I Love KISS!

[rushgoober]

I just have to get it out there. I love Kiss!

 

Kiss was the first band I ever loved. Rock and Roll Over was the first album I ever bought when I was 7. In the 70's they seemed like rock gods and superheroes to me, and honestly, even though I know a lot more about the realities of who they are as people now from tons of interviews, I still view them that way, even though they're far from perfect human beings.

 

I've been spending so much time lately watching live performances of them over the years on youtube. I just can't help myself. And it's not because of the makeup and the costumes and the big spectacle, even though that part is AWESOME. It's because the songs are catchy as hell and they just ROCK. They may be the only (or one of the very few) bands I love because they're pure fun and flat out rock. Usually I want more lyrical depth and musical complexity in my music; more "serious" music as it were, but Kiss are a notable exception for me, and their music is often a lot more interesting than it may seem at first glance. Writing a great, catchy, memorable riff shouldn't be undervalued.

 

The experience of Kiss is one of pure FUN. You can see it in their performances and in the audience reaction. Everyone is having an absolute blast, and you can feel that when you watch.

 

Also, I think that Ace Frehley is one of the best guitar players of all time. He's just out of this world amazing.

 

 

Is anyone with me?

Edited November 19, 2011 by rushgoober

[ridertoo98]

A few tunes but not too many. Wasnt a fan in the day, tried here of late but .... just aint me.

More of a Southern Rock type back then.

[rushgoober]

Paul Stanley:

 

I used to think that his style as a frontman was a bit much; that the whole lead singer big ego thing, getting the audience to clap and repeat things and to sing intros to songs and be an over the top rock and roll preacher man was a bit silly. And it IS silly, but goddamn he's so good at it. I think it works for him because he does it with such sincerity. He's very aware of the irony that what he's doing isn't really important in the general scheme of things, but he gives it his all anyway.

[ReRushed]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 19 2011, 11:29 AM)

Paul Stanley: I used to think that his style as a frontman was a bit much; that the whole lead singer big ego thing, getting the audience to clap and repeat things and to sing intros to songs and be an over the top rock and roll preacher man was a bit silly. And it IS silly, but goddamn he's so good at it. I think it works for him because he does it with such sincerity. He's very aware of the irony that what he's doing isn't really important in the general scheme of things, but he gives it his all anyway.

"Some performers like to call themselves hams, I'm the whole pig!" - Paul Stanley

[Presto-digitation]

They're a FUN band. It's like AC/DC....simple rock, but in Kiss's case, much more diversity in their catalogue. Kiss ALIVE! is one of rock's all-time great albums. Been a fan since '77...and I'm looking forward to their new album next year.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (ReRushed @ Nov 19 2011, 10:58 AM)

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 19 2011, 11:29 AM) Paul Stanley: I used to think that his style as a frontman was a bit much; that the whole lead singer big ego thing, getting the audience to clap and repeat things and to sing intros to songs and be an over the top rock and roll preacher man was a bit silly.  And it IS silly, but goddamn he's so good at it.  I think it works for him because he does it with such sincerity.  He's very aware of the irony that what he's doing isn't really important in the general scheme of things, but he gives it his all anyway. "Some performers like to call themselves hams, I'm the whole pig!" - Paul Stanley   Very nice! And that really is a large part of his appeal - he knows he's a big ham (or the whole pig). If he took himself too seriously, it would be awful. I saw acts in the 80's where they were too serious about the whole rock or metal as a religion thing, and it got pretty goofy pretty quickly.

[ReRushed]

I appreciate the fact that Kiss knows how to structure a song. The best Kiss has to offer is catchy as all hell. The riffs and the choruses. They knew what they were doing.

 

And they took a cue from The Beatles and spread out the personalities very effectively. All the members have the opportunity to stand out in front, while the others take a step back.

 

All in all, when you look past the pomp and the cockiness, the songs are pretty good.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (Presto-digitation @ Nov 19 2011, 11:04 AM)

They're a FUN band.  It's like AC/DC....simple rock, but in Kiss's case, much more diversity in their catalogue.  Kiss ALIVE! is one of rock's all-time great albums.  Been a fan since '77...and I'm looking forward to their new album next year.

