Lick it Up (1983) Kiss Album Review

[@billjannusch]

I love this album, every song, everything about it. Every song rules to me. I love "Exciter", and the title track and "All Hell's Breakin' Loose", but I also love "Fits Like A Glove" and "Young And Wasted", as well as "Dance All Over You Face" and "Gimme More" a lot too. Also, not arguing, but in defense of Gene singing "Young And Wasted", I like Gene singing it way better. I also happen to like Vinnie's solos on the album. I just love this album 100%. I can't be like some people and just find a song not to like on every album. I gotta admit the only album I'm not too crazy about is "Hot In The Shade" besides a few songs. Everything else, I love. I do enjoy your reviews though, but I happen to love KISS a lot and maybe I'm obsessed with their music. I love it all.

[@crissdrums3975]

Best non makeup album

[@warborn_inc.]

Agreed....this and Creatures are my 2 favorite albums aside from their debut and Hotter than Hell

[@crissdrums3975]

@@jimmykrackkorn4347 not a fan of revenge. I like 2 songs on it

[@piedadstoffel5955]

That's true

[@sabbathoneseveneight8643]

Favorite non makeup Album, 37 years later, and i can still sing every song word for word.

[@eirik3938]

It is a really great album. I quite honestly don't find it too different from Creatures.

[@sabbathoneseveneight8643]

@@eirik3938 Creatures part ll, just missing makeup.

[@SHOUTband]

after creatures this is my second favorite KISS album just wish they had kept the creatures drum sound!

[@Playitstraight44]

I agree this was most definitely a band oriented album. Some of that have come from looking at Vinnie but another might have come out of desperation because the band had lost their lucrative production deal with Frehley's departure. I'm confident that white background on the album was part of those cost cutting measures as well. When I initially saw it, I felt it was their last record because it was abundantly clear they had no financial backing left. At the end of the day, I think too much gets made of Vinnie and not enough made of the sheer novelty of KISS being unmasked. That gimmick encouraged people to give the band another look. But this album neither generated a top 40 hit nor did it peak very high on the album charts (cresting at 24th). The much ballyhooed title track only reached 66 on the singles charts, so musically this was not a highwater moment for the band. What DID give them exposure was the video showing them unmasked. TO this day its still look at as THE moment, so it still carries that appeal. But musically they did not set the world on fire. And the album was not even certified platinum until December 1990 (exactly seven years after its release). I know fans love to embrace this record for reasons I understand. But sometimes that love bleeds over into some misleading perspectives about how it really did commercially for its day. Had KISS remained masked, this album would have bombed as badly as Creatures. Stanley leaned heavily on hit writers and producers to follow trends during the 80's, but KISS never found an image or sound to redefine themselves, so it was back to the makeup by the mid 90's.

[@1968spikey]

exactly right. Their flagging album sales and concert attendences made the reunion inevitable.

[@SJudasAjuda]

Bro, I love your reviews and they also sometimes hint at how human beings are different. I LOVE "Dance All Over Your Face" and "A Million to One" is definitely not one of my favorites. Funny, ha? All the best.

[@RoaldKoger]

I can generally agree to your review, with the exception of "Gimme More". I absolutely love that song with its high pace and swinging riff. For me the weak spot was the title song, which is too plain simple. Whereas the live version with it's vocal opening and the additional riff and guitar solo is very good. Shortly after the release I saw them perform live in Brussels. It was awesome. Freed from their heavy suits and high heels they stormed all over the stage.

[@leswadley6792]

Great album! I remember being sad when watched the mtv unmasking! I really dig the album tho! In my opinion it’s the best none makeup album! Lick it up is a top ten kiss song! This album rates 4 out of 5 stars for me! Wish Eric would have sang more in kiss! Young and wasted live is so much better!

[@davidarthurwilliams-lowthe8663]

haven't had this album in a long time, this young man's review makes me want to score the album again. Thanks for the update Sean.

[@chrisoakley5830]

You do a really good job with your reviews of Kiss albums. For this one the only disagreement I have is with Vinnie's guitar playing. I always felt he was a very good player and I enjoyed his solos very much. Keep doing what you do.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

I always felt that Vinnie fit right in, at least on stage where he had some of the same moves as Ace.

