When I listen to Unmasked, it's through the ears of my 10 year old self... That being said... I think the love/hate thing with Unmasked all depends on when you got it and whether you were a diehard KISS fan before or a casual listener. As much as I loved all the other great music released in 1980 and considered most 100x better than Unmasked, KISS releases were always special to me and about more than just music. I was a kid and remember the day I brought it home and put the record on my mom's turntable in the living room like it was yesterday... The moment "Is That You" started playing I was immediately drawn into the sound. I was too young to know about things like "production" but I knew I liked the tones of all the instruments and the vocals. It sounded fresh. "Shandi" was like nothing KISS had done before and I knew the album would forever be special to me. I loved every song because it was KISS. At that time they were incapable of writing a bad song.... Same thing goes for The Elder. I loved it the day it was released... Back then most listened to sides of albums, so you heard many songs you may not have given a chance or a second listen once CD's came out and you just clicked a button to skip things. That's what I meant about "when" you got it and whether you were a diehard or casual listener. I equate it to when Monster and Sonic Boom came out. If those two albums came out when I was a kid I'd probably have liked them a lot more than I do today. I don't like either and consider them their worst two KISS albums by far... I don't expect anyone born after the release of Unmasked to agree with anything I say... Music wasn't listened to the same way after the 80's. Perception and the digestion of music changed. Same goes with casual fans or those who got into them later on. I could never and would never try to convince anyone that Unmasked is a great album. Unmasked was an experience, like the albums that preceded it. You can share opinions but you can't share feelings of nostalgia unless you experienced it.
This could not be more dead on! Nice summary. And I agree, Monster is the absolute worst KISS album... a total piece of shit. Sonic Boom is a hair better, and definitely the second worst one in their catalog.
@@reggiewufan Thanks! I didn't realize how much I rambled. lol I appreciate you taking the time to read all that! It's funny - I've seen many younger fans say how much they love Monster and Sonic Boom on various RUclips videos. They're usually the same ones who refer to Tommy as the Spaceman. :)
I actually like most of this album. But it's mostly because of nostalgia. I was 12 when it came out. I'm glad you came around with Easy As It Seems..I always liked that one.
Kiss' Unmasked is a great example of an album that has improved with each listen for me! I don't really dislike any of the record's tunes; I just enjoy some more than others. Like with you, Ralph, You're All That I Want is my least favorite song on this given studio effort from Kiss. My favorite is easily Shandi, the hit. Other tracks are a lot of fun to my ears also, including the three on which Ace handles the lead vocal.
It's in my Top 3 favorite KISS records. Rock N Roll Over, Unmasked, and Hotter Than Hell. I avoided the album for years because of all the bad press about it, but then I listened to it the whole way through and I LOVED it. I think Paul, Ace and Gene were on their A-Game for song writing.
You actually manage to make me listen to a review even though I don't like the album. Thank you,Ralph!👍🤘 Some information from Germany about this time... The single "Talk to me" was number 1 for 3 weeks on the radio station Mal Sandocks hit parade. Kiss were currently on tour in Germany... Almost only children and young people came to the shows in Germany - the fan base, i.e. the fans of the first albums, had already been scared away. Nevertheless, the halls were always sold out. The second single "Tomorrow" and the third single "Shandi" flopped. Many Kiss fans were already irritated by Dinasty, which in my opinion was largely a very good rock album. Unmasked can probably be described as a pop-rock album, which disappointed many fans of the first albums. I am also one of these. My list: 1. Naked City 2. Torpedo girl 3. Talk to me 4. Is that you? 5. Shandi 6. Two sides of the coin do 7. Easy as it seems 8. Tomorrow 9. What makes the world ao round 10. You're all that I want Of course, this is just my personal, humble opinion. Everyone should hear what they like... Keep on rocking and greetings from Germany 🇩🇪👍🤘🎸🌎
A lot of people did not like this one but I do. It has some good songs Is that you and Torpedo Girl are fun to listen to. Not great but hey! It is Kiss!
