Animalize (©1984 Mercury)

the song: I've Had Enough (Into the Fire) / Heaven's On Fire / Burn Bitch Burn / Get All You Can Take / Lonely Is The Hunter / Under The Gun / Thrills In The Night / While The City Sleeps / Murder In High Heels

This is one of those albums that makes you go hmm. As in hmm, why did I buy this? This is not embarassing music, but it seems flat for whatever reason. Now don't get all mad at me if you're a huge Kiss fan, but I don't think that Kiss ever recovered when Peter and Ace left. That being said there are some good moments here, and to be honest even a bad Kiss album was better than a lot of what their younger contemporaries were releasing in the early to mid eighties. Heaven's on Fire is still a pretty good tune.

Revenge (©1992 Mercury)

the songs: Unholy / Take It Off / Tough Love / Spit / God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II / Domino / Heart Of Chrome / Thou Shalt Not / Everytime I Look At You / Paralyzed / I Just Wanna / Carr Jam 1981

I bought this CD because I really liked the song Domino. I hadn't bought a Kiss album since I was a kid, and by the time Revenge was released only Gene and Paul were left of the original lineup. So how's the rest of the album? Not bad, nothing to write home about. I can't lump these guys in with the hair bands, because they were around before, and are still around now so they've managed to survive by virtue of being icons. I will admit to liking their version of God Gave Rock and Roll To You. This is the way Petra should have recorded the song, since it's their signature tune, but they've never managed to record a decent version.

You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best (©1996 Mercury)

the songs: Room Service / Two Time / Let Me Know / Rock Bottom / Parasite / Firehouse / I Stole Your Love / Calling Dr. Love / Take Me / Shout It Out Loud / Beth / Rock And Roll All Nite / KISS Tells All

So the guys got back together, and immediately started milking the reunion for all it was worth. This CD is a collection of moments from Kiss Alive I and II plus a few unreleased tracks. I've got to admit this is a good collection. This is classic rock, with big stage gimmicks, and great songs. You can hear how the 80's glam rock got its start. But here we have the origin of the species. After almost 25 years, some of the songs haven't worn all that well, but it's a great time capsule piece. There are a lot of songs I would have loved to hear, but they were probably on the previous lives albums. All in all a good trip down mammary lane.

Greatest KISS (©1997 Mercury)

the songs: Detroit Rock City / Hard Luck Woman / Sure Know Something / Deuce / Do You Love Me / I Was Made For Lovin' You / Calling Dr. Love / Christine Sixteen / Beth / Strutter / Cold Gin / Plaster Caster / Rock And Roll All Nite / Flaming Youth / Two Sides Of The Coin / Shout It Out Loud

Ooh look, another greatest hits album by the boys. Since I didn't have a greatest hits collection by the boys I figured this would be the one to get. It starts off with one of their best songs ever. Then immediately goes on to the worst song Rod Stewart never recorded - although Garth Brooks liked it so there. I still tap my foot to Disco KISS, heck why not - beats the crap out of the Village People and Donna Summer. I had to live through those years for real, at least KISS did it with some guitars. Beth is here which is a shame - I hated it as a kid, and it hasn't found a backdoor into my heart via the nostalgia route.

The more I listen to this, the more it becomes apparent that these guys are a great example of flash over substance. Hey, if you're a huge fan don't shoot the messenger. They have released some killer tracks - but if their best includes such stunning songs as Calling Dr. Love, Christine Sixteen, and my favourite Plaster Caster they had to reach down deep.

Still there are enough killer tunes here to make a good listen. I wish the band had put more into this collection though in terms of notes and stuff. Very minimal packaging.

Reviewed March 14, 2002