Sonic Boom (Kiss album)

Sonic Boom
Studio album by Kiss
Released	October 6, 2009
Recorded	2009 Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal[1]
Length	43:07
Label	Universal, Roadrunner, Kiss Records
Producer	Paul Stanley, Greg Collins
Kiss chronology
Psycho Circus (1998) Sonic Boom (2009) Monster (2012)
Singles from Sonic Boom
"Modern Day Delilah[2]" Released: August 19, 2009 "Say Yeah" Released: December 8, 2009 "Never Enough" Released: June 8, 2010

Sonic Boom is the 19th studio album and the first in 11 years from band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009.^[3] The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA and produced by the band's co-leader Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins.^[4] A fan routed North American tour promoted the album along with international shows throughout 2010, which included the band headlining the Rock am Ring festival in Germany.

The cover artwork was created by artist Michael Doret who has worked with Kiss previously to create the cover of their 1976 album Rock and Roll Over.^[5] Wal-Mart is the exclusive distributor of the album in the US and Canada,^[3] selling it as a three disc package including the new album, the album Kiss Klassics (a completely re-recorded greatest hits album already and exclusively released in Japan as Jigoku-Retsuden), and six song live DVD recorded April 5, 2009 in Buenos Aires, Argentina as part of the South American leg of the Kiss Alive/35 World Tour. The album was sold as a digipak including a 20 page booklet. The album's first single was announced on the band's official website to be "Modern Day Delilah".^[2] The album was also released on limited edition 180 gram vinyl and was pressed into five colors (red, green, black, blue and purple) with 1000 copies pressed of each.^[6] Metal Hammer listed the album on thirteenth place on the list Metal Hammer Albums of 2009 list.^[7]

Singles

Modern Day Delilah

"Modern Day Delilah" was announced and released as the lead single off of Sonic Boom on August 19, 2009 to radio. It was Kiss' first single release in 11 years, the song's predecessor being "You Wanted the Best" which was released in 1998 off the band's Psycho Circus album. Due to early previews of the album, the song has gained positive feedback from both critics and fans, and has been compared to the band's '70s work.^[4][8] The song was played on the Kiss Alive/35 World Tour.

The music video for this song leaked online on the first days of December and was officially released on December 9, 2009 and premiered on Yahoo! The video is topped and tailed by footage of giant sized members of Kiss walking through Detroit. The video went on to top UK music video channel Scuzz's "Most Rockin: Viewer Request Show" chart on December 3, 2009.

The single was released as downloadable content for Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero on November 19, 2009 along with the singles: "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Lick It Up".^[9]

Modern Day Delilah peaked at #50 on the Billboard Rock songs chart.^[10]

This song is also used for their opening song for Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour and The Hottest Show on Earth Tour.

Say Yeah

The song was added to their shows on their Kiss Alive/35 World Tour roughly halfway through the fifth leg. Later on, it was mentioned during Kiss' Facebook concert broadcast that "Say Yeah" was going to be the next single off of Sonic Boom. Finally, on December 5, it was announced that the single would be released to radios on December 8.^[2] The single was released on the second week of January 2010 in Argentina. "Say Yeah" also hit #1 on February 5, 2010 on a Russian Radio Chart after debuting at #11.

Never Enough

"Never Enough" was released as the new radio single from Sonic Boom in early June 2010 and was mentioned on KISSonline.com. The song was not incorporated into the band's setlist on its 2010 Summer Tour of the US and Canada.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	57[11]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[12]
Records	[13]
The Boston Globe	(favorable)[14]
Entertainment Weekly	(B)[15]
Los Angeles Times	[16]
Sputnikmusic	[17]
The Guardian	[18]
Mojo	[19]
Spin	[20]
Metal Temple	[21]
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

The album received mixed to positive reviews by critics upon its release.^[22]

