam rock albums of the era.
It has all the elements. The quasi-blues numbers. The songs that stink of low-rent but high aspiring production. It’s all cock of the walk, ego driven, narcissistic adolescent rock and roll. So, what’s wrong with it? For me? Not all that much, except that it just falls between the cracks between seminal and classic. It could be the vocals. Simmons and Stanley want SO bad to rawk! To sound like MEN WHO SING ROCK MUSIC. Anti-Freddie Mercurys. (Check them on Firehouse or Nothingn to Lose) The only one who truly succeeds in that regard is drummer Peter Criss on “Black Diamond”. (Did you know it was Peter “The Cat” Criss on that track? Me neither.
Other than that, this is a fine outing, something I am proud to own and would gladly recommend. Not sure how I feel about Kissin’ Time, the sole cover recorded for the purpose of having a hit single. I think it’s the strongest produced and performed track but the song is just so awful in hard rock context that it hurts my brain.
Grade A
A Side: Black Diamond, Strutter, Cold Gin
BlindSide: Nothing to Lost, Let Me Know
DownSide: Love Theme From Kiss
