By now, every Kiss fan has purchased the original release of the Psycho Circus CD. Some of us really like it and some of us have been let down. Regardless of that we all agree that a new album by the original line-up was something we could not pass up! Kiss fans, if you dare, buy this version of Psycho Circus! Not only do you get the original disc but the bonus disc is priceless. It has almost a Kiss Alive edge to it. Ace delivers a very cool guitar solo, Peter's drumming is super, and Gene & Paul deliver the goods as usual. I feel that this is a sleeper disc because of the split by Kiss fans on this album, but believe me when I tell you it is worth the price. Gene Simmons once said that Kiss has not recorded their greatest effort yet. True. But this is a great CD to buy for your hard earned buck. If you do not have this disc yet, do not buy the domestic version. The import package is a overall better buy for the true Kiss fan!

It seems that Simmons/Stanley have become so full of themselves at their advanced ages that they now believe that extremely weak songs by the 2 of them (Just think "Hot In The Shade" or any of the other embarassing efforts on their collective parts) are much better than anything Peter or Ace may have to offer. In fact, this whole album feels like Paul & Gene saying, "Ace, Pete -- we have the power here, & we're still (...). Our songs are far superior to anything you have a part in, and we're REALLY Kiss, not you!"

Wrong, fellas. Dead wrong.

Ace's sole contribution, "into the Void" is light years beyond the rest of this (stuff). Granted, Pete's song (as sappily penned by none other than Paul) is not good, either, but wouldn't it have been nice to get one last classic KISS album as opposed to Gene/Paul scraps? Guys, you ain't the band by yourselves, no matter what you think. (...), the 4 of them didn't even play together on most of this album. Even a (bad)effort by all 4 throughout would have somehow seemed fulfilling, in a weird, disjointed sort of way -- at least they would have failed as KISS (more Frehley would have prevented this fate, I assure you) instead of Simmons/Stanley's musical rummage sale, which was the product that we actually got (Ace & Peter are FULL members, guys, whether you like it or not).

I grew up a masive, worshipful fan. As I get older, the egos of Stanley/Simmons now overpower what might have been an awesome finish to one of my favorite bands of all time. Don't waste your $$$ on this disc. Buy some classic Kiss & wait for Ace's next solo instead. When they were a band, they (were great). Now, as a simple, corporate entity dominated by 2 bitter members who refuse to forgive & forget, they just (are bad).

This is dinosaur rock at its best! I've been waiting years for the original four members to come to their senses and give the fans what we've been begging for. And they've delivered in Spades (a wink to Ace). From the title track to the closing strains of JOURNEY OF 1,000 YEARS it's Classis KISS with a slightly updated feel. Songs like WE ARE ONE contain an overdue nod of the head to us fans who have kept them in champagne all these years. While songs like WITHIN (which sounds like it was probably intended for use on CARNIVAL OF SOULS) offer us a harder edged more modern sound that is offset by the pure 70's guitar pyrotechnics of Ace Frehley on INTO THE VOID. This album also marks the re-emergence of Gene Simmons as a major songwriting force in the band. The last few years his contributions have been minimal and half hearted, but no more. Gene really shines in the Circus. There's something to love in this collection for KISS fans of every KISS era.

