Search - Kiss :: Chronicles (Long)

What???

Some Gravity | Indiana, USA | 10/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Chronicles"(2005). A KISS box set.



One of the ultimate hard rock acts of all time has proven themselves to be,by far,KISS. Gene Simmons,Paul Stanley,Ace Frehley,and Peter Criss have written some of the most important songs in the history of rock and roll--the only problems are all of the KISS compilations that keep getting left behind,the fact that KISS hasn't put out any new,original material since 1998(the "Psycho Circus" album),and also that Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are both gone from KISS again after KISS' long awaited 1996 reunion tour. And now,a KISS box set entitled "Chronicles" has been released. Read on for my review of this:



PROS:



KISS' first three albums are all here:their self-titled debut album(1974),"Hotter Than Hell"(1974),and "Dressed To Kill"(1975),and it is nice to see a KISS box set that isn't a compilation.



This box set has a booklet accompanying it,with the liner notes for the three albums that are in this box set.



You can find this box set in stores.



CONS:



The sound on the discs for the albums here have NOT been digitally remastered,and the sound on these three albums sold seperately when they were re-issued and re-released did have digitally remastered sound on the tracks.



There are no bonus tracks on the albums here.



This is a repackage of KISS' "The Orignals" box set that came out in July 1976. Was this box set really needed,especially with a different cover on the box set and a different title for it,when the albums here were re-issued not too long ago?



OVERALL:



This box set does have some positive points to it,but I recommend you shell out your cash and get the albums that are in this box set seperately. They feauture digitally remastered sound and liner notes about the band written inside the CD cover(which is where you take the CD out at),and they aren't last minute cash in attempts like this is(they are also more complete than this set is,considering the fact that the sound on the discs here was not digitally remastered).I have one thing to say about this box set:do it right,or don't do it at all,especially since KISS fans keep getting left behind with the same stuff over and over again. I am aware of the fact that "Chronicles" box sets are released for several bands this same way;however,if you are going to release a box set of KISS albums,either release the set of albums with bonus tracks,or don't bother releasing the set.



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Here's the skinny on this release

bass boy | Arkansas | 07/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Four stars for the creative band, KISS, and for these strong, early records. This box is new from Universal and includes the first three CDs, "Kiss," "Hotter Than Hell" and "Dressed To Kill." The actual discs are dated "1997," so they are probably the original remasters, and not new remasters, I am guessing. The box includes the three CD covers of the orignal three CDs, but no additional artwork or liner notes. Although some might prefer the 1980s work and beyond, KISS' strong period will always be the 1970s, and their pre"Alive" recordings are found here."

Same Stuff, Different Cover Art

Red Spider | Ronkonkoma, NY USA | 07/12/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Wasn't this originally realeased as a limited edition called "The Originals" in the summer of 1976? Altough this is a great "starter set" for new KISS fans, for me personally, I'm bored with all the retro stuff...3 stars..."