In fact, one of the best things I ever wrote for publication was a review of the four simultaneous 1979 KISS members solo albums done in the style of a Raymond Chandler detective story.
It's tone was not, shall we say, enthusiastic. 😎
That allowed, a lot of my younger friends -- people whose opinions I respect despite their callow years (that's a joke, people) -- do think highly of KISS, and they have often expressed why in passionate and plausible ways. Two obvious recent examples: Our amigo Sal Nunziato over at his blog Burning Wood just last Thursday and former Video Review colleague Doug Brod, whose recent book They Just Seem a Little Weird makes the case for them quite persuasively.
And of course I would not be so foolishly arrogant as to dismiss Sal and Doug's views out of hand, although, as I've hopefully made clear, I remain, er, unconvinced about KISS on a fairly profound, perhaps even cellular, level.
But, finally, I would be remiss if I did not conclude by acknowledging that one of my all time favorite bands, The Replacements, liked KISS. A lot.
I mean, a REAL lot.
And that they also did this superb cover of one of their songs.
So when all is said and done, what I'm really getting at today is -- there's just no way I'm gonna argue with Paul Westerberg and company on this subject.
And despite my larger personal feelings about KISS's music, I'm just gonna leave it at that.
For now. 😎😎
12 comments:
they were too cynical for my taste
Steve - At one point, you did change your mind about the band for a little while. Around 1978, in STEREO REVIEW, you did write a positive review of their greatest hits comp "Double Platinum". I can't recall the month it was published - I'm gonna guess October or November - but you concluded the review by saying that DP "is recommended to residents of the Teenage Wasteland everywhere". No fooling.
That has totally faded in the mists of memory. Thanks for the tip --- I'll see if I can find it.
I think in the first paragraph of the SR piece, you mentioned that the band had remixed the tracks a bit and they sounded "punchier", so the comp would be a "worthwhile investment" even for fans who owned the original albums.
Another favorite band, the Donnas, did a nice version of 'Strutter.'
Kiss - 30 million fans can't be wrong .
🤔 hmmm...sounds familiar
Just back from Rolling Stone site.They were very kind in rememberence posting his 5 best songs. Truthfully a few were very good. 🎸
After "rock" took off commercially in the early '70s corporate record companies started pushing stupid bands that "everybody" considered jokes playing trash for eight-year-olds: Kiss, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Grand Funk, etc. It says something about today's pop-music landscape that these are today considered foundational.
that was me
As a Cheap Trick fan, Doug Brod's book is fantastic. Amazing how these bands crossed paths and Brod's linkage is genius.
Bob in IL
I remain unconvinced by Doug's assertion that Starz is a significant band on any level. 😎
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