KISS Alive IV has been an anticipated release for me for a few years now. This CD was supposed to be released back in the late 1990s. This was supposed to be the original lineup Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter. This was supposed to be the Psycho Circus tour. The same tour that was aired for a price on PPV. I was psyched.

Well, KISS started having trouble with their record company that kept changing their label name, owners and staff. KISS was constantly in renegotiations, and contract changes. It took years. KISS released their five CD box set two years ago on Universal Records. I guess that was a sort of contract fulfillment on KISS's part. Universal released one more CD last year called The Very Best of KISS. Greatest hits packages are usually linked to contractual fulfillments, I mean look at the Red & Blue album from The Beatles, and also Love Songs in the early to mid 70's. The Beatles had signed a brand new contract, broke up, released Abbey Road, and then Let It Be, and then the contract had to begin the process of being obligated. The Beatles released some great, pretty good and questionable releases into the mid 70's. KISS's Greatest Hits was a disappointment for a lot of fans, mainly in part because of the poor choice of tracks included.

Maybe we'll see another CD from KISS down the road released from Universal Records, or that could have been the last. But finally now in 2003 KISS has a new label entitled KISS Records that is distributed by Sanctuary. KISS's first release is the Alive IV concert that was taped earlier this year on February 28th in Australia.

I guess one of the factors of going to Australia and taping a brand new show instead of the one promised for years has to do with the parting of Ace Frehely. Ace is not on this album, although new guitarist, Tommy Thayer, sort of resembles Ace in the old 1975 version of Ace's makeup and costume.

Well the music is still the music right? Well let's put it on and see. You wanted the best and you got the best, the hottest band in the world...KISS!! Paul starts playing the opening classic riff to Deuce before the announcement of KISS is over, and the crowd goes wild. Gene's voice sounds a little spent as he takes the lead vocals on this song. I am used to hearing Gene having a lot of power and soul behind his demon growl, but here it sounds like Gene trapped in a tin can. Peter sounds better than ever, but still very restricted when it comes to playing his trademark fills, as his whole concentration is focused on keeping perfect time these days. Tommy Thayer's guitar playing, although good, is a little too staccato as opposed to Ace's legato style. Tommy was hired to be Ace for this tour, and he has that same problem that Bruce Kulick used to have when trying to copy Ace's leads, too staccato.

Paul sounds a little full-throated and a little tired as he sings the next song Strutter, which like the previous song is from the first album KISS. Peter again to me sounds great and he has a great groove throughout the CDs.

Let Me Go Rock & Roll, an amazing rocker from their second LP, Hotter Than Hell does not sound nearly as dirty as when it was first recorded or on their first live album Alive! Tommy Thayer with his staccato style sometimes seems off time from the original recording, but when the group go into the extended parts, and when Tommy does not have to mimic Ace, he sounds great. This version of Let Me Go sounds like KISS on their best behavior, which in my opinion sounds a bit boring. The only guitarist whom KISS played with that I think understood Ace's style is Vinnie Vincent. When they played live, Vinnie played the Ace solos in his own style mixed with Ace's. Actually Bob Kulick was pretty good too.

Lick It Up written by Vinnie Vincent for the album with the same name is next. This song starts off great, and the band sound good. It's really cool to hear Peter Criss play the late Eric Carr's (Peter's replacement in 1980-1991) drum parts, he does a great job. But the song falls apart as they extend the song with a Who-style guitar riff. This 3 minute studio track is not over 5 minutes, and KISS is not the type of group that people enjoy hear jamming even if it is a rehearsed one. Paul sounds a bit flat vocally at times during the song.

Calling Dr. Love is next and is introduced by Paul. This song also sounds too clean for such a dirty rock and roll song. Gene at this point I definitely think sounds a little hoarse. His power is definitely diminished.

Psycho Circus is next and Paul introduces this song in a singing fashion like he did with Dr. Love. He sounds as if his hands are on his hips while singing these song introductions, if you know what I mean.
Psycho Circus does sound pretty good I must admit. This is the great title song from KISS last studio album with all four original members. The guitar solo is mostly a two guitar harmony style like in the vain of Detroit Rock City. But even when the guitar solo is just Tommy's it sounds really good. The song is extended yet again, and as it ends Paul says that KISS will be back in a few.

This part of the concert is now played with "The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble" and for the most part it is KISS sitting on stools like in an Unplugged setting, but backed with a symphony ensemble. The first song that they do is amazing. For all of the years that KISS has done Beth live, they had always used an edited version of the studio recording as the background music that Peter would sing too. Now finally for the first time in KISStory, The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble perform the music beautifully. They seem to have slowed it down by a hair, but it sounds great. Peter is in good voice as well.

As soon as Forever started, I thought it sounded a little strange. It sounds as if the song is performed a whole step lower than the original. Paul who usually sings this song great, sounds a little forced and lethargic. The strings added sound nice. Again, it is cool to hear Peter play a song that Eric Carr originally drummed on. Peter does not play Eric's fills too much, as he just plays a very straight forward beat just keep the time and sadly he totally changes it which is too bad, because it could have been great.

Goin' Blind seems to be a fan favorite, but I never understood why. The lyrics are ridiculous:
"Little lady from the land beneath the sea
You're so young and so much different than I
I'm 93, you're sixteen
Can't you see I'm goin' blind
Cause I think I'm going blind..."
But actually, this rendition is very good. The marriage between having original drummer and the symphony ensemble playing really works here. Gene's voice does not seem as strained here, even though it still lacks his usual power. This is a sort of hard song to sing as well.

