KISS – KISS Debut Album

In celebration of the legendary band being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I want to take a look back at KISS’s promising debut album. Released all the way back in 1974, this album has stood the test of time and paved the way for other artists to succeed.

While KISS was never a band that would blow anyone away with their musicianship, they had a stage presence – combining explosives and makeup – that made them both mysterious and intense. Plus, they did have solid musicians in bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley, guitarist Ace Frehley, and drummer/vocalist Peter Criss.

Two things to note before getting into the album. One: in studio, KISS was not a very heavy sounding band. Their songs are slow paced and very loose compared to live cuts of songs where they layer on the heavy. They are much better live than in studio on the first three albums. Second, they take a “Beatles” approach to the music in terms of singers. Paul and Gene handle most of the vocal duties, but Peter gets his fair share of vocals in there.

The album begins with a quick tom drum count in to “Strutter,” one of the heavier sounding songs on the album, and one of my favorites. Its up-tempo beat, combined with an amazingly beautiful chorus marks what makes KISS great: anyone can sing along and have fun doing so. Plus, you’d be surprised at the vocal range that both Paul and Gene have in their early days. “Strutter” introduces the solo style of Ace Frehley, and instantly one could tell that he has skills. Both melodic and technical, the solos in “Strutter” are fantastic and cap off a wild album opener.

“Nothing to Lose” is an upbeat song with a great opening riff. the lyrical content is surprising for the 70s, but it’s easy to decipher the meaning behind the song. Gene handles the vocals for the verses, and Peter Criss takes over for the choruses, making a great combination. Another great solo from Ace brings the song together in great form. Also present on the song in a little bit of piano, which is a cool addition to the song.

“Firehouse” comes next, and it is a concert staple, usually where Gene does his fire-breathing. Gene’s bass line is rocking heavily here, and the vocals are fun to listen to with both Paul and Gene taking lead. “Cold Gin” features one of the greatest KISS riffs of all time, backed by another great bass line. Although Ace wrote the song, he was uncomfortable with his vocal ability, and allowed Gene to sing instead. Ace would sing this live in later years, and he kills it. Gene does a great job as well. The song itself is about gin and its powers to save a failing relationship.

“Let Me Know” is a forgotten song. It has a completely different makeup than the other songs, not featuring a chorus, and having both Gene and Paul on vocals, switching off on leads. It’s another up-tempo song and very fun to listen to. The coda, featuring an Ace solo, is magnificent. “Kissin’ Time” is also forgotten, but for the right reasons. It’s a weak song only written as a cash grab to sell the record after release. While the bass line is fun, the song itself is weak, the second weakest on the album. The song is about KISS becoming a nationwide sensation, which is true, but it’s just not memorable.

“Deuce” is a great song, although lyrically it means nothing. Again, the guitar riffs are memorable, the Ace solo is fantastic, and the vocals are impressive, especially in the second verse. Gene’s vocal range was quite strange back in the 70s, ranging from an eerie high to a dark low, and his high is in full force here. I only wish the song contained the ferocity it has live.

“Love Theme From KISS” is uninspired and forgettable. It’s just one riff repeated for over two minutes. “100,000 Years” is a great song, featuring more great riffs and a short drum solo leading into a second guitar solo.

The album ends with “Black Diamond,” easily a top 5 KISS song. It’s only downfall here is that it’s not as heavy as they play it live. It opens with an acoustic intro sung by Paul, going into the full band experience with Peter on lead vocals. Again, the vocal range of Paul and Gene are on display with their backing vocals, and Ace’s guitar playing is second to none here. The song ends with a fading solo, marked by long notes that get darker and darker.

KISS’s debut, while not the best album ever, was a solid attempt at bringing the KISS name to the spotlight, the biggest flaw in the music is that it doesn’t encapsulate the live KISS sound, and that takes away a lot from the music. Also, there’s nothing overly impressive about the band members themselves, but they are a cohesive unit. This album paved the way for KISS to become one of the biggest bands in history, and you can see why after one listen.

I rate KISS a solid 3.75/5