stonerblue
Well-Known Member
Hmmm...;
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The Album Review Club - End of Round #9 Break (page 1904)
- Thread starter RobMCFC
- Start date
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Well, you've voted once so far, giving my favourite album of all time a 7, so it can't all be bad :)Hmmm...;
You should join in more - even if it is to sling some criticism about.
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Destroyer – KISS
In the 18 months that I’ve been a member here, I’ve already had plenty of music conversations with @OB1, and we certainly have a lot of albums, artists and concerts in common. So hopefully, he’ll take this review on the chin
It’s not that I dislike this album, it’s just that having listened to it a few times, I can’t really find that much to get too excited about. As @Saddleworth2 has already pointed out with his witty Dylan comment, the lyrics are hardly anything to write home about, but I accept that you don’t always need that with a rock band.
I like rock, and although I don’t listen to as much hard rock/metal as I used to, there are still plenty of albums that I still enjoy. That’s where the problem is for me – the singing is much better on a Bon Jovi or Van Halen album (yes, even those with Sammy Hagar!); I didn’t find any tracks that were as catchy as Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” or “Poison”; speaking of Poison, I find their shiny version of sleaze/hair-metal pop more catchy and singable than anything on here. Back to Bon Jovi again – is there anything on here that is as epic sounding as “Wanted Dead or Alive” or “Dry County”? And if I wanted some monster riffs, then there’s nothing to touch some of AC/DC’s singles.
The thing is, I enjoyed listening to some of these songs – “Detroit Rock City”, “Flaming Youth” and “Sweet Pain” had me tapping my feet and enjoying the metal riffs but not as much as the acts I’ve mentioned above. It’s interesting to note that this album is from 1976, which is a good 10 years before I started listening to music, so I haven’t got the history with the band that OB1 and others have, and I’ll have to accept that these guys have done the metal riffs for longer than most of the acts that I mention. Maybe some of them were influenced by Kiss. But 1976 brings up Boston’s debut album (I know Foggy hates the “cobbled together in the studio” factor, but I think it sounds great) and even better, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers first album.
I feel slightly guilty here because I’m supposed to be reviewing Destroyer by Kiss, but I keep mentioning other bands. But that illustrates the point for me: I can’t find one single aspect of this album – be it the singing, the guitar riffs, the drumming – that is better or even as good as others in their class. And it’s not just me dismissing them because they are the face-painted metal dudes – I can easily dismiss that when listening to the album, but it does make me wonder, despite what OB1 says, whether that is a large part of the appeal?
For the third album in a row, it’s a 6 from me.
In the 18 months that I’ve been a member here, I’ve already had plenty of music conversations with @OB1, and we certainly have a lot of albums, artists and concerts in common. So hopefully, he’ll take this review on the chin
It’s not that I dislike this album, it’s just that having listened to it a few times, I can’t really find that much to get too excited about. As @Saddleworth2 has already pointed out with his witty Dylan comment, the lyrics are hardly anything to write home about, but I accept that you don’t always need that with a rock band.
I like rock, and although I don’t listen to as much hard rock/metal as I used to, there are still plenty of albums that I still enjoy. That’s where the problem is for me – the singing is much better on a Bon Jovi or Van Halen album (yes, even those with Sammy Hagar!); I didn’t find any tracks that were as catchy as Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” or “Poison”; speaking of Poison, I find their shiny version of sleaze/hair-metal pop more catchy and singable than anything on here. Back to Bon Jovi again – is there anything on here that is as epic sounding as “Wanted Dead or Alive” or “Dry County”? And if I wanted some monster riffs, then there’s nothing to touch some of AC/DC’s singles.
The thing is, I enjoyed listening to some of these songs – “Detroit Rock City”, “Flaming Youth” and “Sweet Pain” had me tapping my feet and enjoying the metal riffs but not as much as the acts I’ve mentioned above. It’s interesting to note that this album is from 1976, which is a good 10 years before I started listening to music, so I haven’t got the history with the band that OB1 and others have, and I’ll have to accept that these guys have done the metal riffs for longer than most of the acts that I mention. Maybe some of them were influenced by Kiss. But 1976 brings up Boston’s debut album (I know Foggy hates the “cobbled together in the studio” factor, but I think it sounds great) and even better, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers first album.