EXACTLY! (although honestly I don't care about their last few studio albums and have no interest in their new album)

 

AC/DC are good, but so many songs sound so samey. Kiss have a LOT of great songs that do have a bit of diversity, and they kicked ass at making monster rock and roll anthems. Most bands would be lucky to have one song as good as Rock and Roll All Nite or Detroit Rock City or Shout It Out Loud or I Love It Loud or Deuce or I Was Made For Loving You (sorry, it's a great song) or Love Gun, etc. They were able to pump out those kinds of songs over and over again.

 

AND, another thing they really have going for them is four great singers. Of course, Paul and Gene did a majority of the singing duties, but even right there is a lot of diversity. They both have dramatically different voices, but both of them have great voices, and they work really well together. Plus, the background harmonies from all four of them are awesome. They even switch off some of the singing duties in the same song. And then if you contrast some of their more anthemic songs with some of the really driving hard rock/heavy metal songs, as well as their more ballad-y softer songs, they really do have a tremendous amount of great, varied material.

 

That said, they didn't make very many (if any) great studio albums that were consistent from start to finish, but take all the great songs and combine them, and you have way more than a full concert's worth of their top material. That's much more than most bands can claim.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (ReRushed @ Nov 19 2011, 11:17 AM)

I appreciate the fact that Kiss knows how to structure a song. The best Kiss has to offer is catchy as all hell. The riffs and the choruses. They knew what they were doing. And they took a cue from The Beatles and spread out the personalities very effectively. All the members have the opportunity to stand out in front, while the others take a step back. All in all, when you look past the pomp and the cockiness, the songs are pretty good.

I've always said that their songs are much better than they need to be. I mean, just with the spectacle of it all they'd still be great performers and put on a kick-ass show, but many of the songs really hold up. It's been said often that they aren't the best musicians in the world (Ace being the notable exception). That might even be so, but the same could easily be said about The Beatles. They were definitely more than the sum of their parts.

[ReRushed]

Sonic Boom is surprisingly good. My son is really into Kiss and we listened to it on a road trip and really enjoyed it. Edited November 19, 2011 by ReRushed

[treeduck]

The new album is gonna be called Monster...

 

 

[Presto-digitation]

QUOTE (ReRushed @ Nov 19 2011, 01:24 PM)

Sonic Boom is surprisingly good. My son is really into Kiss and we listened to it on a road trip and really enjoyed it.

It was a fine record, yes.

[Xanadoood]

I like everything up to and including The Elder. Yes, The Elder...I really think it's an underrated gem of a record, and gets bashed way too much.

 

They were a kick ass party rock band, who had an over the top Live show. The perfect band for that period in the 70s.

[micgtr71]

I love KISS. I still love to listen to Alive. It makes me feel the same way it did when I first heard it back in the 70s.

[danielmclark]

I've never been able to get into them, and I've tried a lot over the past 20-25 or so years. Probably once a year I give their catalog a shot, and I last a couple of weeks, but I end up just moving on. I have a lot of respect for them, for what they've done (although they could lay off the crass commercialism just a tad), but musically... I can't get there.

 

Oddly? The songs I do like from them are ones that a lot of KISS fans say they don't like - Crazy, Crazy Nights, Reason to Live, Turn on the Night, a few others - so maybe that's indicative of some reason I don't dig a lot of the older stuff. I don't know.

 

It's been a while, maybe I'll pull it up on Spotify and give 'em another try this weekend.

Edited November 19, 2011 by danielmclark

[MCM]

QUOTE (micgtr71 @ Nov 19 2011, 05:32 PM)

I love KISS. I still love to listen to Alive. It makes me feel the same way it did when I first heard it back in the 70s.

That's the mark of a good album, one that still hits you the same way years later.

