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Alice Cooper - To Release New Concept Album


Official press release:

"There are only a handful of rock artists that have proven to be as enduring and influential as Alice Cooper has over the years. Name just about any hard rock artist, and they've probably borrowed a thing or two from Cooper. On his latest studio recording, "Along Came A Spider" (issued via SPV Records on July 29th), Alice has returned with a concept album with a sinister streak.

"A dark and menacing album for dark and menacing times" is perhaps the most fitting description for Alice's 25th studio album. A chilling conceptual thread runs through the songs, which are told through the voice of a serial killer named Spider - one that Alice describes as "an arachnophobic psychopath" (in the song "Catch Me If You Can"). Alice, the master storyteller, weaves a web of danger, intrigue and death that rivals his best work.

Co-produced by Danny Saber, Greg Hampton and Alice himself, "Along Came A Spider" manages to marry both vintage and modern day Alice. As theatrical as ever, the album is a sonic combination of familiar Alice musical elements from albums as diverse as "Billion Dollar Babies" and "Brutal Planet," with the storytelling of "Welcome To My Nightmare," capturing the historic dark side of Alice in peak form, an instantly recognizable presence that will be welcomed by his fans. Joining Alice on the album are members of his touring band - longtime Alice drummer Eric Singer, bassist Chuck Garric, and guitarists Keri Kelli and Jason Hook, with additional contributions from others, including Saber, Hampton, and renowned backing vocalist Bernard Fowler. Slash also lends some guitar style to "Vengeance Is Mine."

Saber and Hampton co-wrote several of the album's songs with Alice, while others were collaborations with Alice's band members. Danny Saber, best known for his role as member and producer of Black Grape, has also worked with many other artists, including the Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, and David Bowie, while Greg Hampton's been working on a new album project teaming up Buckethead and Bootsy Collins.

Who else but Alice Cooper, with "Along Came A Spider," would create a "love story" about a serial killer named Spider? His trademark is wrapping his victims in silk, and his victims are specifically chosen to feed his hunger to kill. But, upon meeting his (possibly) last victim, he falls in love with her and cannot kill to complete his plan. That could be his demise.

Though it is often said about artists with as rich a history as Alice that their newest albums capture the essence of their greatest work, it may honestly be proposed that "Along Came A Spider" does exactly that. It's got hard rock with hooks, an Alice trademark ("Vengeance is Mine," "I Know Where You Live"), classic balladry, another Alice trademark ("Killed by Love," "Salvation"), and always with an overtone of evil, yet another Alice tradmark. Throughout the album, Alice becomes Spider, telling the story of a cold-blooded killer to life vocally, as if this were the soundtrack to an as-yet unmade horror film.

Before such theatrical rockers as David Bowie, the New York Dolls, KISS, Slipknot, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson, there was Alice Cooper. The original Alice Cooper group quickly became despised by adults and authority figures, while being idolized by teens and rock fans everywhere, on the strength of a succession of all-time classic albums ("Love It to Death," "Killer," "School's Out," "Billion Dollar Babies," etc.) and anthems ("I'm Eighteen," "Under My Wheels," "School's Out," "Elected," "No More Mr. Nice Guy," etc.). Alice had continued success as a solo artist, releasing successful albums like "Welcome To My Nightmare" and "Trash," featuring classic hits such as "Only Women Bleed," "I Never Cry," and "Poison." All one has to do is look at the many other artists that have covered Alice to understand how far reaching his influence is - the list is endless -- or just keep in mind that Johnny Rotten auditioned for the Sex Pistols to the tune of "I'm Eighteen."

