Essential Studio Albums

[LoathedVermin72]

I’ve learned not to worry about liebzz’s track picks since they usually baffle me, but it’s pretty hard to argue against “Epic” being the “essential” track on that album. Though it’s not quite my favorite.

[liebzz]

I’ve learned not to worry about liebzz’s track picks since they usually baffle me, but it’s pretty hard to argue against “Epic” being the “essential” track on that album. Though it’s not quite my favorite.

This is true. And to be fair, I wouldn’t have been surprised myself if I picked From Out of Nowhere, or Falling to Pieces, or War Pigs. I chose Epic because of its personal historic significance - that is a song that was playing in my head constantly as a 12 year old.

Also, can’t wait til we’re really getting into Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Radiohead. Y’all will be downright pissed at the essential track picks i am sure.

[Ello Sailor]

I’ve learned not to worry about liebzz’s track picks since they usually baffle me, but it’s pretty hard to argue against “Epic” being the “essential” track on that album. Though it’s not quite my favorite.

It's nearly the worst song on there. Meh.

[liebzz]

I’ve learned not to worry about liebzz’s track picks since they usually baffle me, but it’s pretty hard to argue against “Epic” being the “essential” track on that album. Though it’s not quite my favorite.

It's nearly the worst song on there. Meh.

Surprise…you’re DREAD!

[Jorge]

Dissing "I Believe", unbelievable

I just saw this and now I want to kill and eat liebzz

"I Believe" is gorgeous, every song on Big Chair is good

[Birds in Hell]

I'm amazed by liebzz's ability to listen to this volume of records at this pace and still come up with thoughtful comments about them all, I'm not going to quibble his choice of key tracks.

[Jorge]

Liebzz are you doing The Seeds of Love for 89? If not you should add it

[Jorge]

I'm amazed by liebzz's ability to listen to this volume of records at this pace and still come up with thoughtful comments about them all, I'm not going to quibble his choice of key tracks.

I'm not really going to kill and eat him

[liebzz]

Liebzz are you doing The Seeds of Love for 89? If not you should add it

Adding

[liebzz]

I'm amazed by liebzz's ability to listen to this volume of records at this pace and still come up with thoughtful comments about them all, I'm not going to quibble his choice of key tracks.

I'm not really going to kill and eat him

I often have a hard time remembering the prior album from the same band unless it really stuck out, but I do remember how I felt about it generally. I have on occasion needed to go back in the thread and see what I wrote then.

[liebzz]

Aerosmith - Pump

It’s astonishing to me that I probably haven’t heard this album in over 30 years and yet somehow I have a working memory of all these songs. I’m not sure it’s me - I think they just hit a spark with this album where they balanced the rock sleaze of their 70s heyday with their glam rock leanings of the 80s. As much as I prefer their 70s rock output, this one sort of sticks out as that one moment post-70s that got the best out of them - even if much of this is nonsense - but they are fully committed to the nonsense of Love in an Elevator or the rare exploration of something beyond their libido in Janie’s Got a Gun. My favorite here is probably Young Lust, which opens the album with a whiplash-like turn to a fast paced 70s sound, or maybe Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man.

The Essential Track: Young Lust

Up Next: KISS - Hot in the Shade

[liebzz]

KISS - Hot in the Shade

This is a decent we need to go for a little ‘89 dumpster diving. Granted, the last two songs on this album, Little Caesar and Boomerang, go a long way to redeeming an album that was intended as a more raw and stripped down album, but the songs otherwise just can’t carry it. KISS has always been somewhat juvenile in their delivery, direct songs about love and sec and rock and roll with a guitar riff and solo thrown in, but this is uninspired even by that standard…until those last two songs. From here, we take a side quest back into the hellscape that is hair metal for ‘89, but you never know if we might find a gem in there somewhere.

The Essential Track: Boomerang

Up Next: Great White - Twice Shy

[wease]

KISS - Hot in the Shade

This is a decent we need to go for a little ‘89 dumpster diving. Granted, the last two songs on this album, Little Caesar and Boomerang, go a long way to redeeming an album that was intended as a more raw and stripped down album, but the songs otherwise just can’t carry it. KISS has always been somewhat juvenile in their delivery, direct songs about love and sec and rock and roll with a guitar riff and solo thrown in, but this is uninspired even by that standard…until those last two songs. From here, we take a side quest back into the hellscape that is hair metal for ‘89, but you never know if we might find a gem in there somewhere.