Sonic Boom debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, selling 108,000 copies in its first week of release.^[23] The #2 position was the highest mark ever reached by the group, beating Psycho Circus' #3 debut in 1998.^[23] The album finished 2009 with 238,000 units sold.^[24]

The album also finished in 2010 as one of Billboard's Top 50 Rock Albums.^[25]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Modern Day Delilah"	Paul Stanley	Stanley	3:37
2.	"Russian Roulette"	Gene Simmons, Stanley	Simmons	4:32
3.	"Never Enough"	Stanley, Tommy Thayer	Stanley	3:26
4.	"Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)"	Simmons	Simmons	3:02
5.	"Stand"	Stanley, Simmons	Stanley, Simmons	4:50
6.	"Hot and Cold"	Simmons	Simmons	3:36
7.	"All For the Glory"	Stanley, Simmons	Eric Singer	3:49
8.	"Danger Us"	Stanley	Stanley	4:22
9.	"I'm an Animal"	Simmons, Stanley, Thayer	Simmons	3:47
10.	"When Lightning Strikes"	Thayer, Stanley	Thayer	3:45
11.	"Say Yeah"	Stanley	Stanley	4:27

Disc 2

Bonus CD: Compilation Jigoku-Retsuden or Kissology

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Deuce"	Simmons	Simmons	3:08
2.	"Detroit Rock City"	Stanley, Bob Ezrin	Stanley	3:57
3.	"Shout It Out Loud"	Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin	Stanley, Simmons	2:54
4.	"Hotter Than Hell"	Stanley	Stanley	3:10
5.	"Calling Dr. Love"	Simmons	Simmons	3:26
6.	"Love Gun"	Stanley	Stanley	3:14
7.	"I Was Made for Lovin' You"	Stanley, Vini Poncia, Desmond Child	Stanley	4:42
8.	"Heaven's on Fire"	Stanley, Child	Stanley	3:24
9.	"Lick It Up"	Stanley, Vinnie Vincent	Stanley	3:56
10.	"I Love It Loud"	Simmons, Vincent	Simmons	4:09
11.	"Forever"	Stanley, Michael Bolton	Stanley	3:53
12.	"Christine Sixteen"	Simmons	Simmons	2:59
13.	"Do You Love Me?"	Stanley, Ezrin, Kim Fowley	Stanley	3:39
14.	"Black Diamond"	Stanley	Singer, intro by Stanley	4:20
15.	"Rock and Roll All Nite"	Stanley, Simmons	Simmons	2:49

Disc 3

DVD - Live in Buenos Aires

1. "Deuce"
2. "Hotter Than Hell"
3. "C'mon and Love Me"
4. "Watchin' You"
5. "100,000 Years"
6. "Rock and Roll All Nite"

Personnel

• Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Gene Simmons – vocals, bass guitar
• Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals
• Eric Singer – drums, vocals

Album charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[26]	22
Austrian Albums Chart[26]	6
Belgium Albums Chart (Vl)[26]	40
Belgium Albums Chart (Wa)[26]	47
Danish Albums Chart[26]	24
Finnish Albums Chart[26]	7
French Albums Chart[26]	31
German Albums Chart[27]	4
Italian Albums Chart[26]	12
Netherland Albums Chart[26]	13
Norwegian Albums Chart[26]	2
Spanish Albums Chart[26]	32
Swedish Albums Chart[26]	3
Switzerland Albums Chart[26]	12
UK Albums Chart[28]	24
Billboard 200[29]	2
Billboard Hard Rock Albums[29]	1
Billboard Rock Albums[29]	1
Billboard Independent Albums[29]	1

