10 Perfect Hard Rock Albums Of The 1970s
7. Alive! - KISS
The entire concept of a band like KISS has one major problem in it. Since most of these guys are meant to look like these monsters that are ripped straight out of your nightmares, how in the hell are you expected to market something like that to kids around the world? If it's any indication by their first releases, you don't. You just take to the road and kick out the jams.
Once their first few records sunk like stones with the public, KISS found their missing instrument with the audience on Alive!. Compared to the usual rock and roll live record, this feels like you're wrapped in a full experience from beginning to end, taking you on a crash course of KISS knowledge with every song.
While not being able to see the theatrics, you can definitely feel that energy coming onto the vinyl, even when soaking in something like Peter Criss' drum solo.
Outside of a few touchups here and there though, this never stops feeling like a true live album, where the music seems to be radiating off of the people onstage.
In that respect, Alive! feels like more than just another album in KISS' catalog. Since these guys are known as the hottest band in the world, this is almost like an audible souvenir from the concert.
You wanted the best, and on this record, you finally got the best.