Kiss - Alive! Box Set
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Free Music Notes for Alive! Box Set
Free Music Review: This is a great idea.
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, let's put an end to blaming Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley for the endless supply of compilations, live re-releases, greatest hits albums, etc.. OK? It's not theirs to dictate any longer. Mercury/Universal/Island...you pick. They are the ones calling the shots with these repackages re-released CDs.
I too have wondered how many times can one set of releases be remastered? The KISS Box Set released a few years back is a perfect example of too much tinkering is not always a good thing. Compress the heck out of it and it'll sound great! Not always...
But with this "box set," Mercury finally got it right. Not only with the CDs, but with the packaging as well. This is a really great layout. T42 Design is responsible once again. They've done the last few KISS CDs along with Paul Stanley's LIVE TO WIN album. Their design team is outstanding. And don't just look at KISS. Take a look at some of the later Willie Nelson layouts too. I digress...
All four CDs sound better than ever. Finally having ALIVE! and ALIVE II sounding like one show all the way through is cool. And for those who haven't the ears to notice...ALIVE III is outstanding. The drums are not what I would call great, but man, they are so much better than the original release. Let's not forget KISS fans; ALIVE III has never been touched since its release in 1993 (why KISS didn't have the entire catalogue remastered is still beyond me). Now, ALIVE III stands up very well to the first two.
ALIVE: The Millennium Concert is an interesting document really. Yes, you can hear that KISS (the original line-up) was getting longer in the tooth. Peter's drumming even during the Reunion of 1996 was no where near what it was in the seventies, but the man was around 54 years of age during this show. C'mon. His voice sounded good on Black Diamond and especailly Beth. Cut him some slack here. The quality of that recording is spectacular and overall it's a decent set-list.
I've been a listener of KISS' since 1974. And while there has been so much more out there to listen to over the years, KISS still manage to hold my interest. Whether it's remastering re-released CDs or seeing members release new stuff, it is all superb material. No matter what.
And I have to be honest here: KISS ALIVE 1975-2000 is something I have been waiting for since they mysteriously released the first three live albums in one set in '93 to promote ALIVE III.
This is a great set. Thanks Mercury/Universal/Island...whomever...
Free Music Review: This one can't be beat!
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm amazed at how much I've liked this box. After putting it off for a few years `cause I already had the other three Alive discs, I decided to give it a go. Lucky me! I loved it the moment I opened it.
The unreleased Millennium Concert is a great surprise - it's no short of spectacular really to hear Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter sounding so good!!! The songs are played on the right tempo, nothing is rushed here. Peter's drumming very much alive and kicking with a bottom end unheard of! Ace's blistering leads as exciting as ever! Paul singing his heart out on Love Gun and 100,000 Years! Gene singing Deuce and Let Me Go, Rock `n' Roll like it was 1974 all over again! All four are in great shape; they could still make you believe they were the best band in the planet then. It does make you feel kinda sad they didn't carry on. So, to cut this short, The Millennium Concert is a true moment of celebration - no hype here.
Then we get Alive! and Alive II on single discs for the first time. I must admit this makes listening to these classic albums a lot better! With no interruptions and all mixed as if it were continuously flowing - something which was sadly lost on vinyl - they are just hard to beat, especially Alive! which benefits a lot from it. We also get a better sounding Alive III - which is cool - but I guess it feels kinda out of place among the other three albums with the original Kiss.
The Alive! box set is also a very well designed release and comes with a beefy booklet full of pics, excerpts of interviews, and full credits and contents of the original albums.
All in all this is a must-have for all Kiss fans, be it for the newly improved remastering by George Marino in 2006 which really makes it all sound even fresher, be it for the surprisingly strong Millennium Concert, or be it for the amazing package where all this larger than life music is housed in. Don't hesitate getting it.
Free Music Review: Very Nice Indeed!
Hit: 5 Stars
I had no intention of picking this up, but simply couldn't resist after hearing that Best Buy was selling it for $20. I knew at that point that the 'bonus tracks' supposedly found on the Best Buy version were nowhere to be found, but I figured that would have to be rectified sooner or later (Gene and Paul are currently working with Universal about fixing that mess). Let me just say I am really glad I picked this up.