Sure Know Something is next. This was always a favorite of mine. This song has such a great melody line while a real groove sneaks along in the background. This version is OK, a counter symphonic melody is happening along side the KISS song, nice effect. Peter again playing to another drummer's beat; Anton Fig's.

I had never heard the whole song of Shandi performed live by KISS, and so this is the first time. It's an OK version.


DISC TWO: ACT THREE (KISS with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)

Detroit Rock City was offered as a taster on the KISS website (www.Kissonline.com) so I heard this already. It was the video actually, somewhat OK quality. This version is pretty good. The orchestra adds some drama to the song, with it's counter melody against the original tune.

King Of The Night Time World is next and we could see from the set list, that KISS starting from Detroit Rock City, KISS play five songs in a row from Destroyer. By the time the CD ends it will make seven songs out of nine songs from Destroyer performed tonight. The symphony noises serve as an unpleasant distraction in my opinion. It's too bad KISS didn't perform this song during the first act, when it was just them alone.

Do You Love Me promises to be a great performance from the start when Paul and the audience trade off the lines one by one. It turns out not bad either, pretty good.

Shout It Out Loud is next and the symphony sounds great along side KISS. After the songs ends, there is some bass notes being played, and it is probably the point where Gene spews blood from his mouth.

God Of Thunder begins and it ends the consecutive Destroyer run of songs. This version is interesting, because usually when KISS would play this song live, it was sped up and really heavy. This version stays true to the original Destroyer version, except for the symphony that is. The symphony is a welcome addition in this version. Tommy Thayer ruins the guitar solo in my opinion. It's funny, he's playing all of the notes that Ace played, but it's still so different. Peter sounds great.

Love Gun is next, and the symphony is a bothersome pest in this version. It schmaltzes it up too much. Paul's voice seems shaky, thin and strained during this song. The fact that they extended the song by even this little bit doesn't help either.

Black Diamond from their debut album again is next. Peter sings the majority of this song. He sounds energized and in good voice as well. Tommy Thayer sounds pretty good during this song I must say. I can do without the orchestra on this song as well, the symphony seems to hinder the music, well my ear at least.

Great Expectations is played for the first time ever in KISS's history. I love the acoustic guitar during this song. This song is taken from Destroyer and thus ending the Destroyer song list. The orchestra adds a nice touch as well as the children's choir. There was a children's choir on the original studio version as well. This song was another favorite of mine from KISS, and I really have no complaints besides the lack of power in Gene's voice, but come on enough said about that. This is a great version of the song.

I Was Made For Lovin' You from the Dynasty album is next on the list. I like this song a lot, but always liked it a lot more when I would see and/or hear KISS perform it live. It always had a different and more powerful energy. Peter's drumming on this song leaves something to be desired. The studio version has the incredible Anton Fig on drums. Eric Carr used to do this song justice when playing it live. What bothers me here though, is that Paul Stanley only keeps to the upper registers of his voice. He sounds too strained for me, he should have sung it the original way, and he would have sounded better.

Finally KISS is ready to end the concert with the more popular than ever Rock And Roll All Nite. This song is originally from the Dressed To Kill album, more well known from it's Alive! live version though. The orchestra doesn't hurt this version. It sounds OK.
This song is originally around three minutes, KISS extended it two over six minutes.

Here is the KISS album ratio played on this album:
KISS............................3
Hotter Than Hell..............2
Dressed To Kill...............1
Destroyer........................7
Rock & Roll Over.............1
Love Gun.......................1
Dynasty........................2
Unmasked......................1
The Elder/Creatures....... ..0
Lick It Up.................... ..1
Animalize/Asylum/Crazy
Nights...............................0
Hot In The Shade...............1
Revenge..........................0
Carnival Of Souls................0
Psycho Circus..................1
So KISS covered their career (although a little lopsidedly) from the beginnings to the present. KISS has been out for over 30 years, and they have released only 18 studio albums (besides the solos). When you add the (at least) 12 live, compilation and tribute albums that equals 30. Wow KISS have rehashed their catalogue almost half of their career. Hey I just always wanted to do the math. They keep boasting that they have the most gold records out of any artist in the US, and now I see why that's true.


Who knows why KISS didn't please my ears with this record, it could be Paul & Gene's voices not being up to snuff, it could be that Tommy Thayer is not Ace. It could be that the ensemble and orchestra ruined a few numbers. It could be that I am very disappointed that this was not the Alive IV promised for years. But, I don't need to listen to this again. Although I am addicted by habit of buying everything that is either Queen, Beatles or KISS, I will try and control myself from purchasing this same concert on DVD come this September (2003). It's a sickness people, I know. Right now, I feel I shouldn't have a problem, but I know me, and I'm very addicted. Then again, I haven't smoked in almost nine years now, so maybe I could kick the KISS habit as well.

I know that Ace is a dope as well. I can't blame KISS for going on without him. In an humorous recent interview with Gene, when the interviewer told Gene that while Ace was scheduled to attend this year's "Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp" he had to back out because he stated he fell down the stairs or something, Gene replied, "Now you know what we have put up with for the past 25 years."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~For More KISS Reviews~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Destroyer
Rock and Roll Over
Love Gun
KISS Alive II
Gene Simmons - Solo Album
Ace Frehley - Solo Album
Peter Criss - Solo Album
Paul Stanley - Solo Album
Lick It Up
KISS: The Deluxe Box Set
Symphony: Alive IV
KISS - Gold



Recommended: No