I had hoped to do a post over the weekend of my latest miniature, a sphinx, but I got bogged down in painting the feathers. It was a real, "Leaf by Niggle" moment.
But enough obscure Tolkien references - let's get right back to a Creative Maelstrom standard: reviewing Alice Cooper records.
Disc 164 is...Along Came A Spider
Artist: Alice Cooper
Year of Release: 2008
What’s Up With The Cover?: Proof that just because you are over sixty, doesn't mean you can't look creepy as all hell. Alice - you've still go it. I really like the new eye makeup - Sheila did the same style when we went in costume to see Alice on this tour.
How I Came To Know It: Already an established Alice Cooper fan since the tender age of five, this was just me buying his latest record when it came out. It's been two years, Alice - time for another record perhaps?
How It Stacks Up: I have twenty five Alice Cooper studio albums, plus a weird compilation of rare stuff. "Along Came A Spider" isn't the best, and given the stiff competition, it isn't even probably top half, but it holds its own. I'll say...sixteenth...or so.
Rating: 3 stars.
I have a soft spot for this album, which represents a mini-comeback in the Alice Cooper discography after fairly disappointing records in 2003 (Eyes of Alice Cooper) and 2005 (Dirty Diamonds). It is his best record since 2001's "Dragontown".
"Dragontown" was widely regarded as the last in a loose trilogy of records about the collapse of civilization into evil. As a solo artist, Cooper is often at his best when exploring a concept (usually something disturbing).
"Along Came A Spider" is exactly this - it is a concept album through and through, and as usual the theme aims to shock.
This time, Cooper takes on the role of a serial killer who calls himself "The Spider", and his songs represent the diary of his crimes. This particular criminal's modus operandi kills women, wraps them up in silk and chops off one of their legs. We learn near the end of the album that he is collecting one leg from each victim until he has eight legs - like a spider.
The album isn't gratuitously violent by metal standards, but it is highly suggestive of violence with an unhealthy helping of sexual tension. As usual, Cooper is the master of creating a character who is both troubled and multi-dimensional. For example on this listen, I noted these lyrics in "Catch Me If You Can":
"Which limb will I choose
Whice one gets sawed in half
Which leg would you lose
To an arachnophobic psycopath."
Cooper's villain is an arachnaphobe. Yet he calls himself a spider, and one can conclude that by collecting legs, he is attempting some form of transformation into one. Maybe this is just the way the mentally unbalanced 'Spider' attempts to deal with his own deepest fears. You might be tempted to think it is just a throw away rhyme, but if you'd listened to as much Alice Cooper as I have, you'd know better. The guy crafts his songs very carefully.
Another favourite is "Vengeance Is Mine" which is driving traditional hard rock song that he delivered with ferocity at the concert we saw.
He also returns to previously visited themes of love twisted up with murder, with "Wrapped In Silk" which has heavy wedding-dress overtones (also seen in 1987's "Roses on White Lace"), and the slower love/murder anthem, "Killed By Love":
"I've got more to lose
More to lose than you
Cause I'm the only one
In love between us two."
Here 'The Spider' claims that he is in greater danger than his proposed victim, because he's in love, while they are (presumably) 'just' frightened and horrified of him. Ah, Alice - you've got a rich and perverted imagination.
If you know anything about Alice Cooper, you probably know that he's one of the straightest arrows in rock and roll. He hasn't had a drink in almost thirty years, never did drugs, and is a devout Christian married to a preacher's daughter.
Knowing this you might be tempted to think less of him exploring these dark themes, but don't. He digs down deep and tells a troubled tale as well as he ever did.
Musically, this album isn't all that innovative, but it is well played, well written and well produced. He's still got it.
Best tracks: Vengeance Is Mine, (In Touch With) Your Feminine Side, Wrapped In Silk, Killed By Love, Salvation.
But enough obscure Tolkien references - let's get right back to a Creative Maelstrom standard: reviewing Alice Cooper records.
Disc 164 is...Along Came A Spider
Artist: Alice CooperYear of Release: 2008
What’s Up With The Cover?: Proof that just because you are over sixty, doesn't mean you can't look creepy as all hell. Alice - you've still go it. I really like the new eye makeup - Sheila did the same style when we went in costume to see Alice on this tour.
How I Came To Know It: Already an established Alice Cooper fan since the tender age of five, this was just me buying his latest record when it came out. It's been two years, Alice - time for another record perhaps?
How It Stacks Up: I have twenty five Alice Cooper studio albums, plus a weird compilation of rare stuff. "Along Came A Spider" isn't the best, and given the stiff competition, it isn't even probably top half, but it holds its own. I'll say...sixteenth...or so.
Rating: 3 stars.
I have a soft spot for this album, which represents a mini-comeback in the Alice Cooper discography after fairly disappointing records in 2003 (Eyes of Alice Cooper) and 2005 (Dirty Diamonds). It is his best record since 2001's "Dragontown".
"Dragontown" was widely regarded as the last in a loose trilogy of records about the collapse of civilization into evil. As a solo artist, Cooper is often at his best when exploring a concept (usually something disturbing).
"Along Came A Spider" is exactly this - it is a concept album through and through, and as usual the theme aims to shock.
This time, Cooper takes on the role of a serial killer who calls himself "The Spider", and his songs represent the diary of his crimes. This particular criminal's modus operandi kills women, wraps them up in silk and chops off one of their legs. We learn near the end of the album that he is collecting one leg from each victim until he has eight legs - like a spider.
The album isn't gratuitously violent by metal standards, but it is highly suggestive of violence with an unhealthy helping of sexual tension. As usual, Cooper is the master of creating a character who is both troubled and multi-dimensional. For example on this listen, I noted these lyrics in "Catch Me If You Can":
"Which limb will I choose
Whice one gets sawed in half
Which leg would you lose
To an arachnophobic psycopath."
Cooper's villain is an arachnaphobe. Yet he calls himself a spider, and one can conclude that by collecting legs, he is attempting some form of transformation into one. Maybe this is just the way the mentally unbalanced 'Spider' attempts to deal with his own deepest fears. You might be tempted to think it is just a throw away rhyme, but if you'd listened to as much Alice Cooper as I have, you'd know better. The guy crafts his songs very carefully.
Another favourite is "Vengeance Is Mine" which is driving traditional hard rock song that he delivered with ferocity at the concert we saw.
He also returns to previously visited themes of love twisted up with murder, with "Wrapped In Silk" which has heavy wedding-dress overtones (also seen in 1987's "Roses on White Lace"), and the slower love/murder anthem, "Killed By Love":
"I've got more to lose
More to lose than you
Cause I'm the only one
In love between us two."
Here 'The Spider' claims that he is in greater danger than his proposed victim, because he's in love, while they are (presumably) 'just' frightened and horrified of him. Ah, Alice - you've got a rich and perverted imagination.
If you know anything about Alice Cooper, you probably know that he's one of the straightest arrows in rock and roll. He hasn't had a drink in almost thirty years, never did drugs, and is a devout Christian married to a preacher's daughter.
Knowing this you might be tempted to think less of him exploring these dark themes, but don't. He digs down deep and tells a troubled tale as well as he ever did.
Musically, this album isn't all that innovative, but it is well played, well written and well produced. He's still got it.
Best tracks: Vengeance Is Mine, (In Touch With) Your Feminine Side, Wrapped In Silk, Killed By Love, Salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment