KISS-The Definitive Box Set...Review (1 Viewer)

[RicP]

Well, Over the weekend I picked up the box set of KISS-The Definitive Collection. This 5-CD Box set covers the entire KISS phenomenon from the beginning in 1974 to 2002's upcoming Kiss Alive IV.
The box set comes in two flavors, an oversized book-like case with the 5 CD's and a softcover book that is absolutely packed full of photographs and information. There is the telling of the Kiss Story as well as song by song commentary by the band (usually the primary songwriter). It's not all fluff either, the band talks about what they feel didn't work, or was poor, as well as what "kicked ass."
The other version is housed in an ersatz guitar case, complete with latches and handle. That one comes with a hardcover version of the same book. I opted for the less expensive Book-size version.
The box itself is beautiful. A hinged top, just like a rare book's traycase opens to reveal the book placed on top of the 5 CD's. The CD's are stacked in 2 levels in a die-cut red felt housing. The box material is very sturdy and the fromt has the KISS logo in raised metallic letters on a black frontplate. Very nice looking, and very professional.
Each CD is crammed full of tracks (most are over 78 mins). There are super rarities here and well known favorites. There are the "hits" taken right of the official CD's, and there are rarer live tracks and demo tracks. A lot of these are being released here officially for the very first time.
The 5 CD's are all in chronological order, so you can put all 5 in your CD changer and experience the entire Kiss saga in the order it happened.
The sound quality is fantastic, and I believe that the tracks that come from the official CD's are the same masters used in the recent excellent remaster releases of Kiss' early albums.
This is certainly the definitive box set for Kiss fans. If you have the official CD's, I'd keep them because there are tracks on those discs that do not appear here. I'm not sure if this set appeals to the casual Kiss fan because of all the early stuff and the rare and demo tracks included. Casual fans might be better suited with the 2 greatest hits collections instead. But for the real Kiss afficianado, this is as good as it's ever going to get.
Highly Recommended!

 

[Brad_W]

any pics of the two cases. This sounds awesome! Did you see them on their farewell tour? I did, absolutely amazing!

 

[Kevin Leonard]

Uh, forgive my stupidity here Ric, but am I understanding correctly in that the 5 CD's contains ALL of KISS' albums? I'm not sure how many albums they've released (I'm a casual fan at best), but I'm sure it is certainly more than 5 CD's worth. Or does the box set just sample all the albums?

EDIT: Nevermind, I just answered my own question. Guess I should read your reviews a bit more carefully next time!

 

[Keith Paynter]

The guitar box:

Regular box:

 

[Rhett_Y]

This one has been on my x-mas list since I heard about it...Can't wait.

Yes I am a pretty die hard hard fan, I have all there cds, and cassette tapes, I even have gene simons and ace frely dolls from the 70's, Kisstory the book...Can't wait to get it....

Very cool!

Thanks for the picks and the review.

R~

 

[RicP]

Thanks for the pics Keith!
The bottom pic does not do the box justice, it is really very nice and well constructed.
The guiatr case is awesome, but it is close to $90 more than the other set with no additional content. $90 extra is a bit much for just a hard cover and a fancy case.

 

[Tommy G]

Yep, picked up my copy of the box set last Tuesday at Best Buy for $54.99. I thought that was a pretty decent price for 6 hours of music plus the color booklet. They did do a decent job but because I am a KISS fan I have to be a little critical. I would have appreciated more live versions of songs that I know they have recordings of such as Ladies In Waiting from a Jan 1976 show and maybe Hooligan from '77 and Radioactive and Move On from '79. The sound on some of the rarities just blows you away though. All in all it was definitely money well spent and definitely not just another Double Platinum, Smashes Thrashes and Hits or Greatest KISS.

 

[HankM]

My local Best Buy was out of the $54.99 box

 

[Brad_W]

That looks awesome! I will definately pick this up. If the box is $54.99, how much is the guitar box?

 

[RicP]

If the box is $54.99, how much is the guitar box?

At the store I went to, the Box was $56.99 and the guitar box was $149.99.

 

[Brad_W]

the guitar box was $149.99.

Yikes!! and ouch$$

guess I'll be getting just the box set.

 

[Darren Davis]

Brad, I went to the Farewell Tour. It was the best show I've ever been to. About the box set...looks like I'll have to scrounge up the dough to buy this one along with everything else I want. Those remasters are great.

 

[Brad_W]

Darren,

I loved that show too. The 3D was also cool and TONS of confetti!

 

[Joe Fisher]

Picked it up on Sunday. Absolutely loved it from front to back. Good mix of songs to represent the entire Kiss catalog from the beginning to now. Liked hearing some of the Wicked Lester stuff for te first time. All in all, a good set. Must have for any Kiss fan.
The only draw back that ticked me off about this box set, was that on atleast 3 tracks(Unholy, Psycho Circus & Whitin),the fadeins of the songs are shortened or eliminated. :frowning: I guess they did it because of time limits on the discs.
Glad to see that Alive IV will finally see the light of day in April 2002, 2 years after it was supposed to come out.

 

[DEAN DE FURIA]

The Wicked Lester stuff is very cool. The version of "She" sounds like Jethro Tull! Only complaint: they didn't leave the intro to "Detroit Rock City". Oh well.

 

[Russ Felton]

I was wondering, did any of you who bought the set hear a very small sound drop on Track Six of Disc 2. It happens within the first two seconds of the song. It's one of the demo songs so I'm not sure if it's supposed to be there or not.

Russ

 

[Tommy G]

Russ, I tried listening but didn't hear the drop out. I did hear a beep or something during 100,000 Years however. What song is it that you hear this in?

 

[Greg_Y]

The Wicked Lester stuff is very cool. The version of "She" sounds like Jethro Tull!

Pardon my ignorance, but who or what is Wicked Lester? I was thinking of picking up this box, but if the original version of She isn't included, I think I'll pass. That's probably my favorite KISS song.

I guess Double Platinum is still the best compilation for casual fans.

 

[Joe Fisher]

What song is it that you hear this in?

Tommy: The song Russ is refering to is the demo track "Mad Dog". I noticed a slight dropout, probablly from the master tape itself, or the way it was recorded.

Peace--Joe

 

[Tommy G]

Greg, I don't think the boxset is for the casual fan because there is a lot of obscure stuff in there. This is for the fans who wanted to hear some of the unreleased stuff that is out there as well as some rare live material. If you're looking for a compilation of just some of there best stuff, Double Platinum or Greatest KISS would probably be the better route to take.