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Rating: The Kiss have always been a chameleonic band, moving from the pure and straightforward rock of their early albums to the grandiose songs of "Destroyer" and reaching into pop music and disco with this album. A low blow to their fans? Maybe, but I find the album convincing; it's pleasant to listen to, almost an easy listening album to enjoy in one go while you're busy. It's simple and doesn't require much attention while listening to it.
An easy and pleasant album. The first track is now famous worldwide, still danced to in clubs around the globe, and naturally, we're talking about "I Was Made For Lovin’ You Baby". The initial bass groove accompanies us throughout the song, with a simple and continuous drum rhythm, and a guitar that underperforms in both the riffs and the solo. Despite this, the song turns out to be a hit (perhaps the best-known, and unfortunately, most commercial piece by the band). The high-pitched voice of the Starchild and the catchiness of this piece immediately stick in the head; you find yourself humming it all day. A song written by the rock's King Midas, Desmond Child, it reveals itself to be more of a Hit Parade piece than a "rock gathering" anthem, but ultimately, as I mentioned earlier, those listening to this album aren’t seeking ultra-technical songs or perhaps rock music status symbols. Those who listen to "Dynasty" are simply looking for diversion, and a nice, catchy song like this can represent an album like this very well. To conclude, I would call it a nice, melodic piece but nothing more. Then we move on to the Rolling Stones cover "2,000 Man", Paul Stanley hands over the baton to Ace Frehley, who, as usual, delivers a good result. The cover is well done, the song is particularly enjoyable, and in my opinion, Ace Frehley’s voice among the four Kiss members suits the song best. Naturally, in the Stones' hands, this piece is something else entirely, but I don’t feel like criticizing the second track of "Dynasty". It’s a song worth listening to, if only to see a well-known song by the Stones (remembering it's from the album "Their Satanic Majesty Request") in a different light.
Moving on, we find ourselves facing the song on this album that gives me the most chills. We’re talking about one of the magic pieces that came out of the hands of the wizard Paul Stanley, namely "Sure Know Something". It's a delightful rock-pop ballad that is relaxing and moving. The guitar riffs soften this song, and Gene, with his bass, nails a perfect groove that fits this track superbly. The slow drum beat enhances this song further, making it so catchy and melodic, not to mention Paul’s splendid vocal performance. This song is certainly the best on the album, so enjoyable, one of the best by Kiss. Now it's the Catman’s turn. The song is "Dirty Livin'", a little gem on this album. The song talks about a "dirty" life amidst traffic and drugs, and that’s exactly the feeling the song evokes, as if you’re in the fumes of a metropolis. Setting aside the subjective sensations the track induces, we find ourselves in front of a good piece of work. The electric guitar delivers a truly beautiful solo; it's a constant presence throughout the duration of the piece, the bass with its hard and noisy foundation ties to the simple drum rhythm, and Peter Criss’s hoarse voice seems tailor-made for this track, a unique mix that perfectly suits Dirty Livin' which I would promote. But let's move on to "Charisma", where the guitar and bass go hand in hand almost as in a "duet". Apart from this, the song proves to be rather gaudy, and Simmons on vocals doesn't convince. Besides a fairly nice chorus, the song doesn’t draw any attention, it doesn't stand out from the others, it's almost a filler within the album. We could have done without "Charisma", just as we could do without the guitar solo in this track, in fact, the solo proves to be quite predictable and boring.
The next track is "Magic Touch", a song which, despite remaining pop-rock, is more easily associated with later works like "Crazy Nights" than with "Dynasty" itself. But aside from this, unlike the previous one, the song is truly enjoyable. The choruses and the refrain make it a really nice piece, the only flaw being the guitars being too loud, which, in my opinion, should have been less harsh and less distorted in a track like this. Now, a small drum roll, and we're ready to listen to a fairly rock song compared to the rest of "Dynasty", naturally signed by Space Ace. This is "Hard Times". For Hard Times, in a sense, the same discussion as "Charisma" applies, a song without glory or disgrace that could have been omitted, but ultimately it presents itself for what it is, a simple song to listen to on the fly, perhaps while in the car. Personally, though, I much prefer this song to "Charisma", maybe because it's more rock, maybe because I’m a staunch Frehleinian, I don’t know. But it's time to listen to the next track, and this is "X - Ray Eyes" by Simmons, which is the most useless, decadent, and garish piece of the entire CD. It’s quite boring, a predictable piece, those “filler” types that Kiss often included in their albums. I won’t waste more words on this rather unattractive piece, and I'll move on to the last track, "Save Your Love" by Ace Frehley. This track doesn’t convince much either. It’s a song that doesn’t shine, with a refrain almost "martial" in nature with those repetitive choruses. This track certainly doesn’t close the album on a high note, yet another piece that I define as filler, a pity because Ace rarely missed the mark.
