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It has to be quite a thrill to count off "one, two, three, four...hit it!" and have a full orchestra launch into the same power chord you are. Kiss got to experience it during a one-off show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Alive IV is the document. The band is continuing the makeup revival that started in 1996, but Ace Frehley has moved on, taking his oddball tunes and loose attitude with him. In a move that fans might see as sacrilege, former Black 'n' Blue guitarist Tommy Thayer has assumed the role of the Spaceman, and the Melbourne show was his debut. Considering the monolithic pressure put upon him, it's no surprise he plays it straight, often too straight. It's just one of the disappointments on an album dragged down by a muddy mix and under-rehearsed interaction of band and orchestra. Kiss plays without the orchestra for the first six numbers, most of which have shown up in better versions on the first two editions of Alive. Gene Simmons' bass is pushed further down in the mix than ever, and only the most die-hard fan would want a live version of "Psycho Circus." The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble joins for the rest of the first disc, accompanying retreads of MTV Unplugged performances minus the excitement of a freshly reunited Kiss. Simmons' vocal is an embarrassment as it struggles through "Goin' Blind," but the appearance of Unmasked's "Shandi" is a pleasant surprise. The extra strings work fine over this easygoing chamber version of Kiss. The full orchestra shows up, in Kiss makeup of course, for the whole of the second disc. It sounds more bloated than bombastic as the mix ping-pongs between crunchy guitars and disco-style string and horn flourishes. Other than the inspired counterpoint in "God of Thunder" and "Love Gun," the orchestra is given little to do but imitate the band's simple melodies. In an especially wicked moment, Destroyer's arrangement of "Great Expectations" reappears with its unwholesome mix of children's choir and groupies-in-waiting lyrical content. A couple other grand moments make the record more satisfying than the pointless Alive III. Sadly absent is Frehley's cool demeanor, always a relief from Simmons and Paul Stanley's pompous swagger. He's definitely missed on Alive IV and a 60-piece orchestra can't make up for it. [Sanctuary reissued the album in 2008.]
© David Jeffries /TiVo
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Kiss, MainArtist - Gene Simmons, Composer, Lyricist - Warren Dewey, Engineer - Kenny Kerner, Producer - Richie Wise, Producer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Gene Simmons, Composer - Warren Dewey, Engineer - Kenny Kerner, Producer - Richie Wise, Producer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Gene Simmons, Composer - Warren Dewey, Engineer - Kenny Kerner, Producer - Richie Wise, Producer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
P. Stanley, Composer - Kiss, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer, Writer - Warren Dewey, Engineer - Vinnie Vincent, Composer - Vincent John Cusano, Composer - Kenny Kerner, Producer - Richie Wise, Producer - V. Cusano, Composer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, MainArtist - Gene Simmons, Composer, Lyricist - Warren Dewey, Engineer - Kenny Kerner, Producer - Richie Wise, Producer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Warren Dewey, Engineer - Curt Cuomo, Composer - Kenny Kerner, Producer - Richie Wise, Producer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Bob Ezrin, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Peter Criss, Composer - Stanley Penridge, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - MICHAEL BOLTON, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Gene Simmons, Composer - Stephen Coronel, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Vincent Poncia, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Vincent Poncia, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble, Ensemble, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
DISC 2
Bob Ezrin, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kim Fowley, Composer - Bob Ezrin, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Mark C Anthony, Composer
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kim Fowley, Composer - Bob Ezrin, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Bob Ezrin, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Gene Simmons, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Bob Ezrin, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Gene Simmons, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Desmond Child, Composer - Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Vincent Poncia, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Kiss, Performance, MainArtist - Paul Stanley, Composer - Gene Simmons, Composer - The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive license to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Albumbeschreibung
It has to be quite a thrill to count off "one, two, three, four...hit it!" and have a full orchestra launch into the same power chord you are. Kiss got to experience it during a one-off show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Alive IV is the document. The band is continuing the makeup revival that started in 1996, but Ace Frehley has moved on, taking his oddball tunes and loose attitude with him. In a move that fans might see as sacrilege, former Black 'n' Blue guitarist Tommy Thayer has assumed the role of the Spaceman, and the Melbourne show was his debut. Considering the monolithic pressure put upon him, it's no surprise he plays it straight, often too straight. It's just one of the disappointments on an album dragged down by a muddy mix and under-rehearsed interaction of band and orchestra. Kiss plays without the orchestra for the first six numbers, most of which have shown up in better versions on the first two editions of Alive. Gene Simmons' bass is pushed further down in the mix than ever, and only the most die-hard fan would want a live version of "Psycho Circus." The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble joins for the rest of the first disc, accompanying retreads of MTV Unplugged performances minus the excitement of a freshly reunited Kiss. Simmons' vocal is an embarrassment as it struggles through "Goin' Blind," but the appearance of Unmasked's "Shandi" is a pleasant surprise. The extra strings work fine over this easygoing chamber version of Kiss. The full orchestra shows up, in Kiss makeup of course, for the whole of the second disc. It sounds more bloated than bombastic as the mix ping-pongs between crunchy guitars and disco-style string and horn flourishes. Other than the inspired counterpoint in "God of Thunder" and "Love Gun," the orchestra is given little to do but imitate the band's simple melodies. In an especially wicked moment, Destroyer's arrangement of "Great Expectations" reappears with its unwholesome mix of children's choir and groupies-in-waiting lyrical content. A couple other grand moments make the record more satisfying than the pointless Alive III. Sadly absent is Frehley's cool demeanor, always a relief from Simmons and Paul Stanley's pompous swagger. He's definitely missed on Alive IV and a 60-piece orchestra can't make up for it. [Sanctuary reissued the album in 2008.]
© David Jeffries /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 21 track(s)
- Total length: 01:36:15
- Main artists: Kiss
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Sanctuary Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2003 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2003 Simstan Music Limited under exclusive licence to Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
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