From: Jim A Pearson

Here's my review of Psycho Circus!

PSYCHO CIRCUS: This is the anthem song KISS has been needing since "Shout It Out Loud". PC is a kick-ass song, with good drums, excellent guitar work (espically the leads!) , and with Mr. Stanley showing his most powerful singing voice in a long time! This is a song you can't help but sing along! A++

WITHIN: With an interesting start, reverse guitars and the like, WITHIN is a change from the sex songs Genes been known to written over the years....and I like it. Gene's voice on this song reminds me of the background vocals on "Charisma", then he cranks into his normal singing voice on the chorus. Then the music changes mid-way thru the song into something different, with good lead work from Ace. This song has excellent bass, heavy, dark guitar riffs and a good beat that would make this song a good one to be played live. A

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE: Another kick-ass song that starts off fast and the chorus just never lets you go. This is song I would love to see live...Pauls guitar playing during the mid-section of the song kinda reminds me of Led Zep for some reason, and it works!! Definently a song to be played at max volume!! A

INTO THE VOID: Ace is back...but this song sounds like it could have come Frehley's Comet. The chording on the chorus for some weird reason seem to sound like something from the Beach Boys or something from the "Beach" period. Peter does a good job with the drums, (great beat), but Ace shines when he does his solo work...Space Ace is BACK!!! Good bass and guitar work, but I think the lyrics could use a bit of work (kinda reminds me of "Getaway" from "Dressed To Kill". Oh well..... B

WE ARE ONE: This is one of my favorites...nice and easy to listen to, with great harmonies!!!! Whoever says these guys can't sing is full of it. (I'd like to see any of those Grunge goofs try to do that!) Very heavy beat, with great guitar work...too bad Ace didn't do a solo on this one. Nice ending too...would make a great radio single! I like the way Gene wrote this...kinda of looking at the audience thru his eyes (I see my face looking back at me). This song shows Gene's writing skills...he can write about screwing girls from left, right and center to something like this! Excellent job!! A++

YOU WANTED THE BEST: Ouch! This one nearly blew my speakers off the wall! Good guitar work (nice and HARD), but the lyrics need work....defeninetly sounds cheesy...but once again..these guys can do good harmonies. Gene just says "Yeah" too many times...(kinda like Lenny Kravtiz doing "Deuce"...UGH!!!). Good leads and drum work, but I'll say it again, the lyrics really needed work. Sorry guys! C

RAISE YOUR GLASSES: Here is a celebration song: any hockey, basketball, or baseball team need a theme? Well here it is...I think this could work for Coca-Cola too!! This one would make a good video...great work all around, nice hard beat, really good solo work, but the chorus is a little cheesy...though not as bad as "You Wanted The Best". Good singing from Paul...one of his best singing pieces on this album. B

I FINALLY FOUND MY WAY TO YOU: Excellent drum and piano work! Peter's voice is nice and strong, and reminds me of "Easy Thing" and "I Can't Stop The Rain" from his solo album. This could be the sleeper hit from this album... it's not "Beth" but I think it has the same potential. A

DREAMIN': This is another of my favorites from this album...nice and hard from the start. (Reminds me of some of the tracks from Paul's solo ("Tonight You Belong To Me" and "Take Me Away(Together As One)"). Excellent singing from Mr. Stanley, excellent drums, and fantastic guitar work!! I like the chorus, espically when they shift into minor chords, it just gives it a little extra kick. Another song I'd like to see live!! A+

JOURNEY OF 1,000 Years: Gene must have gone back 20 years to get this one....sound like it came right off his solo.... This is a interesting piece, it just reaches into you and rips your heart out...everytime I hear it it just makes me cry. Gene's voice is excellent on this one, with great drums (nice hard beat), and I like the strings, but when I first heard it, I thought the lyrics were a bit short, but after thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that this song is like the music at the end of the movie. A great way to finish off the album, kinda like "Great Expectations". I just wish that they had put some more lyrics into it, but I guess you can't have everytrhing.... A-

All in all, this is a good album, and has been well worth the wait. I just wish it had two or three more tracks on it, and I would like to hear "In Your Face". And for all you fans who put Peter's song down, get a life. It's nice to see KISS do things out side of the Hard Rock vein, it keeps us on our toes, cause if you keep putting out the same stuff...you ain't gonna last long! That's what keps this band going while other croak on the side of the road. KISS is back, and is going to head into the 21st century with afterburners on full. This is one album which is going to be one of the classics, and is one of the bands best since "Hot In The Shade". No grunge, no life sucks crap, just come and join the party, and see the world thru the bands eyes.

All in all , I'm giving this album (or CD, whatever) an A-.

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