10 Greatest KISS Albums Ever
I had an older, cooler cousin growing up that I idolized. His toys were newer and more expensive, and I was never allowed to play with them because of my complete lack of care or consideration for others and their property. When I would visit, I was barely able to go into his room. When we bought models from the corner store, he would buy the aircraft carrier, or battleship for $12.99. I would get the single engine plane for $1.99. The one thing he did share completely with me, though, was the music of KISS. I was obviously too young to have a very sophisticated taste in music and they became for me (like they did for countless Gen Xer’s) a way of life. I was even taken by my cousin and another older cousin from the other side of the family to see KISS at the Tucson Convention Center in 1977. I was eight. I have outgrown most of the fascination I had for the band, but I will always be a fan, and I will always love the music. Here is my take on the best KISS albums of all time. I will include the live albums, but no greatest hits compilations, and no solo albums. Here goes.
1 – Unplugged – This may be blasphemy to some, but growing up I always preferred KISS’ album tracks like Got To Choose, Coming Home, Goin’ Blind, and Mr. Speed to their monster anthems. So when Unplugged finally came out, I was in heaven. Most of my favorite songs all in one package. To this day, I’d rather hear Great Expectations than Detroit Rock City. Sorry, guys.
2 – Rock and Roll Over – For me, this is the studio album that best represented KISS in their prime. The production isn’t great, but the songs are solid and, for my money, Mr. Speed is the most underrated song KISS ever recorded. Great cover, too.
3 – Alive – Simply one of the best live albums of all time and the effort that put KISS on the map. So much of their show is visual, but Alive was somehow able to capture a large part of the energy and volume.
4 – Revenge – If KISS had continued to make records like this throughout the 90’s, they may have never put the makeup back on. Ironically, though, it was the strength of this album that got the ball rolling for the Unplugged session that eventually led to the reunion. No non-1970’s KISS album is even close in terms of production or killer songs. Domino, I Just Wanna, Unholy, Spit, etc. would all be the best songs on a half dozen other KISS albums and Every Time I Look At You is their best ballad since Beth.
5 – Alive II – It’s probably due to my age, but Alive II was more a part of my early KISS experience than Alive. And, in keeping with my album track preference, I was the only one in my group of KISS friends that really liked side four with All American Man, Larger Than Life, and Any Way You Want It. The full stage picture on the inside of the album blew my away.
6 – Destroyer – Most people will go with Destroyer as KISS’ best studio effort and while I agree that Bob Ezrin’s production was a major improvement, I still like Rock and Roll Over and Revenge more. Do You Love Me is a great song, and Great Expectations is a guilty pleasure. Sue me.
7 – Hotter Than Hell – I know, the production is horrendous and not a lot of people put Hotter Than Hell in their top ten, but I just love the songs. Got to Choose, Goin’ Blind, and Comin’ Home are three of my all time favorites, while All the Way and Strange Ways or two of KISS’ most underrated songs. And I still would rather hear Let Me Go Rock and Roll live over even Rock and Roll All Nite.
8 – Love Gun – Typically, I am a big fan of Love Gun’s less popular tracks, especially Almost Human, Plaster Caster, and (gasp!) Then She Kissed Me. Shock Me was a pleasant surprise as Ace’s first lead vocal, and Got Love For Sale was underrated. The cardboard gun was cool as well.
9 – KISS – I know it’s full of KISS classics, but the production is suspect and it just hasn’t held up all that well. I LOVE All the Way, though.
10 – Dynasty/Unmasked - Even though KISS took a lot of grief for these two albums, they’re still guilty pleasures for me. Unfortunately, the full original band did not play on these two recordings, but I’ll still take Dynasty and Unmasked over anything post-makeup (with the exception of Revenge) and even Creatures of the Night which might have come in at number 11.
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