RSR Music is proud to release the first and only tribute to KISS Unmasked. Undressed features many different styles of musical intreputations of all the tracks included on KISS' 1980 release. This tribute offers an unique look at this often overlooked classic gem from KISS' original lineup.

Over the last few years, there has been an explosion of so called tribute albums from both independent and major labels to all kinds of bands. The first KISS tribute album I was aware of was the Australian Waterfront Records - Hard to Believe subtitled A KISS covers compilation. Great inside gatefold cover full of memorabilia. Most notable cover was Nirvana's Do you love me: a full year and a half before Smells like teen spirit was released. In 1994 KISS released and produced the KISS my Ass - classic KISS re-grooved, in 1996 the Derock/Triage label brought out Spacewalk a salute to Ace Frehley, in 1999 KISSDeutschlande released a German bands compilation, there have been also a few KAOL compilations as well.

Undressed: an Unmasked tribute to KISS. I first heard of this project from Alexx Michael when his band Shameless toured the UK last October. Shameless had covered Flaming Youth on their first album and covered the Gene penned song American Man on their second album Queen 4 a day.

As the subtitle implies all tracks are songs found on the 1980 Unmasked album. Sixteen tracks in all, first eleven follow the original KISS album, the last five are second versions of Naked City, Tomorrow, Two sides of the coin, Easy as it seems and Talk to me.

The packaging is better than other small label tributes. An introduction to the KISS Unmasked album period by former financial coordinator/tour manager and now lecturer/author of KISS and sell C K Lendt. The middle pages are given over to Julian of the KISSfaq website, with an indepth analysis of the 1979/1980 period for KISS.

This album is Alexx Michael's project, Shameless play three tracks with Pretty Boy Floyd's Steve Summers on vox. Orignally this was to be a Shameless only project but when word got out offers of covers came flooding in, worldwide.

Here follows a tracklisting and a short description.

Jendza: Is that you - Goth rock from Detroit Rock city.
Ryan McKay: Shandi - Stripped down acoustic Version. Ryan Adams Comparisons.
Shameless: Talk to me - OTT glam, flash bomb fever and thunderous drums
Na$h: Naked city - NYC punk supergroup, Runaway train version
Demon drive: What makes the World go round - Screeching vocal hard rock, not too dissimilar to the orig.
Pretty suicide: Tomorrow NY retro glam.punk, only Female vocalist on album
The Gemini sect: Two sides of the Coin - Industiral, Marilyn Manson inspired. Great Phantom of Park quote.
Boot camp: She's so European - Interesting intro, diff time Changes. Doors keyboard
Breaks great twist at end. Radioactive/Charisma bits
Dressed to thrill: Easy as it seems - Guitar keyboard effects. Merger of My dead sister & Noise therapy bands
The Torpedo girlz: Topedo girl - No man battlestations Torpedo intro, musically Very similar to the original
Shameless: You're all that I Want - Blistering in your face glam version
Oliver Monroe: Naked city - Piano, reflective brooding Vocal delivery
Shameless: Tomorrow - Originally used on KAOL II. Acoustic, vocal harmony
Mind over me: Two sides of the Coin - Screaming vocal, industrial samples Rammestein Comparisons.
Tykoon: Easy as it seems - European aor, end twist.
KISS Forever (band): Talk to me - Second tribute album Appearance. Hungarian
Tribute band, acoustic and Vocal outro.

Great cover to the cd, front cover an Ibanez iceman guitar, pair of Paul's Unmasked era boots and a young lady in stilettos. Back cover is a lineup of the Unmasked costume boots. Inside tray cover is an ad for the KISSnews.de website.

Closing, none of the songs sound like the originals, some production values lacking. But for an overall concept ie KISS fans who were turned onto KISS or saw them in 1980, it works well with all styles catered for.

The KISS tribute is a doubled edged sword - the KISS fan is the only market that the album will attract. Hard to believe is now a collector's item for two sets of fans - KISS and Nirvana. Question has to be asked whatever happened to the other bands on that vinyl album

Until I played this album the only band I was really familiar with was Shameless and heard of The Torpedo Girlz through their UK tour in recent years. Some of the tracks are interesting enough for me to investigate the bands further.

I wonder if anyone's thought of doing a Dienasty or a Creatures tribute!

Tracklist
1. Jendza Is That You (03:38)
2. Ryan McKay Shandi (03:32)
3. Shameless Talk To Me (03:37)
4. Na$h Naked City (03:31)
5. Demon Drive What Makes The World Go Round (04:23)
6. Pretty Suicide Tomorrow (03:17)
7. The Geminus Sect Two Sides Of The Coin (03:19)
8. Boot Camp She's So European (05:22)
9. Dressed To Thrill Easy As It Seems (03:40)
10. The Torpedo Girls Torpedo Girl (03:56)
11. Shameless You're All That I Want (03:12)
12. Oliver Monroe Naked City (04:08)
13. Shameless Tomorrow (04:17)
14. Mind Over Me Two Sides Of The Coin (03:48)
15. Tykoon, Tommy Denander & Lars Chriss Easy As It Seems (03:22)
16. Kiss Forever Band Talk To Me (04:08)




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