Full Length Review: Kiss "Kiss – Icon Series" (Mercury) by Devin J. Meaney

Band: Kiss

Location: New York

Country: USA

Genre: Rock, shock rock

Full length: Kiss – Icon Series

Format: CD, digital

Label: Mercury

Release date: 2010

To make a change from the normal gorenoise and goregrind and black metal that I post/write about I decided to delve into a bit of rock and roll. I took a trip to “Blue Star Traders” today—one of the local thrift stores. I snagged some cassettes of Pat Benatar and Fine Young Cannibals—but with them I snagged a CD. The CD in question is a KISS compilation from the Icon series!

This CD includes Strutter, Deuce, Hotter Than Hell, C’mon and Love Me, Rock and Roll All Nite (Live), Detroit Rock City, Beth, Hard Luck Woman, Calling Dr. Love, Love Gun, Christine Sixteen and I Was Made for Lovin’ You! I don’t know as much about KISS and rock and roll as I do about the heavier genres I usually speak off—but in my later years it is something that has grown on me positively!

First and foremost I need to say I love the production on this! The older KISS tracks have a certain “grain” about them that drives me wild! I can say the same for most old rock and roll! The drums on this are simplistic but tight and the guitar is very much the same with simple crunchy rhythms—though there are some wailing solos and leads!

I had heard of the Icon series before. I don’t know what happened to it but at one point I owned a Godsmack Icon CD. I know there are plenty more—and if those two CD’s are a testament to the brand I can say that they include nothing but the best of the best!

In conclusion—I’m a tad young to remember KISS and the heydays of rock and roll. But through cassettes and CD’s I manage to indulge in classics from another time. It took me until my late twenties/early thirties to really appreciate “old school” rock and roll—but now that I dig it I can say the vast majority of it is well worth checking out! -Devin J. Meaney

Lineup:

Paul Stanley: Vocals, guitar

Gene Simmons: Vocals, bass

Ace Frehley: Guitar, vocals

Peter Criss: Drums, vocals

Track list:

1. Strutter

2. Deuce

3. Hotter Than Hell

4. C'Mon And Love Me

5. Rock And Roll All Nite (live)

6. Detroit Rock City

7. Beth

8. Hard Luck Woman

9. Calling Dr. Love

10. Love Gun

11. Christine Sixteen

12. I Was Made For Lovin' You