I feel slightly guilty here because I’m supposed to be reviewing Destroyer by Kiss, but I keep mentioning other bands. But that illustrates the point for me: I can’t find one single aspect of this album – be it the singing, the guitar riffs, the drumming – that is better or even as good as others in their class. And it’s not just me dismissing them because they are the face-painted metal dudes – I can easily dismiss that when listening to the album, but it does make me wonder, despite what OB1 says, whether that is a large part of the appeal?
For the third album in a row, it’s a 6 from me.
I'm not going to disagree with you at all Rob; Kiss aren't my favourite band because I think their music is better than some of the other acts mentioned, it's just that I first heard them at a very influential point in my musical education.
I'd always loved the likes of Sweet, T.Rex, Slade, Bowie etc, growing up in the early seventies, all the stuff that was in the charts at the time. My older sister's friends were all into Led Zep, Purple, Genesis, Yes and Nazareth, which instantly made me want to like something different.
Kiss were certainly different and I thank them for leading me down a less trodden musical path - American bands! Back in the 70s it was quite difficult to hear the likes of Aerosmith, ZZ Top, BÖC, Cheap Trick, Journey, Styx etc on UK radio, but my interest in Kiss led me to discover all of those bands and many other great artists, like CCR, Steely Dan, Eagles, Doobies, Joni Mitchell, CS&N, the Allman Brothers etc, etc.
My musical tastes these days are very eclectic, but I'll always remain faithful to my musical roots, even if it turns out that Gene is a bit of a dick!
I'd always loved the likes of Sweet, T.Rex, Slade, Bowie etc, growing up in the early seventies, all the stuff that was in the charts at the time. My older sister's friends were all into Led Zep, Purple, Genesis, Yes and Nazareth, which instantly made me want to like something different.
Kiss were certainly different and I thank them for leading me down a less trodden musical path - American bands! Back in the 70s it was quite difficult to hear the likes of Aerosmith, ZZ Top, BÖC, Cheap Trick, Journey, Styx etc on UK radio, but my interest in Kiss led me to discover all of those bands and many other great artists, like CCR, Steely Dan, Eagles, Doobies, Joni Mitchell, CS&N, the Allman Brothers etc, etc.
My musical tastes these days are very eclectic, but I'll always remain faithful to my musical roots, even if it turns out that Gene is a bit of a dick!
BimboBob
Well-Known Member
It's very hard to break through my prejudices about Kiss. I've always classed them as nothing more than average and knowing this themselves decided to play dress up to make them stand out. Which obviously worked given that they have shifted over 100 million records in their career.
So where do we begin? I've given it a proper headphonetastic listen throughout today, I've made notes, I've re-checked facts, I've banged the album out, I've had it on in the background. In short. A proper listen.
Has this extensive listen changed any opinions? Wiped any prejudices?
In short? No. No it hasn't. It's reinforced them if I'm honest.
The whole album is just over 30 minutes long. Is that a piss take or lack of actual song writing ability? I suspect a bit of both. The singing is awful. The lyrics defy belief. The playing is average. The song composition is generic. there's no actual oomph...the whole album just ticks over not really doing anything.
I like the start of Detroit Rock City, I hate God of Thunder with a passion, utter drivel, Sweet Pain is actually ok, Beth is dire nonsense and the whole album finishes on such a low it left me feeling like a long lost relative had died. After a long illness. Sort of upset but not knowing why.
I then had a look at other albums released in 1976 just to see if it was a bad year...
Hotel California - The Eagles
A Day at the Races - Queen
Wind and Wuthering - Genesis
Live Bullet - Bob Seger
Deep Cuts - Strawbs
Night Moves - Bob Seger
The Song remains The Same - Led Zeppelin
Triumph - Triumph
Arrival - ABBA
Songs In the Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder
Dirty Deeds Done Cheap - ACDC
A New World Record - ELO
Chicago X - Chicago
Rose of Cimarron - Poco
Rising - Rainbow
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon
Turnstiles - Billy Joel
I could go on...
