The Best & Worst of KISS Studio Albums | 2023 Edition

[@TalentedLMT]

I know this may seem silly, but the reason why I love kiss destroyer, so much is that transition of the end of Detroit rock city going into King of the night time world… It is so seamless and natural to me and so powerful

[@HeelsandQuads]

Not silly. Theatrical. I mean it makes sense.

[@troy8736]

Love Gun has followed me from my youth into adult hood. At 61 the cover is framed for aesthetic value on my wall...Thankyou for the memories.

[@HeelsandQuads]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching and sharing my love for that album!

[@kevinbrown1893]

1. Destroyer 2. Hotter Than Hell 3. KISS 4. Dressed to Kill 5. Rock and Roll Over 6. Creatures of The Night 7. Dynasty 8. Ace Frehley 9. Music from the Elder 10. Love Gun 11. Lick It Up 12. Psycho Circus 13. Carnival of Souls 14. Revenge 15. Animalize 16. Asylum 17. Paul Stanley 18. Unmasked 19. Monster 20. Sonic Boom 21. Gene Simmons 22. Hot In The Shade 23. Crazy Nights 24. Peter Criss

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you for sharing your list, Kevin!

[@tedharrington5432]

Great video and rankings! Here's my Top 5 : 5 - Ace Frehley (1978) 4 - Hotter Than Hell (1974) 3 - Love Gun (1977) 2 - Destroyer (1976) 1 - Kiss (1974)

[@HeelsandQuads]

Awesome! Thank you for the compliment! Any given day the top 10 can change honestly. All depends on the mood! Your 5 is solid. 🤘🤘🤘

[@tedharrington5432]

But does Monster ever leave the dead last position?@@HeelsandQuads

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@tedharrington5432 I don’t think so, Ted. lol

[@tedharrington5432]

🤣@@HeelsandQuads

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@tedharrington5432 well am I wrong?

[@toddaniballi2877]

24) Monster 23) Peter Criss 22) Gene Simmons 21) Unmasked 20) Psycho Circus 19) Revenge 18) Hot In The Shade 17) Sonic Boom 16) Paul Stanley 15) Asylum 14) Music From The Elder 13) Dynasty 12) Carnival Of Souls 11) Creatures Of the Night 10) Animalize 9) Crazy Nights 8) Lick It Up 7) Ace Frehley 6) Kiss (debut) 5) Dressed To Kill 4) Hotter Than Hell 3) Destroyer 2) Love Gun 1) RocknRollOver

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘thanks for sharing your list

[@johnglynn9354]

24 - monster 23 - sonic boom 22 - peter criss solo 21 - carnival of souls 20 - rock and roll over 19 - Gene solo 18 - Ace solo 17 - dressed to kill 16 - psycho circus 15 - Paul solo 14 - Animalize 13 - Asylum 12 - Destroyer 11 - Love gun 10 - Unmasked 9 - Kiss 8- Dynasty 7 - The elder 6 - Crazy nights 5 - Revenge 4 - Hot in the shade 3 - Lick it up 2 - Hotter than hell 1 - Creatures of the night

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you, John! Wow animalize and asylum consistently back to back.

[@Assimilator702]

Your rankings are COMICAL at best! Dressed to Kill BELOW Psycho Circus? Destroyer inferior to Crazy Nights? Unmasked out ranking Lobe Gun and Destroyer? Get real.

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@Assimilator702 I thought you were talking to me and was like when did I say all that lol

[@johnglynn9354]

@@Assimilator702 dressed to kill has no good songs. Destroyer is an overrated over produced Bob ezrin album.

[@HeelsandQuads]

She isn’t a good song?

[@runenordsj9708]

One of the best rankings I’ve ever seen on KZbin. I totally agree with you on every step except Crazy nights. I rank that album like Hot in the shade. And Parasite is their best song ever.

[@HeelsandQuads]

Hey thank you! That’s an awesome compliment. I really appreciate it.

[@emiliomartinez9400]

Music from the elder is my favorite album from band KISS yet so underated. It's a timeless album that I like since I first heard it when I'm still thirteen years old. Now I'm already fifty four and nothing change and this make my life still great to be alive.