When KISS put their war-paint back on and welcomed Ace Frehley and Peter Criss home from years as solo artists I originally thought, 'they are going to do a reunion tour, a fourth live album, and then a farewell tour.' But when Psycho Circus came out I was amazed that a group that had been together for almost thirty years could write such dynamic, powerful, and just plain fun songs! The opening (title) track, sung and co-written by Paul Stanley, nicely surmises the idea of the album, bizarre and sometimes dark, but always enjoyable 'You're in the Psycho Circus -and I say welcome to the show!' Then Gene Simmons comes screeching to the microphone on "Within." That, and Paul Stanley's "Dreamin'" have a much heavier and darker feel to them; the angry introspection so common on the "Revenge," or "Carnival of Souls" albums is back in full force, blending nicely with such anthems as "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock and Roll." KISS proves here that they can still rock with a vengeance. On what is arguably the best song on the album "Raise your Glasses," I felt myself inspired from the energetic guitar solo nicely complimented by motivational lyrics and the rolling thunder of Peter Criss' drum intro. "You Wanted the Best," is an interesting way of showcasing the vocal talents of all four band members, each singing the lead on different parts of the song. Ace Frehley only contributed to the writing of one song on the album, "Into the Void," but it is classic space-man. He does a good job on vocals but really shines with the guitar solo, it is both technically complex and enjoyable to listen to. One thing about the album that I noticed was that all of the songs Gene Simmons wrote have a similar theme and feel to them, even though the sound of the music varies from power chords to acoustic guitar to orchestra. In both "Within," and "Journey of 1,000 Years," he talks of a 'sleep without dreams,' and being able to 'touch without feel.' I would love to be able to give this album five stars but "I Finally Found My Way," holds it back. It is either a 'Beth -20 years later,' or an attempt to duplicate that award-winning seventies ballad. Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin (producer of the best selling, worst selling, and highest charting KISS albums) wrote the song for Peter Criss to sing. I personally think that they should have let Criss come up with his own music; it would have been more heartfelt, and more original. But one obvious flaw cannot mar such an excellent album. This is KISS at their best. The production is seamless, replete with layered guitars, backing vocals, and orchestral strings. Lyrically, the songs are of the highest quality. And musically the performances are without par. The masked marauders that are KISS rocked the world with their songs in 70's and 80's, and with "Psycho Circus" they prove that they still can.

THE BAND: Paul Stanley (vocals, guitars), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass), Ace Frehley (guitars), Peter Criss (drums).

THE DISC: (1998) 10 tracks clocking in at approximately 44 minutes. Included with the disc is a 4-page foldout containing song titles/credits/times, song lyrics, and production notes. The disc is enhanced - containing a screen saver, misc Kiss info and a Kiss-On-Line connection. There are several versions of the album - an import with one bonus track (a Simmons tune "In Your Face" sung by Ace Frehley), as well as a Japan/Europe/Brazil (only) 2-disc version with 2nd disc containing 6 live tracks (including 3 live songs from "Psycho Circus"). Label - Mercury Records.

COMMENTS: I wanted to like this album from day 1 (Sept 22, 1998). I've been following Kiss in dark allies for over 3 decades and learning the original 4 members were once again getting together was a large-scale thing for me. Not since "Dynasty" (1979) has this happened... so we're led to believe. "Psycho Circus" hit the street running - hitting Gold status and reaching #3 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart upon release. The ride didn't last though - as the album is marred by things that are simply not on the up-and-up. Mainly - all 4 original members are listed as the musicians on "Psycho Circus". However, several credible sources list Peter Criss playing drums on only 1 song, as well as Ace Frehley playing guitar on only 2 songs. Truth - tracks are recorded on this album by uncredited players. Tommy Thayer and Bruce Kulick assisted with guitars, and Kevin Valentine assisted on most of the drumming. Not to mention the songs themselves - several of the tracks have multiple song writing credits, but not once do you see Stanley's & Simmons' names together... the original 4 hooked up separately with others - including Bob Ezrin, Curtis Cuomo, Karl Cochran, Holly Knight and Bruce Kulick. Looking from the outside in, it appears that Paul and Gene had a few songs written on their own, they asked Peter and Ace to each write a song, and they threw an album together in the hopes that if it did well - a reunion tour would follow. This is not a collaborative Kiss album in the true sense of the word. With that being said though, "Psycho Circus" does contain some choice cuts here. Highlights include an amazing 1-2 punch of the crunchy guitars and Stanley's whaling vocals on the title track followed by Simmons' best song in over a decade (including a backwards intro), the slow and methodic "Within". Ace's rocker "Into The Void" (feels like your back in 1978 - taken right from his first solo album); Gene's light and incredibly melodic "We Are One"; the 4 originals singing on the somewhat silly but upbeat "You Wanted The Best"; and perhaps the heavy "Dreamin'" - sounding like a leftover from "Carnival Of Souls" (1997). The album starts out nicely but then quickly fizzles. If this were a vinyl album, side 2 would rival "Unmasked" - just plain bad. Peter's oh-so-sad acoustic ballad "I Finally Found My Way" is self-pity trash. Ultimately, Kiss fans will want "Psycho Circus" in their collection. It certainly won't be the first album they reach when they need a Kiss fix... it might not even be the tenth Kiss album they reach for... but they will stretch for this one on ocassion... even if just to listen to the first half of the disc (3 stars).