From: Greg
I'm a 30-year-old male who's been listening to -- and rolling with -- KISS since 1976. I've hung in there through the 80s (although I have to admit bottoming out on "Hot in the Shade") and the 90s ("Revenge" was an exciting and promise-filled offering).
So I've enthusiastically grabbed onto "Psycho Circus" and my enthusiasm is duly rewarded. This is a great KISS record: big, bad and rockin'. This is the KISS record fans have been waiting for for many years ("Revenge" notwithstanding).
1. Psycho Circus - Wails. An exciting tribute to the band's longevity and the return to the insanity/fantasy of the makeup years. Ace Frehley burns on this one. A KISS fan's dream of a single.
2. Within - Classic Gene Simmons, in the mold of "Unholy" and "War Machine." The roar of the beast.
3. I Pledge Allegiance...- "Rock and Roll All Nite" for the 90's.
4. Into the Void - Ace Frehley Ace Frehley Ace Frehley. Where has this man been? Even if his voice is worse for wear this song is fun, cliche-filled, crunchy, and it cranks.
5. We Are One - Whoa! So the Unplugged experience was good for the band!
6. You Wanted the Best - Another anthem, nice tempo, pumps along well, great to hear them all sing again. Also in the mold of "R&R All Nite." Fun, self-referential, and probably a good way to retire an overused catch phrase. We get it.
7. Raise Your Glasses - "We are the Champions" has a companion in the KISS catalog. Beefy Paul Stanley rocker, not a standout in my opinion but rocks.
8. I Finally Found My Way - The Peter Criss ballad returns in fine form. It's produced in the Aerosmith mold, but hey, their Armageddon ballad is HUGE. This one could be as well. It's fine, and the girls will love it.
9. Dreamin' - The sound of this song is dark, and I can hear this on "Creatures of the Night."
10. Journey of 1,000 Years - Another possible benefactor of the Unplugged experience, Gene sounds great and the song grows on you the more you listen to it. At first I didn't know why they closed the record with it, but it makes sense. It's a 70's anthem via modern production technique and has a great sound.