[@chrisoakley5830]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 Yes there are many who feel that Vinnie's guitar and songwriting really gave Kiss career a big boost just when they needed it most and I'm not so sure that they are not exactly right.

[@Katkiwi25]

Love your reviews man! Keep coming back for more 🤘

[@mauricebonnett9537]

What's up with not liking Vinny solos" at least he said he's not a bad lyricist🎸

[@SeanBlumenshine]

It's purely taste and preference. I think there was pressure on the band to be current so they did the fast shredding thing. I just preferred Vinnie's more melodic work on COTN like Saint and Sinner.

[@arthurhall8238]

@@SeanBlumenshine - there is no "shredding" on this album.

[@willardwayne3]

I love the entire record. Best non makeup and one of their best period

[@willardwayne3]

@@arthurhall8238 theres a little bit of shredding

[@fherlinn]

I love these reviews. Sean does a great job giving his opinions and explaining why he has his opinions. I hate Lick it Up and the KISS albums 1983 to 1989. So I can have a different opinion and still like this you-tube show. Good job. This show has made me revisit some albums. It hasn't changed my opinion of them but it has made me appreciate why some people might like or not like them.

[@1968spikey]

I'm with you. 73 to 83 were epic, the rest I couldn't give a stuff about and when I went to see the band live in the non-make up era it was always with a sense of lament, longing for the glory days.

[@TheWheelofLife100]

Cleaner production, I hate the fact that Carr’s drumming was toned down and he wasn’t allowed to sing, Vinnie’s work was implacable, he alone gave Kiss a second lease of life.

[@Rhythmicsolo]

Another great review.. Please review more of the old albums from the 70's when you are able. :-)

[@garyleesjukejoint9510]

The first time I saw Kiss was on this tour. W.A.S.P. opened. I was bummed that Kiss didn't play "All Hell's Breaking Loose" or "Exciter" those are my favorites from the album.

[@jarno1895]

Gimme more is my favorite song from the Lick it up album.

[@toxicpig5652]

Dance all over your face is my favorite track on this album.... Gene did a great job...

[@jjojo2004]

Sean, your channel is underrated, we need to get you more subscribers! Keep up the awesome work and change nothing! 🤘😎🤘🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@marcospadis]

Love this album

[@sonicriccardi7575]

3:06 "Eric was a really talented singer, so why not let him sing? The answer is ego, the questions is rhetorical." And yet the one time they let him sing, it was to be released alongside HITS, which to me is the 2nd worst KISS album. Seems that ego really hit Paul & Gene, once Ace & Peter we're gone

[@bigdeal7043]

“ I didn’t like Vinnie’s solo”. Must have bought his box set and is still waiting for it.

[@GeeVanderplas]

As great as Vinnie is as a songwriter, I gotta agree with you on his lead guitar work. It lacks any soul for me. Bruce was a much better fit for the band, his leads being flashy but also full of melody and with a lot more feel to it...

[@chrissarina981]

Spot spot on review. My favorite non makeup album.

[@deuce7643]

My first Kiss album. This was my intro to Kiss back in 83' Lick It Up remains my favorite non makeup album.

[@connorshaw2618]

I want one of those KISS shirts you are wearing...I love that coloring of the letters...did you order it?

[@SeanBlumenshine]

I'm pretty sure I got it from Hot Topic.

[@connorshaw2618]

@@SeanBlumenshine I remember buying those God awful oversized pants with the buckles and zippers on them..🤣🤣🤣

[@ryanscottmccormick191]

I love your work! “Keep it up, keep it up, whoaaaaohha!” Thanks!

[@xvor_tex8577]

Am I alone by saying this is the best KISS album? This albums is towing the line between a rock and a metal album. and I love all the experimental stuff in the album, it's sounds oddly modern; like a lot of modern alternative metal stuff. And I don't know who was doing all the screaming in the album but it sounds superb. This is easily KISS's heaviest album till this point.

[@Prof_Tickles92]

I’ve heard that the real reason they took off the makeup was because the record company had them under contract with Ace Frehley and they couldn’t perform in makeup without him so they had to take it off.

[@SeanBlumenshine]

It's possible but it is also well documented that they, Paul especially, wanted to take it off much earlier than they did.

[@IkeReedy]

I think “Dance All Over Your Face” is a catchphrase about kicking someone’s ass, as in: “You better watch it, or I’m gonna dance all over your face!”

