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KISS: Animalized Live and Uncensored

KISS: Animalized Live and Uncensored

List Price: $24.99
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You might have to hunt through the import bins
Review: My copy is an import from South America, and it is subtitled in Portuguese (the banter with the crowd, not the singing). Turns out this video didn't hold up as well over time as I'd hoped, but you can chalk that up to the outrageous mid 80's clothing and hairstyles.

Still, this is a VERY hard to find disc - and KISS fans will want to add this to their collection if possible, right? The set list is decent yet unremarkable, but at least we get "Cold Gin" live, which is my favorite part.

Hard to believe it has been 20 years since they first took off the make-up. Oh god, am I getting old!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: KISS: The real Spinal Tap
Review: Oh brother. Was there anything more funny than KISS in the 80's? This concert is entertainment for camp value, much like a Friday the 13th flick. Don't get me wrong, I'm a KISS fan (and Jason Voorhees too), but I'm not a sheep fan who thinks Gene is God, and KISS can do no wrong.

Lowlights of this show include:

The outfits and hair: Gene's mullet wig and black leather / animal print leggings. What's with the headband, to keep the wig on? Good lord without the makeup, Gene was as lost on stage as Barbara Streisand headlining with Slayer. Paul is here in all his effeminate glory with the feathered pants and bearskin rug shirt (oh wait, my bad, he's not wearing a shirt). Bruce Kulick is on board with his French poodle haircut that just got worse as time went on. As Paul pouts and Gene wags his tongue, Bruce patented his own closeup shot technique. He constantly squints his eyes and puckers his lips until his face resembles a contorted duck. Eric Carr has a zebra spandex outfit complete with hairband, but at least he's sitting down.

Dialogue: What the heck is Paul talking about? The doctor's office visit and the long tongued baby was stupid. As was the 'Eric looking like a little boy' schtick. The only time I've seen Paul totally speechless was when a fan threw a sheet up on stage. It was a hand drawn banner featuring KISS to include Ace and Vinnie in makeup. Oh Paul does not like that. In a fit of anger he slams the sheet down. Of course this show is full of Paul's own 'What? Who me? Ain't I the coolest one?' Facial gestures that gets ld after the first time.

Solos: Oh man here we go. We see Gene running around stage with his axe bass doing a one string solo that a five year old beginning bass student could do after one lesson. Then he stands with his arms folded and sneers at the audience as if he's just performed the most incredible symphony in the history of music. Next we get Paul attempting a solo on his broken mirrored BC RICH Warlock. Even he has to admit he's doing pretty porly with the 'so-so' hand sign. But the sheep in the crowd beg for more. Bruce does not get a solo even though he is no doubt the best guitarist in the band. But Gene and Paul had already learned their lessons. After being upstaged by Vinnie Vincent time and time again, their taking no chances this time with Bruce. Eric is the only saving grace in the solo department, but how far can a drum solo really go?

Setlist: At least they did this right. Mixing KISS classics with Animalize material. Detroit Rock City, Cold Gin, Dr. Love, Thrills in the Night, Lick it Up, etc. During this time though, for whatever reason, KISS had dropped Rock n Roll All Nite from the set. Not that that brings down the whole show, but for those who refuse to see KISS live without that tune, will be disappointed. The show ends with Black Diamond.

As the 80's dragged on and on for KISS it only got worse. Asylum was a decent album, but the costumes were even worse. Then the terrible Crazy Nights album. KISS needed the makeup, Peter, and Ace even back then.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Kiss Animalize Live Uncensored - Very 80s Indeed
Review: Well first off this is a really entertaining piece of film showcasing Kiss 2 years into the non-makeup era and looking a little lost (Gene with his wig held on with a sweatband due to his "acting" he was doing on the side, Paul in a ridiculous pink floaty thing and Spruce Kulick playing like his feet are nailed to the floor!).

The set list is good as it features songs from Lick It Up that though lost on the album were much faster and came off better "live" which raises another oft discussed Kiss topic - is it live or memorex.... well, there isnt a doubt in my mind that the guitar is touched up as are the vocals (you can hear Paul when hes nowhere near the mic... you can hear his guitar parts when he isnt actually playing it etc etc... the same stuff as would later become very irritating on the Kiss Konfidential video) -

However for entertainment value - well worth buying!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Pretty good,but not better than the VHS version.
Review: When I saw that Amazon offered this 1984 concert on DVD, I freaked out. I ordered it immediately. But my joy soured some when I popped the DVD in my player. It was made in Brazil, I think. That was one of the cons. The other is a biggie:The video & audio does NOT match up. You see Eric hitting the drums,then hear the actual snare,cymbal,tom-tom,or bass sound 1/2 to 1 full second after you see it. Cleary this problem arose from the VHS to DVD transferring. I'm just waiting for the day when KISS releases it on DVD,the correct way.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome document of a great band in their 80's prime!!
Review: Wow, I can remember buying the original VHS copy of this show in a record shop in Glens Falls, NY in the mid-eighties-this concert has indeed aged very well. I should preface this review by stating that I am a huge KISS fan! With good reason KISS has been the yardstick by which live rock performances have been measured for thirty years now. This show demonstrates why-all the bombast, theatrics and attitude that have made the band great are here. This show also features top notch musicianship that will silence any and all doubters, particularly impressive are Paul Stanley's solid vocals throughout and Bruce Kulick's fiery fretwork, add to that a top notch drum solo by the late great Eric Carr and you have a dvd that stands up to repeated viewings. It would have been nice to have seen the entire concert, reportedly both Strutter and I've Had Enough were edited out of the finished product, but songs like Detroit Rock City, Heaven's On Fire, Cold Gin and I Still Love You are timeless classics given faithful and enthusiastic performances here, rarely performed gems like Thrills In The Night and Under The Gun are nice touches too. All in all a great dvd, well worth the money. You will find this one in your player quite frequently!! Check out KISS EXposed too!!


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