Kiss
Kiss

THE REVIEW

I am about to review one of those groups that many will criticize, but since they were part of my adolescence, they deserve a few words.
I am obviously referring to Kiss. Like it or not, they have been part of history and, together with Alice Cooper, innovators as they introduced makeup and the so-called musical spectacle. Yes, because Kiss concerts are, first of all, spectacle, then music.

Starting a bit from the beginnings, the band was founded by Gene Simmons, a Jew who emigrated to America for mostly survival reasons, and Paul Stanley.
Simmons is better known for his tongue and the numerous women he has been involved with than for anything else, but just to clarify, I could define him as the demonic, tongue-wagging bassist; the showman of Kiss in makeup.
Paul Stanley, recognizable by the star on one eye, took on the role of rhythm guitarist and, together with Gene, was the major composer of the pieces, in addition to sharing the microphone.
In fact, the role of the vocalist is very fluctuating in the band, because even the members who join later will sing (even if many times they could refrain from it). The missing members of the band are the drummer, alias Peter Criss, made up like a cat, and the lead guitarist, dedicated to solos, or also defined as lead guitar, Ace Frehley, masked as a space man.

The self-titled CD was released in 1974, when the quartet was already well known in the New York area for about a year. It's truly a burst of solid Rock with captivating and no-frills pieces.
Apart from the opening "Strutter", in my opinion a tad dull, the following "Nothin' To Lose", "Firehouse", and "Cold Gin" are valid tracks and great for a debut. The latter turns out to be the only song, besides "Love Theme From Kiss", written by all members and composed by Ace Frehley, the rest is entrusted to the Simmons-Stanley trademark, who alternate or collaborate as in the excellent "100,000 Years".

Only two tracks remain to comment on: "Deuce" and "Black Diamond". The essence and peak of this album! The first, written by Gene, is a track with a step more than the others. Criss's simple rhythm convinces and drags, and even Frehley's not overly complicated solo gives an extra touch to the track.
"Black Diamond", instead written by Stanley, finds its strength in the chorus accompanied by magnificent harmonies and especially in the slowed-down finale. Although the track was written by the star man, the vocals are entrusted to Criss to involve him beyond the drums. Let's say that being a mediocre singer, his voice fits quite well in this track.

Small detail: on the cover appears a Peter Criss with makeup different from what we are used to seeing because, on that occasion, special makeup artists were hired, whereas usually the members themselves handled the makeup.