From: Carlos Castro-Neves

Psycho Circus - Major hit song. KISS needs one. They haven't had a hit since Forever (which is a ballad) and the last "rockers" that were hit were in the UK (God Gave Rock and Roll and Crazy Nights, both peaking at # 4). I love the intro with the Circus theme and the guitars slowly rising... Very clever. NOW, about who plays what, hmmm - complicated. I play Ace in my KISS tribute band (KISS Cover) and I honestly cannot say if it's him or not..., but this will be part of my finale, so let's move on! The thing is that I can hear Gene voice on the bridge, and that's always nice. The song has it all. Catchy chorus, up tempo and nice melody. Probably go into the Top 20s...
Single probability - It is, already!
Live probability - YES - concert opener for sure

Within - well, different ball park here. This has COS written all over it. I personally didn't like that song... Maybe it'll grow on me, but I'm not sure... It doesn't have that much melody and it's kinda fuzzy. I don't consider it a filler, but it's just not my type of song. Slow start... That's also a let down.
Single probability - NO
Live probability - NO (no further comments)

I Pledge Allegiance - Rocker. Again. This is a simpler songs than PC, but catchy still. I don't remember who said this, but the ability that Paul has in writing a hit song is amazing... They're just too good... He's not my favorite member, but man, he ROCKS!!! It sounds like a song from Killers (as with other Paul's songs).
Single probability - I'm not sure, too many probabilities on this album
Live probability - Yes

Into The Void - LOVE IT! "You're like a magnet, and I'm being pulled Into the VOOOOOOOID"... This COULD be a single, but I don't they will be that kind to Ace. With the other songs on the album, I don't know... Can KISS release 5 singles... We'll see. Sure can be played live!!! Sounds like a Trouble Walkin' song (and I happen to love that album too).
Single probability - No
Live probability - Yes

We Are One - listening to it right now. Now this song is great, kinda See You Tonite and Mr. Make Believe but with some distorted guitars (mixed along with acoustic). This is the only song for me that can be released as a single but I cannot imagine it live. What do you guys think. I love the chorus (how many times have I said the word love till now?!)!
Single probability - YES
Live probability - No

You Wanted The Best - well, well, well. The chorus really didn't do it for as I thought it would. It did grow on me a little bit. I love the verses. the have good melodies and they all sound great. I just thought the chorus could be something more like "You wanted the best and you got the best" instead of "You wanted the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest, and you got the Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeest"; faster, if you can sing along to an email... :)).
Single probability - YES
Live probability - YES, but it'll not replace RARAN as the finale

Raise You Glasses - this one will definetly be a single... Some people have said that it sounds like Bon Jovi. I don't think so. I think it's the other way around, but this is a totally different argument. Along with PC, this song has it all. And it's happier than PC. It's like a celebration for the return of the original 4!
Single probability - YES
Live probability - YES

I Finally Found My Way - this has grown on me BIG TIME. Beautiful. I know it's totally oriented for the charts. SO what?! Other bands would die to make songs like this. Peter sounds great. his voice is a therapy... It soothes. the piano is beautiful - probably Bob Ezrin... (just a comment)
Single probability - ARE YOU KIDDING - YES!!!
Live probability - Yes, but will depend on how it does chart wise

Dreaming - another great Paul song, but it sounds more the a Crazy Nights song with balls. Well, this is the worst Paul songs in the album and it's still awesome...
Single probability - I don't think so
Live probability - Hmmm.... no

Journey of 1,000 Years - The end of the album. At first, when I heard the snippet, I didn't like it that much, sounded confusing. I enjoy it now and the strings playing the PC solo was a great idea.

FINAL COMMENTS:

Well, about the rumor of who played what - I have to say only 1 thing: UNTIL SOMEONE PROVES OTHERWISE, THIS ALBUM HAS ACE'S SOLOS AND PETER'S DRUMS. A Paul lead here and there, or a rhythm guitar from Gene? Ace playing bass! Bruce's solos? Prove it!! I mean PROOF!!! Not speculations. Till then, WELCOME TO THE SHOW!

Paul - WOW, how can he keep getting better. 5 stars!!!
Ace - Sounds great. his voice really improved from his 70's style. Guitar wise, he's my main man
Peter - His voice is awesome, and so is his drumming.
Gene - he has a totally different approach from the Demon, but he really concentrated for this album, writing all of his songs without collaborators...

Rating - 85 out of 100

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