Unmasked [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Kiss

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 1997)
• Original Release Date: June 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001ELN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,543 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

2005 Japanese pressing of 1980 original release, comes packaged in a standard jewel case. Mercury. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars KISS exposed, March 4, 2005

By	Christopher J. Benz "CJB" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's a funny thing this record...
Unmasked as you all know was sensationally received in Australia and taken for what it is - superior pop/rock with occassional apologies to disco. The problem for the following that KISS had built to this point was that they were sold an image and loved it. The new concession to a younger, more pop focused audience outraged the fans of the earlier albums. The truth is, this album stands up well in their catalogue but you first have to be willing to accept a few home truths. KISS are a marketing machine and have never generated truly challenging, breathtaking rock. They are a lot of fun, but cannot be compared to, for example Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Steely Dan etc. Those guys are musicians. Now seriously guys, watch 'Spinal Tap' and then try and take seriously songs like 'Love Gun', 'Great Expectations', 'I Stole your Love' etc. They're heaps of fun, but they're silly. We all just dug the image of a bunch of Kabuki theatre personas, cranking out something approximating hard rock. So 'Unmasked' - what is it? It's an enjoyable pop album. Shandi is a great rock ballad; 'Is that you?' has some real bite, 'Naked City' is atmospheric and Ace's tracks work so well because he has the tongue planted firmly in cheek - this is a band to enjoy, not to put on a musical pedistal. And this album is not boring, it's heaps of fun, full of pleasant catchy pop - it just exposed a band that was always there for the fantasy, for the audience - the musical approach was always just part of the formula - and the old fans found that reality hard to cope with.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best KISS album, September 26, 2005

By	Jeffrey S. Walsh (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

WHAT? Did he say that? Yes. I have been a KISS fan all my life.... all eras. I love metal... but, I also love pop, rock and other things. To me, Unmasked... the album where they first took off their masks to reveal their real makeup... lol... is sonic perfection. The production is top notch, the songs are great. Gene Simmons even contributes very solid songs and singing for a change (not that he wasnt good on Dynasty as well, but lets face it, he is the KING of c-sides, songs not even good enough to be B-sides). The album is a pleasure to listen to start to finish and really is quite the eye openner compared to what most people expect of KISS. If you like things like Foreigner, Loverboy, Pat Benatar, The Cars, and Rick Springfield... this is KISS in a style that fits more with that group than with any of the metal bands they are usually associated with. Fans who like only the heavy stuff probably should avoid this album. But, if you like melodic rock and great songs... this album will not disappoint. Yeah, Peter Criss isnt on this album... so instead, you get truly OUTSTANDING drumming from Anton Fig (David Letterman's drummer for many years) and no Peter Criss song to ensure that there is something worse than the worst Gene song on the album. Pauls songs on this are top notch... Aces are catchy and humorous... Genes are nearly as solid as Paul's... and no Peter song. GREAT! Its just a shame that KISS was so constantly overlooked and blacklisted in the radio world... many of these songs should have been top 40 smashes and really fit well with the pop-rock songs of that era.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Only For True Die Hard KISS fans, March 25, 2004

By	Edward J. Holmes (Demotte, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Kiss' Unmasked was recorded in 1980. After the release of "Dynasty", Peter Criss had left the band even though he was still on the cover. Kiss began to expierence inner turmoil after the song "Beth" was released in 1976. Peter Criss's head got too big and he forgot what he really was, a drummer.
The solo albums are a good indication of a band falling apart.
Peter had told his bandmates he wanted to go solo and leave Kiss. Gene and Paul begged him not to leave and they suggested that they all do solo albums just to make him happy and keep him in the band.
When "Dynasty" was about to be recorded Peter again threw an ultimatum at Gene and Paul and said he would leave the band again if they didn't use Vinnie Poncia (Peter's solo album producer) to produce the album. Gene and Paul let Peter have his way.
Peter left the band after the "Dynasty" world tour and Kiss was left to pick up the pieces.
"Unmasked" is a very strange record for Kiss. The sound is very poppy, very radio friendly.
Some of the songs on it are good, but they just don't have that Kiss sound like "Hotter Than Hell" or "Rock and Roll Over".
I am a huge Kiss fan. I love Kiss, but when all is said and done and rock and roll history is written, "Unmasked" will not be remembered as one of their best. If you love Kiss, buy this album. If you want a good Kiss album let me suggest "Alive" or "Destroyer"