Kiss – 40
UME
http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-40/dp/B00J2PQXQY/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1

Rating: B

We are living in a world where the rock band Kiss has existed for forty years.  I don’t know if that makes me feel happy or scares the crap outta me.  On one hand, this is the band that really showed the world how to put on a rock show.  On the other hand, this led to the advent of many bands who took the adage that substance is not as important as shtick.  An attitude that, at times, even Kiss has been guilty of. 

Still, four decades of Kiss… and, yes, the band found a pretty cool way to market the fact in the form a 2-CD set featuring one track from every release, several live selections and an unreleased demo from 1977.  Kiss fans will already own everything here—probably even a bootlegged version of the demo track—yet that won’t stop them from parting with their hard earned money for this one.  It also won’t stop them from arguing over the set list.  They will yammer on about how this album or that album could have been better represented by a better song, or they will love or hate that there are live tracks from 2000 instead of earlier times.  Yet, they will love holding this in their hands and cranking it up on their iPods. 

It’s good to be Kiss.

As usual, they did a nice job with the package.  The album sounds good, and for the most part they chose the right songs.  It’s cool how they even included a track from each of the infamous solo albums. 

Now, if this is not enough to satisfy your Kiss Kraving… then be sure to pick up the definitive KISS vinyl box set, KISSTERIA – The Ultimate Vinyl Road Case, featuring 34 KISS LPs - including titles never-before issued on vinyl, six exclusive albums to the box set and a plethora of collectibles.  Oh come on, you knew there would be a sales pitch…this is Kiss for ‘Criss’-sakes! 

By Jeb Wright