KISS Discography - My Life As a Kiss Fan

[TAC]

King Of the Mountain is classic Kiss. 

It's a GREAT track.

[Stadler]

I actually really dig Unmasked. Not as good as Dynasty, but I would probably take it over The Elder and a couple of the non-makeup 80s albums. Some really underrated tunes on there, such as Naked City and Tomorrow. I actually enjoy the whole first side. The second side starts to trail off but even then it's mostly OK imo.

I know I'm repeating (because it's all there for people to see) but I LOVE Unmasked.  It's one of my favorite Kiss albums, and but for the biggest stinker in the Kiss catalogue (well, top five, with Dirty Livin', Hooligan, and a couple others)I actually like most every song.

I don't know; it's much maligned, but the "Dynasty through Lick It Up" run is one I go back to a surprising amount, given the chaos of the time.

[TAC]

I don't know; it's much maligned, but the "Dynasty through Lick It Up" run is one I go back to a surprising amount, given the chaos of the time.

It's similar to Alice Cooper's run of Flush The Fashion-Special Forces-Zipper Catches Skin-Da Da. Some great tracks on those albums.

I remember when I presented my CD label of Zipper to him to sign, Alice was shocked that someone would even have the CD and he said he did not remember making it.

[BlobVanDam]

I absolutely love Dynasty (sorry Coz), but Unmasked is the drizzling shits.

[Stadler]

Shandy and Naked city are great songs

And that would be the "one song" I mentioned before.  Kiss got accused of being "disco" with IWMFLY, but for me, the cheesiest disco touch in their entire catalogue is that little guitar lick right after the "Tonight must last us forever..." line.   Ugh.   That and Paul's lower "Hold Me Touch Me (Make Me Gag Into My Soup)" voice ruins it for me.   

[Stadler]

I think at the time I was burnt out on KISS and for me that album was paint by numbers at the time for KISS.  The tour added to it as well.

Which is ironic, since that's what the cover looks like to me.  Paint by numbers (though I like the album itself).

I remember when I presented my CD label of Zipper to him to sign, Alice was shocked that someone would even have the CD and he said he did not remember making it.

I love those stories; I had a similar experience when I met Gene, and I had the inserts from Alive! and Alive II with me.  Paul was busy with the two hot blondes in front of me and (I guess out of character) Gene was standing there and we started talking and he went through the pictures with me.  Amazing experience (that was when I  first learned the Alive! cover was staged). 

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

I absolutely love Dynasty (sorry Coz), but Unmasked is the drizzling shits.

Disowned.

Seriously though, I do have Sure Know Something on my iPod.  And I forgot about Tomorrow, from Unmasked.  Half decent.  But overall, both albums get two thumbs down.  Hell, I'd take Hot in the Shade over either of them and that's an abortion of an album also.

[Cyclopssss]

Yeah, the fanboy in me liked it at the time, but Unmasked is indeed the shits.

Dynasty is half decent, But very uneven. Also it's probably has that 'tainted' schisma because of 'I was made...' and the whole KISS goes commercial backlash. Kiss have never been anything BUT commercial, but that's for another time...

[Lynxo]

And that would be the "one song" I mentioned before.  Kiss got accused of being "disco" with IWMFLY, but for me, the cheesiest disco touch in their entire catalogue is that little guitar lick right after the "Tonight must last us forever..." line.   Ugh.   That and Paul's lower "Hold Me Touch Me (Make Me Gag Into My Soup)" voice ruins it for me.

While I don't agree with any of this, this made me laugh really hard.

[cfmoran13]

The Asylum tour was my first KISS show. I remember the setlist was short and weak. They played Won't Get Fooled Again, and I'm thinking, give me another KISS song instead.

Asylum Tour
December 22, 1985
Providence Civic Center

My first KISS show was a week earlier at Madison Square Garden.  With Tommy Thayer opening w/ Black and Blue.  Looking back on it, the set definitely was "short and weak".  However, at the time, I was so thrilled to see them, that thought never entered my mind.  Your seats were way better than mine.

And, that album art is hideous.  I can only hope Gene and Paul must've been unavailable when it was time to proof the cover.  Otherwise, I don't know what they were thinking.  Talk about mailing it in!

[TAC]

Yes Black n Blue opened.

We had good seats by the side of the stage, where I took the Gene/fire pic. There was an open area near the stage that remained open until the encore when they basically waved people on. We got right down front in quick order.

[Lowdz]

I absolutely love Dynasty (sorry Coz), but Unmasked is the drizzling shits.

Disowned.

Seriously though, I do have Sure Know Something on my iPod.  And I forgot about Tomorrow, from Unmasked.  Half decent.  But overall, both albums get two thumbs down.  Hell, I'd take Hot in the Shade over either of them and that's an abortion of an album also.

Oh god no. HitS is the worst KISS album. I'd take Peter's solo album over it 

[Stadler]

I absolutely love Dynasty (sorry Coz), but Unmasked is the drizzling shits.

