The new Kiss record is a chamber-pop concept album about the plight ofmigrant workers. Just kidding. On their 19th studio effort, the glam-rockwar horses smear on the greasepaint and blast out odes to rocking all nightand partying all day. Kiss are a piece of Americana — more akin tothe Ringling Brothers Circus than a rock band. The only question to ask ofa new Kiss song is: Will it provide decent accompaniment for a Gene Simmonsblood-belching performance in a packed arena? This big, dumb, catchy recordpasses that test.

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”