Carátula del álbum Unmasked de Kiss

Álbum: Unmasked

Artista: Kiss

1980
★★★★★
Basado en 15 votos
  • Fecha de lanzamiento: 20 de Mayo de 1980
  • Sello Discográfico: Casablanca
  • Compositores: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Vini Poncia, Anton Fig
  • Productores: Vini Poncia

Valora este álbum

Lanzado en 1980, Unmasked es el octavo álbum de estudio de Kiss y el disco que profundizó su inmersión en el pop-rock, alejándose aún más de sus raíces de hard rock. Producido de nuevo por Vini Poncia, el álbum es una colección de canciones de power pop pulidas y muy melódicas, con un sonido que tiene más en común con The Knack o Cheap Trick que con el heavy metal. "Unmasked" es históricamente significativo por ser el último álbum de estudio con la formación original maquillada (aunque solo en los créditos), ya que Peter Criss, a pesar de aparecer en la portada y en el videoclip de "Shandi", no tocó en ninguna de las canciones. El álbum fue un éxito en Europa y Australia, pero su sonido suave supuso una gran decepción para su base de fans estadounidense.

Contexto y Grabación

La grabación de "Unmasked" fue la confirmación de que la formación original estaba rota. Peter Criss ya estaba fuera de la banda a todos los efectos prácticos. Una vez más, el batería de sesión Anton Fig grabó todas las pistas de batería del álbum. El productor Vini Poncia, que había tenido un éxito masivo con "I Was Made for Lovin' You", fue contratado de nuevo para dirigir el sonido del álbum hacia una dirección aún más pop y comercial. Ace Frehley, en un momento de gran creatividad, contribuyó con tres canciones, mientras que Gene Simmons, cada vez más distraído con sus proyectos en Hollywood, tuvo una participación menor.

Análisis Musical y Estilo

El sonido de "Unmasked" es puro power pop de principios de los 80. La producción es brillante y está dominada por estribillos pegadizos, armonías vocales y guitarras limpias. El hard rock ha desaparecido casi por completo. Es el álbum más "ligero" de su era clásica, con un tono optimista y a menudo casi adolescente. Líricamente, el álbum se centra en temas de amor y romance juvenil.

Análisis de las canciones

El sencillo principal, "Shandi", es una balada de pop suave que se convirtió en un gran éxito en países como Australia y Argentina. "Tomorrow" y "Is That You?" son dos de los temas de power pop más destacados. Las tres contribuciones de Ace Frehley, "Talk to Me", "Two Sides of the Coin" y "Torpedo Girl", son las que mantienen un filo más rockero.

Portada

La portada del álbum es una de las más famosas de la banda. Presenta una ilustración de estilo cómic en la que los cuatro miembros se quitan sus maquillajes para revelar sus verdaderos rostros (aunque el de Peter Criss se revela como una sonrisa maliciosa). La contraportada contiene una viñeta para cada canción. La portada es irónica, ya que la banda no se quitaría el maquillaje en público hasta tres años después.

Lanzamiento y Rendimiento en Listas

El álbum fue un éxito en varias partes del mundo, pero un fracaso relativo en Estados Unidos, donde no logró alcanzar el estatus de platino por primera vez desde "Dressed to Kill".

Recepción Crítica

La crítica fue en su mayoría negativa, especialmente en Estados Unidos, donde se le acusó de ser un álbum de pop blando y sin la energía de Kiss. Con el tiempo, ha sido revalorizado por los fans del power pop. "Unmasked" marcó el final de una era: fue la despedida de Peter Criss y el último álbum de la formación original hasta su reunión en 1996.

Listado de Canciones

  1. Is That You?3:59

    Letra

    Cat's droolin' on the bar stool Shake your hips and crack your whips Cheap seventeen and trashed out You went too far, been a bitch you are Your reputation's in the bathroom It's on the wall and down the hall I hear you're cheatin' with my teacher after school Tell me what you do When you know You always get the boys you like Play nice Then stick them with your knife Take off your insecure disguise Is that you Crawlin' up my stairs Is that you (Is that you, crawlin' up my stairs) Is that you, Lookin' half way dead Write on the mirror with your lipstick Much too vain, got scattered brains You used me just enough to get off Act your age, get off your stage When you know You always get the boys you like Play nice Then stick them with your knife Take off your insecure disguise Is that you Crawlin' up my stairs Is that you (Is that you, crawlin' up my stairs) Is that you Lookin' half way dead Is that you (Is that you, lookin' half way dead) Is that you With your long black hair You always get the boys you like Play nice Then stick them with your knife You always get the boys you like Play nice Then stick them with your knife
  2. Shandi3:36

