The Asylum Podcast

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the thirteenth KISS album and the one that gave us our name, “Asylum.” A much-maligned and oft dismissed album due to its glammy and glitzy album cover, colorful videos, and the fact that it was from 1985, the album is better than it’s usually given credit for. One of the Kousins thinks that this album contains the best non-makeup song and the best...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about the one that started it all. The self-titled debut, “KISS.” Eight of its seven songs were represented on “Alive!” Several are still concert staples. So much passion. So much hunger. The album kicks ass and doesn’t even bother to take names. Is it a “Strutter?” A “Black Diamond” in the rough? Or does it make yo...

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the “original Alive IV,” “Alive! The Millennium Concert” from Vancouver in 1999. Is it worth listening to? Is it worth your time? Was it necessary? We’re not giving anything away. You may just be surprised. Call the KUZZ Army Hotline (TLDNetwork) and leave a message for the Kousins at 336-422-NUMB (6862). This podcast was recorded in Th...

©KISS/Sanctuary The Kousins talk about the symphonic KISS live album, “Symphony- Alive IV.” It is the curtain call for Peter in the band, even though it was his third pass-through. At times it is bombastic, subtle, cool. There are a few tunes that we hadn’t gotten live, either in a while or ever. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Children’s Choir helped fill th...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about the very first KISS live album, “Alive!” This could arguably be called KISS’ most important album. Without the success of “Rock and Roll All Nite” and this album in general, Casablanca Records and most likely the band would have ceased to exist. It’s powerful. It’s bombastic. It’s worth a “Deuce” because...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about the KISS’s tenth studio album, “Creatures of the Night.” Holding the distinction of perhaps the best cover ever on a KISS album, this album set out to right the wrongs of the prior three albums. It was heavy and hard, but there were secrets. With this album was it “I Love It Loud” or “Rock and Roll Hell?” Call the TLDNetw...

The Kousins talk about the KISS’s sixteenth studio album, Revenge . ©Mercury It was produced by Bob Ezrin, who at this point wasn’t coked out. KISS was righting the ship that had veered a bit, especially after the loss of their backbone, Eric Carr. It was heavy, a precursor of the album that would follow. It’s “Unholy.” Do you dig it? Was it “I Just Wanna”...

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the KISS’s much-maligned, possibly conciliatory seventeenth studio album, “Carnival Of Souls.” One of us really loved it and the other two totally agreed with him. The album is totally misunderstood and had it not been for a sneaky leak, it may never have seen the light of day. It’s hard, very hard. It’s heavy, like tons. Is it a KISS a...

The Kousins talk about the KISS’s eighth studio album, “Unmasked.” ©Casablanca This was the last to SHOW Peter Criss on the cover, although, he played nary a drum lick on the album. It’s poppy, it’s polarizing. The Kousins go song-by-song. Do we love it? Do we hate it? If you’ve not listened to the podcast, or this album before, “come on, get your feet wet...

The Kousins talk about the KISS’s three-biggest “greatest hits” albums, “Double Platinum,” “KISS KIllers,” and “Smashes Thrashes and Hits.” They also discuss the New Year’s Eve show from Dubai on PPV. A call from Roadie Ray. The greatest hits records featured some rerecordings, remixes, and a few new songs. A song-by-song dive into the so...

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the KISS’s eleventh studio album and first without makeup and the first “official” album without Ace Frehley, “Lick It Up.” Vinnie Vincent was announced as the new guitarist and the band began recording the new album. After a miserable tour for the previous album, it was time to take off the makeup. This was a call to all hard rock fans...

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the KISS’s eighteenth studio album and first with makeup and all original members in nearly 20 years, “Psycho Circus.” Such a promising situation and KISS Nation was excited. Was it a hit or were fans disappointed? How about the Kousins? They go through track-by-track and discuss it. “You Wanted the Best.” You get “Psycho Circus.&...

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the first live acoustic concert album from KISS, “MTV Unplugged.” Where does the album stand on each Kousins’ list? They go through track-by-track and discuss it. Kousin Tim said one song from this was Paul Stanley’s best vocal performance of all-time. You really got “Nothin’ to Lose” by listening, right? It’s just lik...

