Anyone Else Buying the New Alice Cooper CD?

Cafe Society
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Hopefully I’m the not the only one! Zoogirl? Anyway, it came out yesterday and is called “Along Came a Spider,” about a serial killer named (appropriately enough) Spider. He traps his victims in silk and then cuts off a leg, all the better to build his own arachnid with. :slight_smile: Then he falls in love and well, you’ll have to hear the rest to figure out how the story ends.

I’ve never reviewed music before, but there’s several tracks that I already adore and a couple that inspire a meh. Here’s my thoughts…

[ul]Vengence is Mine has Slash playing on it and, in my humble opinion, rocks the hardest.
[li]The Prologue and Epilogue are extremely good and creepy. I think they rock pretty decently too.[/li][li]In Your Femine Side, the rhyming is atrocious. Scare in your hair? Hips in your slips? < groan > WTF??!?[/li][li]Two ballads, Killed by Love and Salvation, are very pretty and uncharacteristic for those that don’t know that Alice is quite handy at these. My only drawback is that the latter also serves a Christian theme and, I suppose, I’d rather keep that off the killing grounds. I dunno.[/li][li]I think Wake the Dead, I’m Hungry, The One that Got Away and Catch Me if You Can are more homage to his garage sound. They’re extremely likable, in a get-to-your-feet-and-clap arena rock way. Some I like more than others, certainly the ones whose lyrics have double entendres. :stuck_out_tongue: [/li][/ul]

Overall, I think it’s pretty kick ass. Especially for a concept album today, but no where near the genius of “Welcome to my Nightmare.” However, I feel it’s right up there with “Dragontown” and “Last Temptation”. Finally, when he tours specifically to support this, it’s been said that he’ll be doing mini vignettes to illustrate the songs, similar to old radio programs from the 40s. Should be interesting. If anyone wants to check out more, there’s an official group on YouTube that has the 4 pre-trailers that set up the release and of course, everything is available for download. There’s even two extras I haven’t heard yet!

Check out anything I’ve failed to mention (which, I’m sure, is a LOT) on his website or there’s even a myspace page. He’s touring right now in the UK, but will be back in the states during the fall.

Overall, I give this a solid 8 rating (out of 10) with a possibility to climb due to repeated listening. :smiley:

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Alice Cooper fan here - still have many of his on gasp vinyl!

yup, getting the new one!

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Alice!!!

I had no idea! And a concept album, too!

I absolutely love “Brutal Planet,” “Dragontown,” and “The Last Temptation.” If you compare this one to those…oh, I must have it. Now. :slight_smile:

Thanks! :slight_smile:

Maybe I’ll finally get to see him on tour this time.

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I only own one Alice Cooper tape (tape!) and it’s Zipper Catches Skin, which apparenly I’m the only person in the world who likes it. I’ll have to check this out.

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I typed out a nice reply and my stupid computer ate it! ARGH. Anyway, let me just say that I think you guys that are Alice fans already will love it. It’s smart, funny and sly. And of course you’ve got to see him live too!! As to you Cluricaun, “ZCS” was a hilarious album and you’re not alone in liking it. However, if you want to be certain before purchasing it, you can hear the whole thing here first. Oh, and if anyone would be interested in reading some reviews, I’ve got tons. They’re mostly really positive, but for fair and balanced reporting, I have a couple that tip the scales in the other direction. Just let me know.

Happy listening everyone!

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Not that it matters (and I’ll probably have left to buy it before I get any replies anyway) but how would you say it compares stylistically with his last two (Dirty Diamonds and The Eyes of Alice Cooper)? I ask because I really didn’t like either of those two–I prefer the stuff with deeper lyrics and more of a metal style to his “let’s go back to my gritty garage band roots” period.

I’ll buy it anyway, though–I love Alice and will support whatever he puts out. :slight_smile:

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Yeah, unfortunately, there are several that I think are more ‘garage sound’ rock than I’d like. Let’s see if I can say exactly how many give off that vibe… about half. So, although “DD” and “Eyes” weren’t my absolute favoritest ever, they grew on me. And I expect some of these that feel similar will eventually separate themselves out and I won’t place as much of a connection there. However, it does seem to be a well he’s been lured into going tapping once more.