The packaging is great. The box folds out much like a DVD set, and it comes with a nice booklet with some cool photos and liner notes from everyone involved in these live recordings. The Millenium Concert sounds AWESOME. I really was impressed by the sound quality; the guitars are thick but not overbearing and all other instruments/vocals sound great. It's nice to have a live CD from the reunion line-up. Alive 1 - 3 also sound great - the remastering here takes nothing away, and only makes these classic recordings sound better.
As far as the whiners complaining that "Alive IV" isn't on this set, well, they must be the same people who blame KISS for all these re-releases. Alive IV was on a different label than the other 'Alive' albums, so it only makes sense they are not included in this box set (you do have to own the rights to release something kids). Even I admit it would have been cool if it was included, but I understand why it isn't. Just like I understand that record companies put out compilations and re-releases, more often than not without the bands input or approval.
After picking up KISSOLOGY and seeing what a great live band they really were, I'm really glad I have these live CDs as part of my collection. Get it at the right price and you can't go wrong. Pick it up at Best Buy, keep the receipt, and wait to hear how we can all get '2000 Man' and 'God of Thunder' to add to this great collection.
Free Music Review: The New KISS Box Set is Very Clever
Hit: 5 Stars
This is actually a pretty clever idea, reissuing KISS Alive 1, 2 and 3 as a box set with a bonus disc. Pick this up if you're new to KISS want to get a good feel for what they were about. Beyond the big hair, makeup and high heels as well as the controversy, there exists a wealth of good songs that actually are not offensive or even sexual in nature. The first Alive album was made in 1975, the legendary album that got KISS really big and still sells today, rating as high as number 5 on most critics top 100 rock or Top 100 live albums ever made. But don't be fooled by KISS' or any other band's music; while the shows are fun to go to and the records fun to listen to, it's a sell out business of making money and using the cool kids to sell it. Alive II was released in like 1977 or 78 intended as a Xmas present for fans as KISS had sold out regardless of 3 new not very commercial but platinum selling albums and were now very mainstream. All fresh material but contains a number of weak tracks like Ladies' Room and all the new studio tracks are throwaway but Ace's Rocket Ride. Alive 3 does nothing but heighten KISS' legend, a compromise between their witchy 70s makeup period and their 1980s period in which they were much like Poison or Motley Crue than their usual selves. The bonus disc is previously unreleased that contains retreads of many songs already featured on KISS Alive 1 through 4, but what I really like about it is that it's still a KISS Alive album but it actually has Ace Frehley playing on lead guitar and not Tommy Thayer, as the band entered self parody once more after a number of successful "farewell" tours. Only a diehard KISS fan looking to replace their old copies would want this reasonably priced box set, or the other diehard who just has to have the previously unreleased bonus disc. Listen to the bonus disc as an alternative to Alive 4. I love it!Free Music Review: For Fans Who Already Own The Remasters...
Hit: 5 Stars
I was hesitant to purchase this box set since I already own the first three "Alive" albums on cd (not to mention the first 2 on vinyl). I decided to make the purchase based on the inclusion of the Millennium Concert, the great price and having all the albums in the same place. I do not believe "Alive III" was ever remastered, so the sound improvement here is very noticeable. What pleasantly surprised me was the better sound on "Alive I & II". I did a side by side with "Alive! Box Set" cds and the 2 disc remastered sets of "Alive I & II". I found these new recordings to sound clearer, brighter, louder (when played at the same volume level), and to have more concert hall ambiance and overall punch when compared to the 2 disc "remastered" versions. The differences I heard immediately were Criss's drums & Gene's bass on the "Alive!" album giving my car subwoofer a much better workout. While the sound improvement on these first two "Alive!" albums might seem like a slight "tweak" to some, the ears of dedicated KISS fans will really appreciate the improvement.
So, for the music fan who does not own any Kiss albums, shame on you! This is a great place to start; four great live cds in one collection at a very reasonable price. For any KISS fan wondering if this set is worth the money, ask yourself one question, "Do you want the best?" I thought so....add to cart ASAP.