KISS Delivers More Boom For The BuckBY WAYNE PARRY - Huffington Post
KISS, "Sonic Boom" (Kiss Records)
"Sonic Boom," the first Kiss studio album in 11 years, is one of the best hard rock albums of 2009.
Paul Stanley, who produced the album, shines on "Modern Day Delilah," the epic "Stand" and the anthem-in-waiting "Say Yeah," with its shout-it-outloud chorus. Gene Simmons has his moment of modesty on "Nobody's Perfect," with the follow-up line, "but baby I come awfully close."
Drummer Eric Singer wears predecessor Peter Criss' catman costume and makeup. But Singer earned his whiskers through his 1992-96 tenure in Kiss during the unmasked era. More important, he brings his own style to classic Kiss songs, and his album vocal debut on "All for the Glory" is a decent one.
"Sonic Boom" also includes a second disc of Kiss classics re-recorded with the current lineup, and tracks like "Calling Dr. Love" and "Heaven's on Fire" have never sounded as fresh and raw. There's even a bonus DVD of an April 2009 concert in Argentina.