It's an interesting period piece. Many fans dislike the album's comic strip cover art but I like it. Highlights for me are "Is That You" and "Naked City". The rest is hard to get through, even Ace's songs are pretty lame. It's Gene, Paul and Ace doing their own songs (with help from studio musicians) and calling it a Kiss album rather than collaborating as a group to get the best material possible for a cohesive and memorable effort. With Peter on the way out and the excesses beginning to take their toll I guess "Unmasked" was the best they could do at the time. It's a rather cold and uninspired album. Ironically the recordings I've heard from the Unmasked tour are some of the best live performances of the band's entire history.
I adore the demo of " You are all that I want". It could have been included at the 1996's Acoustic instead of Domino or Plaster Caster. The time line is fundamental.. if I were a Metal Head back in 1980, I would have left Kiss. There is a very interesting book by Julian Gill covering that area. I am looking forward to reading it.
Kiss'worst album I'm already starting to seize Wtf That put me on the cliff Didn't give up on them It's a hiccup Only good thing about that time was Eric carr My favorite formation of the band I never saw. 5,songs I can listen to 1,Naked, 2,she so European, 3,shandi,4 is that you, 5,Easy as it seems,2 sides is ok This is what happens when you give ace too much control.
Hey Dr.Fukk, it's Nico from Belgium again. Off all KISS' studio albums, I always disliked Unmasked. Out of eleven songs, there are three tracks I like: Two Sides Of The Coin, Talk To Me and Naked City. IMHO: I even like Hot In The Shade and Crazy Nights more than Unmasked. At the time of Unmasked, even Paul said: "We didn't have teeth anymore". Great stuff on Wednesdays Ralph!
I give KISS kudos for trying something else (Dynasty, Unmasked, The Elder) and Unmasked certainly did have some decent tunes, "What Makes the World Go Round", "Naked City", "Tomorrow" and "Shandi". This and the other albums around it showed a good knack for melody, but there simply wasn't enough of that for a full album. If the personal highlights of all three albums were to be put into one, maybe it would've done better. I don't like any of the Ace songs, which is sad because he's my favorite member. "You're All that I Want" sounds too teen-comedy-ending, "Is That You" is pretty stupid, "She's So European" is way too poppy-sweet for me personally, but again, kudos for them sticking their necks out. I'm glad they learned their lesson in the end and we eventually got our Creatures.
Sucks that the original videos have been taken down. They were some classic reviews. Kiss musically definitely went in the wrong direction musically in 1980 and should have released a heavy album that year.
I actually love Unmasked. I love the majority of it. Songs like Naked City, Shandi, Tomorrow, Talk To Me , and Easy As It Seems are songs I really enjoy listening to. It is a shame in my opinion that Naked City was never done live ever. Hopefully Gene does it on his solo tour. Very underrated song in my opinion.
I like Unmasked but I'm not a fan of the whimpy thin guitar sound on most of the album. It was their least rocking album by far in their first decade, but I'm still a fan.
I love Is That You and Shandi. I like Tomorrow, Two Sides Of The Coin, She’s So European, and What Makes The World Go Round. The other 5 songs are mediocre at best.
I think you mentioned the 5 worst KISS songs would be Read My Body, My Way, Bang Bang You, Childhoods End, Partners In Crime then would Two Sides Of The Coin and You're All That I Want be up there with those
I gave it a listen again ! It’s definitely too Pop for KISS ! I still like Ace‘s Songs on it & maybe Tomorrow or Naked City but the others Songs…….! It changed today, but today I love The Elder much much more……instead of Unmasked !
Ralphael my Kisstory is pretty much the same as yours. In 83 a friend asked me if I wanted to go see KISS. After leaving them in the dust after Dynasty I laughed and said “no way I heard they didn’t even have Peter or Ace anymore.” He said ya but they still probably put on a good show. Well you know tickets back then were like $8 so I went. Needless to say no Ace no Peter so what it was one of the best KISS shows ever!!!! So back to Unmasked it SUCKS!!!! I rank it dead last. Yep behind Crazy Nights and Hot In The Shade. Naked City, Two Sides, and Is That You? are ok the rest 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Personally I really like this album. Is it their best? Hardly. Hell, it doesn't even compare to Dynasty at all. But this album is pretty fun at times. Here's how I rank the songs... 1. Naked City (The Best) 2. Shandi 3. She's So European (I'm sorry Ralph. I really love this song. 😂) 4. Talk To Me 5. Easy As It Seems 6. Is That You 7. Two Sides Of The Coin 8. Tomorrow 9. You're All That I Want 10. Torpedo Girl 11. What Makes The World Go Around The bottom two songs are definitely the worst tracks that I really hate. 1 through 9, I like for the most part. I do admit tracks 6 through 9 aren't as good as the top five.