"Along Came A Spider" [cover] tracklisting:
01. Prologue/I Know Where You Live
02. Vengeance Is Mine
03. Wake The Dead
04. Catch Me If You Can
05. (In Touch With) Your Feminine Side
06. Wrapped In Silk
07. Killed By Love
08. I'm Hungry
09. The One That Got Away
10. Salvation
11. I Am The Spider/Epilogue

Source: eddietrunk.com
Band profile: Alice Cooper
Posted: 16.06.2008 by Scandal2000


Comments

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Comments: 13   Visited by: 126 users
16.06.2008 - 17:55
Spyroid
Rosetta Stoned
could be awesome
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16.06.2008 - 18:10
Asitis

Indeed, has allot of potention
----
The silent moment, right before the dusk fades away
I open my eyes, but the darkness stays
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16.06.2008 - 19:38
iaberis
Advice Troll
shit, this grandpa is still making music?
are there people still listening to his later stuff?
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Bitch! Please
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16.06.2008 - 22:23
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Written by iaberis on 16.06.2008 at 19:38

shit, this grandpa is still making music?
are there people still listening to his later stuff?

Yes. I guess your just too hip.

Sounds like it should be good, but doesnt sound like anything all that new from him.
----
"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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16.06.2008 - 22:28
juanopereira

It could be good. I'll probably give it a listen.
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17.06.2008 - 02:45
iaberis
Advice Troll
Written by Doc G. on 16.06.2008 at 22:23

Written by iaberis on 16.06.2008 at 19:38

shit, this grandpa is still making music?
are there people still listening to his later stuff?

Yes. I guess your just too hip.

Sounds like it should be good, but doesnt sound like anything all that new from him.

His old stuff were legendary... I just can't listen to his new ones... I think he lost inspiration somehow...
----
Bitch! Please
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17.06.2008 - 03:36
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Written by iaberis on 17.06.2008 at 02:45

Written by Doc G. on 16.06.2008 at 22:23

Written by iaberis on 16.06.2008 at 19:38

shit, this grandpa is still making music?
are there people still listening to his later stuff?

Yes. I guess your just too hip.

Sounds like it should be good, but doesnt sound like anything all that new from him.

His old stuff were legendary... I just can't listen to his new ones... I think he lost inspiration somehow...

I thought DragonTown was awesome, very industrial sounding.
----
"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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17.06.2008 - 08:07
M??aLWaRrIöR?

No matter what some pseudo Metal fans thing!!!

Alice Cooper is the LAW!!!
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17.06.2008 - 22:55
Arçaliz
Account deleted
mmm It seem interesting, will have to wait to listen to it....
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20.06.2008 - 03:34
Scandal2000
Account deleted
I hear that all the time, how the old stuff is better, etc. There is no question the early to mid 70's albums were special but times change and Alice has tried to change with the times. People forget that there were some early 70's albums like Muscle of Love that were very average and some were great. The same as applied in more recent years. The Last Temptation, in my opinion, was every bit as good as the classic material. Brutal Planet was a masterpiece and Dragontown was pretty good.

Concerning the grandpa comment, you are entitled to your opinion, but age is a consideration on how well someone can rock we need to eliminate many of the bands on this board. Motorhead, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Heaven and Hell (Sabbath) all older bands whom in my opinion still kick tail, but if you want to consider age you have to eliminate them. Alice is still a tremendous live act and his newer music is still quite good and at times great. As I stated before, The Last Temptation and Brutal Planet are terrific albums.
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23.06.2008 - 19:06
loverofmetal
Account deleted
I actually slightly prefer the new stuff to the classic material. Don't get me wrong the 70's stuff is cool, but I love the creativity of Alice from 1980 beyond. I love the weird early 80's albums, Raise Your Fist and Yell is a very solid, overlooked 80's album. Everything Alice has done from The Last Temptation to the present has been killer. I look forward to the new one very much.
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24.06.2008 - 05:07
katinalee34
Account deleted
This sounds like a vintage Cooper album. His last truly great album was 2000's Brutal Planet but his last few have been quiet good. This looks like it has greatness written all over it.
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26.06.2008 - 21:28
sandybeaches
Account deleted
I actually prefer Alice's newer stuff to most of the 70's material. His newer stuff is more diversified and fun in my opinion.
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