About that new Kiss track

[mazinz]

a guy I work with is obsessed with Kiss (late 40's somewhere) so with emails from him and the talk on this board about their new album, I checked out their first preview track the kiss online page offers

This took 11 years? It is not terrible, but so brought me back to the mid 80's. All I could see when I heard this song was some cheap 1980's action film setup: you know-- the trashy bar with girls sliding across the stage, smoke from nowhere and some old ex action hero waiting for his next merc mission sitting at the bar throwing some drinks back. Que in the motorcycle gang that comes through the bar doors and has a problem with the hero and you get the feeling of where this new Kiss track brought me to.

Am I the only one who can see this or do some of you share this view?

[MIB41]

Yes. I agree completely. When I first heard the song, it sounded very "vanilla". Sounded like a throw away tune from Paul's solo album, "Live to Win"... and maybe that's giving it too much credit. Perhaps I'm not being fair here either, but the song didn't have a signature "KISS" sound to it. No signature guitar riffs or a bass pounding track behind it. If I had to pick one word to describe it, that word would be "uninspired". BUT that's just one song. I have faith Paul has crafted something good in there. At least that's my hope.

[huedell]

My take is different than MIB's---I absolutely hated LIVE TO WIN---
and I think MDD sounds more like a LICK IT UP throwaway/filler track
and that's why I'm very pleased with it...I like even the FILLER stuff on LICK IT UP.

It may be a vanilla song in some ways (it is 2009 Paul after all)
---but as far as a KISS context for me it shows off some of the more agressive side of Paul that LTW didn't even touch.

[MIB41]

Huedell, in tribute to your comments comparing KISS' new track with Exciter, I present to you a "homemade" video for that track. Not mine of course, but a fun one that I found... I see the comparison, but Exciter is a much faster tempo. Enjoy!

YouTube - Kiss - Exciter

[huedell]

Of course there is a tempo difference. But, of course the tempo was
not what I was referencing

As far as that vid---I'll check it out.

EDITED TO ADD: I'm watching it and it looks great. I love the images
accenting certain things.

For example, Gene's sword being thrown down was a nice edit.

[grayhank]

It sounds very much like KISS and unfortunately that's part of the problem. Don't get me wrong I like KISS but they have never really progressed IMHO. They have a basic formula and they stick to it, so any track could be interchangable on almost any of their albums. They have never had a "masterpiece" album to redefine and break the mold. But then I have not listened to all their albums so perhaps that statement could be presumptious on my part.

But what I mean by masterpiece, is an album that re-defines their sound making you go WOW I can't believe that's KISS. If Pink Floyd had stuck to their original 60s sound formula, "Dark Side of the Moon" might never have been made. If the Beatles had stuck to doing songs like "Love Me Do" instead of "Sgt Pepper", their career may not have lasted quite so long. I think the closest KISS ever got to trying something different was "Music from the Elder"... which their fans mostly hated. I think because of that, they gave up trying to do anything different. They may have gotten edgier or louder on some albums but that doesn't necessarily equate to being better. They have yet to write a song that "makes you wonder" lyrically (i.e. Zeppelin's - Stairway to Heaven). So on this track we have KISS being the same old KISS. It's a decent song but nothing's changed. They haven't strayed very far from their roots. Here's hoping the next track will be more interesting.

[huedell]

It sounds very much like KISS and unfortunately that's part of the problem. Don't get me wrong I like KISS but they have never really progressed IMHO. They have a basic formula and they stick to it, so any track could be interchangable on almost any of their albums.

That's not MY opinion. As a more in depth KISS fan I don't feel
the tracks are that close in style.

For example, there's no way MDD could've been on ROCK AND ROLL OVER
without some major or at least minor changes...ironically THAT was their
goal but MDD ended up sounding more 80s than 70s.

