Author Topic: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation  (Read 136017 times)

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #300 on: August 15, 2011, 12:01:28 PM »
Thanks, folks.  I meant for this to be a generally positive review.  Ace is a Grade A goofball, but a pretty loveable one if you somewhat discount the highly self-serving Nazi rumors from G. Simmons AND the fact that he pissed away much of his life with the drinking and the drugs.

Ace Frehley is a highly listenable album.  I'd still put it fairly low in the totality of KISS' 70s work - above the Elder, Dynasty and Unmasked, but below Love Gun.  It's a bit hard because I really don't like Ace's singing at all, but he writes good songs (at least he did up until Dynasty/Unmasked - and I'm not completely convinced he wasn't trying to sabotage the group at that point).

I would recommend, again, that you all put "Torpedo Girl" on a loop and see how long it takes you to pass out at work.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #301 on: August 15, 2011, 05:43:52 PM »
Also, this thread is #1 on Google for kiss reevaluation.  Ha!  Take that, Internet.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

ChrisRawk

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #302 on: August 17, 2011, 11:54:13 PM »
Ace Frehley is a highly listenable album.  I'd still put it fairly low in the totality of KISS' 70s work - above the Elder, Dynasty and Unmasked, but below Love Gun.  It's a bit hard because I really don't like Ace's singing at all, but he writes good songs (at least he did up until Dynasty/Unmasked - and I'm not completely convinced he wasn't trying to sabotage the group at that point).

I would recommend, again, that you all put "Torpedo Girl" on a loop and see how long it takes you to pass out at work.

That's a good point, I never considered this.  Although everyone's writing on Unmasked was generally pretty terrible.  'Torpedo Girl' in particular really is an endurance test. 

In terms of ranking KISS albums I think I'd actually put the Ace solo disc over Love Gun.  Mainly because Ace didn't do an unnecessary cover of 'Then She Kissed Me'.  But then again 'Wiped Out' is probably just as bad from another direction. 
"Heave Ho!"

@ChrisNeri

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #303 on: August 18, 2011, 10:22:09 AM »
In terms of ranking KISS albums I think I'd actually put the Ace solo disc over Love Gun.  Mainly because Ace didn't do an unnecessary cover of 'Then She Kissed Me'.  But then again 'Wiped Out' is probably just as bad from another direction.

This retrospective has convinced me that "Then She Kissed Me" is the beginning of the end.  Rock and Roll Over is uneven, but there's nothing on there that says, "this band is over."  Love Gun has several standout tracks (I'm partial to "Love Gun," "I Stole Your Love," and "Almost Human"), but self-indulgence was what was going to destroy KISS.

So you go from "Then She Kissed Me" to Side 4 of Alive II, where they don't play on each other's songs.  Then the solo albums - maybe the most self-indulgent thing a rock group has ever done.  Ever.  Even counting all those concept albums.  Then you have Dynasty, which is just an absolute damn mess (and the album that these reviews most changed my opinion about).

Then you have EuroPop (or whatever) on Unmasked.  Then you have The Elder, fueled by Bob Ezrin's cocaine addiction.  The Elder is terrible, and is rightly reviled as one of the worst missteps in rock history, but people forget that it was already over at that point.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

dave from knoxville

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #304 on: August 18, 2011, 12:13:16 PM »
Would it be derivative of me to try the same sort of project with Blue Oyster Cult? Or for Omar to do King's X!? (yummy)

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #305 on: August 18, 2011, 05:24:40 PM »
Would it be derivative of me to try the same sort of project with Blue Oyster Cult? Or for Omar to do King's X!? (yummy)

Go ahead, DfK.  Not a fan of BOC, and don't know King's X, but I'll give them a read.

If I were going to do another band, I would probably do another makeup band with similar music.  Maybe you've heard of them?  They're called "The Cure."  I've always been curious as to the real story of Robert "Fat Bob" Smith.  Plus the arcs, children, the arcs!

I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

Matt

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #306 on: August 18, 2011, 09:33:23 PM »
Wanted to add to the love for this thread. I just reread the entire thing, and it's easily one of the very best things to ever grace the Internet.
It ain't ego, it's my love for you.

placeholder

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #307 on: August 19, 2011, 11:18:46 AM »
Would it be derivative of me to try the same sort of project with Blue Oyster Cult? Or for Omar to do King's X!? (yummy)

Go ahead, DfK.  Not a fan of BOC, and don't know King's X, but I'll give them a read.

