The Asylum Podcast

The Kousins took a different approach to the albums tonight. In the past, we have ranked them, given them listening parties, “reduxed” the hell out of them, “gladiatored” them, and just about everything else you can think of. But we’ve never graded them. Part one included 14 albums picked by a randomizer. We won’t tell you which ones because, well, we want you t...

This week, the Kousins talk about the producers of our favorite band’s albums. This was from the early 1980s through today. Discussed were Michael James Jackson, Ron Nevison, Toby Wright, Alex Coletti, Mark Opitz, Bruce Fairbairn, Paul, and Gene. All four Kousins gave their “Now Listenings.” Calls from Jem From Alabama. What are your thoughts on those producers from the early day...

The whole gang is back together for a “family reunion.” This week, the Kousins talk about the producers of our favorite band’s albums. Because of time restraints, the Kousins got through the 1970s and into the 1980s. The conversation will pick back up next week. But, for this week, discussed was Kenny Kerner & Richie Wise, Neil Bogart, Bob Ezrin, Eddie Kramer, Jeff Glixman, S...

Kousin Marvin is out returning videotapes this week. The remaining Kousins gave a listen, along with a critique, of Paul’s 2008 live album,  One Live KISS,  recorded at the House of Blues in Chicago. There was a mixture of songs from KISS, Paul’s 1978 solo album, and the  Live to Win (2006) album. The backing band was the house band for CBS’s Rockstar: INXS and Rockstar: Supernov...

The Kousins welcome Steve from Podder Than Hell Podcast, who also is co-host with Roadie Ray on the I Remember Now – The Queensryche Podcast, to talk about Ray, Kousin Marvin, and Kousin Gary seeing Geoff Tate live in late September. Steve talks Queensryche with the best of them, so it was great to have him with the Kousins. It was fun having Steve on! All five gave their “Now Listenin...

The Kousins, and even Roadie Ray, are trying something new. An idea that Eugene B. Sims brought up from Wheeler’s Dog Podcast, the Kousins tweaked and modified it. Instead of the KISS Album Gladiator Battle, the Kousins picked a KISS album, and using a randomizer, one Kousin gets to pick if they want to defend the KISS album or an album that came out the same year as the KISS album. Then ano...

Roadie Ray is out again with a business thing. But the Kousins would have  loved to have heard his thoughts on this week’s album…  Psycho Circus . It was reviewed by the Kousins in December 2020. How have their thoughts changed? Have they changed at all? It’s “Listening Party” style from the “return of the Original KISS.” That’s completely a misnomer...

Roadie Ray is on assignment this week, but the Kousins revisit the 1984 album Animalize , which celebrates its 39th anniversary this week. They listen to it “Listening Party” style with commentary and insight. Kousins Tim & Gary gave their “now listenings,” and while Jem from Alabama didn’t call, we got a call from long-time listener Bruno from South Africa. What...

After an unexpected week off where we thought we’d be without Roadie Ray for an episode, the whole gang was together to finish out the “Lust” songs, this time the creepiest, cringiest, most questionable, beautifully written songs in the KISS Katalog. And it happens to be our favorite Demon’s birthday tomorrow. So, the list is fitting, we think. Jim From Alabama and Nick Pro...

Kousin Marvin is out this episode, it was the annual washing of the backside for him. Yeah, it only happens once a year. But, as a companion to the Top 10 Love Songs two episodes ago, we decided to get more naughty and focus on the “lust” songs. Both Jim From Alabama and Steve from I Remember Now: The Queensrÿche Podcast (and Podder Than Hell Podcast) called into give their takes on ou...

None of the Kousins are deep Blue Öyster Cult fans.  None of the Kousins dislike the band, either. We are all pedestrian fans of varying degrees. Kousin Tim is probably the one at the bottom, whereas Roadie Ray or Kousin Marvin may be at the top. Kousin Gary is probably in the middle. That being said, from our conversations about “albums that changed our lives,” Jim From Alabama had li...

A lot of hard rock music, and especially KISS, featured the “s**k me, f**k me” mindset when it comes to lyrical content. But, when challenged, the Kousins found out their favorite band could actually write love songs. Not songs about hooking up, but songs about love. Yeah, we said it. Jim From Alabama and Nick Provenzano call in to give their Top 5-1 “albums that changed their li...