When it first came out, i was very disappointed. The only song that i liked was Shandi. I actually liked Shandi so much that i knew that this would be the name of my first born daughter.
I love that they referenced that same song in the Scooby Doo/Kiss movie that one time. also appreciated the same movie taking place in "Kiss World"- the travelling amusement park Gene thought up in the late 70s that never was
Yeah, I was "closeted" about liking this album until about 10 years ago. I agree that it's not what KISS is for me, but it does have a couple of good moments. Nothing like the first studio albums, so it felt weird- but the original KISS could only happen once. Lightning in a bottle, miracle, whatever you want to call that ethereal magic- never to come again. 😢 keep rocking, dude 🤘
EXACTLY DUDE, glad someone else agrees with me on that. Tomorrow is straight up CT, even that chorus. they WERE an opening act for Kiss only a couple years prior to this, I wouldn't discount an influence
Naked city is a personal favorite has that late night late night late 70s NYC..kinds like the song human nature by Michael Jackson..don’t ask me to explain you had to be there.
I bought the album on release day; another disappointment :-) - I fell in love with KISS with Alive, and the first three albums early 1976. I really liked the blues / rock sound of KISS. Unmasked; pop rock. So sad.
Sometimes is it about the timeline in life it was my first live consert Experience it was Iron Maiden /Kiss Unmasked tour in Europe/Skandinavia/Norway and we had been fans since 1976 it was total mlndblowing /it printed my DNA ⭐🙏
I used to think You're All That I Want was the worst but then I listened to the lyrics of Two Sides of the Coin and that song may be the cringiest song ever written. I put Torpedo Girl slightly above those two just for the comic relief at the beginning, plus the drums and bass are cool too but goes completely downhill from there. Those three rank in my top 5 worst Kiss songs. Unmasked blows.
i hated it at the time but all the heavy i went to at the time i never even play anymore .the ace songs are not that good but naked city is just incredible and i watch all the bands on youtube who cover it .
It’s got good songs but the production makes the songs sound poppier than thy are there was definitely that “edge” missing that the first seven albums most definitely had
With the exception of Is That You, the songs are actually good. Its the sanitzed production that made the album lame. Poncia neutered KISS almost to the point of no return.
Was never really a fan of this album , yes it had a few tracks on it that i liked, but to me it just wasn't the same KISS anymore, the earlier ones were the best , in my opinion.
Naked City Shandi Is That You Tomorrow Talk to Me What Makes the World Go 'Round You're All That I Want Easy as It Seems Two Sides of the Coin She's So European Torpedo Girl
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When I listen to Unmasked, it's through the ears of my 10 year old self... That being said... I think the love/hate thing with Unmasked all depends on when you got it and whether you were a diehard KISS fan before or a casual listener. As much as I loved all the other great music released in 1980 and considered most 100x better than Unmasked, KISS releases were always special to me and about more than just music. I was a kid and remember the day I brought it home and put the record on my mom's turntable in the living room like it was yesterday...
The moment "Is That You" started playing I was immediately drawn into the sound. I was too young to know about things like "production" but I knew I liked the tones of all the instruments and the vocals. It sounded fresh. "Shandi" was like nothing KISS had done before and I knew the album would forever be special to me. I loved every song because it was KISS. At that time they were incapable of writing a bad song.... Same thing goes for The Elder. I loved it the day it was released...
Back then most listened to sides of albums, so you heard many songs you may not have given a chance or a second listen once CD's came out and you just clicked a button to skip things. That's what I meant about "when" you got it and whether you were a diehard or casual listener. I equate it to when Monster and Sonic Boom came out. If those two albums came out when I was a kid I'd probably have liked them a lot more than I do today. I don't like either and consider them their worst two KISS albums by far...