If I were going to do another band, I would probably do another makeup band with similar music.  Maybe you've heard of them?  They're called "The Cure."  I've always been curious as to the real story of Robert "Fat Bob" Smith.  Plus the arcs, children, the arcs!

Dave from Knoxville! Buffcoat!

I am a pretty big BOC fan (up through Fire of Unknown Origin) and a super huge Cure fan (excepting 4:13 Dream!), and would love to hear you dudes' takes on these bands!
"I came into the room/You didn't know I was The Creature."

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #308 on: August 19, 2011, 12:10:37 PM »
Would it be derivative of me to try the same sort of project with Blue Oyster Cult? Or for Omar to do King's X!? (yummy)

Go ahead, DfK.  Not a fan of BOC, and don't know King's X, but I'll give them a read.

If I were going to do another band, I would probably do another makeup band with similar music.  Maybe you've heard of them?  They're called "The Cure."  I've always been curious as to the real story of Robert "Fat Bob" Smith.  Plus the arcs, children, the arcs!

Dave from Knoxville! Buffcoat!

I am a pretty big BOC fan (up through Fire of Unknown Origin) and a super huge Cure fan (excepting 4:13 Dream!), and would love to hear you dudes' takes on these bands!



I have to tell you, I will never listen to Wild Mood Swings again.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

placeholder

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #309 on: August 19, 2011, 12:58:37 PM »
I have to tell you, I will never listen to Wild Mood Swings again.

I like about half of it, but I don't blame you.  It's not a very good album, but I guess the songs I like redeem it for me.

"Strange Attraction" by itself is pretty offputting!
"I came into the room/You didn't know I was The Creature."

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #310 on: August 19, 2011, 02:51:41 PM »
I have to tell you, I will never listen to Wild Mood Swings again.

I like about half of it, but I don't blame you.  It's not a very good album, but I guess the songs I like redeem it for me.

"Strange Attraction" by itself is pretty offputting!


I know what my top 3 Cure albums would be - what would yours be, placeholder?
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

placeholder

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #311 on: August 19, 2011, 03:42:08 PM »
I have to tell you, I will never listen to Wild Mood Swings again.

I like about half of it, but I don't blame you.  It's not a very good album, but I guess the songs I like redeem it for me.

"Strange Attraction" by itself is pretty offputting!


I know what my top 3 Cure albums would be - what would yours be, placeholder?

My top three in order:

1. Pornography
2. Faith
3. Seventeen Seconds

Either Disintegration or The Top would be next.

What are yours, if you don't want to save it for your album-by-album reviews?

Also, for kicks and because I like making lists, my top three Kiss recs:

1. Rock and Roll Over
2. Hotter Than Hell
3. Love Gun

Either Creatures of the Night or Kiss would be next.

And for BOC:

1. Secret Treaties
2. Tyranny and Mutation
3. Blue Oyster Cult

Lists!
"I came into the room/You didn't know I was The Creature."

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #312 on: August 19, 2011, 09:59:38 PM »
Definitely saving it in case I do the reviews, but two of my top three are in your top 5.

The thing that makes KISS unique, though, is that all four members are remarkable and completely differentiated (part by the solo albums, a lot by the individualized makeup).  What on earth am I going to say about Porl "Paul" Thompson and Laurence Tolhurst?

I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!

placeholder

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #313 on: August 20, 2011, 07:21:45 PM »
What on earth am I going to say about Porl "Paul" Thompson and Laurence Tolhurst?

Umm...

1. Played with Plant and Page, went bald, got weird head tattoos.
2. Was fond of the drink.

That's all I've got!
"I came into the room/You didn't know I was The Creature."

buffcoat

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Re: KISS: An Album-by-Album Critical Reevaluation
« Reply #314 on: August 20, 2011, 08:07:48 PM »
I do like the idea that Lol sued the band he was still a member of.  Try to imagine those band meetings.
I really don't appreciate your sarcastic, anti-comedy tone, Bro!