There was an article in Goldmine magazine where Bruce Kulick talks about the 10 albums that “changed his life.” So, the Kousins decided to do a Top 10 of their own. But, because they’re all long-winded, they got through numbers 10-6 last week. So, this is part TWO of the topic. It is another long one. This is numbers 5-1. The Kousins did a sort of “Now Listening” as a...

There was an article in Goldmine magazine where Bruce Kulick talks about the 10 albums that “changed his life.” So, the Kousins decided to do a Top 10 of their own. But, because they’re all long-winded, they got through numbers 10-6. So, this is part ONE of two about the topic. There was no “Now Listening” because the whole topic is a “now listening.” Jim...

Kousin Marvin and Roadie Ray had engagements for this recording, so Kousin Tim and Kousin Gary recruited Eugene B. Sims from the Wheeler’s Dog Podcast to come and sit in. He devised a plan to be the judge of an Album Gladiator Battle but, since it’s so close to the first of the month, have it be opening acts. KT and KG didn’t know which albums they’d be duking it out with....

Love Gun is in the top two for two of the “Kousins.” One has it in the top 10, and the other has it ranked #13. What is it about this album we love so much that will have its 46th anniversary next week? Well, listen to us gush about it. Has anything changed since last year? Jim From Alabama calls in! The Kousins give their “Now Listenings.” What do you think of Love Gun ? L...

Roadie Ray is back on the podcast after a two-week assignment! The Kousins have done album showdowns before. But, in some instances, that just doesn’t seem fair to some of the songs on the two albums. The time period between 1987-1989 in KISStory was a bit polarizing for many fans. Perhaps we use that term way too often, but this  is KISS we’re talking about, and we fans are VERY opini...

May 28 was the third anniversary of the passing of Bob Kulick. Yes, Bob was Bruce’s older brother. Yes, Bob came through in a pinch on some KISS tracks. Yes, Bob was  the  guitarist on Paul’s 1978 solo record. But Bob was much more than that. Bob played with the likes of Lou Reed, Michael Bolton, Doro, WASP, in the touring band and some album work with Meat Loaf and more. He did the gu...

The day of our recording, May 18, 2023, is the 30th anniversary of KISS’  Alive III  (1993). The Kousins (including Marvin once he showed up) discuss the album, things that were going on at the time in the band, the musicianship, the setlist, and more. Jim from Alabama called in, which is ALWAYS a highlight. All four Kousins gave their “Now Listening,” and KG filled in for KM on...

In 1985, the “Satanic Panic” and other over-the-top, ridiculous, and unhelpful movements were in heavy force. One of the worst ideas that anyone could do was create a “Senator’s Wives” committee to police the music industry to keep sex, drugs, violence, and Satan out of other people’s kids’ lives. That’s when the Parents Music Resource “Center&...

Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley was born on April 27, 1951. The Kousins discuss their favorite Ace moments. That could be his music (both in KISS and solo), his antics, or his sayings. Two callers:  Jim from Alabama and a first-time caller, Geraldine. Two of the four Kousins gave their “Now Listening.” What are your favorite Ace moments? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZ...

The Kousins walk you through this hidden gem of a record, the  Off the Soundboard – Poughkeepsie 1984 . April is the month of fools. Right? Okay. Let’s just say this and get it out of the way. We are sorry. We are so very sorry that you have to hear us talk about this record. If that gives something away, then so be it. But it’s worth it to hear Roadie Ray talk about Paul and Gen...

The Kousins have done album showdowns before. But, in some instances, that just doesn’t seem fair to some of the songs on the two albums. This week, Roadie Ray commands 1979’s Dynasty while Kousin Gary defends that album’s sibling, 1980’s Unmasked . Two albums, both some of the most polarizing in the Katalog, that fans either love or hate. Most people aren’t on the fe...

Roadie Ray had to put out some fires in his day job, so the Kousins had to go on without him this week. This week is the anniversary of 1975’s  Dressed To Kill . Three of the four Kousins think that album is mostly “filler,” or songs put in to fill in the cracks and extend the length of the album. For this episode, Kousin Tim, Kousin Gary, and Kousin Marvin go from  KISS (self-ti...

Not technically the opening week of the month (okay, not at all…) we decided to do an “opener” topic. Iron Maiden opened for KISS on the Unmasked tour in 1980 which was odd because that was KISS’s poppiest album and IM was like a hard rock punk band. A strange pairing indeed. So each Kousin picked their own Top 5. There were some diverse choices, but the end came down to tw...