Story last updated at 12:57 PM EST on January 25, 2007

SOUNDBYTES

Kiss

OK, so Kiss isn't quite "The Hottest Band in the Land" anymore — in fact, its bombastic commercialization and recent over-touring has made the band more of a punch line than a legitimate, relevant act on today's scene.

But with a new box set celebrating the group's legendary "Alive" series, it's not about the present; it's about the glorious, glamorous past, when rock really mattered and theatrics mixed with catchy tunes was something fresh and fascinating.

The pack includes three discs featuring Kiss' original line-up: The classic pairing of "Alive" (1976) and "Alive II" (1978) with "Alive: The Millennium Concert," a lackluster New Year's Eve show from 2000 that would probably be best used as a coaster.

The highlight of the package is 1993's "Alive III," one of the best live recordings of that decade, which captured the band on its "Revenge" comeback outing, and proof that the Stanley/Simmons/Kulick/Singer line-up was the best musical phase of Kiss.

I mean c'mon, what Motor City rock 'n' roll fan doesn't need four different renditions of "Detroit Rock City?"

— Nick Brandon