"It's not very often you hear rock 'n' roll done the way Kix did it. The band's sound is reminiscent to AC/DC in some ways but they are most certainly not a copy-cat band such as groups like Rhino Bucket were; they have a sound of their own.'Blow My Fuse' (released in '88) was Kix's breakthrough record which gave the band the exposure it deserved by MTV and caught people's attention. I like this album quite a bit but it does not come close to Kix's best record ever (in my opinion), 'Hot Wire'. This is one of those cds that you can listen from beginning to end without ever thinking of skipping one of the tracks. The sound quality is worlds apart from Kix's other records (they really could benefit from a digital remastering) so there is no problem in this department. 'Hot Wire' rocks hard but was never paid its due because by the time the record label released the album in '91, the radio stations and MTV had moved on with pop (New Kids on the Block), rap (MC Hammer, Kris Kross) and was moving past hard rock and glam metal.The best tunes on this disc are, by far, the title track "Hot Wire" which is magnificent (probably Kix's BEST hard rockin' track ever in my opinion), "Rock & Roll Overdose" and "Girl Money". The musicianship is fantastic--the guitars, bass, drums, lead vocalist Steve Whiteman's voice is great throughout--and if you like real rock 'n' roll but have never even HEARD of Kix, believe me: they rock! And to top it all off, there is even a wonderful ballad "Tear Down the Walls" which everyone can enjoy when you are not in the supercharged rock mode.I can assure you, there is not ONE track you will want to skip on 'Hot Wire'; this is one of the best albums I have ever bought in my life. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: I cannot recommend an album any higher than this one; it is fantastic."
Where did real rock like this go?
dokken6008 | 05/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a kick butt album! I miss music like this! Music that wasn't so depressing! It's all about going out and having a good time. You should buy this one if you remember the days of real rock!"
Better Than The Rest
dokken6008 | 08/16/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is the defining sound for 80's style metal. Better than Crue, Ratt, etc. If you like the hair metal sound, you will love this album."
Kix, finally a good "hair metal"band
Dana Sobus | Hanover, PA | 03/08/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nah,not even hair metal.Just a good band.
Growing up around Baltimore, Kix were the band of the era.
I heard "Same Jane" on the radio the other day,not only does it hold up, I cranked it all the way up.
And this is coming from a "jamband" fan.
Kix wasnt about the trend and hype,they were about good rock music,and they delivered.
They never got the credit they deserved,looking back at the "hair metal" trend, I'm glad they avoided getting lumped in,looked over and thrown into that category."
Kick Ass Rock
John Carroll | Alpharetta, GA USA | 10/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Right through my spine
Gonna blow my mind
Rock & Roll overdose
Rock & Roll overdose...." Hell yes.. this rockin album marked the end of an era. The end of Les Pauls cranked up thru Marshall stacks with harp and reverb touches(because they add swagger). Radio taste would soon change and the Seattle bands would dominate(but not very long in retrospect). Girl Money, Bump the La La, Same Jane....this is the stuff of mindless loud god damn rockin good times. Eighteen year old album and still sounds fresh to me. The boys in Kix were the guys that smoked pot, drank beer and played their guitars for hours on end in their basement and the result was the kind of rock that kicked you in the gut. Unfortunately, this kind of music is a lost art."