[@HeelsandQuads]

It’s 50/50 with the fans. Somehow I’m a weirdo and it’s middle of the road for me.

[@V3ntilator]

The Elder is a great album, but were a movie soundtrack and not a Kiss album. That's why it's misunderstood. The movie were never made. In 2014 someone tried to make the movie, but were silently cancelled.

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@V3ntilator exactly. Had there been a movie made totally different.

[@V3ntilator]

@@HeelsandQuads Even without The Elder, Unmasked and Dynasty dragged Kiss in to the mud anyway as they were kind of pop albums.

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@V3ntilator indeed

[@michaelboswell4318]

I always liked Creatures. Eric brings a drum sound that may have been missing from the band. Eric was a true rock drummer. He set the tone for other bands as you have said. Yes, Creatures is one of my favorites too.

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@governorboltz]

Honorable mention for Crazy Nights, I'll Fight Hell to Hold You.

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘

[@gogoyubari366]

Destroyer, Unmasked, 1st album, Elder and Hotter than Hell. I forgot Lick it Up.

[@HeelsandQuads]

You forgot all about it? Or?

[@Cookie-dr6iq]

1. Destroyer 2. KISS 3. Fock And Roll Over 4. Dressed To Kill 5. Dynasty 6. Creatures Of The Night 7. Ace Frehley 8. Hotter Than Hell 9. Love Gun 10. Carnival Of Souls

[@HeelsandQuads]

Alright Carnival in the top 10. Love to see something different.

[@cirenotsluor9999]

5 - Creatures of the Night 4 - Revenge 3 - Love Gun 2 - KISS 1 - Destroyer

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thanks for sharing! 🤘

[@WineSippingCowboy]

Creatures of the Night 🌙 My favorite album of KISS 💋. Bryan Adams is 1 of the saviors according to Paul Stanley. War Machine and Rock and Roll Hell were written by Gene Simmons, Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. True story as told by Jim Vallance. Bryan Adams was a young, upcoming singer and songwriter. He already released 2 albums, wrote with Lisa Dalbello, wrote a song for BTO, another for Seattle native Ian Lloyd. Stanley liked 👍 what Adams wrote. Adams and Vallance submitted Rock and Roll Hell to KISS 💋, Vallance, thinking that the song was finished. Gene Simmons said that the song was not finished, thereby adding a few lines. Adams and Vallance agreed 👍. Because they were young in songwriting, they did not realize that they were being schooled until years later! L 🤣 L Adams let it go. Thus, he came back to KISS. The next year, he, Jim Vallance and the late Eric Carr, RIP, wrote Don't Leave Me Lonely. Gene Simmons rejected it, saying it was "too pop" for KISS. Thus, Adams released his version . 40 years 🎂. Down on Your Knees was written by the late Mykal Japp, Paul Stanley and Bryan Adams. This sing was on the album Killers. Speaking of Dr. Feelgood, Bryan Adams sang there as 1 of the backing singers. Adams was living in Metro Vancouver. I was there too. 😃 But we never met. 😢

[@HeelsandQuads]

Yes. Thank you. If I went into that much detail on each album I’d still be making this. lol

[@WineSippingCowboy]

@@HeelsandQuads 🤘😃🤘

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@WineSippingCowboy 🤘

[@stevekosak8624]

Cool Video!! I can get down with your rankings!

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you, Steve! 🤘

[@lloydmunga4961]

1-Destroyer 2-Dressed To Kill 3-Self Titled Debut 3.5-Ace's Solo Album 4-Hotter Than Hell 4.5-Love Gun 5-Dynasty 6- everything else

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘

[@DeadBlackDistortion]

Creatures and Dynasty are criminally under rated KISS albums IMO!

[@HeelsandQuads]

Yes

[@kevinchandler179]

As a die hard Kiss fan, I don't get mad on any of this type of stuff!!! It's everyone's opinions, literally!!! Just like the members, Peter is my favorite drummer ever and Ace is my second favorite member and second favorite guitarist 🎸!!! I think anything after Peter and Ace are not even close to my top records, but that's just my opinion!!! Thanks

[@HeelsandQuads]

Hey man everyone has their own opinions. No wrong ones especially with music! Thanks for watching and commenting. What’s your top 5?

