Symphony: Alive IV [LIVE]

Kiss

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 22, 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Sanctuary
• ASIN: B0000A1REJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,746 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In the Kiss universe, more is always, well, more. With this latest installment in the masked rock marauders' live franchise, they have gilded the already overweening lily even more by hiring the 60-piece Melbourne Symphony to accompany them on 10 tracks. Like those who have gone before them--from Deep Purple's coupling with the London Philharmonic Orchestra back in 1970 to Metallica's 1999 pairing with the San Francisco Symphony--Kiss's symphonic partners add a dimension and complexity hitherto absent from their hard-rock ethos. But that's not necessarily a good thing since Kiss are true American primitives, and their anthemic songs work best in their raw, unvarnished state. The addition of the orchestra muddies their trademark sound: at times Paul Stanley's bombastic in-your-face delivery is strangled by an aggressive army of strings, which also tend to totally subsume Gene Simmons's sturdy bass playing. The symphony musicians (who all performed in Kiss makeup) are best appreciated on a lumbering beast of a song like "God of Thunder," where they become an ominous presence adding menacing sound effects and a chilling dynamic as Simmons croaks out the lyrics, or on "Beth," the band's Top 10 ballad, which brandished strings in its original form. For those who aren't enamored of the pairing of black tie and black leather, Kiss has considerately included six unadorned tracks, as well as six never-before-performed-live acoustic versions of classic hits. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description
Limited edition digipak with raised lettering and an exclusive poster. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like wine...age makes it either really good, or really bad., August 9, 2003

By	"khouse1960" (Ayase, Japan) - See all my reviews

Being a die hard KISS fan for almost 30 years now, this new release posed some challenges to my loyalties. I've read the comments ranging from the tunnel visioned "The greatest album ever!", to the equally closed minded "They sucked then, they suck now" routine. I really believe the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Yes, I know this is the 6th collection of live material from "The Masters Of Bombastic Musical Theatrics" (if you count "Unplugged" and "You Wanted The Best..."), but face it...that's what these boys do best...Perform Live. In my book, it's just plusses and minuses as to how good (or bad) this album is.

MINUS: This is, for the most part (actually, with the sole exception of "Psycho Circus"), a rehash of the live stuff that made them the kings of the stadium shows in the 70's and 80's...and that they have continued to exploit for the last 7 years with nothing new or original to be seen anywhere in the near future.

PLUS: This collection has some of the best live recordings of these songs ever released, most notably "Let Me Go Rock & Roll", "God Of Thunder", and "Black Diamond". There are also some songs that have never been released live before..."Psycho Circus", "Shandi", and "Great Expectations" (which lends itself incredibly well to this format), so there is a trace of uniqueness to this particular live set.

MINUS: Some of the songs don't sound as good with full orchestration.

PLUS: Some of the songs sound absolutely incredible (far better than the originals) with full orchestration, especially "Beth", "God Of Thunder", "Shout It Out Loud", "Great Expectations" (a pleasant surprise), "I Was Made For Lovin' You" (I HATED the studio version), and "Black Diamond" (speaking of which, if you like this, check out Yoshiki's (X-Japan) piano version on the "KISS My Ass" tribute album). And I thought that "King Of The Night Time World" wouldn't rock with strings...WRONG!

MINUS: Ace Frehley isn't playing with the band.

PLUS: Tommy Thayer is playing with the band. And he can hold his own. But I agree with some of the critics that the band should have given him his own character, as they did with Eric Carr, and Vinnie Vincent. Ace was and always will be the Spaceman, and it isn't fair to Tommy or the fans to keep him in Ace's makeup for the sake of BIG BUSINESS. Tommy is an excellent guitar player, and deserves to be recognized...as himself. This isn't as obvious in a strictly audio production, but once the DVD comes out...

MINUS: The concert is heavily edited, and the recording uses only 96 of the 140 or so available CD minutes.

PLUS: Although not really a plus for the CD itself, the whole shebang will be out on DVD soon, and should contain the entire concert, uncut. As was the case with McCartney's "Back In The USA", the DVD and CD will compliment each other (although, in Mac's case, the CD had more tunes), and besides, this gives the group a chance to capitalize on the extra material (a plus for them rather than us).

TOTAL: So, maybe it all balances out in the end. Overall, this CD is an excellent live collection of what have obviously been overplayed songs (c'mon...6 live albums, and no fewer than 5 greatest hits collections). I think it would have been in the band's best future interests to have included 4 or 5 more different (previously unreleased live) songs to really make this set a gem, but they didn't... So, it all comes down to what you value in your musical selections. If you value originality, this CD isn't for you. If you are a diehard fan, it is a "must have". But if you listen before you make a judgment, enjoy good "in your face" rock and roll with a slightly different twist, and don't care if you've heard the songs before, then I believe you will find that this CD will make an interesting and worthwhile addition to your collection.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag of Tricks, July 29, 2003