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Jeffries, David. Sonic Boom (Kiss album) at Allmusic. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Kissonline.com article^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b} Graff, Gary. "Kiss Makes Sonic Boom Set a Wal-Mart Exclusive". billboard.com. August 17, 2009.
4. ^ ^{a b} Appleford, Steve. "Kiss “Born Again” With Walmart’s “Sonic Boom”: Band Talks New LP". Rolling Stone. August 17, 2009
5. ^ "News > Michael Doret On The New Kiss Cover". Kissonline.Com. 2009-08-10. http://www.kissonline.com/stream/article/display/id/18329. Retrieved 2010-03-26. 
6. ^ "Niet compatibele browser". Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=kiss&init=quick#!/KISS?v=feed&story_fbid=230336199996&ref=mf. Retrieved 2010-03-26. 
7. ^ Metal Hammer's Metal Hammer Albums of 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
8. ^ Kreps, Daniel (June 22, 2009). "Kiss "Days From Finishing" New Album, Walmart Deal In the Works". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/22/kiss-days-from-finishing-new-album-walmart-deal-in-the-works/. 
9. ^ November 16, 2009 (2009-11-16). "Guitar Hero KISS DLC Pre-Release trailer". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLFyBms1gTI. Retrieved 2010-03-26. 
10. ^ "KISS Chart History". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4692/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
11. ^ "Sonic Boom Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". metacritic.com. http://www.metacritic.com/music/sonic-boom. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
12. ^ Rosen (October 26, 2009). "Kiss: Sonic Boom". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/sonic-boom-20091026. 
13. ^ Rupp, Erik (September 16, 2009). "KISS - Sonic Boom (2009)". vistarecords.proboards.com. http://www.vistarecords.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=albumreviewsanddiscussion&action=display&thread=74. 
14. ^ Hirsh, Marc (October 5, 2009). "Kiss, 'Sonic Boom'". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/10/05/kiss_sonic_boom/. Retrieved October 28, 2009. 
15. ^ Collis, Clark (September 30, 2009). "Music Review: Sonic Boom (2009)". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20309206,00.html. Retrieved October 15, 2009. 
16. ^ Wood, Mikael (October 6, 2009). "Album review: Kiss' 'Sonic Boom'". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/album-review-kiss-sonic-boom.html. Retrieved October 15, 2009. 
17. ^ Nosferatwo (October 6, 2009). "KISS Sonic Boom". Sputnikmusic. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/32768/KISS-Sonic-Boom/. 
18. ^ Hann, Michael (October 9, 2009). "Kiss: Sonic Boom". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/09/kiss-sonic-boom-review. 
19. ^ McNair, James (November 2009). "Filter Albums". Mojo (London: Bauer Media Group) (192): 90. ISSN 1351-0193. 
20. ^ Brod, Doug (October 10, 2009). "Rock elders in best-LP-since-Love Gun shocker!". Spin. http://spin.com/reviews/kiss-sonic-boom-kiss. Retrieved October 15, 2009. 
21. ^ Chronis, Grigoris (October 12, 2009). "Kiss: Sonic Boom". http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/k_2/kiss_-_sonic_boom_cd.htm?root=23. 
22. ^ Sonic Boom - Kiss, Metacritic
23. ^ ^{a b} Caulfield, Keith and Monica Herrera. "Michael Buble Beats Kiss on Billboard 200". billboard.com. October 14, 2009.
24. ^ 2010 Money Makers, Billboard
25. ^ Skinner, Keven (December 10, 2010). "Billboard Unveils Top Selling Hard Rock Albums of 2010". dailyblam.com. http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2010/12/10/billboard-unveils-top-selling-hard-rock-albums-of-2010. 
26. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} "KISS - Sonic Boom - swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=KISS&titel=Sonic+Boom&cat=a. Retrieved 26 June 2011. 
27. ^ "Kiss: Sonic Boom (Longplay)". musicline.de. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/Kiss/Sonic+Boom/longplay. Retrieved 26 June 2011. 
28. ^ "Chart Stats - Kiss - Sonic Boom". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=48617. Retrieved 26 June 2011. 
29. ^ ^{a b c d} "Sonic Boom". http://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-albums#/album/kiss/sonic-boom-german-extended-version/1295212. 

External links

• Messages from Kiss on new album
• Kissonline.com