[@kevinchandler179]

@@HeelsandQuads Kiss original album obviously, Rock and Roll over, Destroyer, Alive, and Dressed to Kill!!! Thanks 👍!!! Have a good night

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@kevinchandler179 🤘

[@Pustekuchen-bh8wy]

In my opinion you can‘t compare the albums. Every Album has it‘s own style. This is what Kiss is. Unique. Every Kiss member changed the Kiss Sound. I love the Hair Metal Album Crazy Nights just like Hardrock Album Kiss or Concept Album The Elder or Heavy Metal Album Creatures.

[@HeelsandQuads]

Good way to look at it.

[@luismaldonado4989]

Great video man. What’s your thoughts on the new 50th Anniversary Dolby Atmos mix of the debut album? In my opinion, it is the definitive way to listen to the album going forward. I hope Hotter Than Hell gets the same treatment this October. Would it even be possible to fix the sound?

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you and it sounds great! I personally prefer vinyl but I don’t mind the rough mixes. HTH sounds all dark and metalish. It would also be cool to hear it cleaned up as well but, it wouldn’t be what we were all used to would it be better? That all depends on the listener. Thanks for commenting!

[@joeromeiro3858]

I Love creatures of the night and rock and roll over my 2 favorites

[@HeelsandQuads]

Heck yeah! Creatures definitely getting more love in recent years.

[@tonyeckman4822]

My favorites- The Elder Dynasty Hotter Than Hell Alive Alive II Paul Ace Rock And Roll Over Least Favorites- Sonic Boom Peter Revenge Hot in The Shade

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘

[@nujak1970]

Thanks for video

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you for watching!

[@sauletto1]

Subscribed !

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you! Appreciate it!

[@michaelweinman9051]

Love This!

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thanks Michael. hope you find more on the channel to like!

[@JCStorm76]

Very entertaining. Thumbs up. Now to what I don’t agree with. Carnival Of Souls is my worst. Asylum, Psycho Circus and Hot In The Shade are underrated. I’d rank Lick It Up a little higher too. It’s better than Revenge for me which is a little overrated. Hotter Than Hell is good but song for song it’s just inferior to Rock n Roll Over which is my number one and Destroyer. Production is not great also. Coming Home is my favourite song on that album too. Shocked you picked it as the worst, but each to their own.

[@HeelsandQuads]

Hey thanks! I respect that. I like to think of it more as least favorite than worst. lol “worst to best” is just better for algorithm. As for Comin’ Home. I love the Unplugged version and it’s mostly its placement on the album that bugs me. I like it I just like the rest more. I respect your list though. I’ll probably do it again next year. I’m sure there will be changes.

[@berniecasey7592]

Dynasty my all time Favorite

[@HeelsandQuads]

Nothing wrong with that. Definitely grown on people I think over the years! 👍

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Carnival of Souls is one of my favorites actually. It's a darker record for them and obviously leaning more toward that style at the time, but they did it well imo.

[@HeelsandQuads]

It’s definitely one I suggest a lot to people more metal/alternative based fans

[@jamescharles1588]

The 3 best songs on Dynasty were 3. 2000 man 2. Hard times 1. Save your love. That’s because Ace was the best member of the band. Space ACE rules!!! Ace’s solo album was a masterpiece. Eric Carr was the best drummer KISS every had. But I’m a original member fan. My very 1st concert was KISS Asylum tour. Then saw them on the reunion tour of course. Seen Frehley’s Comet 6 times. Meet Ace on the tour with him and Peter’s band before their reunion tour.

[@HeelsandQuads]

🪐🤘

[@rodneysettle8106]

You don’t like ‘I was made for loving you’ or ‘Sure know something’ ?

[@jamescharles1588]

@@rodneysettle8106 Ummm - NO

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤷

[@HeelsandQuads]

Can’t win em all

[@toddswasey1671]

Probably agree with your top 10. Except I would put rock n roll over number 1

[@HeelsandQuads]

That’s fair. Thanks for watching!