Oh ok...
Presence - Led Zeppelin
Blue For You - Status Quo
How Dare You! - 10CC
A Trick of the Tail - Genesis
Oxygene - jean Michel Jarre
High Voltage - ACDC
Give Us a Wink - Sweet
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy
Run With The Pack - Bad Company
Station to Station - David Bowie
There's more I missed out. All of the above are better in every way than this abortion of an album.
On the plus side many thanks for posting it up. I've always wondered what the fuss was about and never really delved deeper into Kiss to find out. I'm glad I now have. Just to confirm suspicions and to remind myself never to add them to my vinyl collection. A collection which has all of the above albums in it.
A score? Really? Hmmmm...
2.
A small edit: I would go and see them live though, just to witness the spectacle. If it's anywhere near Rammstein live then I'd be happy.
So where do we begin? I've given it a proper headphonetastic listen throughout today, I've made notes, I've re-checked facts, I've banged the album out, I've had it on in the background. In short. A proper listen.
Has this extensive listen changed any opinions? Wiped any prejudices?
In short? No. No it hasn't. It's reinforced them if I'm honest.
The whole album is just over 30 minutes long. Is that a piss take or lack of actual song writing ability? I suspect a bit of both. The singing is awful. The lyrics defy belief. The playing is average. The song composition is generic. there's no actual oomph...the whole album just ticks over not really doing anything.
I like the start of Detroit Rock City, I hate God of Thunder with a passion, utter drivel, Sweet Pain is actually ok, Beth is dire nonsense and the whole album finishes on such a low it left me feeling like a long lost relative had died. After a long illness. Sort of upset but not knowing why.
I then had a look at other albums released in 1976 just to see if it was a bad year...
Hotel California - The Eagles
A Day at the Races - Queen
Wind and Wuthering - Genesis
Live Bullet - Bob Seger
Deep Cuts - Strawbs
Night Moves - Bob Seger
The Song remains The Same - Led Zeppelin
Triumph - Triumph
Arrival - ABBA
Songs In the Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder
Dirty Deeds Done Cheap - ACDC
A New World Record - ELO
Chicago X - Chicago
Rose of Cimarron - Poco
Rising - Rainbow
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon
Turnstiles - Billy Joel
I could go on...
Oh ok...
Presence - Led Zeppelin
Blue For You - Status Quo
How Dare You! - 10CC
A Trick of the Tail - Genesis
Oxygene - jean Michel Jarre
High Voltage - ACDC
Give Us a Wink - Sweet
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy
Run With The Pack - Bad Company
Station to Station - David Bowie
There's more I missed out. All of the above are better in every way than this abortion of an album.
On the plus side many thanks for posting it up. I've always wondered what the fuss was about and never really delved deeper into Kiss to find out. I'm glad I now have. Just to confirm suspicions and to remind myself never to add them to my vinyl collection. A collection which has all of the above albums in it.
A score? Really? Hmmmm...
2.
A small edit: I would go and see them live though, just to witness the spectacle. If it's anywhere near Rammstein live then I'd be happy.
Last edited:
Till Lindemann is a legend and yes Kiss live is well worth the price of the ticket.It's very hard to break through my prejudices about Kiss. I've always classed them as nothing more than average and knowing this themselves decided to play dress up to make them stand out. Which obviously worked given that they have shifted over 100 million records in their career.
So where do we begin? I've given it a proper headphonetastic listen throughout today, I've made notes, I've re-checked facts, I've banged the album out, I've had it on in the background. In short. A proper listen.
Has this extensive listen changed any opinions? Wiped any prejudices?
In short? No. No it hasn't. It's reinforced them if I'm honest.
The whole album is just over 30 minutes long. Is that a piss take or lack of actual song writing ability? I suspect a bit of both. The singing is awful. The lyrics defy belief. The playing is average. The song composition is generic. there's no actual oomph...the whole album just ticks over not really doing anything.
