During the 1990's, it seemed every band was releasing an MTV Unplugged album. So Kiss, savvy businessmen that they were, decided to release their version with a unique twist. Kiss Unplugged included the reunion of the original lineup of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. This album would lead to the cash cow that became the return of the original Kiss in full makeup that were worldwide superstars from 1974-1979.
However, what this album should be best known is for the recorded proof of Simmons and Stanley's underrated songwriting abilities and the strong musicianship of the 1995 or "new" version of Kiss that included guitarist Bruce Kulick and drummer Eric Singer. Like Eric Clapton and Neil Young's albums from the MTV Unplugged series, Kiss' version is largely comprised of lesser known album tracks or "deep cuts", several of which the band hadn't performed in many years. The excellent tracks "Comin' Home" and "Goin' Blind" are salvaged from the great but muddy sounding Hotter Than Hell album and show how innovative Simmons' playing was in the early years. "See You Tonight" from Simmons' solo album is a true surprise and blows the original away. Stanley's voice is in fine form throughout, especially on the ballads "I Still Love You" and "Every Time I Look At You." Eric Singer's drumming is very strong here, throwing in quick fills on many of the tracks but never overplaying. Bruce Kulick's playing on the album is also great, particularly on the hard rocker "Domino", the somber "A World Without Heroes", and the aforementioned "Goin' Blind."  Other great tracks include "Sure Know Something", which features Simmons' coolest bass line ever, and the seldom heard but great tracks "Rock Bottom", complete with Stanley's acoustic intro, and "Plaster Caster." Also worth noting is that the bravado that Simmons and Stanley regularly exhibit performing live is surprisingly absent here. As Stanley states early on; "Tonight, we're going to let the music do most of the talking."
But when Frehley and Criss come out, to an excellent ovation I might add, the album loses steam. Ace Frehley does a passable vocal on his cover of the Rolling Stones' "2000 Man" but the acoustic version of "Beth" just doesn't work in this setting. Then we get the whole band out for "Nothin' To Lose" and of the course, the obligatory and overplayed "Rock And Roll All Nite." You get the sense that if this were just the "new" Kiss, this would have been great from beginning to end and there would be even more deep cuts here. Of course, Frehley and Criss would be back in the fold after this and once again wear out their welcome. Still, this is a very good album and could win over skeptical music fans who think that Kiss are just performers.
During the 1990's, it seemed every band was releasing an MTV Unplugged album. So Kiss, savvy businessmen that they were, decided to release their version with a unique twist. Kiss Unplugged included the reunion of the original lineup of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. This album would lead to the cash cow that became the return of the original Kiss in full makeup that were worldwide superstars from 1974-1979. However, what this album should be best known is for the recorded proof of Simmons and Stanley's underrated songwriting abilities and the strong musicianship of the 1995 or "new" version of Kiss that included guitarist Bruce Kulick and drummer Eric Singer. Like Eric Clapton and Neil Young's albums from the MTV Unplugged series, Kiss' version is largely comprised of lesser known album tracks or "deep cuts", several of which the band hadn't performed in many years. The excellent tracks "Comin' Home" and "Goin' Blind" are salvaged from the great but muddy sounding Hotter Than Hell album and show how innovative Simmons' playing was in the early years. "See You Tonight" from Simmons' solo album is a true surprise and blows the original away. Stanley's voice is in fine form throughout, especially on the ballads "I Still Love You" and "Every Time I Look At You. " Eric Singer's drumming is very strong here, throwing in quick fills on many of the tracks but never overplaying. Bruce Kulick's playing on the album is also great, particularly on the hard rocker "Domino", the somber "A World Without Heroes", and the aforementioned "Goin' Blind. "  Other great tracks include "Sure Know Something", which features Simmons' coolest bass line ever, and the seldom heard but great tracks "Rock Bottom", complete with Stanley's acoustic intro, and "Plaster Caster. " Also worth noting is that the bravado that Simmons and Stanley regularly exhibit performing live is surprisingly absent here. As Stanley states early on; "Tonight, we're going to let the music do most of the talking. "
But when Frehley and Criss come out, to an excellent ovation I might add, the album loses steam. Ace Frehley does a passable vocal on his cover of the Rolling Stones' "2000 Man" but the acoustic version of "Beth" just doesn't work in this setting. Then we get the whole band out for "Nothin' To Lose" and of the course, the obligatory and overplayed "Rock And Roll All Nite. " You get the sense that if this were just the "new" Kiss, this would have been great from beginning to end and there would be even more deep cuts here. Of course, Frehley and Criss would be back in the fold after this and once again wear out their welcome. Still, this is a very good album and could win over skeptical music fans who think that Kiss are just performers.