[@musicartguy1]

So, when Creatures came out, KISS was so uncool and absolutely on life support. The make up schtick was tired, and as fans, we were just going down a slide from the solo albums to the Elder. Frankly, I gave up on KISS as a kid after Dynasty. They had absolutely lost the script. Unmasked was completely under the radar, and the Elder was a head scratcher. Moving Pictures came out at the same time, so I didn't miss KISS. Then, the video for I love it loud came out, and it was intriguing, enough for me to buy the album. The album blew me away, but frankly, up against Rush, Screaming for Vengeance and Piece of Mind, KISS was seriously passe at that time. My first KISS show was for Creatures, and while it was a weird show (the arena was half empty), it was still super cool. But it was NOT cool to go to this show, nor was Queen for Hot Space. But fuck em. Kids are idiots. Both shows were amazing, and this is one of KISS best albums,. Great List!

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you! Love your story! Thanks for sharing! 🤘

[@shark619ify]

The Elder was made not too long after Bob Ezrin produced The Wall with pink floyd and I loved The Wall when I was 9 yo and bought this album more on the premise of being produced by Bob Ezrin...kind of considered Kiss' own little "the wall" album .......no mention of "a world without heroes" the best song on the album

[@HeelsandQuads]

I feel like its best on Unplugged. But I do like it. The Elder grows on you. I mean I did this a year ago and honestly would bump it up possibly a spot or two.

[@nimzyzamzam431]

Interesting ranking. I am constantly surprised how high people will rank Asylum. It seems so generic to me. And I must say, not to pull rank, but it was a crime not to mention Rock Bottom from Dressed to Kill. I liked that you mixed in the solos in the ranking but I go with Paul’s as the best. Ace’s vocals and some of his lyrics drop it just below Paul’s in my opinion. And lastly, though Love Gun is great, it is the weakest of the first 6 studio albums. I did enjoy your reasoning and appreciate the work. Great job!

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@nimzyzamzam431 thank you. It’s very difficult to please everyone especially within the KISS Army. As far as Rock Bottom, I do enjoy it but only giving one favorite, least favorite, and honorable mention is more of a timing and rambling thing. Because then I’m talking about how I love or hate everything and it’s just a lot and hard to keep people’s attention these days doing that. Yes, I do know and am willing to agree that Love Gun is considered by many to be that way. However, like you said, it’s a personal reason and while the throwaways are exactly that, the great songs are just so well done.

[@HeelsandQuads]

I do have an updated list for 2024 up now and Asylum may or may not have shifted.

[@nimzyzamzam431]

@@HeelsandQuads I’ll check it out on my way home. Cheers!

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@nimzyzamzam431 but in all honesty, thank you for having class with your comment and not just saying no no you’re wrong. Hahaha you have reasons to back up your statements and I respect that.

[@Flapperdame16]

I've always referred to Monster as a pointless album. I was very surprised they did an album after Sonic boom. I was a Jr jn High school when it was released, and I remember seeing it on my mom's desk when I got home, but it took me a few years to even take a listen to it. I THINK WHEN YOUR WALLS COME DOWN is THEIR WORST! I always will have to say it's just awful!! I've always thought Vinnie was meant to be and remain a backstage guy, he can ghost play, be a songwriter, do work behind the scenes, but as a lead guitarist in Kiss, he just didn't fit. My mom is a Paul girl, and also Eric Carr, but with the original 4, it's Paul for her. Bonus her favorite color is purple! Carnival of souls, as a child, I always thought the cover looked fake, and I didn't even know what a bootleg was. But it's grown on me, Rain, Hate, Master and Slave are great!!! Rain I hated as a child, but as an adult, it's fantastic!

[@HeelsandQuads]

Haha yeah Monster just never was for me. Sonic Boom meh. Yeah Vinnie is talented but he think much too highly of himself and with Gene and Paul that doesn’t fly. Paul is also my favorite. Yeah Carnival is way different. It grows on you in time for sure.

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Under the Rose off the Elder is a great track too.

[@HeelsandQuads]

Since I’ve finally picked it up on vinyl, The Elder is growing on me more. I’ll have to rerank them this year already.