[@timwaterschoot2048]

A million to one is my most fav track on this record along with Exciter at no 2

[@marinopirulli4096]

I'd say this is Paul's best vocal album

[@michaelmacleod6517]

The second half of Lick It Up is iconic. I listen it more than the first half.

[@Kissfan96dr]

I wasn't a fan of this album when it came out. I was about 12 and not ready for the over the top crude sex references, hostile vocal volumes, and curse words. I was still in Elder/Unmasked mode. Listening to this album made me want to take a shower...it make me feel unclean. I had to take a break from KISS for about two years. Also, I wasn't ready to see another KISS member leave. I used to pretend Vinnie was Ace on the front. Calling him, "Vinnie" was just a practical joke. The album grew on me as I grew. Fits like a glove is my favorite. It's everything Gene Simmons represented and the last time Gene wrote a great song until Revenge.

[@philipholmes5884]

Hey ! Young man ! I used to pretend when i listened to "Welcome to my nightmare" by Alice Cooper...it was the original band playing on it ! So i get what you mean pretending Vinnie was Ace !

[@multijohnnybest]

This album is GREAT

[@CrazyLG72]

A great album no question..but it has a few hiccups compared to Creatures..A million to one is my favorite off the album and was left off Creatures as you can hear the Thunderous drums on this! I agree,Dance all over your face is horrendous! My favorite guitar solo is the Rick Derringer Exciter solo!

[@markbunton9919]

Solid album. Not a bad track on there. I still feel like Creatures is a better album and that people heard with their eyes with the makeup removal.

[@arthurhall8238]

How is it you don't like any of these solos..? What gives?

[@skyviolet]

Wow, he kept sneaking in those "then Vinnie screwed it up...) I remember the 70's Kiss and this definitely is NOT 70's Kiss....this is an introduction to Vinnie Vincent Invasion....

[@piedadstoffel5955]

Great album

[@TheOfficerMahoney]

Man the drum sound of this album is a letdown after the mighty COTN. I like Vinnies solos on the album and damn I wish that he would have written more with the band; even on Revenge his work is so powerful

[@mooch514]

Creatures was great. But unmasked and the elder had made the damage...took creatures and lick it up to bring them back

[@hockeyeverything4339]

I think its better than Creatures

[@Supreme_Pain]

Gimme More is a great fast song, I Loved it when Kiss turned tougher and more direct!0

[@roosternm6830]

This album was great. I thought it kept them relevant in the Heavy Metal genre.

[@DrSleep-ep6cw]

I love Lick It Up because back in the early's 80's I heard this and ate life and now I'm 325 pounds, and only 5' 8" ....🤪

[@kameel68]

Gimme more is one of my favorites.

[@RavenMadd9]

Dance all over your face ...was written about a singer he had a relationship with ?... the song is older than you think.....great review

[@benniemusgrove8271]

The best thing about these "review" videos is that they are 1 persons opinion.

[@peterboczan2116]

8:33 Why on Earth do you find Vinnie's solos obnoxious?

[@buenapilapil5513]

I disagree, I like Vinnie's solo work on All Hell's Breaking Loose and Fits like a glove. Plus I think one of the main reasons his solo work ain't all that great is because Vinnie, Paul, and Gene didn't get alomg all that well. (Idk about Eric. RIP)

[@martinhelgren]

??? Listen to the bass on COTN - it's nearly stand alone on R&R Hell . The tone is SOOO much better than on LIU!

[@RoaldKoger]

Clearly he doesn't agree and neither do I. The sound of LIU was much more cohesive. Creatures was almost a showcase about how drums can sound, but I felt it was a bit exaggerated.

[@martinhelgren]

I was talking about the bass - not the drums

[@evileyes4070]

Dance All over Your Face. Is a Rip off from Slade track . I Don't Mind.

[@jimilove7773]

Paul and Gene were intimated by Vinnie. Period!

[@matthew4694]

You’re right. They were also intimidated by him, too!

[@Medialegoman]

Vinnie Vincent wasn’t a bad guitar player but I would prefer Ace

[@stringtheoryguitars4952]

Summary: Paul was great Gene was just ok Eric was underutilized Vinnie sucks

[@sbi168]

Great album. Apart from dance all over face (which I always took as extremely sexual Incidently) I'm Suprised u don't like vinnie solos. I think they are perfect and not too over the top like they would be live.