I don't expect anyone born after the release of Unmasked to agree with anything I say... Music wasn't listened to the same way after the 80's. Perception and the digestion of music changed. Same goes with casual fans or those who got into them later on. I could never and would never try to convince anyone that Unmasked is a great album. Unmasked was an experience, like the albums that preceded it. You can share opinions but you can't share feelings of nostalgia unless you experienced it.
This could not be more dead on! Nice summary. And I agree, Monster is the absolute worst KISS album... a total piece of shit. Sonic Boom is a hair better, and definitely the second worst one in their catalog.
@@reggiewufan Thanks! I didn't realize how much I rambled. lol I appreciate you taking the time to read all that! It's funny - I've seen many younger fans say how much they love Monster and Sonic Boom on various RUclips videos. They're usually the same ones who refer to Tommy as the Spaceman. :)
So many pics from 1980 I've never seen. Thx for all the effort you put into these videos Ralph!
What Makes The World Go Round is Awesome! Great Lead Guitar by Paul Stanley
It was a fun album cover to read. That's all I remember about it.
Consider yourself blessed by the Godz
@@poppiethestable1090 The Godz are rock and roll machines.
I actually like most of this album. But it's mostly because of nostalgia. I was 12 when it came out. I'm glad you came around with Easy As It Seems..I always liked that one.
Same here, nostalgia plays into it bit time but the pop side in me always liked this album a lot.
Kiss' Unmasked is a great example of an album that has improved with each listen for me! I don't really dislike any of the record's tunes; I just enjoy some more than others. Like with you, Ralph, You're All That I Want is my least favorite song on this given studio effort from Kiss. My favorite is easily Shandi, the hit. Other tracks are a lot of fun to my ears also, including the three on which Ace handles the lead vocal.
1980 truly was a big transitional year for rock and metal music.
I enjoy Unmasked Topedo Girl, Is That You, Naked City and Talk To Me are my favourites
It's in my Top 3 favorite KISS records. Rock N Roll Over, Unmasked, and Hotter Than Hell.
I avoided the album for years because of all the bad press about it, but then I listened to it the whole way through and I LOVED it. I think Paul, Ace and Gene were on their A-Game for song writing.
You actually manage to make me listen to a review even though I don't like the album. Thank you,Ralph!👍🤘
Some information from Germany about this time...
The single "Talk to me" was number 1 for 3 weeks on the radio station Mal Sandocks hit parade. Kiss were currently on tour in Germany...
Almost only children and young people came to the shows in Germany - the fan base, i.e. the fans of the first albums, had already been scared away.
Nevertheless, the halls were always sold out.
The second single "Tomorrow" and the third single "Shandi" flopped.
Many Kiss fans were already irritated by Dinasty, which in my opinion was largely a very good rock album.
Unmasked can probably be described as a pop-rock album, which disappointed many fans of the first albums. I am also one of these.
My list:
1. Naked City
2. Torpedo girl
3. Talk to me
4. Is that you?
5. Shandi
6. Two sides of the coin do
7. Easy as it seems
8. Tomorrow
9. What makes the world ao round
10. You're all that I want
Of course, this is just my personal, humble opinion.
Everyone should hear what they like...
Keep on rocking and greetings from Germany 🇩🇪👍🤘🎸🌎
A lot of people did not like this one but I do. It has some good songs Is that you and Torpedo Girl are fun to listen to. Not great but hey! It is Kiss!
My faves are :Talk to me , Torpedo Girl, Naked City, and Shandi.
It's an interesting period piece. Many fans dislike the album's comic strip cover art but I like it. Highlights for me are "Is That You" and "Naked City". The rest is hard to get through, even Ace's songs are pretty lame. It's Gene, Paul and Ace doing their own songs (with help from studio musicians) and calling it a Kiss album rather than collaborating as a group to get the best material possible for a cohesive and memorable effort. With Peter on the way out and the excesses beginning to take their toll I guess "Unmasked" was the best they could do at the time. It's a rather cold and uninspired album. Ironically the recordings I've heard from the Unmasked tour are some of the best live performances of the band's entire history.
