RECORD REVIEWS

The Wallflowers

Album: “Glad All Over” (Columbia)

Grade: C

“Glad All Over,” The Wallflowers’ first release in seven years, is an uneven return for the roots-rock band fronted by Jakob Dylan, the guy with the famous dad.

While the disc flirts with greatness, especially on the two tracks featuring former Clash guitarist Mick Jones, the majority feels a little phoned in and predictable.

At its best, like on “Misfits and Lovers,” the band delivers its signature Bruce Springsteen-inspired, gravelly voiced, gritty garage band rock sound, complete with catchy hooks and driving rhythm.

But too often “Glad All Over” feels like a compilation of rejected ideas and riffs that are somewhat engaging but nowhere near as well executed as “Bringing Down the Horse,” the 1996 record that brought the band its biggest hits and accolades.

—Scott Bauer, Associated Press

Kiss

Album: “Monster” (Universal)

Grade: A

Nearly 40 years after first slapping on the makeup, donning the costumes and changing forever the way a live concert is performed, Kiss can still bring it.

“Monster” is the caped crusaders’ 20th studio album, and one that fans of old school ’70s classic rock will be just as comfortable with as those who cut their teeth on later material.

It opens with a bang in “Hell or Hallelujah,” a fast-paced rocker that could be the band’s best concert opener since “I Stole Your Love,” way back in 1977 (though they put it in the middle of the set this summer).

Imagine a mash-up of “Helter Skelter” and Kiss’ 1992 track “Spit,” and you’ve got “Wall of Sound,” a dramatic, ground-pounder. “Freak” uses a grungier distorted sound to showcase the band’s longstanding philosophy of not caring what anyone else thinks of them. And “Back To The Stone Age” features Eric Singer’s pounding drums with a beat reminiscent of the Stones’ “Live With Me.”

This is guitarist Tommy Thayer’s second studio album with Kiss since replacing Ace Frehley in 2003 (and completely stealing his musical identity to the point where the FBI should have been notified).

Things bog down somewhat on tracks in the middle of the disc, but finish strong on “Last Chance,” propelled by an AC/DC-like “Thunderstruck” chant. This album isn’t “Destroyer” or even “Love Gun,” but it’s still worth having.

—Wayne Parry, Associated Press

THE SCRIPT

Album: “3” (Epic)

Grade: B

The Script could easily have stuck to, um, the script, after launching two well-crafted, successful pop-rock albums. But the Irish trio isn’t that kind of band.

On “3,” front man Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power take some remarkable risks — adding hip-hop rhymes to their pop-rock.

The results are uneven, especially when compared to the band’s ballads, which are really where the band’s songwriting excel. However, the artistic stretch seems to help The Script overall.

O’Donoghue’s rapping on “If You Could See Me Now” isn’t going to scare off Eminem or Drake, but it does get the point of missing his parents across. While “Hall of Fame” is pretty anemic as hip-hop, it’s certainly edgier than the average One Republic entry.

It’s that edge that raises the level of the rest of “3,” giving it unexpected lyrical twists and melodic turns.

In today’s high-stakes music industry, risk-taking like “3” is so rare that The Script should get credit for it, even if it doesn’t always work out.

—Glenn Gamboa, Newsday