Review Summary: Another year another KISS album. Nothing new, just more hard rocking anthems and some mediocrity.
As mentioned previously, you cannot deny how productive KISS were in the early years since their inception.
Rock And Roll Over was released very quickly upon the success of
Destroyer and its mega hit 'Beth', and then only a year later KISS once again released yet another album, 1977's
Love Gun. This may be part of the reason why thus far all KISS albums are very similar, nay, near identical, besides some experimentation. This is the case here as well.
Therefore there is very little to be said about
Love Gun which has not been said about their previous albums. The songs are standard KISS affair, production wise its slightly better than
Rock And Roll Over but still not huge, and even some song themes return from before. This isn't to say its a bad record by any means, this is a very decent album, there just isn't anything new or ground breaking here.
As already established however, KISS excel at making hard rocking anthems to get the party going, and as long as they do this they can be forgiven for being formulaic; and
Love Gun in this sense does not disappoint. Album opener is a custom made good time anthem, with an instantly recognisable KISS style riff and an insanely catchy chorus. 'Christine Sixteen' borrows from
Hotter Than Hell's 'Goin Blind' (both sung by Gene Simmons' on the subject matter of an elderly man falling in love with a sixteen year old. 'Got Love For Sale' is a generic KISS track; big fun but not too spectacular, title tracck 'Love Gun' on the other hand is an absolute belter and one of the best songs of this bands whole career, your night can not fail with this being played at some point.
Love Gun does have some things going for it that make it a more memorable KISS album as well. It is the first album to feature lead vocals from all four members, with Ace Frehley performing his first lead vocals on 'Shock Me' which is another genuine KISS anthem. It is also the final album of the 'classic' KISS period and the final KISS album to feature all four original members on all tracks. Otherwise there is nothing to separate this from their previous albums. 'Tomorrow And Tonight' is pretty dull for a KISS song, and 'Then She Kissed Me' is a gender reversed cover of The Crystals' 'Then He Kissed Me' which is average at best, and there is no Peter Criss led ballad either (shock horror!).
To sum up then,
Love Gun is a fun record, with some genuinely good moments. It is not their best however, and certainly has nothing new to offer. But with hindsight it could be argued that that was better off than some things KISS would try to do in the future.
Recommended: I Stole Your Love, Love Gun, Almost Human
