From: Strutter80@aol.com

First off, let me say that I have not been a KISS fan for 20+ years. I have not even been a fan for 5 years. Just like with KISS, how old you are is irrelivant. The reason I'm bringing this up is because a lot of the reviews from older fans seem to have the attitude that if you've been a fan for 20+ years that they somehow are a more dedicated fan and that their opinion is more valid. A lot of these fans I've spoken to (not all), seem to roll their eyes or even pretend to forget what I'm speaking of when I bring up non-makeup KISS albums. These are the same people that deem themselves "hardcore fans." Music can be opinionated, but the fact that in the 80's KISS recorded practically half of their music is not. I guess the analogy would be saying Baskin and Robbins is the best ice cream parlor in the world, but that half the flavors are crap. Pardon if I seem to be a little too forward, but I'm just tired of "aging hippies" that call themselves true fans and put down 80's KISS and only stuck up for them when they were on top. That's not what a fan is. As Paul puts it, its "where your head is at." Anyways, now that I've got that out, on to the album.

***** Stars possible

Psycho Circus: Wow! I knew it would kick ass, but I had no idea a song could be that awesome. Powerful powerful vocals from paul, a very rememberable solo from ace, and awesome drumming from PETER. I especially like the quiet part in the middle of the song, sort of like Whitesnake's "Still of the night". But what I like most about this song is that you can identify EACH individual member and their style in this song. This is definately one for the books. ***** stars.

Within: Awesome, awesome song. Very cool guitaring, but sounds more like Bruce than it does Ace. It actually sounds like something from COS (I heard somewhere that it was an original demo for it) but better. ***1/2 stars.

You Wanted the Best: I was probably excited more about this song than any other when I got word that all 4 sang lead vocals on it. Peter sounds very cool on it, and it sounds very cool the way they switched off on vocals. Rip roarin solo from ace, one of his best ever. Very hard rock, straight ahead rock 'n roll. The only thing at all on this song that I think could have used some improvement is the chorus. **** stars.

Into the Void: Probably the most CLASSIC KISS sounding song, but NOT the most KISSLIKE overall. Its not exactly "Shock me", but nevertheless it still rocks. I love the part when Ace sings a note with his voice and matches it on his guitar, although he was not the first one in KISS to do that (Paul does on "When Your Walls Come Down", a KISS album called "Crazy Nights" incase you classic "hardcore fans" aren't familiar with it). I think this song also really shows ace's growth, and how much better he's gotten at guitar. **** stars.

DREAMIN: Paul, once again you've left me speechless. This is one of his most original and best written songs ever. It does sound very 80's, maybe like something on Crazy Nights, but NOT like REASON TO LIVE although I love that song as well. Is it a ballet? Not exactly. I think the lyrics of the song deal with things we all think about from time to time, and the sound of the song definately fits the mood of the lyrics. This song is so good it puts up competition for Psycho Circus. ***** stars.

I FINALLY FOUND MY WAY TO YOU: Paul!! Gene!! What were you guys thinking? And I thought Beth was bad; this one takes the whopper. Don't get me wrong. I think Peter is an awesome drummer, as well as singer. I think some of KISS' coolest songs have been from Peter. But this song is so bad, no matter how many times I listened to it it never seemed to sound any better. It sounds like he really tried hard, but it just didn't work. (I was even more surprised when I learned that Paul wrote this song). This is the ONLY song on the entire album that I found dissapointing. I wish he wouldn't have tried to re-make Beth, and just have played straight out rock 'n roll. Peter, leave the ballads to Paul. Well I guess I have to give it something. 1/2 star.

RAISE YOUR GLASSES: Paul, what would KISS do without you? Nothing I guess, since without Paul KISS would have died ages ago. Anyways, from that remark you can probably tell what I think about this song. Its does have a very 80's sound to it, but that only makes it all the better. I don't think it sounds at all like Crazy Nights or Bon Jovi (though both are AWESOME), but it definately has an 80's quality to it. ***** Stars.

JOURNEY OF 1,000 YEARS: Rember what I said about a rememberable solo from ace? I feel this is Gene's BEST song on the entire album, and it definately shows his growth. Personally I'd have been dissapointed if he'd just tried to re- create the past and done "Then son of god of thunder." Sort of a Elder sound to it, almost like "A World Without Heros", only 10 times better. Once again, I think the solo is very awesome, and I love how they did it on classical stringed instruments in this song. ***** stars.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF R&R: Probably the most KISS-LIKE of the songs from Paul on this album. I'll admit at first I didn't think much of the chorus, but it grew on me. I think its a very original chorus, and I've always thought the verses on it kicked. The lyrics on this song (and the whole album) are NOT corny, in any way. I think Paul and everyone else were very sincere on this album, and I think if anyone had been through what they had they'd understand (including me). ****1/2 stars.

WE ARE ONE: Very interesting sound. Once again, you can listen to what gene and the rest of the band have gone through from the lyrics and sound of this song. I love the verses and chorus when they are sung simutaneously on this song. Very cool. I think Gene was really reaching out to the fans on this song. ****1/2 Stars.

OVERALL RATING: ***** STARS OUT OF *****

This is the album I knew KISS was always capable of. Musically, lyrically, everything. I think more than anything else, what made this album is MELODY. I think KISS really concentrated on it, and it shows. Although some people said the album was confusing, I don't think it could be any clearer. I'm glad this album doesn't try at all to re-create the past (with the exception of Peter's Ballad- and it shows), and I'm especially content with everyone's growth muscially and physically, and it is displayed beautifully on the album. I think a lot of "classic" fans are dissapointed with it because it isn't a rip- off of destroyer. If it had been, I don't know anything else that could have made me more dissapointed. People have to remember its been 19 years since these same guys have wrote songs together, and the members are not going to be exactly as they were in the 70's.

Once again, I have not been a kiss fan for 20+ years, and I think that if anyone is they should not use it as a gimic to somehow put themselves ahead of everyone else as a more important and dedicated fan. That's not being true to KISS or yourself.

Anyways, I've put in my two cents on this album. It may seem I was being too lenient on this album, but I really wasn't at all. I've taken a lot of shots at a lot of KISS albums, and the only song on this album that was far from perfection was peter's song, but i'm not going to let it ruin the whole album. Its a very solid, melody- based album with much intent on kiss' part to show the fans who's still the kings of rock 'n roll, and I feel its the best rock album since Def Leppard's Hysteria.

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