Kiss--Sympthony: Alive IV, The DVD
Kiss claims to do something brand new and inventive even though Metallica did it just a few years earlier...
Packaging--
The good:
This is made to resemble a symphony program, which is pretty cool. It's very classy and elegant looking, but then there's a drop of blood running down the side of the cover. Nice effect. The booklet could actually be a symphony program--photos and credits all put together in a way that would be appropriate for any snobby affair. This has some really fun packaging.
The bad:
Nothing bad here...except for the pesky digipak complaint I always have--what if the teeth hold the disc in place break?
The music:
The good:
Disc one starts off with a 30 minute documentary about how the whole show came together. Plenty of practice footage with the symphony, backstage stuff, very early preparation footage. It's interesting and gives a lot of great background. I like that they show tension even within the band...definitely a well done piece.
Then we get the entire Kiss Symphony set which was Act 3 for the evening. Most of "Destroyer" is played and for good reason--it's an excellent album. I think the Symphony/Kiss thing overall works. There are no songs that it sounds ridiculous on (I think a fair amount of Metallica's venture did). On some tracks the symphony doesn't really work, but it's not bad...it's just not a strong collaboration. Some songs work really well---Great Expectations and Black Diamond I think flow nicely. Detroit Rock City even works. The band performs well...when a band has been around for 30 years they're either going to be completely worn out and sound terrible, or sound like a band that knows exactly what they're doing. Kiss are definitely the latter. There's plenty of energy, the playing is good, the spectcle is certainly there, Paul sounds good.
The Symphony performs in Kiss makeup which is a very nice effect. It's fun seeing these snobby musician types getting giddy putting on Kiss makeup.
Disc two has all three "acts" of the night. It's the same show and everything as the CD, just with the video and mixed in 5.1. Act 1 is just the band playing six songs in regular Kiss fashion. Act 2 is five slow/ballad type songs done acoustically with a string ensemble. This is a cool part of the show, and I believe it's Peter Criss's first time singing Beth to live music instead of a tape. Definitely cool. Then we have Act 3. You are reading this right--this disc has the exact same concert as disc 1. The only thing exclusive to disc 1 is the 30 minute making of, that I'd bet would've easily fit onto this disc as well. Kiss isn't exactly known for putting out a cheap product, so should we be shocked? It is a bit disappointing to buy two discs and have an hour of the same stuff on each disc.
Paul Stanley says they wrote another page in Kisstory--being able to say this with a straight face is a true talent.
Extras...some talk show footage from Australia with an interview and live version of "Sure Know Something."
The bad--
TOO MANY FUCKING CUTS. Jesus Christ...I watched three songs and now I have a headache and feel like throwing up. It wouldn't hurt anyone to keep the same camera shot for longer than two seconds...let alone ten. The problem is that they're very harsh, abrupt cuts. There is some crossfaded cuts, but when it's an acoustic song, do you really need to keep changing angles abruptly? The whole song could be crossfaded cuts and it would work perfectly.
Why is it okay for me to get yelled at for prouncing Melbourne as its spelled, but when Kiss does it, it's fine? Screw that. It's pronounced MELL-BIN. Fucking rockstars.
And why do venues sell roses? I've seen this only at large amphitheater/arena shows. You're too far to throw it at the stage...and even if you could, do you think Kiss wants some flower you just bought for probably 10x what you should've paid. Actually, Gene would probably take it and resell it. That would be pretty brilliant actually.
Recap�
The sound is awesome, the making of is very cool, but the video edits are too much for me to handle.
I'm going to risk all credibility here, but I really enjoy Kiss. If for nothing else, their openness about what they do. They are about marketing, they are about making money, but they're also about putting on a show, and giving you your money's worth. I just paid $80 a ticket to see them, and you know...some would say I got ripped off, but I loved every minute of it. I was smiling the whole time and I really felt satisfied because I saw a great show. How is that a ripoff? If you want to hear about someone getting ripped off, go to any large city's downtown and check out the restaurants that cost $300 a plate for dinner where the people eat at before going to the opera where their seats cost them $900 each.
Review by Chris