Agree Naked City is a
brilliant tune⭐
I adore the demo of " You are all that I want". It could have been included at the 1996's Acoustic instead of Domino or Plaster Caster.
The time line is fundamental.. if I were a Metal Head back in 1980, I would have left Kiss.
There is a very interesting book by Julian Gill covering that area. I am looking forward to reading it.
Dr. Fukk - awesome job with the Unmasked era pix! Thank you. PS - Unmasked is AWESOME!
Kiss'worst album
I'm already starting to seize
Wtf
That put me on the cliff
Didn't give up on them
It's a hiccup
Only good thing about that time was Eric carr
My favorite formation of the band
I never saw.
5,songs I can listen to
1,Naked, 2,she so European, 3,shandi,4 is that you, 5,Easy as it seems,2 sides is ok
This is what happens when you give ace too much control.
Where's Hard Times when you need it? Nowhere on this record that's where!
Hey Dr.Fukk, it's Nico from Belgium again. Off all KISS' studio albums, I always disliked Unmasked. Out of eleven songs, there are three tracks I like: Two Sides Of The Coin, Talk To Me and Naked City. IMHO: I even like Hot In The Shade and Crazy Nights more than Unmasked. At the time of Unmasked, even Paul said: "We didn't have teeth anymore". Great stuff on Wednesdays Ralph!
I give KISS kudos for trying something else (Dynasty, Unmasked, The Elder) and Unmasked certainly did have some decent tunes, "What Makes the World Go Round", "Naked City", "Tomorrow" and "Shandi". This and the other albums around it showed a good knack for melody, but there simply wasn't enough of that for a full album. If the personal highlights of all three albums were to be put into one, maybe it would've done better. I don't like any of the Ace songs, which is sad because he's my favorite member. "You're All that I Want" sounds too teen-comedy-ending, "Is That You" is pretty stupid, "She's So European" is way too poppy-sweet for me personally, but again, kudos for them sticking their necks out. I'm glad they learned their lesson in the end and we eventually got our Creatures.
Sucks that the original videos have been taken down. They were some classic reviews. Kiss musically definitely went in the wrong direction musically in 1980 and should have released a heavy album that year.
Do any of you find it weird that Judas Priest (Promoting Killing Machine/ Hell Bent for Leather) opened for KISS in 1979 and KISS became more pop?
I actually love Unmasked. I love the majority of it. Songs like Naked City, Shandi, Tomorrow, Talk To Me , and Easy As It Seems are songs I really enjoy listening to. It is a shame in my opinion that Naked City was never done live ever. Hopefully Gene does it on his solo tour. Very underrated song in my opinion.
I like Unmasked but I'm not a fan of the whimpy thin guitar sound on most of the album. It was their least rocking album by far in their first decade, but I'm still a fan.
Naked City might be one of Gene’s best songs and I agree, it’s the best on a pretty meh album. Jorn’s cover of this song is amazing. Check it out.
I love Is That You and Shandi. I like Tomorrow, Two Sides Of The Coin, She’s So European, and What Makes The World Go Round. The other 5 songs are mediocre at best.
I think you mentioned the 5 worst KISS songs would be Read My Body, My Way, Bang Bang You, Childhoods End, Partners In Crime then would Two Sides Of The Coin and You're All That I Want be up there with those
I gave it a listen again ! It’s definitely too Pop for KISS !
I still like Ace‘s Songs on it & maybe Tomorrow or Naked City but the others Songs…….!
It changed today, but today I love The Elder much much more……instead of Unmasked !
Ralphael my Kisstory is pretty much the same as yours. In 83 a friend asked me if I wanted to go see KISS. After leaving them in the dust after Dynasty I laughed and said “no way I heard they didn’t even have Peter or Ace anymore.” He said ya but they still probably put on a good show. Well you know tickets back then were like $8 so I went. Needless to say no Ace no Peter so what it was one of the best KISS shows ever!!!! So back to Unmasked it SUCKS!!!! I rank it dead last. Yep behind Crazy Nights and Hot In The Shade. Naked City, Two Sides, and Is That You? are ok the rest 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Personally I really like this album. Is it their best? Hardly. Hell, it doesn't even compare to Dynasty at all. But this album is pretty fun at times. Here's how I rank the songs...
