Search - Kix :: Essentials

Good Collection of a GREAT Band

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 02/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kix should have been contenders. They had it all. Steve Whitman, a lead vocalist with style, presence and charisma, an ace songwriter in bassist Donnie Purnell, a stun twin guitar attack, and they were on Atlantic records, home to AC/DC and Led Zep. But no dice. Six albums on Atlantic yeilded exactly two top 100 entries, the breakthrough "Blow My Fuse," and the follow-up "Hot Wire." To quote Kix's best ballad, "For Shame."



The band's hybrid of Zep, Aerosmith and AC/DC should have made them stars in the eighties "hair band" era, yet that is a description that does Kix a disservice. They could certainly rock hard with the best of them, but they knew how to make their rock go pop. Take a spin with the shout along of "Contrary Mary," or the crowd pleaser "Hot Wire." They played up their influences just as well. "Don't Close Your Eyes" (their lone hit single) is pure Aerosmith - think "Dream On" - as much as "Girl Money" is prime Bon Scott era AC/DC.



It's just too bad that this "Essentials" set is limited to a mere dozen songs. A few more choice additions would have made this a five star disc. If this CD turns your ear, then take a go at the debut, a greatest hits album unto itself. As they put it on their second album, Kix were the "Cool Kids." They may have been cool, but the other thing Kix were was SMART...and "Essentials" shows their rock IQ in all its glory."

An excellent place to start

Metalguts | Pennsylvania, USA | 07/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kix were a great eighties band who never got the recognition they truly deserved they were a hair band but had way more to offer musically. This collection though imperfect is a good place to start."