Kiss - Destroyer
List Price:
Our Price: $2.94
You Save: $9.04 (75%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.70 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: KissEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1997-08-12
Music Label: Island / Mercury
Soundtracks:
- Detroit Rock City
- King Of The Night Time World
- God Of Thunder
- Great Expectations
- Flaming Youth
- Sweet Pain
- Shout It Out Loud
- Beth
- Do You Love Me?
- Bonus Track 1
Music reviews of Destroyer
Music Review: Destroyer (1976)
Rating: 4 Stars
I can imagine the conversation now.
Bob Ezrin says to KISS, ''Hey! Have you guys ever thought about taking this seriously? You know, this music and album thing?'' Whether stunned silence, or agreeance was had, where people said, hey, yea, we could come up with something artistic if we try hard enough. Whatever happened, Ace Frehley disappeared, Peter Criss gives them a hit song, Paul Stanley dominates, Gene Simmons writes some interesting stuff, and a whole host of guest writers come in.
I've just read a review of Dressed To Kill after writing one myself. I cited that 'She' and 'Love Her All I Can' were two standouts on an otherwise 'paint by numbers' album, and reading someone else's review pointed out that those two songs were resurrected from their earlier material. And this is where a problem begins. Maybe KISS had dried up by the time 1976 rolled around? I can hear it on Dressed To Kill, where Simmons and Frehley are just not coming up with as good material as the first two albums shows so strongly. They're both working at 50%. Actually on Destroyer and Rock and Roll Over, Ace practically disappears entirely from writing, or even playing the guitar solos. (I always wondered why some of my favourite Frehley solos weren't on Destroyer!).
And as DTK presents, Paul Stanley takes over most of the writing, and I just don't feel he comes up with as good material as Simmons and Frehley when they are both working at 100%. Stanley providing 70% of the material, with only 30% being something truly 'classic', does not make for great KISS albums. Peter Criss makes up for this, whether you like 'Beth' or not, by simply coming up with a song that ranks among their best songs, the songs people know them for. And many of Stanley's songs just don't hit that target, which is why three writers can sometimes be better than one. Simmons and Frehley's 'backseating' in songwriting truly makes this band suffer a bit. Frehley had the musical talent, and an honesty in his approach. Simmons their best voice, and provider of much of their best 'riffs'. With these two just going through the motions, or altogether disappearing, KISS becomes a rather standard affair.
There are also moments where you can hear Ezrin's production style carried over into Pink Floyd's The Wall (1979). Little touches here and there. Where all these outside writers came from (apart from Penridge and Ezrin), I don't know, but it's the first indication that despite the success that was coming to this band on the horizon, there was trouble in paradise before they even got there. Not a good thing to be in trouble before you've arrived, usually it happens after all the money, fame and stardom come around.
Though I think 'Great Expectations' is a great song in itself, as far as taking chances, it just seems a bit too slapstick in subject matter. It's obvious Simmons had a huge appreciation for The Rolling Stones, you can hear it in his music and approach. But Jagger & Richards tend to match the subject matter with the level that the music indicates it needs, and Simmons just doesn't get that. Here he writes a great song, but fills it with cheap elements. He has, or had the potential to be a lot more than what he's known for. Maybe Ezrin saw that, just like Eddie Kramer maybe saw potential in Ace Frehley.
As I've grown older, I feel that Simmons wasted some of the talent he does possess. Because time and time again he writes really interesting material, that other people could easily cite as being influential, if not for what he decides to sing about. 'Sweet Pain' is an indication of that talent. There's nothing wrong with female backing singers appearing on a KISS song, especially when the songwriter can actually write material that deserves that treatment. And Simmons could. I'm never quite sure what to think of him truly. Sleazy genius? Underrated writer by his own estimations? Who knows?
So KISS make an 'arty' album, and it certainly is an interesting one. I can't say there are any bad songs on it, apart from my disappointment with 'Great Expectations', and the less than great Paul Stanley material. I've always liked 'Do You Love Me', it was my favourite song from this album as a kid. But as I've grown up, I just can't stand the way he sings most of it! I would rather hear Simmons singing it, who I always thought had a more controlled and 'cooler' voice. Frehley's one songwriting contribution is 'Flaming Youth'. When I was a kid, I kind of bypassed this song for 'Sweet Pain'. But as I've gotten older, I think 'Flaming Youth' is probably one of the best songs on this album, right up there with 'Detroit Rock City', 'God of Thunder', 'Shout It Out Loud' and 'Sweet Pain'.