I like the start of Detroit Rock City, I hate God of Thunder with a passion, utter drivel, Sweet Pain is actually ok, Beth is dire nonsense and the whole album finishes on such a low it left me feeling like a long lost relative had died. After a long illness. Sort of upset but not knowing why.
I then had a look at other albums released in 1976 just to see if it was a bad year...
Hotel California - The Eagles
A Day at the Races - Queen
Wind and Wuthering - Genesis
Live Bullet - Bob Seger
Deep Cuts - Strawbs
Night Moves - Bob Seger
The Song remains The Same - Led Zeppelin
Triumph - Triumph
Arrival - ABBBA
Songs In the Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder
Dirty Deeds Done Cheap - ACDC
A New World Record - ELO
Chicago X - Chicago
Rose of Cimarron - Poco
Rising - Rainbow
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon
Turnstiles - Billy Joel
I could go on...
Oh ok...
Presence - Led Zeppelin
Blue For You - Status Quo
How Dare You! - 10CC
A Trick of the Tail - Genesis
Oxygene - jean Michel Jarre
High Voltage - ACDC
Give Us a Wink - Sweet
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy
Run With The Pack - Bad Company
Station to Station - David Bowie
There's more I missed out. All of the above are better in every way than this abortion of an album.
On the plus side many thanks for posting it up. I've always wondered what the fuss was about and never really delved deeper into Kiss to find out. I'm glad I now have. Just to confirm suspicions and to remind myself never to add them to my vinyl collection. A collection which has all of the above albums in it.
A score? Really? Hmmmm...
2.
A small edit: I would go and see them live though, just to witness the spectacle. If it's anywhere near Rammstein live then I'd be happy.
Great choice OB1 not my favourite Kiss album but as you say 5 songs on their most played live set and deserves a 7/10 from me.
Live they are simply spectacular and its worth an extra point due to the fact that a long time mate of mine was Ace's minder whenever they were in QLD a very difficult but rewarding job.
Can't wait to see them one last time as I love my music loud.
Live they are simply spectacular and its worth an extra point due to the fact that a long time mate of mine was Ace's minder whenever they were in QLD a very difficult but rewarding job.
Can't wait to see them one last time as I love my music loud.
FogBlueInSanFran
Well-Known Member
Bob Seger inflicted upon us not just one but TWO records that year?It's very hard to break through my prejudices about Kiss. I've always classed them as nothing more than average and knowing this themselves decided to play dress up to make them stand out. Which obviously worked given that they have shifted over 100 million records in their career.
So where do we begin? I've given it a proper headphonetastic listen throughout today, I've made notes, I've re-checked facts, I've banged the album out, I've had it on in the background. In short. A proper listen.
Has this extensive listen changed any opinions? Wiped any prejudices?
In short? No. No it hasn't. It's reinforced them if I'm honest.
The whole album is just over 30 minutes long. Is that a piss take or lack of actual song writing ability? I suspect a bit of both. The singing is awful. The lyrics defy belief. The playing is average. The song composition is generic. there's no actual oomph...the whole album just ticks over not really doing anything.
I like the start of Detroit Rock City, I hate God of Thunder with a passion, utter drivel, Sweet Pain is actually ok, Beth is dire nonsense and the whole album finishes on such a low it left me feeling like a long lost relative had died. After a long illness. Sort of upset but not knowing why.
I then had a look at other albums released in 1976 just to see if it was a bad year...
Hotel California - The Eagles
A Day at the Races - Queen
Wind and Wuthering - Genesis
Live Bullet - Bob Seger
Deep Cuts - Strawbs
Night Moves - Bob Seger
The Song remains The Same - Led Zeppelin
Triumph - Triumph
Arrival - ABBBA
Songs In the Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder
Dirty Deeds Done Cheap - ACDC
A New World Record - ELO
Chicago X - Chicago
Rose of Cimarron - Poco
Rising - Rainbow
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon
Turnstiles - Billy Joel
I could go on...
Oh ok...
Presence - Led Zeppelin
Blue For You - Status Quo
How Dare You! - 10CC
A Trick of the Tail - Genesis
Oxygene - jean Michel Jarre
High Voltage - ACDC
Give Us a Wink - Sweet
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy
Run With The Pack - Bad Company
Station to Station - David Bowie
There's more I missed out. All of the above are better in every way than this abortion of an album.