Happy Thanksgiving!! The Kousins talk about the beaters of the skins in KISS, the drummers. We talk about Peter, the passing of Eric Carr, Eric Singer, and the “stick-slingers” that worked behind the scenes. You can’t beat that! Call the TLDNetwork hotline and leave a message for the Kousins at 336-422-NUMB (6862). This podcast was recorded in The Less Desirables Studio South and...

The Kousins talk about the twelfth KISS studio album, “Animalize.” ©Mercury It was produced by Paul Stanley and featured the only appearance of Mark St. John on a KISS record. THE hit was “Heavens on Fire.” When you listen to this album do you “Get All You Can Take,” or is it “Murder in High Heels” to endure? Where did the Kousins fall? Call the TLDN...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about the fourth KISS studio album, Destroyer . Probably the seminal KISS record. While Alive! broke them out, Destroyer was a make or break moment, and isn’t strange how fortune turned on chance? What are we talking about? You’ll have to listen to find out. We go song-by-song and discuss stories about the songs, the times, and the band. Does the anticipati...

©Mercury The Kousins talk about the third “live” album, KISS Alive III . We talk about the songs, especially the ones that were NOT on the first two “Alive” albums, what we think is missing, stories about the period, and more. We also give Eugene B. Sims from Wheeler’s Dog Podcast a lil love! Call the TLDNetwork hotline and leave a message for the Kousins at 336-422-N...

The Kousins talk about sixteen albums, six singles, “KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park” and other film and television appearances, home videos, the Gene Simmons-Shannon Tweed wedding anniversary, and a whole lot more that happened in October. A call from Roadie Ray and a record giveaway. What was your favorite KISStober moment or item? Call the TLDNetwork hotline and leave a message f...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about the third studio albums from KISS, “Dressed to Kill.” Kousin Tim ranks it pretty low on his overall KISS list, the Kousins debate it. A call from Roadie Ray. The Kousins discuss the album track by track, the state of the band at the time, the sound quality, what they like, and what they don’t. Did the album hit “Rock Bottom?” Do you...

©KISS/Roadrunner ©UMe The Kousins talk about the nineteenth and twentieth studio albums from KISS, “Sonic Boom” and “Monster.” And it’s another long one. We talk about the songs, where they fall in our lists, how we feel, break down the instruments and geek out a little. We also pay tribute to a Rock God that we lost this week, Edward Van Halen. We challenge you to ma...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about the sixth studio album from KISS, “Love Gun.” And it’s a long one. We talk about the songs, where they fall in our lists, how we feel, break down the instruments, and geek out a little. We’re just “Hooligans” and some will say we’re “Almost Human.” Call the TLDNetwork hotline and leave a message for the Kousin...

The Kousins talk about the 10 KISS albums, two post-KISS albums, five singles, Symphony DVD, three television and film appearances, and true unmasking of the band that happened in September, or as we call it KISStember. Of those things, what was your favorite? Also, the Kousins are giving away a copy of “Alive!” on vinyl. Call the TLDNetwork hotline and leave a message for the Kousins...

©Mercury In this episode, The Kousins talk about KISS’s fifteenth album, “Hot In The Shade.” They had been out a week for vacation but are back and talking about what some may call a great album, some may call a throwaway, some may just say ‘meh.’ “HITS” has the first original lead vocal from Eric Carr, but it’s also his last real album appearance be...

The Kousins talk about KISS’ ninth and most controversial studio album, “Music From ‘The Elder’.” The Kousins do a critique of Side B, song by song. What did they like? Who was playing what, where was the story going and what could have been left off, if anything. Eugene calls the TLD Network hotline. How did Tim do with Mr. Speed’s Trivia? This album was certai...

©Casablanca The Kousins talk about KISS’ ninth and most controversial studio album, Music From ‘The Elder’ . Tim makes his opening arguments for why it’s a great album and why it sits where it does on his list. The Kousins do a critique of Side A, song by song. What did they like? Where did it fall on their respective lists? Brad calls the TLD Network hotline. No Mr. Speed&...