POP ALBUMS

* 1/2 KISS, “Psycho Circus,” Mercury. There’s no denying KISS’ contribution to the rock arena. It upped the ante for pyrotechnic stage spectacle and innovative marketing strategies, but the moderately catchy, super-inflated pop rock that inspired the KISS Army didn’t break much musical ground. Twenty years later the original lineup plays with brawnier chops, but the tunes it tackles are still more heavy-handed shtick than heavy-duty rock.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).