On the plus side many thanks for posting it up. I've always wondered what the fuss was about and never really delved deeper into Kiss to find out. I'm glad I now have. Just to confirm suspicions and to remind myself never to add them to my vinyl collection. A collection which has all of the above albums in it.
A score? Really? Hmmmm...
2.
A small edit: I would go and see them live though, just to witness the spectacle. If it's anywhere near Rammstein live then I'd be happy.
It’s amazing we made it to 1977.
AC/DC, Stevie Wonder and Zevon made classics; the rest of that stuff was not top of the class for a single one of the rest of those artists. OK, maybe Thin Lizzy. Some of that shit is barrel scrapings — Joel and Led Zep especially.
Thank god for punk, and no wonder. Those fat dinosaurs gave the safety pin earring set some big targets.
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OB1
Well-Known Member
Bob Seger inflicted upon us not just one but TWO records that year?
It’s amazing we made it to 1977.
AC/DC, Stevie Wonder and Zevon made classics; the rest of that stuff was not top of the class for a single one of the rest of those artists. OK, maybe Thin Lizzy. Some of that shit is barrel scrapings — Joel and Led Zep especially.
Thank god for punk, and no wonder. Those fat dinosaurs gave the safety pin earring set some big targets.
Ha,ha,ha. I have most of those albums. Whilst I don't share all your views or musical choices, there's no doubting the range of quality etc varies across them; regardless of what one thinks of Destroyer.
All Lizzy albums are a bit uneven - it's one reason the Live one is so treasured as it does feature most of the best stuff. Jailbreak might though be their best album.
OB1
Well-Known Member
Destroyer – KISS
In the 18 months that I’ve been a member here, I’ve already had plenty of music conversations with @OB1, and we certainly have a lot of albums, artists and concerts in common. So hopefully, he’ll take this review on the chin
It’s not that I dislike this album, it’s just that having listened to it a few times, I can’t really find that much to get too excited about. As @Saddleworth2 has already pointed out with his witty Dylan comment, the lyrics are hardly anything to write home about, but I accept that you don’t always need that with a rock band.
I like rock, and although I don’t listen to as much hard rock/metal as I used to, there are still plenty of albums that I still enjoy. That’s where the problem is for me – the singing is much better on a Bon Jovi or Van Halen album (yes, even those with Sammy Hagar!); I didn’t find any tracks that were as catchy as Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” or “Poison”; speaking of Poison, I find their shiny version of sleaze/hair-metal pop more catchy and singable than anything on here. Back to Bon Jovi again – is there anything on here that is as epic sounding as “Wanted Dead or Alive” or “Dry County”? And if I wanted some monster riffs, then there’s nothing to touch some of AC/DC’s singles.
The thing is, I enjoyed listening to some of these songs – “Detroit Rock City”, “Flaming Youth” and “Sweet Pain” had me tapping my feet and enjoying the metal riffs but not as much as the acts I’ve mentioned above. It’s interesting to note that this album is from 1976, which is a good 10 years before I started listening to music, so I haven’t got the history with the band that OB1 and others have, and I’ll have to accept that these guys have done the metal riffs for longer than most of the acts that I mention. Maybe some of them were influenced by Kiss. But 1976 brings up Boston’s debut album (I know Foggy hates the “cobbled together in the studio” factor, but I think it sounds great) and even better, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers first album.
I feel slightly guilty here because I’m supposed to be reviewing Destroyer by Kiss, but I keep mentioning other bands. But that illustrates the point for me: I can’t find one single aspect of this album – be it the singing, the guitar riffs, the drumming – that is better or even as good as others in their class. And it’s not just me dismissing them because they are the face-painted metal dudes – I can easily dismiss that when listening to the album, but it does make me wonder, despite what OB1 says, whether that is a large part of the appeal?
For the third album in a row, it’s a 6 from me.
I saw Bon Jovi support KISS; they didn't do a Van Halen ;-)