I bought Kiss Unplugged based on the recommendation of gerper and the fact that I walked around for 2 days after reading the review saying, Kiss? Unplugged? I figured at best I had a treat on my hands, at worst a novelty.

It’s just skinning in at ‘Novelty.’

First, the package.
70’s record packaging in general, and Paul McCartney in particular have spoiled me rotten on packaging. I know not everybody is willing to do stickers and posters in their releases (Paul McCartney, Venus & Mars) and how many CDs have pop-ups in them? (INXS, X) but some liner notes are sort of expected. All we get in this CD is a list of songs with writing credits and some lean production credits and thanks. I’d have liked to know what albums the songs originally came off of for starters. Maybe why they decided to do that song unplugged, why it was written. Some info, guys. If you’re going to do mostly your own stuff you might as well try to sell the original albums, y’know? And I’m not really happy with the quality of the photos either. I know the guys are getting old and they look better and better in deeper and deeper shadows, but I would like to be able to make out who’s who.

Wait, what’s that about mostly doing their own stuff?
As I understood it most bands went on Unplugged to do covers. You know, ‘these are the songs that shaped our stuff.’ Not here. One of the songs is a Stones tune. Now this may not be all the band’s fault. MTV is notorious for wanting "the hits." Even the hits that have been played to death. So the track listing could have been done with that in mind. Still, it’s disappointing. I’d have loved to hear Kiss doing blues songs or old R&B or something, I have the greatest hit collection already.

Hey guys, this ain’t Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
MTV Unplugged is filmed in a smallish room with an intimate crowd. It is not filmed in a stadium. That in mind, would anyone like to explain why just about every song is screamed out? I’m not a musician, but I do understand that you don’t sing or play acoustic the same way you sing and play electric. The guitar work seemed to have been rearranged for acoustic, but the singing has not. Songs like "Beth" and "I Still Love You" still work. Songs like "Plaster Caster" and "Domino" border on the ridiculous. "Rock Bottom" actually is ridiculous.

So, now what?
I’m thinking I can pass this one off on my brother. He was the reason I was listening to Kiss when I was 6. I can’t really recommend anyone other than a hard core Kiss fan buy this record. You’ll be much happier with Greatest Kiss or the other Kiss greatest hits collection, the name of which escapes me.

Track listing.
Comin’ Home
Plaster Caster
Goin’ Blind
Do You Love Me
Domino
Sure Know Something
A World Without Heroes
Rock Bottom
See You Tonight
Every Time I Look At You
2000 Man
Beth
Nothin’ To Lose
Rock and Roll All Nite


Recommended: No

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House