The album opens with hit single "Psycho Circus". Despite the fairly lame title, the song is one of the stronger on the album. Great vocals from Paul Stanley, solid playing from the band (or maybe not, we don't necessarily know who played what), and some solid production. Whoever played on it, it's a KISS classic and there is a reason it's still played at most live shows even today. "Within" is a pretty good Gene Simmons song. I love the backwards solo played at the beginning. Despite not officially being a member of the band, KISS stalwart Bruce Kulick was supposedly responsible for much of the guitar work, and it certainly sounds like him. Peter Criss is certainly not likely the drummer on the track, but stand-in Kevin Valentine does a great job, perhaps even better than Criss would have. An ominous and heavy tune that would have fit nicely on the underrated "Carnival of Souls" album. I dig it, despite not being very KISS-like at all.
"I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll" is my pick for the best song on the album. Paul Stanley delivers one of his best anthems in years. Very catchy, well-produced, and very KISS-like. While the lyrics may be a little vapid, it's a fun song and KISS should certainly be fun music. One of the highlights of the track in the bass playing, which sounds like Simmons to me, but who knows. "Into the Void" is the sole Ace Frehley song on the album, but what a song it is. My pick for second best track on the album, it contains that classic laid-back, hazy sound that Ace created with "Rocket Ride" and of course "Shock Me". Frehley sound great on the track, despite having his vocals a little low in the mix. A highlight for sure.
"We Are One" is one of the poppiest songs on the album. The Simmons tune has a pretty catchy chorus and is certainly not bad. However, it's too much of a left turn for the band for me. I find the track to be pretty boring and dull. ZzzzZz. "You Wanted the Best" fares a bit better. It features all original members of the band trading off lead vocals. While the lyrics are a bit tacky and forced, it's cool for a fan to hear all the members on the track. According to my sources, the guitars on the track are done by Ace, unlike the majority of the songs. Whoever delivers it, the solo is quite good. A pretty decent song.
"Raise Your Glasses" sounds like Paul's answer to "We Are One". Very Beatles-esque, Paul takes a stab at another memorable rock anthem with varying results. While I like the huge and catchy chorus, the whole thing feels a bit soulless and far too polished. An average track at best. "I Finally Found My Way" is the album's answer to classic "Beth". Totally out of touch with what KISS represents, the song is a sappy and dull Rod Stewart-like ballad. I really can't get into the song and producer Bob Ezrin's version of the
"wall of sound".
"Dreamin" is another Stanley song. Like many of Gene's songs on the album, it wouldn't have sounded out of place on "Carnival of Souls". Very fuzzy and distorted thank to Bruce Kulick's playing, I like the song, but very modern and out of character from what the fans might have expected from the KISS reunion album. "Journey Of 1,000 Years" is another trippy Gene song. Brooding strings play over acoustics and jazzy drumming while Simmons sings a vocal that reminds of course of the Fab Four. An ambitious song, and certainly not bad, but a tad bloated sonically speaking.
"Psycho Circus" is not really a KISS reunion album in the strictest meaning of the word. Most of the tracks don't feature Ace and Peter, and many tracks don't bear any similarity to their classic 1970's sound. However, there are a few decent tracks on the album that warrant a listen. Fans of the band should definitely give the album a spin, but prepared to be slightly disappointed of you are expecting a return to form.
Rating-7/10
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