Overall, I think the storyline pulls it and above what’s transpired before. If that makes sense. :slight_smile: Sadly though, I don’t think it is quite the A+++ we’re used to from him in some of his more cohesive efforts that really showcase his witty and weighty writing ability. I’d say this one is just more of a fun rocker, with a delicious dark side, than anything else. Hope that helps.

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I got it yesterday, and I see what you mean. It’s going to have to grow on me a bit, I think. By contrast, the first time I ever heard the title track from “Brutal Planet,” I was hooked, and the entire CD hooked me almost completely with every song. I’ll give it a few more listens and see if it “funguses” on me–often times things I’m not crazy about on initial listen tend to do that if I give them a chance.

And boo–he’s not coming anywhere near me on tour! Alice! Shame on you! THREE shows in Vegas but not one ANYWHERE in California? :frowning:

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I haven’t got the new one and am unlikely to for a long while, but I just want to chime in as another who likes Zipper Catches Skin.

As to his recent output, I haven’t heard Eyes, and Dirty Diamonds didn’t wow me, but Brutal Planet and Dragontown were awesome (Dragontown less so than Brutal Planet). And Last Temptation was a worthy, if not perfect, followup to Welcome to My Nightmare.

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Alice Cooper really recorded a song called Wake The Dead, I’m Hungry?

Good to know he’s still in that old groove.

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Zipper catches Skin was the very first Cooper album I bought back in… well, I was like 12 or 13 yrs old. Love it.

I have some of Welcome To My nightmare on my MP3 player and listen to it when I’m working. Another one of my Favs is Lace and Whiskey… now, I’m probably the only one who liked that one! Oh, and the sleeve pic on that one was on my bedroom wall - I thought he looked handsome. =)

I’m so not worthy

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Nope! I love Lace and Whisky - or rather I like the album, and I love certain tracks - the title track, Ubangi Stomp, and No More Love at Your Convenience.

I don’t think it’s really fair to compare it to his regular albums - it’s not the same sort of music, so it won’t seem as ‘good’ when compared on the same scale.

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If this is an “I’m the only one who liked” contest, then I think I’m the only one who likes Special Forces.

I haven’t listened and liked to a Coop album since Trash (didn’t like Hey Stoopid), but if people are giving his “new era” positive kudos, then I have some catching up to do. Looking forward to some good new Coopage :slight_smile:

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Wow, it’s been too long since I’ve been here!

Yeah, of course I got the album! I also got to see him perform on Sept 18 and 19 as well as FINALLY meeting him at the CD signing at Scrape Records in Vancouver on the 17th. I’m all Aliced out and very happy about it! :smiley:

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Bit of a hijack - does anyone know if there is a DVD of WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE which is the ABC-aired version instead of a concert one?

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I know the VHS exists and I believe it’s through Warner’s and it’s the big old box that you usually see kid’s movies in. I’ve heard DVD rumors. You might want to check out SickthingsUK (just Google it). That’s the best of the fansites and it’s free. They know EVERYTHING about Alice. You don’t even need to sign up to go on the general forums.

If you find two, let me know!

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Hey…I liked (most of ) “Special Forces”. I also like the new album, but not nearly as much as I liked the last couple. Pretty much everything since Hey Stoopid has been, in my opinion, fantastic. I think this new one is a lot weaker then the last few though, but not nearly as weak as Brutal Planet.

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Brutal Planet–weak?

Wow, just goes to show that “different strokes” thing is true–I thought BP was without question Alice’s strongest and best CD in years. I haven’t really liked his last two or three very much–they haven’t grabbed me, and I don’t care for his “garage band” style.

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Hey, there’s zoogirl! Good to see you back, but not so good of me to be green with envy that you actually met Alice!! ARGH. I officially hate you now. :wink: :stuck_out_tongue: :smiley:

Just wanted to drop in and link to the new videos he’s released as of yesterday. It’s a compilation of “Vengence is Mine,” “(In Touch With Your) Feminine Side” and “Killed By Love”. The first is pretty decent, the second is awesome and the last is weak, but they all have Coop, so of course I’m in love. :slight_smile: And further happily report that the last time I checked, ACaS had at least hit number 53 on the Billboard Charts. Yeah!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the CD (no matter where your tastes fall on the spectrum) and if ya ain’t got it yet, you’re gonna.