In short, to conclude, I reiterate my thoughts—don't expect to find a masterpiece by Kiss or in rock when purchasing this album. We’re not talking about "Love Gun" or "Kiss" (the self-titled CD from 1974); it’s an album without glory or disgrace, a CD one can easily do without, free from guilt. These are the CDs that I wouldn’t throw in the trash and that I enjoy listening to while I’m busy. It's nothing special, catchy and slick as Kiss always accustomed us to, a nice CD, just something like that, nothing more.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 I Was Made for Lovin' You (04:33)
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Tonight I wanna give it all to you
In the darkness
There's so much I wanna do
And tonight I wanna lay it at your feet
'Cause girl, I was made for you
And girl, you were made for me
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
Tonight I wanna see it in your eyes
Feel the magic
There's something that drives me wild
And tonight we're gonna make it all come true
'Cause girl, you were made for me
And girl I was made for you
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
Can you give it all to me?
Oh, can't get enough, oh, oh
I can't get enough, oh, oh
I can't get enough
Yeah, ha
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
Oh, I was made, you were made
I can't get enough
No, I can't get enough
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can't get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me?
I was made for lovin' you baby
You were made for lovin' me
And I can give it all to you baby
02 2,000 Man (04:56)
Well, my name it is a number
It's on a piece of plastic film
And I've been growin' funny flowers
Outside on my little window sill
And don't you know I'm a 2,000 man
And my kids, they just don't understand me at all
You know, my wife still respects me
Even though I really misuse her
I am having an affair
With the Random computer
But don't you know I'm a 2,000 man
And my kids, they just don't understand me at all
Oh daddy, proud of your planet
Oh mommy, proud of your sun
Oh daddy, proud of your planet
Oh mommy. proud of your sun
Oh daddy, your brain's still flashin'
Like they did when you were young
Or did they come down crashin'
Seeing all the things you'd done
Spacin' out and havin' fun
Oh daddy, proud of your planet
Oh mommy. proud of your sun
Oh daddy, proud of your planet
Oh mommy. proud of your sun
Oh daddy, your brain's still flashin'
Like they did when you were young
Or did they come down crashin'
Seeing all the things you'd done
Spacin' out and havin' fun
But, don't you know I'm a 2,000 man
And my kids, they just don't understand me at all
But don't you know I'm a 2,000 man
And my kids, they just don't understand me at all
Understand me, understand me,
understand me, now understand me
But don't you know I'm a 2,000 man
And my kids, they just don't understand me at all
But don't you know I'm a 2,000 man
And my kids, they just don't understand me at all
I'm a 2,000 man, I'm a 2,000 man
I'm a 2,000 man, I'm a 2,000 man, yeah, 2,000
03 Sure Know Something (04:01)
I've been up and down
I've been all around
I was mystified
Almost terrified
But late at night I still hear you
Call my name
I've been on my own
I've been all alone
I was hypnotized
I felt paralyzed
But late at night I still want you
Just the same
CHORUS
I've been a gambler but I'm nobodies fool
And I sure know something (sure know something)
You showed me things they never told me at school
And I sure know something (sure know something)
No-one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, a-haaa
I was seventeen,
You were just a dream
I was mesmerized
I felt scared inside
You broke my heart
And still can
Feel the pain
I've been carried out
I've had fear and doubt
Up in stormy night
Never satisfied
'Cause late at night I still need you
Just the same
CHORUS
I've been a gambler but I'm nobodies fool
And I sure know something (sure know something)
You showed me things they never told me at school
And I sure know something (sure know something)
No-one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, a-haaa
Aaaa, aaa, aaa
Aaaa, aaa, aaa
Aaaa, aaa, aaa
Aa, aa, aa
I've been carried out
I've had fear and doubt
I'v been starry eyed
Never satisfied
'Cause late at night I still need you
Just the same
CHORUS x 2
I've been a gambler but I'm nobodies fool
And I sure know something (sure know something)
You showed me things they never told me at school
And I sure know something (sure know something)
No-one can make me feel the way that you do
And I sure know something, a-haaa
04 Dirty Livin' (04:27)
I can't get enough of what I need
People all around me lettin' me bleed
Waitin' for the darkness to blind the heat
I make my livin' out on the streets
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free
Flashin' lights keep runnin' through my brain
Someone find the doctor to ease all the pain
Traffic in the city is burnin' me out
