A world without heroes
Is like a world without sun
You can't look up to anyone
Without heroes
And a world without heroes
Is like a never ending race
Is like a time without a place
A pointless thing devoid of grace
Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you
And you don't know why you don't know
In a world without heroes
In a world without dreams
Things are no more than they seem
And a world without heroes
Is like a bird without wings
Or a bell that never rings
Just a sad and useless thing
Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you
And you don't know why you don't know
In a world without heroes
There's nothing to be
It's no place for me
This album came out in the year I started playing D&D. I can still see the illustrations from the Basic Set in my head when I hear songs from Music From The Elder.
I think it's funny how poorly this album did. Most of the band regretted it (with the exception of Paul Stanley). I got myself a copy of the CD and I still listen to it to this day.
Music from "The Elder" was the first KISS album I ever owned. It does hold a special place in my heart--it was the first concept album I ever owned, too.
That said, short-hair-Gene is much freakier looking than long-hair-Gene. And what the hell kinda Shaun Cassidy hairdo is Paul Stanley sporting in that vid?
Man!
What show was this from? You can catch an announcer's voice at the end of the clip.
I know they have basically disowned this album, and I can see how it may have been a bad idea for them as a band at that time, but I really like it. It's the only KISS album I own actually, not that I dislike the band's other songs.
"Elder" was such a weird album. (Weird for KISS, I mean. Not particularly weird for someone like Mr. Bungle, for example.)
KISS was pretty obviously flailing around for a direction when they put out "Elder." The year before they had put out a completely pop album with "Unmasked." A year after, they'd strip out all the prog elements of "Elder" and make a full-on heavy metal album with "Creatures of the Night." (Which, in my opinion was their best album of the '80s.)
KISS was my favorite band for much of my teen-age years. I've seen them in concert five times. Twice without make-up, thrice with.
Thus, I can't totally hate "Elder." I see it as their attempt to do something different and arty, and I respect the effort. That said, I wouldn't rank the "Elder" in the top ten of their studio albums. On the other hand, I wouldn't categorize it with some of the complete rubbish they've done like "Unmasked," "Crazy Nights," and "Psycho Circus."
For me it remains the most curious curiosity from a band that was often weirder and riskier than they usually get credit for being.
chris: I'm pretty much with you on your analysis. I like early lean-and-mean Kiss, the disco stuff, this crazy concept stuff, the return to form in Creatures of the Night and a whole bunch of stuff from the no-facepaint era.
Matthew: I think this performance was from the old ABC SNL-ripoff show Fridays. That's the same show where Andy Kaufman raised such a ruckus by going off-script in a sketch. Not the same episode, mind you. It's just the only other thing I know about that show.
Get out of my head! No, seriously, this is kind of the unofficial theme song that ran through my head when I was setting up my Earth 52 DC Adventures game.
Some odd choices on The Elder, but I love this particular song.
I must be too much of an old Lennonoid hippie. On my one-line-preview thing I get "a world without heroes is like a world without su" and all day I've been unconsciously adding "-ffering."
Sigh. As true now as it ever was.
ReplyDeleteThis album came out in the year I started playing D&D. I can still see the illustrations from the Basic Set in my head when I hear songs from Music From The Elder.
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny how poorly this album did. Most of the band regretted it (with the exception of Paul Stanley). I got myself a copy of the CD and I still listen to it to this day.
Also check out the Stranglers version for a bit more oomph,
ReplyDeleteNo More Heroes
Music from "The Elder" was the first KISS album I ever owned. It does hold a special place in my heart--it was the first concept album I ever owned, too.
ReplyDeleteThat said, short-hair-Gene is much freakier looking than long-hair-Gene. And what the hell kinda Shaun Cassidy hairdo is Paul Stanley sporting in that vid?
Man!
What show was this from? You can catch an announcer's voice at the end of the clip.
I know they have basically disowned this album, and I can see how it may have been a bad idea for them as a band at that time, but I really like it. It's the only KISS album I own actually, not that I dislike the band's other songs.
ReplyDeleteOh my Christ, what? Really?
ReplyDeleteThe first album (period) I ever owned was a vinyl of Kiss "Destroyer"...the second was Kiss "Rock N Roll Over." This is just like, like...aaaaaaagh!
Kiss is probably my favorite live show that I ever went to. I'm glad I got to see the original line up Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter!
ReplyDelete"Elder" was such a weird album. (Weird for KISS, I mean. Not particularly weird for someone like Mr. Bungle, for example.)
ReplyDeleteKISS was pretty obviously flailing around for a direction when they put out "Elder." The year before they had put out a completely pop album with "Unmasked." A year after, they'd strip out all the prog elements of "Elder" and make a full-on heavy metal album with "Creatures of the Night." (Which, in my opinion was their best album of the '80s.)
KISS was my favorite band for much of my teen-age years. I've seen them in concert five times. Twice without make-up, thrice with.
Thus, I can't totally hate "Elder." I see it as their attempt to do something different and arty, and I respect the effort. That said, I wouldn't rank the "Elder" in the top ten of their studio albums. On the other hand, I wouldn't categorize it with some of the complete rubbish they've done like "Unmasked," "Crazy Nights," and "Psycho Circus."
For me it remains the most curious curiosity from a band that was often weirder and riskier than they usually get credit for being.
chris: I'm pretty much with you on your analysis. I like early lean-and-mean Kiss, the disco stuff, this crazy concept stuff, the return to form in Creatures of the Night and a whole bunch of stuff from the no-facepaint era.
ReplyDeleteMatthew: I think this performance was from the old ABC SNL-ripoff show Fridays. That's the same show where Andy Kaufman raised such a ruckus by going off-script in a sketch. Not the same episode, mind you. It's just the only other thing I know about that show.
Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteGet out of my head! No, seriously, this is kind of the unofficial theme song that ran through my head when I was setting up my Earth 52 DC Adventures game.
ReplyDeleteSome odd choices on The Elder, but I love this particular song.
I must be too much of an old Lennonoid hippie. On my one-line-preview thing I get "a world without heroes is like a world without su" and all day I've been unconsciously adding "-ffering."
ReplyDelete