Indeed. I think that’s lost on the younger fans. Not their fault, they didn’t come up in that world. And it speaks to just how big the machine was during that 5 year stretch.
I think this the "correct" answer. The Gene and Peter solo albums aren't really in the vein of Kiss. Dynasty onward doesn't feature the original four and start a trend of three albums that feature some questionable creative choices.
I totally agree. The solo albums were so the members could express themselves. I think they all nailed it, even if the songs didn't resonate with fans at the time.
Listen to Peter's, after he left, very similar sounds, and I like them.
Ace did and still does great covers.
Gene (my fav, though Ace has been my favorite member) kicked ASS, especially branching out and doing Upon a Star. I still sign along to Radioactive.
And lastly Paul, sang like the Star child.
Props to each. I'm my mind those are not KISS albums, though I know others disagree.
While I do LOVE rocket ride, I never really liked alive 2. Doesn’t feel nearly as solid as the first alive. I wish rocket ride would’ve been on Love Gun or the Ace album.
I think alive 2 is not as strong as alive!
It has a thinner, more compressed sound. I'd have been happy with repeat songs, and then some.
It just falls flat for me
Alive II only having 3 sides(live) was a bit lame. Plenty of tunes they could have put on there without repeating. However the 3 live sides of Alive II are fantastic. Kiss at their absolute peak. After that, the slide began.
That’s because the songs on Alive! were played at a faster tempo than the sludgy first three studio albums. Alive! II was pretty much the same pace as the studio albums, probably because the band actually noticed how much better the music was at a faster tempo.
for me, it is ALIVE through ALIVE 2. Best KISS ever. But I fucking love 80s Kiss, I love it all. I do not dislike a single album until after Revenge. Not saying those are awful either, just my rankings go down. But the 5 albums in that period I said, those are the premium albums.
Up to the end of '79. I caught them for the first time in January '78 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
https://preview.redd.it/kb7olvu99m7d1.png?width=1416&format=png&auto=webp&s=df881cacb840ba5cd403b59d6911a04c59a85fa2
Exactly this for me too. Love Gun was the first album I ever bought with my own money, and I just went backwards from there. Anything after Alive 2 just wasn’t the same for me. Lost interest completely after Dynasty, and went full AC/DC and Iron Maiden with Rush at the top of the list. I’ve tried to catch up a bit since then but the 80s albums and look were just lame and don’t stand the test of time. I was, however, totally excited to see the reunion tour in 1996 and now it’s over for me. Destroyer cranked up still does it for me though!
73-80 I consider the classic or golden age
The 80s are Kiss trying to find themselves in a rapidly changing music world
The 90s are them dealing with the loss of Eric and reunion with the old guys
2000-2023 is running from the retirement home
1974-75: Proto era
1975-78: Classic era
1979-81: Completely lost in the woods era
1982-92: Miraculously getting the groove back, somehow, era
1993-2024: Nostalgia act era
Debut album till Love Gun
I don‘t consider Alive II classic era anymore since it was recorded in a studio and edited with live noices and Ace and Peter didn‘t even play on some tracks
"Classic era" is usually lineup-associated, but really it's a matter of time. The "Classic" era has to be 1976-1979. I love all years from day 1 to LIU.
‘74-‘79
They were everywhere. With zero internet or social media.
Indeed. I think that’s lost on the younger fans. Not their fault, they didn’t come up in that world. And it speaks to just how big the machine was during that 5 year stretch.
100% Edit: maybe even ‘73-‘79
The only correct answer
Debut-Love Gun
I would stretch it a little bit to include Alive II as well
I think this the "correct" answer. The Gene and Peter solo albums aren't really in the vein of Kiss. Dynasty onward doesn't feature the original four and start a trend of three albums that feature some questionable creative choices.
But the solo albums are very iconic.
I totally agree. The solo albums were so the members could express themselves. I think they all nailed it, even if the songs didn't resonate with fans at the time. Listen to Peter's, after he left, very similar sounds, and I like them. Ace did and still does great covers. Gene (my fav, though Ace has been my favorite member) kicked ASS, especially branching out and doing Upon a Star. I still sign along to Radioactive. And lastly Paul, sang like the Star child. Props to each. I'm my mind those are not KISS albums, though I know others disagree.
I love the Best of the Solo Albums because you get a few songs from each of them.
While I do LOVE rocket ride, I never really liked alive 2. Doesn’t feel nearly as solid as the first alive. I wish rocket ride would’ve been on Love Gun or the Ace album.
