KISS - ANIMALIZE Album Review!

[@firewaterMM]

I have to correct you Desmond child came to know Paul when he wrote I was made for loving you there's quite a background story to that and it was Paul that turned Jon bon Jovi on to Desmond child when they wrote the slippery when wet album so this was his second go-round with kiss

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yes sir, that's absolutely correct! I stand corrected. Thanks 👍

[@BNatoAk]

My 1st concert EVER was in Bakersfield,CA in February of 1985. It was the Animalize tour. My mom won tickets on kkxx (local rock station) and had the best 8th bay present ever. Since then I've been obsessed with kiss!

[@HARDROCKreverie]

WOW. How great is that! Mom of the decade!

[@Reader-Copy]

ANIMALIZE had marked Jean Beauvior's first outing with Paul Stanley as a co-writer. Personally, I thought he added a nice additional element to an already-accomplished songwriter's product. Paul had been praising Jean's talent in a variety of interviews, and I recall snapping up his first album, Drums Along The Mohawk, as a result in 1986. Played the hell out of that tape, and got it later on CD. He was one of these multi-talented musicians, and it's a really solid set of songs on that record. In 1989 he and Paul and Desmond Child had a track on the "Shocker" movie soundtrack, which is highly recommended.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yes! I remember that song from Shocker!

[@MondoMiami]

Great review! Thanks for this. And you are correct about the way this album was received by KISS fans in 1984/85. Nobody was saying anything about “glam metal,” etc. The KISS Army loved it!

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Thanks for saying so! And thanks for watching! 😊

[@firewaterMM]

Thanks for the shout out. You and I think so much alike it's pretty wild. Yes this is definitely the trilogy and would it not have been great to have a live album of this bunch of albums I mean we kind of got it with the VHS and like you I bought that brought it home and watched it over and over again. Like you I also really like burn b**** burn and don't really care for any of the other Gene songs. Here is an interesting question I have for you, which of the three albums has the best opener? Because creatures of the night, Exciter, I've had enough and hell go ahead and throw in King of the mountain on the next album are all incredible album starters. For me as much as I like Exciter, I have to give it up to I've had enough that energy is so incredible. I'm not sure where I have this album ranked cuz it fluctuates with me I would guess it's around 12. Maybe lower because I think that's nostalgia talking. I was 16 when this album came out and I was so proud of my boys but looking back I don't think it ranks as high as I want it to.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

OMG, I have to think about which is the best opening track for a bit! Gimme a day or two 😂

[@Reader-Copy]

I've been enjoying your videos ranking the different KISS releases for the past couple of days now. Thanks for taking the time! I remember my first listens to "the trio" of CON, LIU, and Animalize in the spring of 1985--after taking a 4-year hiatus from KISS--on my older cousins' cassettes. Frankly, I was shocked by how heavy and 'contemporary' their style and sound had become since my last listen to the band (to f-ing Unmasked, no less). 'Creatures' with the make-up cover was like, finally an album that matches the wild look. Lick It Up felt like a novelty album to me at the time, tons of attitude and nasty as hell, but with two all-time sellout and safe-as-milk tracks: the title track and "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" (which I never need to hear again). Then I put on Animalize and was amazed by the 'dirty', murky production and HUGE guitar sounds (which I hear was partially due to the use of Tom Scholl's special processing amp); most of Paul's songs were truly astounding (aside from the re-hash of 'Lick It Up', namely, 'Heaven's On Fire') and I still enjoy them frequently all these years later. Gene, for all his faults, at least credits Paul with having held KISS together during the '80s.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Sounds like we share a lot of fond memories! Thanks for watching!!

[@chadvoller3331]

Dude, I can relate to some of the things you said in this video it so many ways. I was in sixth grade in 1986, I didn’t know anything about music or bands. My birthday is in October and all my mom knew was that I wanted the Motley Crue tape. I didn’t know bands had multiple albums at this point. My birthday came around and I open up my gift and it was the first two Mötley Crüe albums. I remember being disappointed because I wanted smoking in the boys room. What she gave me was actually so much better It’s snows so much in North Dakota, there isn’t a lot to do in the winter time for basically seven months out of the year so from October until the snow melted in April, all I did was listen to those two albums This day, every time i lsten to them, it feels like the winter of 1986 Thank you for bringing back those memories

[@LorKen17021991]