Disowned.

Seriously though, I do have Sure Know Something on my iPod.  And I forgot about Tomorrow, from Unmasked.  Half decent.  But overall, both albums get two thumbs down.  Hell, I'd take Hot in the Shade over either of them and that's an abortion of an album also.

Oh god no. HitS is the worst KISS album. I'd take Peter's solo album over it 

Hahaha, that's funny.   

Even PETER says his solo album is the worst Kiss album. 

[Mosh]

Put me in the Peter solo album over HITS camp. At least Peter's album is short. HITS feels like a never ending gauntlet of misery.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Wow. Unmasked, Dynasty, AND Peter's solo album over HitS. It's like bizarro Kiss World.

[Mosh]

Only album worse than HITS is Carnival of Souls

[King Postwhore]

I may think HITS is that bad but no album hits the level of bad as the Peter Criss solo album.

[Stadler]

HITS isn't Hotter than Hell or Destroyer, I'll give you that, but I'll at least listen to it now and again.  I like Hide Your Heart, Rise To It, and a couple others.   There is literally not one song on Peter Criss or CoS that I feel like I have to hear again.   MAYBE "Childhood's End". 

[Mosh]

When I need my fix of HITS song, I watch the Detroit show from that tour. It has pretty much all the HITS songs that matter. Also one of the greatest Kiss videos ever recorded.

[Lowdz]

HITS isn't Hotter than Hell or Destroyer, I'll give you that, but I'll at least listen to it now and again.  I like Hide Your Heart, Rise To It, and a couple others.   There is literally not one song on Peter Criss or CoS that I feel like I have to hear again.   MAYBE "Childhood's End".

There are some good songs on it but too many poor ones. This is the album Gene really phoned it in. I don't mind most of his 80s output but even Paul hot in on the act. read My Body is his worst song by far.

[cfmoran13]

HITS isn't Hotter than Hell or Destroyer, I'll give you that, but I'll at least listen to it now and again.  I like Hide Your Heart, Rise To It, and a couple others.   There is literally not one song on Peter Criss or CoS that I feel like I have to hear again.   MAYBE "Childhood's End".

Funny, I really like CoS.  "Master and Slave" is an awesome song.  I feel it has some of Gene's strongest song writing in the entire non-makeup era.  I would've loved if Toby Wright had gotten the opportunity to finish the album properly.  Granted, it's not a traditional KISS album (i.e. - no cock rock).  But, I consider it to be a solid mature (grungy) rock album.

[King Postwhore]

You and I are the only ones around here that like it. 

[Lowdz]

You and I are the only ones around here that like it.

It does not exist in my KISS universe. Even though I own it.

[King Postwhore]

That's for most. It does not compare to the classics and Revenge but I do like it.

[Mosh]

There is a small but passionate group of fans for the CoS stuff. Same with Elder. I've never seen the same level of fandom for other bands' black sheep albums. Personally I think CoS was a huge misstep with hardly any redeemable moments. Elder is ok.

[King Postwhore]

I didn't see it as a misstep at all.  It was a progression.   Somwtines bands try something different.   Sometimes it works (Destroyer), and sometimes it doesnt (The Elder). 

It doesn't mean they can't put out good music after.

[TAC]

COS is proof that KISS is better left in Paul's hands.

I love Childhood's End. But I also like Master & Slave and I Will Be There.
I Confess is quite interesting.
And I like I Walk Alone.

[King Postwhore]

I think in Paul's hands with Gene engaged.

[TAC]

I think in Paul's hands with Gene engaged.

That's when you get Revenge. When Paul steps aside and lets Gene call the shots, you get COS.

[King Postwhore]

Well Revenge is a top 3 KISS album for me so you won't get any argument from me.

[TAC]

Well Revenge is a top 3 KISS album for me

Same here, Brother!

[King Postwhore]

When strippers run in high heels to you because you're singing "I Just Wanna" to them while they are dancing to it, it better be up there as a top album.


Coz, eat your heart out.

[Mosh]

I didn't see it as a misstep at all.  It was a progression.   Somwtines bands try something different.   Sometimes it works (Destroyer), and sometimes it doesnt (The Elder). 

I don't mind them trying something different but, like you said, if it doesn't work it doesn't work. I thought CoS was a misstep in the sense that they tried to go all out on the dark/heavy side of Revenge, but completely missed what made that album so great. The hooks, melodies, energy.

Revenge is my favorite Kiss album BTW.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

When strippers run in high heels to you because you're singing "I Just Wanna" to them while they are dancing to it, it better be up there as a top album.


Coz, eat your heart out.

Take it Off was one of the songs we used to play when my band hosted wet t-shirt contests at a bar we always played, so I'm with you on that.

[King Postwhore]

Happened to me 3 times.  I was jacked that the strippers loved KISS.  They were singing the lyrics while the legs were east and west.


I was pleased.