What does it sound like?:
With the best will in the world, I’m not sure anyone would cite Alice Cooper’s first two albums – ‘Pretties For You and ‘Easy Action’ – as essential.
They have their moments, but not the energy, commitment or even at times a clear focus. In the main they are a mix of Psychedelia, Freak Rock, Frank Zappa knock-offs, and Alice sounding close to Captain Beefheart.
But California was not a natural fit for the band, and they upped sticks and moved towards Detroit – a scene and sound perhaps closer to their liking.
And like it they did with confidence showing on third album ‘Love It To Death’ – OK not an unadulterated classic, but more than enough to warrant repeat playing.
And they were off … next album ‘Killer’ would by my choice as the pick of their back catalogue, and this was closely followed by ‘Schools Out and ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ – probably the bands last truly great album.
Alice Cooper is 74, his band mates of a similar vintage, but they have come together again for a couple of tracks on the new album and deliver the goods once again.
‘Detroit Stories’ is a mix of cover versions and new originals re-visiting and celebrating their beginnings and the sound of late 60s Detroit – MC5, The Stooges, Grand Funk Railroad, Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger. Even the Velvet Underground and The Doors make a passing appearance. The sound and delivery is an unmistakable return to the template defined by those 4 albums mentioned above. And that template is re-inforced by the presence of Bob Ezrin in the producers chair.
And it is with the Velvet Underground, specifically a cover of “Rock & Roll” which kicks off the album. Not a total facsimile, but close enough to the original to be comfortable and different enough for Alice to put his own stamp on it.
Over 15 tracks, we get 4 cover versions – the aformentioned “Rock & Roll”, Outrageous Cherry: “Our Love Will Change The World”, MC5: “Sister Anne”, and Bob Seger: “East Side Story” amongst a slew of Alice originals as good as he’s ever done.
All delivered with a ragged garage rock feeling, hints of blues harp, Alice’s growled menacing vocal and an air of menace, humour and sheer enjoyment. This is not just a re-visit and celebration of Detroit, but a re-visit and celebration of Alice himself.
There is also an impressive list of guest players including:
– Original band mates Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith on “Social Debris” and “I Hate You”
– MC5s Wayne Kramer and Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner play on 12 of the 15 tracks
– Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner appears on 4 tracks
– Joe Bonamassa appears on 2 tracks
– Larry Mullen Jr thumps the tubs on “Shut Up And Rock”
What does it all *mean*?
This is no lazy knock-off covers album awash with special guests and some filler thrown in to make up the numbers – this is very probably the most complete, consistent album since 1975s ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’.
(I nearly chose 1989’s ‘Trash’ but it falls short for being a bit too clean in the songwriting and production departments)
Goes well with…
Kicking out the Jams, the Nuggets compilation, Horror films, and Golf
Release Date:
Now
Might suit people who like…
Alice Cooper’s imperial phase
Killer, Schools Out and Billion Dollar Babies are three albums that transport me right back to my teenage years – an honourable mention too for 1975’s Welcome To My Nightmare set, for me still the best of his ‘post band’ albums.
Detroit City 2021
Sister Anne
Hmmm, this is the best review of it I have seen, others distinctly less good, apart from the covers, that is. I love early Cooper, with Killer the, um, killer, but haven’t been able to stomach much since the 80s and seeing him then live, where the guitarist seemed booked more for his muscles than his chops. I’d love to love this, but still nervous.
I inherited a vinly of Killer, having never listened to AC apart from hearing the singles on the radio – I can confirm that it’s a fookin boss album. You didn’t have to be there.
There was a 12″ precursor to this that came out last year that I bought and is very good. It restored my faith because after many years I eventually got to see him live in 2019 and frankly he was awful. Formulaic rock riffs featuring that muscled guitarist that @retropath2 mentions.
I saw Alice do some stripped down gigs (very little theatrics) two years running at the Astoria in London probably late 1997 and 1998. He was fabulous.
He and his band were pretty damn good when I saw him on his last UK tour three years back. And far from having muscles, his guitarist boasted a rather impressive embonpoint
The musclebound guitarist, Kane Roberts, was part of Alice’s band during his hair metal period in the 80s. Long gone. I think Alice has had the same band for the last 20 years or so, and they’re pretty good. Like other old timers, Alice benefits from having a younger band who grew up with his records and probably know them a lot better than he does.
Is the cover supposed to look like an arse?
Impressive thigh gap but disturbing eye tattoos if so…