By	demien (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

I've been a Kiss fan since 1976 so i was really weary about purchasing a live album featuring the makeup lineup minus ACE and also a performance with an orchestra.
In some cases their concept worked and in some it didn't...
First i must point out that their is an energy present from the band that i haven't felt in many years.
They really sound hungry again most likely because they want this concept to work so much yet i sense also for the first time a sense of insecurity.
You can hear it in Paul Stanley's comments between songs such as "Is this Cool?"
The band knows deep down that it's pretty sad that they have to resort to putting a guy from a Kiss tribute band in Ace Frehley's makeup and costume and sell this off.
The fact that no one can deny is that Tommy Thayer can look like Ace but he will never be Ace Frehley.
Ace Frehley composed those guitar parts for those songs and he gave Kiss their raw unchained sound which Tommy does not have.
Ace also invented his space Ace character not Tommy.
Paul Stanley says that Kiss is not about one member but i must disagree with the point that Ace gave Kiss their sound with his guitar playing.
Basically Paul is saying that any member is replaceable in a rock band.
DO YOU THINK THAT LED ZEPPELIN COULD REPLACE JIMMY PAGE...I DON'T THINK SO!
The sound from a great guitarist comes from his soul and you can not reproduce someone's soul.
Anyway here is my review.
Side one starts off with the usual and overplayed crowd pleasers of "deuce" and "strutter" which are played effectively and with big gutsy bombast.
Gene Simmons is really pumped as you can hear him screaming during the opening of "deuce", "Let me hear you!"..and the fans just eat it up.
I was most impressed with "Lick it Up" as they tear it up with a new arrangement and an exciting mid tempo stop where Paul tells the audience to "Clap your hands". Tommy also provides some blistering leads which add to this highlight.

"Calling Dr.love" is lackluster and is missing it's bite but "Psycho Circus" is a roaring beast live.
Sadly,Peter Criss's drum playing is mediocre through most of the concert with sloppy fills and very weak sound.
The acoustic set begins and unfortunately songs from "Unplugged" are played AGAIN... WHY not play something different like "Hard Luck Woman" or "Reason to Live".
Anyway "Shandi" is exciting and inspired as the band responds to australia's curious love for this song and "Forever" is seen in a new tender light with the help of the melbourne ensemble strings.
Side 2 is a mixed bag as some of the songs work with the full orchestra and some don't.
"Black Diamond" and "I Was made for loving you" are tailor made for the orchestra band blend but tunes such as "Love Gun" and "Do You Love me" fall flat.
The orchestra just gets in the way of these songs and more than anything become a nuisance to the songs original uncultivated rawness.
Finally we come to the expected closer of "Rock and Roll all Nite" which surpisingly rips like it never has before and is one of the most exciting moments ever in live rock n' roll history.
It's unbelieveable.
So to sum it up... a mixed bag hitting some high's and some major low's but those high's might just make it worth your dollar.....
O.F.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alive IV (30 Years Later), July 23, 2003

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Symphony: Alive IV [Limited Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

As an early KISS fan coming from just outside New York City, I can say that just about any KISS is good KISS. Even in their 50's and with gray hair, Gene, Paul and cast put on a heck of a show. After 30 years, KISS still defines what a concert 'should' be.

WHAT YOU GET: A handsomely done 2-CD package. One of the best looking double CD's I own. Folds in & out nicely. A 22-page booklet jam packed with credits and pictures of the band performing, as well as the symphony (and conductor David Campbell). A fold-out pamphlet of letters and accolades from fans from this February 2003 concert. 2 discs containing 21 total songs... 42-45 minutes of music on each disc. Disc 1 features six songs with the four members of KISS (only) playing. The 2nd half of disc 1 (starting with Peter singing "Beth") introduces the orchestra. Disc 2 finds KISS accompanied by the orchestra on every song.

THE GOOD: Paul & Gene still sound great. It was a pleasant surprise to see & hear Peter Criss (for some reason I still thought Ace & Peter were on the infamous black list). Tommy Thayer (guitar) is a welcome addition and a very competent Ace replacement. When I first opened the booklet and saw Thayer in the retro Ace outfit... I was fooled for a few seconds thinking Ace had started a workout/rehab program and was once again touring with the band. Thayer comes from good stock and has been around the band for years in one way or another (mostly behind the scenes). Thayer's resume includes playing guitar with his most notable 1980's band Black 'N Blue, and Harlow; various film, video and KISS book projects; project coordinator for the KISS Box Set; and working extensively with Ace Frehley back in 1996 - whipping him back into shape for the Reunion Tour (this is where Thayer learned most of those trademark "Ace" solos). The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (in full KISS make-up) sounds wonderful even tho at times they are overbearing and tend to drown out the guitars. Best songs that work with the orchestra are "Black Diamond", "Goin' Blind", "Beth", "Detroit Rock City", "Shout It Out Loud" and "God Of Thunder". Sound production is crisp.

THE NOT SO GOOD: I wish the music went on longer. Two discs clocking in at under 90 total minutes just doesn't seem like enough (I wonder at this point if any songs were edited out). Keep in mind tho, much of KISS' catalog is in the 3 minute range. The fact that KISS has 30+ albums and this set features TWO songs from the sub par "Dynasty" just amazes me. Several of these song selections sound way to familiar (from their "MTV Unplugged" and "Alive III" releases). Ultimately KISS picks the songs that "work" with the orchestra and for them... not necessarily what we want to hear (just once I'd like to see them record live "Mr. Speed", "Sweet Pain", "Got Love For Sale" or "Ladies In Waiting"). Songs that don't "work" here are, "Shandi", "King Of The Night Time World", "Love Gun" (a very lackluster version here of one of my all-time favorite KISS tunes)... and most importantly doing "Great Expectations" live is a downright sin - even if they are accompanied by the precious Australian Children's Choir. Paul seems very talkative between songs (especially on disc one) and I wish they had edited some of his babble out. Also, why does he need to sing most of what he says in between songs... can't he just talk to the audience? I wish I had a dollar for every time one of the band members said "Melbourne". Again, the symphony orchestra sounds great and, I'm still just not convinced this whole integration of rock & roll mixed with a vast number of violins/cellos/etc works for an entire show. As original as you think it might be, other large acts have done this before (Metallica, Deep Purple, etc).

OVERALL: Sounded like a good show and I wish I had been there. Any KISS fan will tell you - "You had to be there". KISS is felt best when you're there and witnessing the event. As much as it is music, it's a show. Worthy of the purchase - Absolutely. Fans old and new will not be disappointed.