Ikons
Box Set Review
3-Stars
By Anthony Kuzminski
Let’s be blunt…shall we? The world needs another KISS compilation like Paris Hilton needs another fifteen-minutes of fame. Since KISS reunited in 1996 and put the make-up back on, they have been shameless in their drive for sucking as much money from their die-hard fans as possible. Now, back in the 1990’s, I didn’t mind it…at first. With each new release we at least got something out of the deal; unreleased live tracks on You Wanted the Best…You Got It, the unreleased Carnival of Souls album, great remasters and even a new KISS album (Psycho Circus). However, post 1998, KISS came to the realization that more money could be made from merchandise than from the music and as a result, they came to the conclusion to not spend weeks, months and sometimes years working on new records when they wouldn’t see big money at the end. Since then, KISS has released no fewer than nine compilations. What makes these releases such a slap in the face to fans are their lack of unreleased material. Their 2001 box set included only 100-minutes of unreleased material despite the collection including upwards of 400-minutes of music. Their Alive 1975-2000 box set was a step in the right direction, alas, when one listened to the unreleased Alive IV from 2000, you immediately realized why it was shelved in the first place. Hell, I’m not even counting the hack Symphony Alive IV release from 2003 (c’mon, don’t tell me you actually listen to this album). Time and time again, KISS has proven to spit in the face of the people who gave them the keys to the kingdom. The biggest insult with these compilations is their lack of imagination. However, the ninth compilation in the last eight years, Ikons remedies a few of these issues.First things first…the package offers no new recordings whatsoever. Yes, it may be viewed as another bitch-slap to KISS fans, but could you imagine if they had included eight rare songs on this release and we had to buy it? I’d be livid, so I have to look at this package and review it for what it is. Other KISS compilations has been lacking in the department of originality, but fortunately Ikons is not. It’s a four-disc package with one full disc of music dedicated to each member of the classic KISS line-up; Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Why didn’t someone think of this before? It makes sense and ultimately shows why the core original line-up of this band is the one that will remain ingrained in the minds and hearts of everyone forever.
For the first time in a few decades, I look upon this new package as one that makes sense. Sure, if you already own all of the albums, there’s nothing new here for you. With that being said, this package has a more defined purpose and presence than even their 2001 Box Set. Each disc is chock full of a pseudo Best of for each KISS persona. The sound is stellar (far exceeding the 2001 box set and just a small notch over the 1997 remasters), the packaging is A-grade (killer pictures and presentation) and the liner notes, written by Curt Gooch and Jeff Suhs are superb and almost worth the price of the set alone. Alas, all of this is merely a prelude to what’s most important- the music. What I enjoy most about the song selections is that they did not choose the most obvious inclusions. Paul and Gene’s discs contain no new music past 1979 (Dynasty), but each one includes solo tracks and even the odd album track, showcasing that there was more to KISS than meet’s the eye. Gene’s “Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em” is a forgotten favorite while Paul’s “Mr. Speed” reminds us time and time again that their album cuts provided a more menacing punch than many of their singles. Peter’s disc is the weakest of the four, but it does contain almost every song he added a vocal to including some forgotten classics from Hotter Than Hell (“Mainline”) and Dressed To Kill (“Getaway”) reminding me once again why I fell in love with this band in the first place. The standout disc in the set is Ace Frehley’s. One listen to this disc and it’s no wonder why most true KISS fans consider Ace their favorite. His music was easily the most consistent and in tune with who KISS was. Even as KISS grew poppier with the times, Ace stayed true to his rock n’ roll roots, showcased on such decadent and menacing tracks as “2000 Man”, “Talk To Me”, “Hard Times” and “Darklight”. Ace is the only member to have more than one song post Dynasty on this collection, a testament to the quality of his material even as the band lost its way amidst confusion and uncertainty in the early 1980’s.
If a newbie KISS fan were to ask me where to begin with their collection, I’d tell them to start here. What makes KISS such an undeniable force is their ability to open the doors for so many during their introduction to music. Yes, it’s largely about the comic book image, but one of the reasons we all love KISS goes beyond some nostalgic face painted memory; we love the music. Ultimately it was the music that crawled into our souls and provided us with the key to uncovers greater treasures in rock n’ roll. While listening to Ikons I couldn’t help but smirk and remember a time where I could listen to this music for enjoyment and not have the feeling that Gene Simmons was pick-pocketing me. What makes this collection so enjoyable is listening to the four unique individuals who made KISS possible. There’s a reason KISS can’t consistently tour anymore and it’s because Peter and Ace are not in the band. Their replacements may be more versed in their musicianship, but they lack the history and more importantly…the soul of who KISS is. Ikons made me fall in love all over again with a band who is vital to not just mine, but millions of music fans around the world. Ikons demonstrates who KISS was at their best; Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMusic Network and his daily writings can be read at The Screen Door and can be contacted at thescreendoor AT gmail DOT com.