The Essential Track: Boomerang

This is by far my favorite of their non-makeup years. Well, at least for the 80s. Actually kind of a rebound for them in that they had a huge hit with Forever. The other singles were ok. Like you, those last two tracks along with Silver Spoon and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell are my favorites from it. The first time I saw them live was their tour supporting this album, so I’m sure that has a bit to do with my fondness for it.

[liebzz]

Yeah, it could also be context since I largely skipped most of the 80s KISS albums, so this mostly gets thought about with the context of the late 70s early 80s KISS, which is basically comparable.

[oasisfan35]

KISS - Hot in the Shade

This is a decent we need to go for a little ‘89 dumpster diving. Granted, the last two songs on this album, Little Caesar and Boomerang, go a long way to redeeming an album that was intended as a more raw and stripped down album, but the songs otherwise just can’t carry it. KISS has always been somewhat juvenile in their delivery, direct songs about love and sec and rock and roll with a guitar riff and solo thrown in, but this is uninspired even by that standard…until those last two songs. From here, we take a side quest back into the hellscape that is hair metal for ‘89, but you never know if we might find a gem in there somewhere.

The Essential Track: Boomerang

This is by far my favorite of their non-makeup years. Well, at least for the 80s. Actually kind of a rebound for them in that they had a huge hit with Forever. The other singles were ok. Like you, those last two tracks along with Silver Spoon and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell are my favorites from it. The first time I saw them live was their tour supporting this album, so I’m sure that has a bit to do with my fondness for it.

My first concert ever:

[liebzz]

Wow. I didn’t see KISS until one of their reunion tours.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/kiss/199 ... 5ccba.html

[wease]

KISS - Hot in the Shade

This is a decent we need to go for a little ‘89 dumpster diving. Granted, the last two songs on this album, Little Caesar and Boomerang, go a long way to redeeming an album that was intended as a more raw and stripped down album, but the songs otherwise just can’t carry it. KISS has always been somewhat juvenile in their delivery, direct songs about love and sec and rock and roll with a guitar riff and solo thrown in, but this is uninspired even by that standard…until those last two songs. From here, we take a side quest back into the hellscape that is hair metal for ‘89, but you never know if we might find a gem in there somewhere.

The Essential Track: Boomerang

This is by far my favorite of their non-makeup years. Well, at least for the 80s. Actually kind of a rebound for them in that they had a huge hit with Forever. The other singles were ok. Like you, those last two tracks along with Silver Spoon and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell are my favorites from it. The first time I saw them live was their tour supporting this album, so I’m sure that has a bit to do with my fondness for it.

My first concert ever:

Right on!
My first KISS show was 7/21. New Haven was one of the last shows of the tour.

[liebzz]

Great White - …Twice Shy

As far as a band goes lumped in with the late 80s hair metal movement, these guys are pretty good. The key is the bluesier approach to their guitars and a bit more willingness to push past the caricature that swallows most of these bands. Yes, there’s certainly tracks where they fall into that trap (Mista Bone), but Move It, Heart the Hunter, House of Broken Love, and She Only act as redemption to that end. Sure, some of this is in distinguishing, but a not bad is great for me in this sub-genre.

The Essential Track: House of Broken Love

Up Next: Warrant - Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich

[liebzz]

Warrant - Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich

This is the debut from yet another hair metal band, though one of the more visible ones in the late 80s/early 90s. Wherein Great White shows promise with a more nuanced version of this music, Warrant is a straight away hair metal band, complete with token ballad (Heaven - maybe my least favorite ballad in a sea of them in the sub-genre), and songs that don’t really distinguish themselves among the hair metal noise. Down Boys seems to be the song with the most promise but I really didn’t care for anything here, though I had no reflexively agitated response to anything except Heaven.

The Essential Track: Down Boys

Up Next: L.A. Guns - Cocked and Loaded

[wease]

Was never a Warrant fan. I only really liked Uncle Tom’s Cabin and their cover of Train Train from their second album. Which I guess puts them ahead of Poison.