    Letra

    I just can't pretend no more, I keep runnin' out of lies Lovin' you is killin' me inside Everytime I find the words to end it Something in your eyes won't let it Shandi, tonight must last us forever Forever we say goodnight and go home But you know me very well, and I know you You can't tell me goodnight (say goodnight) We been holding on so tight We're afraid to let it go Shake it loose, we both could use the ride Here's another mess I got myself in And when you touch me you ain't helpin' Shandi, tonight must last us forever Forever we say goodnight and go home But you know me very well, and I know you You can't tell me goodnight (say goodnight) Say goodnight when we should say goodbye (say goodbye) (Shandi, Shandi) Tonight must last us forever and ever Forever we say goodnight and go home Shandi, Shandi, tonight must last us forever
  3. Talk To Me4:02

    Letra

    When I see you, girl you turn my head, you make me dizzy I get a good vibration When I look into your big blue eyes, I start to quiver andshake I get a strange sensation When you walk by me you strut around, you make me crazy, I get norelaxation Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation, talkto me People tell me that you run around and that you're no good You got a bad reputation I don't care what all the people say, you know they talk toomuch It's a fascination All I wanna do is talk to you and maybe go out, and form somekind of relation So talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - why don't you Talk to me - c'mon and talk to me I just wanna talk to you Girl I wish you knew the way I felt, you think I'm silly, thatit's infatuation So we better get together soon, because I need you girl I can't stand the frustration, so Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - why don't you Talk to me - c'mon and talk to me Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - I just wanna talk to you Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - I just wanna talk to you Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - I just wanna talk to you Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - I just wanna talk to you
  4. Naked City3:52

    Letra

    All the victims have turned to stone, no one is happy, they'reall alone I'd sacrifice my social position tonight In New York, millionaires, and lonely people with lonely stares I'm not lookin' for love and I'm lost in this night In the naked city (in the city) there are ten million stories(naked city) I'm not lookin' for pity (in the city) in this naked city (nakedcity) Street vampires in the night, young lovers and love at firstsight This is my flesh and my fantasy Older women with younger men, I've got a feelin' I'm in troubleagain But I've got to live my destiny In the naked city (in the city) it's a race with the devil (nakedcity) All the pain and the sorrow (in the city) is there more tomorrow(naked city) In the naked, naked city (in the city) naked city Lonely people lookin' for someone, lonely people goin' theirway Lonely people lookin' for something, lonely people goin' theirway In New York, millionaires, lonely people with lonely stares I'm not lookin' for love and I'm lost in this night In the naked city, there are ten million stories I'm not lookin' for pity in this naked city In the naked, naked city (in the city), it's a race with thedevil (naked city) All the pain and the sorrow (in the city) is there more tomorrow(naked city) (In the city, naked city) (In the city, naked city) (In the city, naked city) (In the city, naked city) (In the city, naked city)
  5. What Makes The World Go 'Round4:15
  6. Tomorrow3:17

    Letra

    I didn't know just what to say, when you turned and you looked my way It doesn't happen to me every day, can we talk a while? I didn't know just what to do, I couldn't seem to take my eyes off you You know I wanted just to take you home, but that's not your style And tomorrow, we're gonna fall in love, fall in love Tomorrow, we're gonna fall in love, fall in love, tomorrow, tomorrow I didn't even know your name, like a moth I was in your flame I knew you wanted me to feel real good by the way you smiled You didn't have to say a word, I tried to tell you, but I lost my nerve You know I wanted just to slip away for a little while And tomorrow, we're gonna fall in love, fall in love Tomorrow, we're gonna fall in love, fall in love, tomorrow, tomorrow We're gonna fall in love, fall in love, fall in love, fall in love with me (But tonight, when the feeling feels so right, we got all the love we need) I didn't know just what to say This doesn't happen to me every day and that's not my style And tomorrow, we're gonna fall in love, fall in love Tomorrow, we're gonna fall in love, fall in love Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow (Tomorrow) we're gonna fall in love, fall in love (Tomorrow) fall in love, fall in love (Tomorrow) fall in love, fall in love, (tomorrow) fall in love, fall in love We're gonna fall in love, fall in love, fall in love, fall in love with me (But tonight, when the feeling feels so right, we got all the love we need)
  7. Two Side Of The Coin
  8. She's So European3:32

