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Rating: The Kiss are the first and greatest look-band of all time and, in general, the most spectacular and theatrical rock entity ever to exist: if someone thinks they are, instead, a poor copy like Marilyn Manson, then they may as well divert their attention from what follows, dedicating themselves to things probably more thrilling for them.
Alongside Alice Cooper (born Vincent Furnier), the Kiss were the first pioneers of that glam-street metal which gained a maniacal following in the States, in the true sense of the word. Not only heavy looks and flashy disguises, but also character choices by each member (following the footsteps of a glam-rock sacred monster like David "Ziggy Stardust" Bowie). This was the original line-up: Paul "Superstar" Stanley (guitars, vocals), Gene "Vampire" Simmons (Bass, Vocals), Ace "Space" Frehley (Guitars, Vocals), and Peter "Cat" Criss (Drums, Vocals). Concerning the sound: apparently raw, sparse, and "easy," but with strong hints of "fun‘n’groovy," which made the scorching live performances hot from their beginnings (as the chronicles of the time recount). Apart from studio works, it is the two live albums (of which the first, the legendary Alive, is an authentic concert holocaust) that fuel what will be known as "kiss-mania," a true mass phenomenon (what truly strikes is the fortunate combination of sound and look with a strong stage presence in the setup of increasingly overwhelming and majestic shows while the network of fan-clubs called "kiss-army" begins to grow and spread like wildfire).
It seems more than natural to review Double Platinum (1978), the first greatest hits of a band in full consecration. Of the 20 tracks (all extracted from the first 6 studio works) the standout, above all, small gems like "Cold Gin," "Firehouse," "100,000 Years," and two genuine jewels like "Black Diamond" and "Duce" (all included in the debut album Kiss), in which the two voices of Simmons (wilder and less gifted) and Stanley (melodic, powerful, and more technical) are already noticeable, most of the times either dialoguing or overlapping simultaneously. Inferior to the previous ones, the anthemic "Hotter Than Hell" (included in the eponymous album) becomes an anthem for many teenagers of the time, while flagship pieces (included in Dressed To Kill) like "C’mon And Love Me," "She," "Rock Bottom," and the first sensational hit entitled "Rock‘n’Roll All Nite" have the historic merit of having catapulted the group to the top of the US charts. Increasingly tough and hard, the Kiss display a more heavy sound in "God Of Thunder" and the famous "Detroit Rock City" (that is, the chronicle of a crazy car accident in what is known as the city of engines, furthermore dramatically foreshadowing what would happen years later to the "spatial" Frehley), although there is no lack of glamorous and expressive vein in "Do You Love Me" and the first orchestral ballad, entitled "Beth," composed and sung by Criss (who had to fight hard, even threatening to leave, to have it included in the album and released as the B-side of the single Detroit Rock City: to the drummer "cat's" surprise, radio deejays promote the B-side more than the A-side and inevitably give reason to the drummer, satisfied for having led and won his very personal battle against the rest of the band). Surely, in one way or another, the group is at the peak of success (the 4 songs are included in Destroyer). Decided to embark on an even nastier and more brutal sound, "I want you," "Calling Dr. Love," "Makin' Love," and the ballad "Hard Luck Woman" (included in Rock‘n’Roll Over) highlight an excessive force in the sound (less eclectic) and in the lyrics (practically monotonous: love or sex). The return to more catchy sounds, without being commercial, is present in "Love Gun" (from the homonymous album) which, in any case, does not tarnish the charismatic identity of the four masked ones and, above all, does not diminish in the least their fame which, at least in the USA, up until then, preceded them everywhere. To open the album and close this review, the song I consider the symbol of Kiss, revisited for the occasion: "Strutter 78."
Seriously recommended.
Filippo Guzzardi
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 Hard Luck Woman (03:25)
If never I met you
I'd never have seen you cry
If not for our first "Hello"
We'd never have to say goodbye
If never I held you
My feelin's would never show
It's time I start walkin'
But there's so much you'll never know
I keep telling you hard luck woman
You ain't a hard luck woman
Rags, the sailor's only daughter
A child of the water
Too proud to be a queen
Rags, I really love you
I can't forget about you
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
Before I go let me kiss you
And wipe the tears from your eyes
I don't wanna hurt you, girl
You know I could never lie
I keep telling you hard luck woman
You ain't a hard luck woman
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
Rags, the sailor's only daughter
A child of the water
Too proud to be a queen
Rags, I really love you
I can't forget about you
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
You'll be a hard luck woman
Baby, till you find your man
Oh yeah, bye bye, so long, don't cry
I'm just packin' my bags, whoo, leavin' you
Bye bye, bye bye, bye bye, baby, don't cry
I gotta keep on movin', yeah movin'
Bye, bye my baby
Ooh, don't cry, lady, oh
06 Love Gun (03:17)
I really love you baby
I love what you've got
Let's get together, we can
Get hot
No more tomorrow, baby
Time is today
Girl, I can make you feel
Okay
No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
You can't forget me baby
Don't try to lie
You'll never leave me, mama
So don't try
I'll be a gambler, baby
Lay down the bet
We get together, mama
You'll sweat
No place for hidin' baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love gun)
Love gun, (love)
07 God of Thunder (04:14)
You've got something about you
You've got something I need
Daughter of Aphrodite
Hear my words and take heed
I was born on Olympus
To my father a son
I was raised by the demons
Trained to reign as the one
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
I'm the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
I am the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command thee to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
08 Firehouse (03:20)
Whoo, hoo, yeah
Whoo, hoo, yeah
She'll adore you and she'll floor you
With her wisdom and her vision
And you'll love it and think of it
Till you lose all intuition
Come on
She can move you and improve you
With her love and her devotion
And she'll thrill you and she'll chill you
But you're headed for commotion
And you'll need her so you'll feed her
With your endless dedication
And the quicker you get sicker
She'll remove your medication
Get the firehouse
'Cause she sets my soul afire
Get the firehouse
And the flames keep gettin' higher
She's like bad weather but it seems so good
You'd never leave her but you know you should
She's like bad weather but it seems so good
You'd never leave her but you know you should
Ooh
Get the firehouse
'Cause she sets my soul afire
Get the firehouse
Whoo, hoo, yeah
Get the firehouse
Whoo, hoo, yeah
09 Hotter Than Hell (03:31)
Come on
She looked good
She looked hotter than hell
All dressed in satins and lace
I looked at her and it was just too clear
I had to get on the case
I said "Lady, oh lady, can I take you home
There's just so much we could do
I'll take you all around the whole wide world
Before the evening is through"
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
Burn you like the midday sun
I asked her why she couldn't make up her mind
She said "You don't understand
I'd love to go, but there's something you should know"
She showed me her wedding band
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
She'll burn you like the midday sun
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
You know she's gonna leave you well done
Hot, hot, hotter than hell
She'll burn you like the midday sun
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