I have an Winter Album too btw. It is "Back from the Attack" from Dokken. The Memory is from Winter 2010/2011 when I got a HUGE Dokken Fan. Still love this Album. And everytime I listen to Kiss of Death I think of Snow and lovesickness. That was also the Winter when I got 20 years old. :)

[@jeffhogland8953]

I loved Animalize when it was released. LIU had really primed me for this release, along with the fact that I had not given much attention to the band when Creatures was released. But it doesn’t really hold up for me. While I like the opener, I don’t have a desire to listen to HOF. BBB has a cool slightly strange time signature, which was different for Kiss. Paul’s worst vocal papers on Get All You Can Take. It’s way to high for me. And I agree that overall, Gene’s songs are weak. Maybe Vinnie would have helped, or maybe Gene could have just written some better songs. Maybe throw an Eric Carr song on the album. Thrills is my favorite track on the album. And unlike you, I do not like the album cover. The previous two were much better in my opinion. Nice review!

[@jeffhogland8953]

Just went back to see where I ranked Animalize and it was 14, so pretty even with your ranking.

[@michaelseay9783]

Burn Bitch Burn has a straight 4/4 time signature - maybe you are thinking about Lonely Is The Hunter.

[@ldogin]

Great review. I have a question for you. Why do you think they couldn’t land a solid lead guitar player for a few years? Do you think it exposes them as an almost “just bring in studio guys” kind of business? Less of an actual all for one type of band? I ask because there’s always such a mystery of who played what even in their earlier days. Always curious about it. Thanks for your awesome reviews.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yes, I think you nailed it. I mean, obviously I was never in the room with Paul and Gene, but it always just looked to me like, after Peter and Ace left, they weren't really looking to replace them, so much as just filling in their spots on that stage with someone they didn't have to invest a lot of time or energy in. As for the "revolving door" of lead guitarists in the early 80s, I think that was more a case of bad luck than anything -- Vinnie being a moron and Mark with whatever condition he had. As I said in one of these reviews, it will always mystify me why they didn't just hire Bruce right after Ace left. I mean, he auditioned. I've always believed that Paul and Gene just weren't interested enough to pay the slightest attention it would have taken to realize VV was going to be a disaster. If they had, if they'd said "We can't let that guy within ten miles of a KISS stage," and just hired Bruce right away, it would have solved all those problems before they ever happened. And they still could have hired VV to write with them. But hey, like I said, I wasn't there. So heck if I know. Thanks for watching! And thanks for the kind words!!

[@CincinnatusPublish]

I was 18 when Animalize came out. I have a playlist of Kiss' heavy songs, and I'VE HAD ENOUGH is always included on that playlist to this day along with GET ALL YOU CAN TAKE.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Amen!

[@TheVeritasProject]

GET ALL YOU CAN TAKE is my favorite solo of that album.

[@ruedigernassauer]

"Lonely Is The Hunter", first song with Bruce Kulick on guitar. Boredom enters...

[@jonstreng7850]

Under the Gun and Fits Like a Glove are my two favorite 80s KISS tunes. King of the Mountain, off of Asylum, is very impressive also.

[@ruedigernassauer]

I like the photo at the back of the record sleeve.

[@MondoMiami]

0:08 I honestly think your graphic concept on a white background would have made a better album cover than what we got. A huge KISS logo in animal skins and the red Animalize title really would have grabbed my attention at the record store.

[@handansen777]

Another great review knocked right out of the park! . Love your take on Mark's playing; you've articulated a shared ambivalence. So, if you haven't already, check out 'Off The Soundboard: Live In Poughkeepsie'. This recording aught to fill in the missing gaps; it should tell you all you need to know about Mark's playing. This recording should settle the hash once and for all. . Yep. I do associate albums with seasons often. Animalize is a spring/ summer for me. They released a second run of Animalize T's around that time. While I had, and wore every single day, the original Mark St. John version, one of my KISS buddys, mid-Sting/ early Summer-ish, showed up one day - out of nowhere - wearing the Bruce version Animalize T!?!. It triggered such severe cognitive dissonance, as I had no idea Bruce has replaced Mark at that time, that Animalize was forever seared as a Spring/ Summer album; seared only at the dermis layer apparently as I can't recall if this event happened at a specific season; just somwhere in the ballpark. . I will say, I dig Gene's tunes on this album; 3-5's for me. And, yes, yes, upon first listen, 'I've Had Enough', I did pee a little too.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

LOL! Admitting pee is a good first step! Yeah, I've only heard tiny segments so far, but from what I hear the quality is NOT pleasant on that new "soundboard" release. I was really excited to get that one, which would have been my first of those, but now I'm not sure I actually want it.

