My review of Kiss’s new album “MONSTER”

So there is a leaked copy of it floating around the net, so I checked it out…

First off. I am a huge KISS fan from way back when they ruled the world. I stuck with them from ALIVE 1and through the disco era “Dynasty” which I thought was a great album by the way. I even forgave them for the “Unmasked” album which did have a couple of good songs on it. One being “A world without Heroes”. I even stuck by them and watched them “unmask” on MTV like millions of other people did. I was in there when Peter quit/got canned and I continued going to see them despite Eric Carr (GOD rest his soul) playing wayyyy to fast on the drums. I was at the show in Evansville Indiana when Vinnie ( plays too fast too) Vincent pushed his amps over and KISS left his ass in parking lot and moved on after the show. I hung in there. I was still there when Grudge took over and songs like “Unholy” was blasting on the radio. Great stuff. Then came the farewell tour. I was still there. I remember Julio Wallace and me driving all night back from a gig in Michigan just to get to Evansville the next day to catch the show.

Then came the extended farewell tour. And another tour. Hell, I even bought the new KISS comics. Then came Psycho Circus”. I even got that. Then Peter and Ace quit/got canned. I get all that. That’s business. I didn’t like it but its not my business.  And then my hope and loyalty started waning…But I still went and saw the show.

Then came KISS “Boom”. more like a fizzle…. Not the band I grew up basically worshiping. More tours, more merchandise, etc. I get it but I no longer subscribe to it. Maybe I am growing up. I wish I wasn’t. I mean this is the band I would have, like most kids my age back in the late 70’s. would have helped KISS invade a small Country if they asked us to.

And now “MONSTER”. The hype machine is in full swing. “It’s a classic KISS album”. “Just four guys writing together”. etc, etc, etc…

So I checked out the leaked copy. You know what? MONSTER should have been called MONSTER LAME”. The song “Hell or Hallelujah”. That’s a great song. Reminds me of the KISS I grew up with. But after that the album just loses steam, tanks and falls over dead. I hear a bunch of fillers and songs they will never play again.

Maybe its time bands just released powerful singles one at time. The old album way of doing things is over. I am sad about it. But the songs just don’t hold up. No hits…

I don’t expect KISS to reinvent the wheel. I know they are no longer starving and it shows. A band that is starving has the “Us against the world attitude”. KISS doesn’t has that. They haven’t had it for a long time. It’s not their fault. They have been mega successful. But I think its time to hand the      baton off to someone else as bad as I hate to say that. I will go ahead and say Motley Crue needs to do the same thing but that’s another story.

So to finish off my review. KISS meant everything music to me. This album doesn’t cut it. Save your money or do something good with it. Maybe send it to “Wounded Warriors” in honor of KISS. KISS Supports that group and I commend them on that.

tears are falling…

I miss my KISS…

sincerely,

chuck

chuck@kickacts.com