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Smashes, Thrashes & Hits

KISS

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iTunes Review

Released in 1988 at the height of hair metal mania, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits makes a convincing case for Kiss as the band that bridged ‘70s hard rock and ‘80s pop metal. “Strutter” and “Shout It Out Loud” clearly set the template for bands like Ratt, Quiet Riot, and Poison, while newer Kiss songs like “Heaven’s On Fire” and “Lick It Up” sit comfortably next to the hallowed classics. The subtle remixing on “Love Gun” and “Detroit Rock City” makes those songs sound like they were released in 1986 not 1976. (However, re-recording Peter Criss’s signature song “Beth” with new drummer Eric Carr might have taken the band’s penchant for revision a little too far.) The two songs exclusive to this collection, “Let’s Put the X In Sex” and “(You Make Me) Rock Hard” are unrepentantly lewd headbangers that show that these veteran hedonists were undaunted by competition from upstarts like Mötley Crüe. The fact that a little reverb on the drums is essentially all that separates ‘70s Kiss from a bestselling band like Poison shows just how far ahead of the game Kiss was.

Customer Reviews

Worth The Money.

This album is good except I've heard 95% of the music on here already. All the new stuff is decent and worth listening to. I Love It Loud is a rock and roll anthem and is by far one of the best songs on here. Rock and Roll All Nite is good except the live version from Alive is a lot better, it doesn't seem very heavy on this recording. Beth (Eric Carr Version) was a cheap shot at Peter but is still good. All the remixed songs sound pretty much the same and at this price you should definetly buy this.

Good Mix of Current and Classic Material

This was the first KISS album I ever owned (I'm a "Second Generation" KISS fan). The collection of songs itself is awesome. I've read some reviews that complain that gems such as "100,000 Years" and "Black Diamond" are not on the record. Realize that they had already done a greatest hits record in the 70s in the form of DOUBLE PLATINUM. This record tried to put together more contemporary hits. The only song not included that I would have liked to see here is "Who Wants to be Lonely". Of the two new songs, I personally think "(You Make Me) Rock Hard" is musically the best. But if you're into the sleaszy 80s Paul Stanley stuff then "Let's Put the X in Sex" will satisfy you. I realize they remastered all the material to make the album's sound coherent, but a few songs suffered; "I Love it Loud", "Shout it Out Loud", and "Rock and Roll All Nite". However, "Love Gun" benefitted from the remix, allowing it to breathe more and has a more sonic sound. You can never argue that the original is better because it has that sense of innocence and captures the hnest feeling at the time it was done, but I really like the updated version of "Beth" with the late Eric Carr on vocals. Although Peter wrote this song, Eric had a better voice for it. No matter how much Peter personified the sensitive side of KISS and ended up singin a few of the ballads, he had a better voice for hard driving rock, such as "Black Diamond". The only down point of this album is its sound; it's a little flat, lacking in mids and lows. If thay had put more meat on it, it would have totally blown away speakers and not just minds.

Thrashes, Smashes and Hits

I Have worn this album out twice...hopefully third purchase will be a charm!! Great to finally find it in iTunes's library

Biography

Formed: 1973 in New York, NY

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the '70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss, not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry ice, smoke bombs, elaborate lighting, blood spitting, and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of thousands of kids. But Kiss' music shouldn't be...
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