[@handansen777]

@@HARDROCKreverie yeah they sound sucks. But it's stuff I hadn't heard before; it gets points for novelty/ "new" KISS material. I'm entering a 12-step pee program soon.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

@@handansen777 😂

[@MusicAnthropology]

I was 9 when I discovered Kiss and it was on this album. At first, they scared the hell out of me. Then I was a rabid fan, from childhood till I was a young adult. When they became a parody of their former selfs, I went to the source and became a rabid fan of The Rolling Stones. :p

[@analoguecity3454]

My favorite! First kiss LP for me , i bought it " may 15 1985" when i was 15! I love Glam metal BTW!😊

[@MondoMiami]

Animalize was the completion of the trilogy of KISS as a metal band. I was so disappointed with the pop flavor of Asylum the next year. Then Paul went into full “we wanna be Bon Jovi” mode and we got Crazy Nights, and it was all over. Might as well have done the reunion in ‘88. With Revenge as the reunion album around ‘90.

[@dirkvanderpoel6797]

Excellent review 👌🏻

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Thanks for watching!

[@Austin34956]

Mine stars would be 4 ive had enough 5 heavens on fire (my favourite kiss song) 3 burn bitch burn 2 get all u can take 2 lonely is the hunter 4 under the gun 4 thrills in the night 3 while the city sleeps 1 murder in high heels

[@Austin34956]

Actually would like to change that haha 5 ive had enough 5 heavens on fire 4 burn bitch burn 4 get all u can take 3 lonely is the hunter 5 under the gun 5 thrills in the night 4 while the city sleeps 2 murder in high heels

[@LorKen17021991]

Metal Song with an F-Bomb before 1984: Metallica - Whiplash....from 1983

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Thanks for that. Hadn't thought of that one.

[@paulpalermo2109]

Great synopsis of the times and how we fans felt. I remember being bummed that Vinnie was gone thought his guitar playing was close to Ace. Mark was as most were at the time was imitating Eddie. We had no idea what a nightmare Vinnie was.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yes sir, all so true. Thanks for watching!

[@mphillips4263]

I think you are right on point about RR and EVH, they played with soul and emotion. I like the heavy riffs that St John had on the record but the solo's arent that memorable.

[@mphillips4263]

The other thing I just wanted to point out, is that you don't really know who is playing on what, Bruce Kulick played on this album, I didn't know that. Makes it hard to really judge cohesiveness.

[@perwarmell5741]

Perfect analysis of Animalize. I agree with you about how it could have been with Vinnie. But also I wonder how the record would have been with just Bruce? Why did Kiss even bring in Mark st John? May he rest in peace but Bruce was and is a better member of Kiss.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

YES. Absolutely. Nothing at all against Mark, of course. But one of the great mysteries, in my mind, in all of Kisstory.

[@lastcall170]

I never liked this album To me.. it was just lukewarm.I really got turned off at the revolving door of guitarists Kiss had. The inconsistencies were so detrimental holding my interest. I'm a long time fan since 1976. That has a lot to do with my love for the original lineup and not substitute scabs.

[@adamrenfrow]

I'm with you on that. Nothing beats the Original Kiss.

[@wolfsb4ne]

Animalize was the first album I bought with my proud membership to Columbia House records (you know, the get 10 records for 1 penny then get fishhooked to buy further albums at full price)! I had also gotten my first low-rent bass guitar just months prior. I would race home after school and flip Animalize on the turntable and jam along with my childhood heroes….at least two of them LOL Took me all of 10-15 minutes to phonetically learn Heaven’s On Fire. Not bad for a 14-year-old, huh?😆 I will say I gradually lost interest in the album in the years following. In the last 15 to 20 years though, I’ve played it more and I understand the direction they were going in. Side one is outstanding! Side 2 still has its gems. Just too bad that there’s too many better albums than this.

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Haha. Awesome. Do you remember what brand that bass guitar was?