[RUSHHEAD666]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 19 2011, 09:25 AM)

I just have to get it out there. I love Kiss! Kiss was the first band I ever loved. Rock and Roll Over was the first album I ever bought when I was 7. In the 70's they seemed like rock gods and superheroes to me, and honestly, even though I know a lot more about the realities of who they are as people now from tons of interviews, I still view them that way, even though they're far from perfect human beings. I've been spending so much time lately watching live performances of them over the years on youtube. I just can't help myself. And it's not because of the makeup and the costumes and the big spectacle, even though that part is AWESOME. It's because the songs are catchy as hell and they just ROCK. They may be the only (or one of the very few) bands I love because they're pure fun and flat out rock. Usually I want more lyrical depth and musical complexity in my music; more "serious" music as it were, but Kiss are a notable exception for me, and their music is often a lot more interesting than it may seem at first glance. Writing a great, catchy, memorable riff shouldn't be undervalued. The experience of Kiss is one of pure FUN. You can see it in their performances and in the audience reaction. Everyone is having an absolute blast, and you can feel that when you watch. Also, I think that Ace Frehley is one of the best guitar players of all time. He's just out of this world amazing. Is anyone with me?

I'm with you Gary!!

 

KISS ARMY FOREVER!

[RUSHHEAD666]

"THE ELDER" RULES!

[Xanadoood]

QUOTE (RUSHHEAD666 @ Nov 19 2011, 07:49 PM)

"THE ELDER" RULES!

I have a threory that KISS was influenced by Rush, in that when Rush released 2112, they broke open. Perhaps KISS felt they could revive their career by doing something similar?...Remember the scene in BTLS, when Alex talks about playing COS for Paul?...I think they were trying to pull a Rush!

[RUSHHEAD666]

QUOTE (Xanadoood @ Nov 19 2011, 05:52 PM)

QUOTE (RUSHHEAD666 @ Nov 19 2011, 07:49 PM) "THE ELDER" RULES!  I have a threory that KISS was influenced by Rush, in that when Rush released 2112, they broke open. Perhaps KISS felt they could revive their career by doing something similar?...Remember the scene in BTLS, when Alex talks about playing COS for Paul?...I think they were trying to pull a Rush! Perhaps that's why I love the concept album attempt!!!   Most Kiss fans hate that record. I LOVE IT!

[goose]

Was happy to take my daughter to KISS Alive 35 a couple of summers ago. The show was exactly what I thought it would be - lots of fun with plenty of songs to sing along to.

 

I don't listen to their music, though. As a kid I liked staring at the albums, of course, and loved it when they were on tv. Truly, though, without the makeup gimmick, these guys would not be remembered.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (Presto-digitation @ Nov 19 2011, 03:10 PM)

QUOTE (ReRushed @ Nov 19 2011, 01:24 PM) Sonic Boom is surprisingly good. My son is really into Kiss and we listened to it on a road trip and really enjoyed it. It was a fine record, yes. I heard a couple of songs from it - didn't do much for me honestly. It wasn't "bad," but it wasn't up to the quality of vintage 70's / very early 80's Kiss IMHO.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (Xanadoood @ Nov 19 2011, 03:27 PM)

I like everything up to and including The Elder. Yes, The Elder...I really think it's an underrated gem of a record, and gets bashed way too much. They were a kick ass party rock band, who had an over the top Live show. The perfect band for that period in the 70s.

I need to get The Elder. The last album I bought back in the day was Unmasked (ok, I bought Lick It Up so they could sign it since Kiss appeared at a local record store for that tour the day of their show). All the songs I've heard from The Elder I REALLY like a lot, so I need to get that...

[Tick]

QUOTE (Xanadoood @ Nov 19 2011, 08:52 PM)

QUOTE (RUSHHEAD666 @ Nov 19 2011, 07:49 PM) "THE ELDER" RULES!  I have a threory that KISS was influenced by Rush, in that when Rush released 2112, they broke open. Perhaps KISS felt they could revive their career by doing something similar?...Remember the scene in BTLS, when Alex talks about playing COS for Paul?...I think they were trying to pull a Rush! It aint 2112 but I own it and I like it.

[Presto-digitation]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Nov 19 2011, 08:49 PM)

QUOTE (Xanadoood @ Nov 19 2011, 03:27 PM) I like everything up to and including The Elder. Yes, The Elder...I really think it's an underrated gem of a record, and gets bashed way too much. They were a kick ass party rock band, who had an over the top Live show. The perfect band for that period in the 70s. I need to get The Elder. The last album I bought back in the day was Unmasked (ok, I bought Lick It Up so they could sign it since Kiss appeared at a local record store for that tour the day of their show). All the songs I've heard from The Elder I REALLY like a lot, so I need to get that... Which songs have you heard?