But what I mean by masterpiece, is an album that re-defines their sound making you go WOW I can't believe that's KISS. If Pink Floyd had stuck to their original 60s sound formula, "Dark Side of the Moon" might never have been made. If the Beatles had stuck to doing songs like "Love Me Do" instead of "Sgt Pepper", their career may not have lasted quite so long. I think the closest KISS ever got to trying something different was "Music from the Elder"... which their fans mostly hated. I think because of that, they gave up trying to do anything different....They have yet to write a song that "makes you wonder" lyrically (i.e. Zeppelin's - Stairway to Heaven). So on this track we have KISS being the same old KISS. It's a decent song but nothing's changed. They haven't strayed very far from their roots. Here's hoping the next track will be more interesting.

Wow, what are you expecting from KISS?

Frankly, I'm not expecting any groundbreaking changes from
the "theatrical PARTY EVERY DAY" band.

Besides....they TRIED major departures from their "roots" and
those albums were KISS' least successful (THE ELDER, CARNIVAL OF SOULS).
and stupid moves overall.

I do NOT listen to "meat & potatoes" rock bands to hear them
and say "WOW I can't believe that's..."

I'd spit on an AC/DC or ZZ TOP album that I couldn't tell who it was---and that's the same with KISS.

KISS in the same sentence with PINK FLOYD---I mean COME ON.

They may have gotten edgier or louder on some albums but that doesn't necessarily equate to being better.

Eh---with KISS sometimes it does.

[MIB41]

On a side note, I met Ken Kelly at the Wonderfest convention this past May and he confirmed that he was doing the album cover for the next Peter Criss record ... Some food for thought.

[huedell]

On a side note, I met Ken Kelly at the Wonderfest convention this past May and he confirmed that he was doing the album cover for the next Peter Criss record ... Some food for thought.

Especially since his LAST album cover (ONE FOR ALL)
was a huge let down for KISS fans.

I have no doubt that the new Peter Criss cover will be better than
SONIC BOOM's and the music will undoubtedly be worse. Criss' solo albums
are usually a huge heap of the worst music put out by KISS-related musicians.

[grayhank]

Wow, what are you expecting from KISS?

Frankly, I'm not expecting any groundbreaking changes from
the "theatrical PARTY EVERY DAY" band.

Besides....they TRIED major departures from their "roots" and
those albums were KISS' least successful (THE ELDER, CARNIVAL OF SOULS).
and stupid moves overall.

I do NOT listen to "meat & potatoes" rock bands to hear them
and say "WOW I can't believe that's..."

I'd spit on an AC/DC or ZZ TOP album that I couldn't tell who it was---and that's the same with KISS.

KISS in the same sentence with PINK FLOYD---I mean COME ON.



Eh---with KISS sometimes it does.

You're only reinforcing my point.

[huedell]

You're only reinforcing my point.

And you're reinforcing that there are people out there who
think the pillars of classic blues based party hard rock
should have pretentious goals.

I think that is flat out nuts.

[mazinz]

WOW, So would everyone get along if I forced you all to watch Kiss meets the Phantom of the Park again?

[huedell]

WOW, So would everyone get along if I forced you all to watch Kiss meets the Phantom of the Park again?

Unfortunately---no.

Now, KISS ANIMALIZE LIVE---that's a different story.

[Zemo]

I'd spit on an AC/DC or ZZ TOP album that I couldn't tell who it was---and that's the same with KISS.

KISS in the same sentence with PINK FLOYD---I mean COME ON

ZZ Top also does not belong in the same sentence as KISS. No comparison.

[grayhank]

And you're reinforcing that there are people out there who
think the pillars of classic blues based party hard rock
should have pretentious goals.

I think that is flat out nuts.

No, I wasn't speaking for anybody else but myself. I was stating my opinions based on my own observations. But once again there is some reading between the lines going on. You obviously picked up on my point and yet somehow still misunderstood it. My comparing them to Pink Floyd was meant solely in the capacity of artistic progression, not artistic merit. I never said I "expected" them to aspire to the levels of Pink Floyd. I simply said that Kiss hadn't...musically. Do you see the difference there? I wasn't putting Kiss down so I'm not sure why you are getting defensive. I said Kiss have a formula and they stick to it. And where other bands have progressed they have essentially remained the same. There's nothing pretentious there. I'm sorry you don't get that Hue.