Music From `The Elder'

Alister (February 13, 2009)

This was a "concept" record. KISS' effort to impress the critics of Rolling Stone. It totally bombed the charts and sold less than gold. It stayed there at the bottom for a long time. I had heard that it finally did go gold after remastering their catalog. One thing it did do was, oddly, impress some long time KISS bashing critics. It was the only positive review Rolling Stone ever had for a KISS release. It has been and is still often compared to Jethro Tull.

I can see releasing a concept record. This sort of creative expression is no stranger to rock n roll and metal. I've just always wondered about the timing. After the KISS solos, Dynasty and over-flooding the market with toys, media had KISS pegged as a purple elephant, has-beens, a bad joke. Then they come out with this? Too bad they didn't run this idea up the flag pole right after Rock n Roll Over or Love Gun. It would've sounded a little rawer, but it most definately would've got the success it deserved.

This was the KISS record where it seemed KISS fell off the face of the earth. It seemed as if everyone just gave up on KISS or forgot about them. Again, terrible timing. This album's lack of success pushed KISS back into the nitty gritty of being a heavier band.

I still love the tone of that guitar that rips into the first track, 'The Oath' ... and that Ace Frehley solo on the fantastic 'Dark Light'??? Music From 'The Elder' has many moments ... too bad so few got to hear them.