I have no problems with 'Beth' whatsoever. I think it's a nice change of pace, and Criss sings it great. At least he sings it honestly, no matter what you may think of such sentiment entering the KISS landscape. I've never been sure of 'King of the Night Time World' to be honest. I'm kind of 50/50 about it, and I think that's once again down to Paul Stanley's singing style. I'd much rather hear Simmons sing it, or even Frehley! I just don't care much for Stanley's singing voice, okay???
Destroyer has enough material on it to be almost as good as 1974's Hotter Than Hell, and much better than 1975's Dressed To Kill, but I can't help but feel something's wrong here in KISS Land.
Description of Destroyer
Japanese pressing of this 1976 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Kiss have been one of the best-selling Rock bands in history. Since the Japanese min-LP sleeves were introduced into the marketplace, it was no surprise to find that Kiss have sold more CDs in this limited edition format than any other artist. 10 tracks including 'Detroit Rock City', 'Shout It Out Loud' and 'Beth'. Distriibuted for a limited time in Europe with new UPC number. Universal.With their 1976 album Destroyer, the band's fifth release in two years, Kiss began to expand their fan base by shedding a bit of their edge, taking on a more melodic sound and a less menacing image. The Peter Criss ballad "Beth," written for his wife, is the most sentimental love ballad the group ever recorded, and songs like "Detroit Rock City" and "Shout It Out Loud" had the kind of arena-rock punch that kept subscriptions to the Kiss Army at an all-time high. Despite, or because of, the blatantly commercial direction the band seemed to be heading in, 1976 was the most creatively rewarding period in its lengthy career. In addition to releasing Destroyer, the band pumped out the equally touted album Rock and Roll Over, which included the pounding "Take Me" and the groovin' "Calling Dr. Love." The only finer year was 1978, when the band starred in the classic B-grade flick Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. --Jon Wiederhorn
Classic Rock CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classic Rock CDs
Paul Mccartney, Wings - Wings at the Speed of SoundRelease date: 1996-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $269.99
Small Faces - BoxedRelease date: 1997-11-01; Music CD
Best price: $43.38
Dr John - Gris GrisRelease date: 1994-07-15; Music CD
Price in other shops:
![Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS] Image](/images/Eric-Clapton-Live-in-Hyde-Park-VHS-6304817037-X.jpg){kind=small}
Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS]Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1998-02-17; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.75
Price in other shops:
![Human Highway [VHS] Image](/images/Human-Highway-VHS-6303589219-X.jpg){kind=small}
Human Highway [VHS]Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1995-08-08; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $120.79
![The Monkees - Head [VHS] Image](/images/The-Monkees-Head-VHS-6303337023-X.jpg){kind=small}
The Monkees - Head [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1995-01-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.42
Price in other shops:
![Live & Loud [VHS] Image](/images/Live-Loud-VHS-630276193X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ozzy Osbourne - Live & Loud [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1993-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops:
![Unplugged [VHS] Image](/images/Unplugged-VHS-6302639859-X.jpg){kind=small}
Bruce Springsteen - Unplugged [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1992-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
![Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS]Virgin Records Us; Release date: 1992-06-29; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $121.90
![Past to Present [VHS] Image](/images/Past-to-Present-VHS-6301817664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Toto - Past to Present [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $72.82
Similar CDs
Kiss - Alive 2Release date: 1997-08-12; Music CD
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops:
Kiss - UnmaskedRelease date: 1997-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $4.65
Price in other shops:
Kiss - Creatures of the NightRelease date: 1997-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $5.19
Price in other shops:
Kiss - Hotter Than HellRelease date: 1997-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $2.93
Price in other shops:
Kiss - Dressed to KillRelease date: 1997-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $2.73
Price in other shops:
Kiss - Love GunRelease date: 1997-08-12; Music CD
Best price: $4.17
Price in other shops:
Kiss - Rock & Roll OverRelease date: 1997-08-12; Music CD
Best price: $2.92
Price in other shops:
Kiss - DynastyRelease date: 1997-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $5.16
Price in other shops:
Kiss - Alive!Release date: 1997-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $11.70
Price in other shops:
Kiss - KissRelease date: 1997-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $2.93
Price in other shops: