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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
(Music From) the Elder has divided KISS fans for a quarter of a century. Some dispise the records as being silly, misguided or just plain awful. Others see it as KISS showing a more serious side to complement their simplistic bombast of the 1970s, while other (like myself) see a bit of both.
The album has numerous moments of brilliance. Under the Rose is perhaps their best kept secret, dark, compelling, mystical, Gene sings the song with real force. A complete departure from anything the band had ever done before, it was a magnificent song. World Without Heroes shows Gene in fine form again with a sad, mournful theme, wonderful lyrics that hit home with real resonance and a fantastic guitar solo. The other real standout of the album is the final track, simply titled 'I'. It is classic KISS, heavy, anthemic, fist pumping rock 'n' roll. Only the outro of the song, with its referrences to the concept of the album tie it in with the rest of the songs. Bizarrely, it is ignored by the band live, despite being not only in the same vein as their classic 1970s output but also much betetr than a lot of it. Then we come to the low points on the album. Most of them centre around Paul Stanley who took to the concept like a fish out of water, usually a fish singing falsetto. Just a Boy seems to be picking up and developing into a strong song until the Star Child croons into the heavens to ruin it. The same happens with the Oath, spoilled by Stanley's shrill shrieking. He even manages to ruin the half decent Only You. Dark Light is the last track Ace Frehley recorded with the band but is well below his previous offerings. Fanfare and Escape from the Island are decent instrumental pieces but are nothing special. And others such as Odyssey and Mr Blackwell could suck a football through a hosepipe.
There clearly was some talent floating around the studio when this album was recorded. Unfortunately producer Bob Ezrin tried to turn KISS into something they were not and misdirecdted the work. It has some awesome moments, but is let down by far too many poor ones. Nonetheless it is worth buying for those strong moments alone.
The album has numerous moments of brilliance. Under the Rose is perhaps their best kept secret, dark, compelling, mystical, Gene sings the song with real force. A complete departure from anything the band had ever done before, it was a magnificent song. World Without Heroes shows Gene in fine form again with a sad, mournful theme, wonderful lyrics that hit home with real resonance and a fantastic guitar solo. The other real standout of the album is the final track, simply titled 'I'. It is classic KISS, heavy, anthemic, fist pumping rock 'n' roll. Only the outro of the song, with its referrences to the concept of the album tie it in with the rest of the songs. Bizarrely, it is ignored by the band live, despite being not only in the same vein as their classic 1970s output but also much betetr than a lot of it. Then we come to the low points on the album. Most of them centre around Paul Stanley who took to the concept like a fish out of water, usually a fish singing falsetto. Just a Boy seems to be picking up and developing into a strong song until the Star Child croons into the heavens to ruin it. The same happens with the Oath, spoilled by Stanley's shrill shrieking. He even manages to ruin the half decent Only You. Dark Light is the last track Ace Frehley recorded with the band but is well below his previous offerings. Fanfare and Escape from the Island are decent instrumental pieces but are nothing special. And others such as Odyssey and Mr Blackwell could suck a football through a hosepipe.
There clearly was some talent floating around the studio when this album was recorded. Unfortunately producer Bob Ezrin tried to turn KISS into something they were not and misdirecdted the work. It has some awesome moments, but is let down by far too many poor ones. Nonetheless it is worth buying for those strong moments alone.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is probably the most-lamented album in the KISS catalogue. Not many KISS fans would admit to liking this album in the 80's and it's easy to see why. It didn't sound anything like what KISS did before or after. (To be fair it does show a certain resemblance to the other orchestrated master piece Destroyer. Guess that's the Bob Ezrin touch.) After a couple of fairly weak-sounding albums, and pretty weak material on Unmasked, this is what KISS decided to release? Commercial suicide.
But, the songs are awesome. It's not KISS as most people know them but for me that isn't necessarily bad. This album contain some absolute gems and with the restored original track sequence it's a much better album than the vinyl issues. The remastering is spot on with the bass becoming much clearer and the separation between the instruments is stellar. The most pleasant suprise among the KISS remasters.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album received A LOT of bad press when it came out - mainly from the fans. It was a radical departure from the Kiss of old, but with Bob Ezrin back in the Producer's chair, they made a great album. "The Oath" with it's great guitar intro, "Just a Boy" with its baroque intro, and "Only You" are some of the stand out songson the album. Eric Carr turns out some great drumming on this album, while Ace turns out some great work on "Escape From the Island" and his solo on "A World Without Heroes". It's worh adding to your collection. To quote Rolling Stone's review: "Kiss thinks with the heart and not the ..." on this album."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
wrongly overlooked ?
This album was a flop when originally released and alienated the majority of Kiss fans BUT I think it's a pretty good album if you ignor the keyboard nonsense of "Fanfair" +... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lies Inc.
better than i imagined
i looked at the album n after taking the plastic off n was very impressed at the quality this record has kept over the years.i think i got a deal. Read more
Published 5 months ago by kburnett1971
Underated by the critics.
I have read many critics view of this album and found that their stereotypical point of view and genre restricting opinions to be flawed. Read more
Published 5 months ago by P. S. Co-head
Ambitious misfire
After 1976's Bob Ezrin-produced `Destroyer', it would have seemed a no-brainer for Kiss to record a soaring metal concept album. Read more
Published 11 months ago by B. S. Marlay
Classic Kiss it isn't, but it stands alone as a great album.
It's all subjective, of course, but I for one rate this album very highly. I am a long time Kiss fan, and one thing '.. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. A. Willis
Kiss the Elder film track
Some classic early musical talent on this album.. from Dark light and one track that stands out from the crowd is Mr Blackwell, it is a classic bass guitar bad boy track by Gene... Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by Mr. D. WALTERS
epic
please refer to the above reviews these people are talking out there backsides the elder is by far the best kiss album ever sonic boom youre having a laugh. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by Desmond Brown
music from the ill advised?
where to start? mis guided,ill judged,craving attention to their quality as musicians,run out of ideas?probably a mixture of all of the above. Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2008 by Mr Blackwell
End of an Era
For me (and hindsight is a valuable tool I know) 'The Elder' represents KISS at a crossroads in their careers. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2005 by desdavis
The most ridiculous KISS album of all
"(Music from)The Elder" is the result of a somewhat misguided decision for KISS to become "serious", which ultimately, along with their new, shorter hair image, was the cause of a... Read more
Published on 8 July 2004 by "jamesfranklin22"
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