[@mtrich8113]

Is true about what you said about Genes womanizing nature, but I guess that's why they call him the demon.

[@uuu098]

This album, and the next two, Animalize, and Asylum seem like the songs were from the same recording session and could be interchangeable. 'All Hells Breakin Loose' is best song. There just seems to be a lot of filler and forgettable songs.

[@arthurhall8238]

Asylum sounds nothing like Liu

[@markmedina5543]

Fits like a glove is a great song, but performed live was awful. They could not nail those cool (studio) background vocals in a live setting. I wish they would have played Not for the innocent live instead. .

[@jonstreng7850]

Makes you wonder what would have happened if Anton Fig joined the band permanently. Not for the Innocent is my least favorite song and Vinnie was always my least favorite member.

[@spicykimchi1]

I have mixed feelings about Lick it up. The songs are good, but the solos are horrible! (Except for the solo from "Exciter".)

[@kwmusic4560]

The last good album KISS ever made and the only album after Ace's solo worth listening to.

[@bobpike8050]

true

[@FrankFergusonN]

Did you order a Vinnie box set and get ripped off? Lol!!

[@SeanBlumenshine]

No; I would have been a little kid at the time

[@trendkill1891]

So many terrible ideas, each bigger than the other. Why didn’t they ever just go back to their roots?? Classic hard rock, strong riffs, big drums, black silver, and straightforward. Slayer figures it out, stick to the formula and fans stuck around happily rather than out of confusion and denial

[@infernicide666]

In the same way that Exciter is a sister song to Creatures I’d say that One in a million is a sequel to “I still love you”. Surprised you didn’t notice that.

[@arthurhall8238]

There is no such thing as "sister" songs...

[@infernicide666]

@@arthurhall8238 Yeah there totally is. A song can be indirectly related to another of it has the same structure.

[@arthurhall8238]

@@infernicide666 - all "pop" songs have the same structure...stop overthinking it.

[@arthurhall8238]

@@infernicide666 - do you honestly think that was the intent? They are simply the kind of songs they like to write...

[@arthurhall8238]

@@infernicide666 - Exciter is NOTHING like COTN...other than chord changes and singing.

[@Anubis22774]

6:25 through to 6:37 😂😂😂

[@scottjohnsoltis7748]

Vinnie is a woman now!

[@coastalpaladin5024]

I am a big fan of Eric Carr (my favorite era of KISS is the 80’s), but do you believe Eric Carr would have stayed with the band if he didn’t pass away? Great video as always. RIP Eric Carr

[@SeanBlumenshine]

Hard to say. I think the reunion definitely would have happened eventually regardless. But there are rumors of Paul and Eric not getting along and that he potentially would have been fired if he hadn’t gotten sick. That is all gossip though.

[@twoinfla]

i feel a need to correct you about Nikki Sixx's reason for writing "you're all i need". he clearly mentions many times that he got the idea from a news broadcast of a guy who killed his girlfriend so she wouldn't leave him. not once did Nikki ever say it was written with his own girlfriend in mind. in fact, i believe he was dating Naomi Campbell at the time. your other videos have errors as well. I like these videos, so it isn't a personal attack against you, but you're talking about KISS to a bunch of die-hard KISS fans who know everything there is about the band. so please do us all a favor, and look into your sources a bit more before posting these videos. I highly suggest reading all their biographies.

[@SeanBlumenshine]

My source for the Sixx story was The Heroin Diaries. In that, he states he specifically wrote it for this girl and played her the demo. I have read all four Kiss biographies and use them for reference as well as other Kiss books. One actually goes in depth song by song and I quote it often in my reviews. That doesn't mean I don't make mistakes or have factual errors but there is research done on the videos. My biggest flubs so far seem to be mishearing lyrics or not knowing about other bands like not knowing who produced From the Inside. Seriously, I could've just looked that up on Wikipedia and I just assumed it was Ezrin like an idiot.

[@jakeneva8349]

Hi, been checkin your reviews from elder to lick it up, you have some great info about the tracks (and thats why i will check few more at least) but i dont get you unbareable need to whine. You are giving your own opinnions, like who cares? You know, opinnions are like a asshole, everyones got one...stick to the fun trivia you obviously have...cheers