Kiss’ Wal-Mart-only album Sonic Boom arrived in outlets of the Arkansas-based megachain this week, and the displays that were stocked with Kiss-branded items like M & Ms, blankets, and Mr. Potato Heads have apparently enticed shoppers into buying the two-CD, single-DVD set: Hits is predicting that between 150,000 and 175,000 of the sets will be bought by suckers die-hard Kiss fans by close of business on Sunday. But will Wal-Mart prevail over another American cultural force who’s been proven to actually encourage people to buy music? At least one Canadian crooner is hoping so!


Sappier-than-a-maple-tree singer Michael Bublé is shrewdly waiting for his new album, Crazy Love, to drop until Friday, which just so happens to be the day that he’ll perform on Oprah Winfrey’s show. Now, it’s important to note that Oprah doesn’t always have the Midas touch—after all, three weeks ago, the guest on her Friday installment was none other than Mariah Carey. But Mariah’s Oprah appearance predated the release of Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel by 11 days, thus putting the kibosh on any impulse buying. And let’s face it, a boyishly adorable dude singing covers of “Cry Me A River” and other standards is a bit more in tune with the Oprah demo’s sweet spot than an Eminem dis song! Either way, I really hope that Gene Simmons comes out swinging in Bublé’s direction, or at least starts lobbying Ms. Winfrey for a slot on her couch.


Kiss’ Sonic Goes Boom!! [Hits]