[@wolfsb4ne]

@@HARDROCKreverie Don’t recall the brand name. It was a blue Sunburst body, black pickguard, silver bridge Black fret neck and matching blue Sunburst headstock. I’ll see if there’s a photo left down in the dungeon. Old men can’t remember names of stuff like that lol

[@wolfsb4ne]

By the way, let me clear up the fact that ANIMALIZE was not my first KISS album purchase EVER, just the first with Columbia House. My two older brothers were a constant pipeline of KISS album reliability up through and including DYNASTY. My first ever KISS album purchase was UNMASKED. 😕. At that time I thought I had mowed five lawns for nothing

[@HARDROCKreverie]

@@wolfsb4ne Haha! Poor guy. I TOTALLY get that 😏

[@wolfsb4ne]

@@HARDROCKreverie update: the bass guitar is so low-rent that I don’t even see a name on it from the picture I’ve got. And that damn little Gorilla Amp that I got with was more suited for a cowbell. If there was a way to upload the pic here on YT I would, cause I get all nostalgic about all that beautiful hair I had just before I listened to the CRAZY NIGHTS album.

[@WilliamCurry-bh3dk]

they said it was problem with his hand may be true BUT - I think it was problems with Mark ,- Paul ,said Mark had problems playing the same thing twice in the studio - what's your take - maybe BOTH ?

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yeah, I think probably so. Didn't I talk about that in the review??

[@lancecharley8822]

My uncle was telling me that when he saw Kiss' Animalize tour in Phoenix, AZ he said Gene didn't perform that night and Jean Beauvoir filled in for him that night I wish I could've seen that except I was just a year old at the time and still too small to go to concerts hahaha

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Wow, that would have been a crazy show to be at, I bet. How interesting! Did he say what he thought of that show?

[@lancecharley8822]

@@HARDROCKreverie my uncle said it was still awesome but no Gene songs

[@HARDROCKreverie]

@@lancecharley8822 Boy, I bet he's one of the only people to ever get that experience. KISS with no Gene and no Gene songs would be SOOOO strange. Lol

[@lancecharley8822]

Mötley Crüe's song Bastard from Shout At The Devil has an F - bomb at the end of the song

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yes it does! Good call!

[@WilliamCurry-bh3dk]

love and miss Eric Carr

[@LorKen17021991]

The thing about Desmond Child Enters Kiss Universum on this Album is not exactly true. He was writing "I was made for Loving you" with Paul in 1979

[@kameel68]

I've Had Enough is still my favorite.

[@davealmer3803]

The 2nd in a row that got little airplay in Canada.

[@evileyes4070]

Allen Swhwarsberg John Lennon drummer

[@WilliamCurry-bh3dk]

Bruce is top shelf

[@jaysonnorman8955]

My wife hates the Animalize cover, 'cause it reminds her of the bed spread I had when I was a single guy. 😅

[@HARDROCKreverie]

😆😆😆

[@mickeymouse-om4lz]

Accept - "Son of a Bitch" (1981) has a lot of "ugly" words including the F-word.

[@kegmanager1]

Desmond child co wrote I was made for loving you

[@MondoMiami]

As usual, Paul is lying about someone who isn’t around to defend himself. Think about it. Mark Norton (St. John) was a guitar INSTRUCTOR! Do you actually think someone who made a living TEACHING people to play “couldn’t play the same thing twice?” So he auditioned for the band, was selected over everyone else, and never played the same thing twice? Sure, Jan.

[@ausbornbred7358]

Desmond Child co-wrote IWMFLY in 1979

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yes, absolutely. Thanks. Clearly I am getting old and senile. Lol

[@ausbornbred7358]

@HARDROCKreverie it's not that we could/can always do with a little help, every now and then lol

[@botboy6977]

Loved it when it came out. I had just turned 15. Only 1 5star, heavens on fire. Maybe Gene’s worst output ever on a KISS album. While the city sleeps is ok

[@WilliamCurry-bh3dk]

they got rid of Mark -- they blamed his HANS -

[@WilliamCurry-bh3dk]

they got rid of Mark they used the hand issue well - um NO

[@eduardovenegas7062]

u got it rigth..

[@justinwhite9689]

Animalized I've always thought was a decent album not great but good

[@HARDROCKreverie]

Yeah, I definitely agree with that. 👍

[@martywhite2988]

The only good solo he played on that album was at the beginning of I've Had Enjoy. Paul's story isn't believable. But I hate this guy's playing.

[@danthaman03]

Mmmmm ribs.

[@danthaman03]

The opening riff for both I've had enough and thrills in the night are great.

[@danthaman03]

Otherwise this album sucks.

[@jafl2183]

I loved it