The Asylum Podcast

The Kousins and Roadie Ray hold the first Asylum Album Throwdown. Kousin Tim assigned the Kousins to take two post-Ace Frehley, nine-song, two-plus different guitarist albums, Creatures of the Night from 1982 and Animalize from 1984, and pit them against each other. The Kousins went track-by-track; #1 vs #1, #2 vs #2, etc. It was a fun exercise and Uncle/Kousin Stevie “broke the ties”...

©Epic/Columbia The Kousins (minus Kousin Marvin) and Roadie Ray welcome Eugene B. Sims from Wheeler’s Dog Podcast . Eugene is in to talk about one of his favorite albums from one of his favorite bands, Cheap Trick’s “One on One” from 1982. Eugene offers stories, trivia, and a guided tour through the album itself. Not all of the Kousins liked it, though. Any guesses as to wh...

©Casablanca The Kousins and Roadie Ray talk about the 45th anniversary (June 30) of the sixth studio album, Love Gun. Also, Ray gives us his KISS album ranking from #32 to #1. All four Kousins dig this record. Some more than others. How do you feel about it? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotline and leaving a message for the Kousins at 336-422-NUMB (6862). You can also see it o...

The Kousins and Roadie Ray talk about the songs they wish they had written. Then, each comment on why they picked the song and/or just how they felt about it in general. What song in the KISS catalog do you most wish you had written? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotline and leaving a message for the Kousins at 336-422-NUMB (6862). You can also see it on our YouTube channel. We...

©Universal Music Group The Kousins and Roadie Ray do their next “Album Draft.” The rules: each Kousin (“Honorary” or real) gets to pick one song from each album from Lick It Up through Monster, so the non-makeup and reapplied makeup years. Once that song is picked, no one else can pick it. Whatever you pick, neutralizes that album for you. Then, once all ten songs were sele...

The Kousins and Roadie Ray rank all 24 Studio Albums’ Track #2. From the self-titled debut through Monster, the second track of each is up for dissection and scrutiny. Some entries baffled the other Kousins. There were a couple that were agreed upon by at least two Kousins but the lists were diverse. Nick calls in as does Uncle Steve. There is debate and discourse. What’s your favorite...

The Kousins and Roadie Ray welcome Uncle Steve from Uncle Steve’s Iron Maiden Zone. We talk a little bit of Maiden, a whole lot of KISS and we give KISS’s second album, Hotter Than Hell, the Listening Party Treatment. Production is shoddy for that album, but the Kousins and Uncle Steve are divided on whether that lends to the charm or not. Check out Uncle Steve’s Iron Maiden Zone...

©EMI The Kousins and Roadie Ray talk about Queensrÿche’s fifth album, Promised Land . It was the first album after the uber-successful Empire and was a bit different from their past, but still quite firmly planted in the band’s history. Kousin Tim and Roadie Ray totally geek out on it and Kousin Gary shows his musical appreciation. Kousin Marvin hated it going in. How does he feel now?...

The Kousins and Roadie Ray talk about KISS before they were ever KISS. It’s Wicked Lester time and it gets the “Listening Party” treatment. Wicked Lester is not everyone’s cup of tea and it had to grow on Ray but the Kousins seemed to dig it. There are some interesting songs on this album, for sure. Have you heard it? What did you think? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwor...

©Casablanca The Kousins and Roadie Ray do their first-ever “Album Draft.” The rules: each Kousin (“Honorary” or real) gets to pick one song from each album from the self-titled through Creatures of the Night. Once that song is picked, no one else can pick it. Whichever song you pick, neutralizes that whole album for you, you can’t pick another from that album. Then, o...

©Geffen Records The Kousins and Roadie Ray (he kept the position just reverted the name) do an Opening Act show, being the first podcast of the month (yes it’s still March but the last day): Whitesnake (’87) . It gets the “Listening Party” treatment and Kousin Gary gives you more info about John Sykes (the guitarist on the album) than you’d ever want to know. He crush...

©Casablanca The Kousins and Road Manager Ray talk about KISS’ third studio album, the one that possibly set the band up to continue as it was the tour that led to Alive! which is the one that gave the world Rock and Roll All Nite. The album gets the “Listening Party” treatment. Kousin Tim has never been shy about his disdain for the album in general but loves a few songs. Have hi...