She makes me wanna jump up and shout
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
No more, no more
I've gotta get away
Dirty livin', dirty livin'
Ahh, dirty livin'
Main Line out of China is due in tonight
Mother, sister, brother are lyin' uptight
I can hear the jukebox poundin' out loud
I take my FUHRER out on the crowd
Dirty livin', ahh, dirty livin'
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
I can't wait any longer to set myself free, ahh
No more, no more
I've gotta get away
Dirty livin', dirty livin'
It's gettin' to me, it's gettin' to me
I can't wait, I can't wait
Dirty livin', dirty livin', yeah
Why don't you set me free
05 Charisma (04:25)
Is it my fortune or my fame
Is it my money or my name
Is it my personality
Or just my sexuality, yeah, yeah
What is my charisma
What is my charisma, yeah
Is it my body or my brain
Do I drive you insane, ha
Is it the power of my touch
Do you need me too much, too much, too much
What is my charisma, what is my, what is my
What is my charisma
Is it my fortune or my fame
What is my, is it my money or my name, charisma, yeah
What is my, yeah, yeah, yeah, charisma
What is my charisma, what is it I've got
What is it about me that gets you so hot, hot, yeah
Am I the master of your soul
Do you lose all control, ha
Is it my fire or my flame
Do I drive you insane, charisma
What is my charisma, yeah
What is my, is it my fire or my flame, charisma
What is my charisma
What is my charisma
Is it my body or my brain
What is my, is it my money or my name, charisma
And do I drive you insane
What is my, what is my, what is my, charisma
What is my, is it my fortune or my fame, charisma
And do I drive you insane
What is my, what is my, what is my, charisma
What is my, what is my, what is my, charisma
Charisma, charisma
What is my, what is my, what is my, charisma
What is my, what is my, what is my, charisma
Charisma, charisma
What is my, what is my, what is my, charisma
06 Magic Touch (04:42)
She's got the magic touch
And you're walkin' around in a dream
She's got the magic touch
Oh no, but it ain't what it seems
You feel there's a fire burnin'
When she feels cold inside
But you still want her much too much
One day when she leaves you lonely
You won't be satisfied (won't be satisfied)
Until you feel her magic touch
Her magic touch, her magic touch, her magic touch
She's got the magic touch
And you're under a spell that she's cast
She's got the magic touch
Oh no, but it ain't gonna last
She's keepin' her love light shinin'
To blind you from her lie (blind you from her lie)
But you still need her oh so much
And when she says she's leaving
That's when you realize (when you realize)
How much you need her magic touch
Her magic touch, her magic touch, her magic touch
And in the night in the crowd
She'll be there
As she prances by your watch
While your dreams fade away
She's got the magic touch
And you're walkin' around in a dream
She's got the magic touch
Oh no, but it ain't what it seems
One day when she leaves you lonely
You'll miss her oh so much
Until you feel her magic touch (feel her magic touch)
Her magic touch, her magic touch
(Feel her magic touch), her magic touch
She's got the magic touch, I really want her
She's got the magic touch, and I still need her
She's got the magic touch, I really want her
She's got the magic touch, and I really want her
She's got the magic touch, and I still need her
08 X-Ray Eyes (03:46)
Sometimes you say you don't want my love today
But oh baby, I know what you're aiming at
And I know, I see everything that's in store for me
Well, baby here's your big surprise, yeah
I've got x-ray eyes, ahh
And I can see right through your lies, ahh
One day you'll see, you'll come crawling back to me
I'm your one and only, that's a fact, yeah
I'm the one, the one and only, in the end, baby you'll be lonely
I've got no time for silly goodbyes, yeah
I've got x-ray eyes (x-ray eyes)
And I can see right through your lies (ahh), yeah
I've got x-ray eyes (x-ray eyes)
And I can see right through your lies (ahh), yeah, yeah
Ooh, and I know, I see, everything that's in store for me
Well, baby here's your big surprise, yeah
I've got x-ray eyes (x-ray eyes)
And I can see right through your lies (ahh), yeah
I've got x-ray eyes (x-ray eyes)
And I can see right through your lies (ahh), yeah
I've got x-ray eyes (x-ray eyes)
And I can see right through your lies (ahh), yeah
I've got x-ray eyes (x-ray eyes)
And I can see right through your lies (ahh)
Well, I've got
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Other reviews
By Ddapp
For some strange reason, Kiss thought of blending their music with a hint of disco-music and the result was the widespread play of the first two singles more in the discotheques than on the radio.
Half the album is good... half isn’t.
By Valeriorivoli
How much nostalgia I feel when I listen to this monumental album.
"2,000 Man is almost punkish and absolutely energetic... Ace sings it insanely high, it’s not easy to do."
