Kiss, 'Sonic Boom' (Kiss)

Rock elders in best-LP-since-Love Gun shocker!

In the 11 years since releasing the patchy Psycho Circus, Kiss have marketed kaskets, opened a koffeeshop, and released krappy solo albums, apparently on a mission to make everyone but diehards forget that, for a few LPs running, they were the greatest rock band of the '70s.

Kiss, 'Sonic Boom' (Kiss Records)

Rock elders in best-LP-since-Love Gun shocker!

In the 11 years since releasing the patchy Psycho Circus, Kiss have marketed kaskets, opened a koffeeshop, and released krappy solo albums, apparently on a mission to make everyone but diehards forget that, for a few LPs running, they were the greatest rock band of the '70s.

The Upper Crust, 'Revenge for Imagined Slights' (Camp Street)

18th-century aristos still cracking us up.

For hard-rock jokers with one very specific gag -- performing as puffy-shirted dandies -- this Boston quartet keeps coming up with great punch lines.

Marilyn Manson, 'The High End of Low' (Interscope)

The overlord of the overblown justifies his sleaze.

Not that anyone but that kid serving you at TCBY was counting -- but after a seven-year break, goth rock's funniest creep welcomes back guitarist Twiggy Ramirez for this collection of 15 necromantic vamps, mass-murder ballads, and stormtrooper anthems (including the stupendous "Arma-goddamn-mother-fuckin-geddon," where Manson's glorious glam roots are showing).

Peter Doherty, 'Grace/Wastelands' (Astralwerks)

U.K.'s wasted bard returns to the land of the living.

The seemingly constant rehabs, arrests, and prison stints. The romp with Amy Winehouse and a filthy handful of newborn mice on YouTube. It's all too easy to dismiss Pete (now Peter, for a touch of class) Doherty as nothing more than a smack-addled wretch. But there's little denying the former Libertine and current Babyshamble's talent as a songwriter and, well, presence.

11 Thoughts About the Grammys

SPIN's Doug Brod on the best (Carrie Underwood), the worst (Katy Perry), and everything in between.
Guitarist Orianthi Panagar and Carrie Underwood / Photo by John Shearer (WireImage.com)

1) Justin Timberlake and Dwayne Johnson joke about general stores and a band called the Beatles Fighters on music's biggest night, hear crickets. Where's Bruce Vilanch when we need him?

2) The night's best rock performer? Carrie Underwood, take a bow. And your guitarist Orianthi Panagar can take two.

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