    Letra

    She walked in like a lady, with a glass of pink champagne I wouldn't look if you paid me, 'cause to me she's still thesame Well you oughtta see her, wearin' her heart on her sleeves You'd never believe her, she's got a well-planned look in hereyes She's so European, she's one of a kind, one of a kind She's so European, she's one of a kind, all in her mind And she's so European, I found out today She still speaks with an accent from a week in San Tropez She makes love on her brass bed 'cause her parents are stillaway Well you oughtta see her, countin' the stars in her eyes You'd never believe her, she's got a well-planned coverlesssmile She's so European, she's one of a kind, all in her mind She's so European, she's one of a kind, all in her mind And she's so European, she told me today I wanna hold her tight all through the night, I must bedreamin' I wanna take my time, she's so refined, is that her screamin' I've seen the looks in your eyes, you've seen through herdisguise, yeah She's so European, she's so European, one of a kind, all in hermind....
  9. Easy As It Seems3:25

    Letra

    I've been your lover for too many years, I'm through with wastin'my time You been out runnin' without any fear, tell me why, I wanna knowthe reason why (It's easy as it seems) 'Cause it's easy as it seems I keep on hearin' your road never bends, you ain't committin' nocrime I hear you're sleepin' with one of my friends, tell me why I wanna know the reason why It's easy as it seems) 'Cause it's easy as it seems When you're walkin' out on your dreams, you just walk away I played your boyfriend for too many years, you know it's drivin'me wild I've seen you cryin' without any tears, like a child You wonder all the reasons why (It's easy as it seems) And it's easy as it seems When you're walkin' out on your dreams, you just walk away If it takes forever, I don't mind, if it takes forever, I've gottime All that I wanna know, can you lay it on the line 'Cause if it takes forever, you know I'm gonna find out (It's easy as it seems) Yeah it's easy as it seems When you're walkin' out on your dreams, you just walk away, walkaway (It's easy as it seems) Oh it's easy (easy), easy as it seems Yeah it's easy (easy), oh it's easy as it seems Oh it's easy (easy), oh it's easy as it seems Yeah it's easy (easy), easy as it seems... (It's easy as it seems) Oh it's easy (easy), easy as it seems Yeah it's easy (easy), oh it's easy as it seems Oh it's easy (easy), oh it's easy as it seems Yeah it's easy (easy), easy as it seems...
  10. Torpedo Girl3:45

    Letra

    ''Man battlestations torpedo, man battlestations torpedo '' I thought I'd go out and take a swim today It was real hot and I just had to get away They spotted an unknown sub down in the bay But I don't care, think I'll go swimmin' anyway - yeah Let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive, torpedo girl Let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive But I knew when I was in the suds and swimmin' around But then all of a sudden I heard this rumblin' sound I saw this thing that looked a lot like a submarine With a pretty girl on the bridge, could this be a dream? I don't know, could be Let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive, torpedo girl Let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive Come on, get your feet wet Torpedo girl, let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive Torpedo girl, let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive Torpedo girl, let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive Torpedo girl, let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive Torpedo girl, let's take a dive, torpedo girl, and feel alive
  11. You're All that I Want3:04

    Letra

    You're the only girl I've been dreamin' of You're the only woman I ever loved I want you to believe it's true There's nothing I would rather do My heart belongs to you, I know what I'm at You're all that I want You're all that I need You're all that I see You're everything to me You're all that I want And you need to feel my love inside And I need to show what I can't hide It's something that you just can't fight It feels so good it must be right There ain't no use in lyin' to myself You're all that I want You're all that I need You're all that I see You're everything to me You're all that I feel You're my dream come true You're my everything No matter what you do You're all that I want And if you leave me, don't say goodbye, 'cause you're all I needto get by You're all that I want You're all that I need You're all that I see You're everything to me You're all that I feel You're my dream come true You're my everything No matter what you do You're all that I want You're all that I want You're all that I need You're all that I see You're everything to me You're all that I feel You're my dream come true You're my everything No matter what you do You're all that I want