©Casablanca The Kousins surprise Road Manager Ray and ask him to be a permanent co-host on the show. Then there’s the Destroyer album given the “Listening Party” treatment. We go through the album and give our opinions, facts, and figures on it. All the Kousins and RMR talk about their “now listening” tunes and why. Where does “Destroyer” fall on your rank...

©Casablanca The Kousins (well two of the three – Kousin Marvin is absent) welcome listener Nick Provenzano on to talk about KISS’ second “live” album, Alive II . We give it the “Listening Party” treatment that it didn’t get the first time we listened through. We go through the album (all 20 songs) and give our opinions, facts, and figures on it. Whether we...

©Mercury Records The Kousins bring a new monthly series to the Asylum: The Opening Act . KISS has had a lot of big-name acts open for them on their own road to stardom. We want to highlight some of those. The inaugural chapter of this is one of the first bands to open for KISS, on and off, 1974-1976. We dive into Rush’s 1981 album, Moving Pictures,  which celebrated its 41st anniversary in F...

©Creatures Fest The Kousins and Road Manager Ray welcome the first non-“family” (blood or otherwise) guest to the show. Jay Jadofsky, one of the organizers for Creatures Fest, joins to discuss the event. What is Creatures Fest? It is the only KISS-themed event outside KISS Kruise that will happen this year, with the “holy trinity” of KISS guitarists, Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vin...

©Mercury The Kousins listen to the album that is the namesake of the podcast, 1985’s Klassic, “Asylum.” Of course, it features the Kousins’ favorite KISS lineup (collectively) with Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr, has what Kousin Tim calls two of KISS’ best songs, makeup era or non-makeup era, and we dive a little deeper checking out things we may not have known the first...

©Mercury The Kousins are joined by Road Manager Ray (catchy new name, there) and revisit the 1989 Klassic(?) “Hot in the Shade” in the “listening party format.” Kousin Tim ranked it pretty low on his list, Kousin Marvin and Kousin Gary rank it respectably and Road Manager Ray really liked it. How did their feelings change after the initial rankings and how do they feel abou...

The Kousins listen to their own curated compilation of songs they think should have been released as singles but were not. Some would have been cool to have been singles but some are just plain shameful that they weren’t. The rule is the song couldn’t have been released as a single, but B-Sides are okay. Also, Roadie Ray news… Which “deep-cut” KISS songs would you lik...

©Mercury Anniversaries abound this week. Kousins Marvin and Gary take us for a walk down memory lane. They reminisce about their first concert from January 18, 1988; Kiss on the Crazy Nights tour in Huntington, WV. To relive the experience we listen to 1987’s Crazy Nights . Is Crazy Nights on your fave list or do you just say No No NO? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotlin...

©Casablanca This week Kousin Tim led us through a retrospective listening party for the 1974 self-titled release. 🤘🏼With such a masterpiece, could you remove a song if you had to? What about two songs? The Kousins dive into these questions and more. Want to get in on the Konversation? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotline and leaving a message for the Kousins at...

©Donnas The Kousins talk about their favorite KISS cover tunes or KISS songs done by other artists. The lists are very diverse and no actual crossovers happened, or as they call them, “Goochers.” What are your favorite KISS cover tunes? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotline and leaving a message for the Kousins at 336-422-NUMB (6862). This podcast was recorded in Th...

Top Peter Criss Songs The Kousins talk about their top Peter Criss songs. This was a Kousin Gary assignment. These songs could be while in KISS or solo stuff after KISS. All three Kousins took a different approach to get to their lists. What does your list of favorite Peter Criss songs look like? Let us know by calling the TLDNetwork (KUZZ Army) hotline and leaving a message for the Kousins at 336...

The Kousins talk about Kousin Marvin’s KISS ranking, from #32 to #1. He tells us the previous version of his list and the 2021 version and how much an album rises or falls, if at all. Let’s just say that Kousins Tim and Gary were shocked, hurt, in awe but this wasn’t as weird as KG’s list. Do you agree with his list? What does your list look like? Let us know by calling the...

©not our copyright. We do not own this picture. The Kousins talk about their individual top 10 of KISS guitar solos. Kousin Tim’s assignment, the solos could be from any KISS release including solo albums and live albums. Honorary Kousins, Nick P and Roadie Ray, each call in to talk about their favorites. Do you have a favorite KISS solo? What do your top 10 solos look like? Let us know by c...