Kiss. The Elder.

Tituscrow · #1 08-21-2011, 05:21 PM

OK, I'll say it. After years of thinking it was tosh, I've listened to it a lot in the last six months. And yes, whilst conceptually flawed and with it's fair share if pretentious twaddle filler, I'd argue that Only You/Under The Rose and Mr Blackwell are Gene Simmons finest 12 minutes.

If you are a fan but have always hated that album, have a listen to those tracks if nothing else. There's some mighty fine work going on there with a great tone.

Surprised myself how much I'm enjoying listening to it 30 years later...

redhed · #2 08-21-2011, 05:25 PM

I don't really get the Gene bashing - his playin on the early albums is great, cool almost walkin style bass lines. I don't know , call me crazy!

bassgod76 · #3 08-28-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhed

I don't really get the Gene bashing - his playin on the early albums is great, cool almost walkin style bass lines. I don't know , call me crazy!

Ditto. It's fine to disagree, but the bashing I see is usually from folks who don't listen to KISS. It's like they can't get past the costumes. Whatever.

I love the bass line in strutter. It drives the entire song.

Anyone who can sell tons of records, put on a great show, have an army of fans, and make the bass a front line instrument, gets my respect.

hachi kid · #4 08-28-2011, 05:20 PM

so, popular = good?

Rockmusician · #5 08-28-2011, 05:23 PM

I think Gene is a much better bass player than people give him credit for, but I think The Elder was one of the worst albums I have ever heard.

Tituscrow · #6 08-28-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

I think Gene is a much better bass player than people give him credit for, but I think The Elder was one of the worst albums I have ever heard.

As did I, for many many years. All I'm saying is have a proper listen to those 3 tracks I mentioned as 'stand alone' songs and tell me you don't think that's some pretty gnarly bass Genes got going on there.

Not interested in a yet another lengthy Gene bashfest.

bassgod76 · #7 08-28-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hachi kid

so, popular = good?

Good, imo = the ability to market yourself effectively enough to get your music heard. Is that good? Who knows. "Good" is such a subjective term, anyways.

ric3xrt · #8 08-28-2011, 08:41 PM

Call me the odd one out, that was the only KISS album I ever bought, the rest were given to me...I loved that album

THand · #9 08-28-2011, 08:48 PM

I like Kiss. I like Gene Simmons.
When I was a kid, I waited for The Elder to be released & I bought it the first day it hit my record store(yeah record store), and I LIKED it.
Now get off my lawn!

Thundar · #10 08-28-2011, 09:02 PM

Love "The Elder" and I still listen to it to this day! But my favorite track is "Dark Light"....love me some Ace.
As far as Gene goes, Haters gonna hate...