[@unkelkreepy8529]

'Black diamond's little Brother' ❤❤❤❤❤

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤙🏻

[@unkelkreepy8529]

Had Eddie Kremer just produced all the original shit ... ❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@HeelsandQuads]

👊

[@jerryhensley6255]

Creatures of the night lick it up psycho circus and revenge

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘

[@Javier-p4e6j]

I meant ALIVE ALBUMS 1 2 AND 3

[@HeelsandQuads]

I knew what you meant. All good!

[@kevinchandler179]

Alive original took the world by storm!!! Peter was the only one actually live, he didn't have to have anything edited or dubbed in the studio, fact!!!

[@HeelsandQuads]

Correct

[@christipton7588]

#1 - Self titled album is #2. - Creatures Of The Night #3. - Love Gun #4. - Destroyer #5. - Rock n Roll Over All the solo albums are teash.

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘

[@freebird3520]

I would argue that Lick it Up is their heaviest album. Switch the title tracks with Creatures and it’s heavier for sure!

[@HeelsandQuads]

It’s a good album. I just don’t think it’s Creatures good.

[@RockSteady3869]

What's up brother I just watched your video ranking Your Kiss albums if you need a co-host I'm Your Man I had a 5-year running podcast of Kias call Carolina Hard Rock and Metalhead but one day they wiped all my s*** out overnight so I've been looking to get back into rock and roll. I enjoyed it a lot I done rankings I done favorite at least favorite songs I've done the album covers least favorite to favorite albums least favorite to favorite you get the picture man my first album was rock and roll over 1976 I had just turned seven so I was there during the hay day

[@HeelsandQuads]

Email [e-mail]….thanks for watching

[@RockSteady3869]

Just checking to see if you received that email

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@RockSteady3869 I’ll check it now

[@unkelkreepy8529]

Anything for my baby rips btw ❤❤❤

[@HeelsandQuads]

🤘

[@erniekoss5425]

Sorry Destroyer #1

[@HeelsandQuads]

It’s all opinion. If you say it is then it is for you. Thank you for sharing.

[@Javier-p4e6j]

Hotter than hell, love gun, destroyer creatures, lick it up, animalize, revenge ...Alice , 1 2 and 3 thats all you need to know...nothing else matters..the rest is bulshit ...

[@HeelsandQuads]

That’s cool. Everyone has different opinions.

[@JohnSmith-ds1fm]

How could you not even mention Kiss alive 1?

[@HeelsandQuads]

Studio albums

[@johnglynn9354]

Solo/ ex band member albums 1 - Vinnie Vincent Invasion - debut 2 - Frehleys comet - debut 3 - Vinnie Vincent Invasion - all systems go 4 - Ace Frehley Anomaly The rest are unlistenable

[@HeelsandQuads]

I like the dedication

[@Javier-p4e6j]

Gene Simmons solo album was HORRIBLE !! ALONG WITH PETER CRISS ..BUT AT LEAST PETERS ALBUM HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD SONGS ..KISS THE GIRL GOODBYE, CANT STOP THE RAIN, BESIDES THE INTRO TO RADIO ACTIVE IT JUST SU KS ASS!! I REALLY NEVER LISTENED TO PAULS COS IT KINDA BORED ME...ACE FREHLEYS IS THE BEST BAR NONE..

[@HeelsandQuads]

Peter’s solo album is good but not KISS good. If that makes sense.

[@timwildes8082]

I always liked Peter's album more than Gene's.

[@HeelsandQuads]

@@timwildes8082 I tried to make it more KISS opinionated

[@musicartguy1]

Destroyer is absolutely over produced. I love it, but its more Ezrin than Kiss.

[@HeelsandQuads]

100%

[@kensomething379]

I have only listened to the first minute and a 1/2 of this video. IF you have to excuse recording, because you have to record in your garage studio bathroom. Kids bedrooms kitchen... I sure as shit I'm not going to waste time listening to what you think are the top kiss videos in order. Especially considering you are claiming to play the entire discography?? And then rate them? Depending on if You're in the doghouse or in the bathroom taking a Shit and a shower? Or if you're... I don't know... Recording it in your car in your driveway. Because you have no means of recording otherwise?!? And i'm supposed To take this being... Realistic and credible?

[@HeelsandQuads]

Thank you, Ken. Have a great day.