ALICE COOPER - The Eyes Of Alice Cooper
October 2, 2003, 20 years ago
(Eagle)
It's been decades since an enjoyable Alice Cooper record. The man's success with dross like 'Hey Stoopid', 'Poison' and 'Teenage Frankenstein' rang hollow to these '70s "Coop" ears. Decidedly non-metal (but then the music never really was), the baker's dozen offered within are an aural time machine, harkening to the day when any/all musical genres were game, within the same disc. Look at the back catalog, and one sees 'Ballad Of Dwight Frye', 'From The Inside' and 'Only Woman Bleed' next to pop anthems like 'School's Out' and 'I'm Eighteen' or the pre-metal, hard rock staples of 'I Love The Dead', 'Go To Hell' and 'Black Widow'. Alice can't be pigeonholed. On the new disc, another helping of biting lyrics, as on 'Man Of The Year', is accompanied by a countrified 'Novocaine', plus an occasional brass section and cowbell (talk about retro)! Don't be scared by Eagle (formerly known as Spitfire) selling Eyes as "a very current rock 'n' roll record" and "a bold step forward." In fact the autobiographical and historical 'Detroit City' sees former MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer guest. Only the pedestrian 'This House Is Haunted' stumbles, although 'The Song That Didn't Rhyme' is a long way to go for a one-note joke. Elsewhere 'I'm So Angry' is a punk-fuelled stomp, Alice's tongue firmly planted in cheek. The Eyes have it!