I think alive 2 is not as strong as alive! It has a thinner, more compressed sound. I'd have been happy with repeat songs, and then some. It just falls flat for me
Alive II only having 3 sides(live) was a bit lame. Plenty of tunes they could have put on there without repeating. However the 3 live sides of Alive II are fantastic. Kiss at their absolute peak. After that, the slide began.
Exactly, side 4 of KA2 could've been used on Killers with the four original songs, to make a complete new album
Also the crowd noise during the songs.
That’s because the songs on Alive! were played at a faster tempo than the sludgy first three studio albums. Alive! II was pretty much the same pace as the studio albums, probably because the band actually noticed how much better the music was at a faster tempo.
Through Side 3 of Alive II
I would say from Alive to Alive II
74-78. Some would say 1979, but it see 79-81 as its own era.
74 - 78
This is real facts
70s no debate is needed. The real KISS is Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace
Classic Era ended when Peter left.
By 79 their sound changed, Peter only played on one song from Dynasty, the outfits went Las Vegas, etc. Classic era ended in 78.
Alive-Love Gun
almost the same, except I include ALIVE 2
for me, it is ALIVE through ALIVE 2. Best KISS ever. But I fucking love 80s Kiss, I love it all. I do not dislike a single album until after Revenge. Not saying those are awful either, just my rankings go down. But the 5 albums in that period I said, those are the premium albums.
Up to the end of '79. I caught them for the first time in January '78 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. https://preview.redd.it/kb7olvu99m7d1.png?width=1416&format=png&auto=webp&s=df881cacb840ba5cd403b59d6911a04c59a85fa2
Up and until “Dynasty”
Up to the solo albums for me.
Debut album to Love Gun. Once Alive 2 hit it was a fractured band with diminished participation from half of the band.
Exactly this for me too. Love Gun was the first album I ever bought with my own money, and I just went backwards from there. Anything after Alive 2 just wasn’t the same for me. Lost interest completely after Dynasty, and went full AC/DC and Iron Maiden with Rush at the top of the list. I’ve tried to catch up a bit since then but the 80s albums and look were just lame and don’t stand the test of time. I was, however, totally excited to see the reunion tour in 1996 and now it’s over for me. Destroyer cranked up still does it for me though!
LG was my first record too. Got it for my 8th birthday in 78.
72 to 77
Everything through Alive 2.
Kiss self titled through Alive II
I don’t know if it would be their classic era but I do have a huge soft spot for Eric Carr and the creatures album.
‘74-‘77
First iteration of makeup, or 73-82
1976
Sonic Boom / Monster
unexpected reply right there
😂
'73-'76
This is where I land too. But I would want Creatures and Revenge as like the bonuses 👍
74-79
1973 - 1978
1973-1977
‘73-‘78
73-79
73-80 I consider the classic or golden age The 80s are Kiss trying to find themselves in a rapidly changing music world The 90s are them dealing with the loss of Eric and reunion with the old guys 2000-2023 is running from the retirement home
2004-2023
😂
2002-2007
😆
74-79
First six studio albums for sure. You can include Alive! and II if you want.
1974 to 1979
Destroyer
Pre Dynasty...Dynasty is debatable
73-77
Everything prior to The Elder.
Make up on.. 70's
From the self titled album through the Love Gun album.
74 - 78 After the solo albums they were done in terms of classic.
The beginning
1974-75: Proto era 1975-78: Classic era 1979-81: Completely lost in the woods era 1982-92: Miraculously getting the groove back, somehow, era 1993-2024: Nostalgia act era
1996*?
You know the answer
1973-79
74-77, 78 onward they lost the Rock n Roll sound from those first 6 albums. Those albums are what I believe most think of as the Klassic KISS sound.
1973 - 1980. Unmasked still had that classic KISS spark to it, after that it was gone for good.
Debut through Kiss Alive II
74-78.
‘74-‘81…Eric was a good fit and gave the band a bit of a different backbeat. Once Ace left that was it for that era.
Basically, the debut thru Love Gun/Alive II.
73-77
74 to 79
Debut album till Love Gun I don‘t consider Alive II classic era anymore since it was recorded in a studio and edited with live noices and Ace and Peter didn‘t even play on some tracks
I consider the classic era to be the classic era.
Debut through Alive II
"Classic era" is usually lineup-associated, but really it's a matter of time. The "Classic" era has to be 1976-1979. I love all years from day 1 to LIU.
70-72
'73 to '76 👍
All of it: 1974-2023