Alice Cooper reunites the original band and comes out swinging with their first album as that band since 1973.
Alice, together with Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith plus a “special appearance” by the late Glen Buxton (his guitar spot lifted from an old demo I believe) do indeed give us “the return album the world was afraid of” as per the strapline on the cover.
It’s a glorious throwback with all the hallmarks of those early 1970s classics we all know so well with a modern, fresh and upbeat feel about them delivered with class and energy.
The semi-shock-horror, creepy stuff, pulsating stuff, a bit trippy and with some blues-boogie chucked in together with lyrics which are not always too serious poking fun at various topics and don’t take themselves too seriously. Typical Alice.
The band is on fire too. Alice’s vocals are menacing when they need to be as only he can do. Michael Bruce’s guitar punches away with some wonderful solo work. Dennis Dunaway’s bass throbs and rumbles – so solid. Neal Smith’s drumming full of class as always.
Despite it often being the case that albums as eagerly awaiting as this one being a let down – there’s none of that here. Anticipation is fully justified by the result. The Revenge of Alice Cooper being an album which delivers on every level – though I will temper that by saying a couple of the songs do take a few spins to “get”.
For example at first I had Intergalactic Vagabond Blues ((yes, really…..), What a Syd and What Happened to You as rather generic bluesy fillers until the penny dropped.
Black Mamba such a glorious opener. The creepy spoken intro gives way in to an eerie, atmospheric, sinister song with a great groove. It’ll instantly make you think of Black Widow. Marvellous. Here it is:
Wild Ones comes next. A hard and heavy number which drives along relentlessly and has a huge chorus. Up All Night gets a bit sleazy lyrically and features some of that rumbling bass and tasty soloing.
Kill the Flies and One Night Stand give us some of the familiar tongue in cheek shock-horror style rockers with sneering vocals from Alice.
Blood on the Sun is a glorious, trippy(ish) two parter packing much in to it. Check out the second half guitar work – spectacular.
The next three cuts have Alex having a sarcastic rail against trying to make it in the biz (The Crap That Gets in the Way of Your Dreams), the fleeting nature of fame (Famous Face) and money (Money Screams). All solid stuff.
What a Syd took a while to gel with me as I couldn’t help put picture Cab Calloway and Minnie the Moocher from the Blues Brothers film. Nothing wrong with the film of course, though the song seemed out of place here.
As did Intergalactic Vagabond Blues initially. I had it as a throw away generic blues-based filler until I got the joke.
What Happened to You and I Ain’t Done Wrong are both OK – steady without being spectacular with a hint of filler and I think could have been jettisoned to cut it down from the hour or so running time.
I did wonder at this point with Alice and the band were running out of steam…….until…..See You on the Other Side.
A glorious, sweeping semi-ballad to close out the album in fine style with the lyrics giving a poignant nod to those we’ve lost.
Bar the odd blip, The Revenge of Alice Cooper is an excellent showing from the man and the original band.
Instead of the strap-line being The Return Album the World Was Afraid of perhaps it should be The Return Album the World Needs to Listen To?
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