1. Naked City (The Best)
2. Shandi
3. She's So European (I'm sorry Ralph. I really love this song. 😂)
4. Talk To Me
5. Easy As It Seems
6. Is That You
7. Two Sides Of The Coin
8. Tomorrow
9. You're All That I Want
10. Torpedo Girl
11. What Makes The World Go Around
The bottom two songs are definitely the worst tracks that I really hate. 1 through 9, I like for the most part. I do admit tracks 6 through 9 aren't as good as the top five.
I actually like this album , it’s a bit cheesy , but ‘Easy as it seems’is a great track in my opinion,,, each to there own
When it first came out, i was very disappointed. The only song that i liked was Shandi. I actually liked Shandi so much that i knew that this would be the name of my first born daughter.
I love that they referenced that same song in the Scooby Doo/Kiss movie that one time. also appreciated the same movie taking place in "Kiss World"- the travelling amusement park Gene thought up in the late 70s that never was
Yeah, I was "closeted" about liking this album until about 10 years ago. I agree that it's not what KISS is for me, but it does have a couple of good moments. Nothing like the first studio albums, so it felt weird- but the original KISS could only happen once. Lightning in a bottle, miracle, whatever you want to call that ethereal magic- never to come again. 😢 keep rocking, dude 🤘
I swear this is Cheap Trick lite. If Robin Zander sang all these songs it would be more appreciated but I guess Kiss abandoned thier sound so...
EXACTLY DUDE, glad someone else agrees with me on that. Tomorrow is straight up CT, even that chorus. they WERE an opening act for Kiss only a couple years prior to this, I wouldn't discount an influence
It has a couple of gems I like, but as a whole? Naa.
Naked city is a personal favorite has that late night late night late 70s NYC..kinds like the song human nature by Michael Jackson..don’t ask me to explain you had to be there.
I bought the album on release day; another disappointment :-)
- I fell in love with KISS with Alive, and the first three albums early 1976. I really liked the blues / rock sound of KISS. Unmasked; pop rock. So sad.
Sometimes is it about the timeline in life it was my first live consert Experience it was Iron Maiden /Kiss Unmasked tour in Europe/Skandinavia/Norway and we had been fans since 1976 it was total mlndblowing /it printed my DNA ⭐🙏
I used to think You're All That I Want was the worst but then I listened to the lyrics of Two Sides of the Coin and that song may be the cringiest song ever written. I put Torpedo Girl slightly above those two just for the comic relief at the beginning, plus the drums and bass are cool too but goes completely downhill from there. Those three rank in my top 5 worst Kiss songs. Unmasked blows.
i hated it at the time but all the heavy i went to at the time i never even play anymore .the ace songs are not that good but naked city is just incredible and i watch all the bands on youtube who cover it .
It’s got good songs but the production makes the songs sound poppier than thy are there was definitely that “edge” missing that the first seven albums most definitely had
The best thing about Wednesdays!
I listened to it the other day but
I do. Like ACE solos on it it's better than crazy knights
With the exception of Is That You, the songs are actually good. Its the sanitzed production that made the album lame. Poncia neutered KISS almost to the point of no return.
Was never really a fan of this album , yes it had a few tracks on it that i liked, but to me it just wasn't the same KISS anymore, the earlier ones were the best , in my opinion.
"UNMASKED" DEEZ NUTS
Naked City
Shandi
Is That You
Tomorrow
Talk to Me
What Makes the World Go 'Round
You're All That I Want
Easy as It Seems
Two Sides of the Coin
She's So European
Torpedo Girl
Does anybody have a pack of bubble gum?
Facts
It's unlistenable.
Kiss cards in the gum 😂😂
@@jfbmf1242😂😂😂😂
😂👍🏼
Album is dog shit. But Naked city rules.
As gey as it may sound lol 😆 I love Shandi on that Album 💿 👍🏼 👍🏼
I can't listen to "The Elder" 🤮
Unmasked and The Elder are trash. Music and the costumes.
Pure Rubbish