The Alice Cooper Thread

[Justin101]

Been listening to the new Alice Cooper album, it's clearly an album of 2 sides. CD1 recorded with his current band is bloody good, I really enjoyed all of the songs particularly Paranormal, Dead Flies and album closer Sound of A. They have an 'Alice Cooper Group' meets Welcome to my Nightmare kind of vibe - really nice.

Ironically, the 2 songs recorded with the ACG don't sound like what you'd expect, instead are just straight forward bluesy rockers and immediately forgettable. The live tracks are not really worth the effort either.

So to recap CD1 = and CD2 =

[SymbioticFunction]

Will pick up the new album tomorrow before I go to work. Heard a youtube album preview and thought that the title song easily sounded the best. Private Public Breakdown and Genuine American Girl also sounded very cool from what I've heard - I own all of the other AC studio albums so feel obliged to also add this latest one to the collection. btw Slightly frustrating that 2 studio tracks are on the second cd. Would have preferred all 12 studio cuts being on one disc, with the second cd being comprised of live renditions only.

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

Will pick up the new album tomorrow before I go to work. Heard a youtube album preview and thought that the title song easily sounded the best. Private Public Breakdown and Genuine American Girl also sounded very cool from what I've heard - I own all of the other AC studio albums so feel obliged to also add this latest one to the collection. btw Slightly frustrating that 2 studio tracks are on the second cd. Would have preferred all 12 studio cuts being on one disc, with the second cd being comprised of live renditions only.

I guess that decision was made because those 2 extra tracks sound completely removed from the main 10 album songs. They don't have the same aesthetic at all.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Justin101

I guess that decision was made because those 2 extra tracks sound completely removed from the main 10 album songs. They don't have the same aesthetic at all.

Point taken but they could have put them on the end of the cd as bonus tracks. Like they did with Stand on Dirty Diamonds which was VERY different from that album (and all AC's prior recording career). Talking of bonus material, it was annoying that Under The Bed (which was a bonus on the dedicated Classic Rock magazine cd) didn't make it onto the official Welcome 2 My Nightmare release - it was a good, creepy little song and much better than many other tracks on that album!

[SymbioticFunction]

Having only picked it up this very afternoon, I've had just one playthrough (via cd format) but I would currently say that the standout tracks are indeed Paranormal, Private Public Breakdown and Genuine American Girl. Rest of album is decent but fairly unremarkable imo. Sounds pretty damning but I'm just relieved not to have bought another Along Came A Spider.

btw I actually thought (rather foolishly) that the live tracks were gonna be with the original AC group members (I obviously didn't notice that Feed My Frankenstein was listed). That would have made some sense - the entire second disc being an Alice Cooper group album, both studio and live.

Since the live material is standard solo career stuff, as previously stated, I definetly would have preferred it if Genuine American Girl and You and All Of Your Friends had made an appearance on disc one as album bonus tracks. And disc two had been live only. Is slightly frustrating to have to change discs to listen to all 12 new studio songs.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Seeing as the response to this new album has been underwhelming to say the least, i think i'll wait until it drops to a fiver or less.

[Susan Foreman]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Seeing as the response to this new album has been underwhelming to say the least, i think i'll wait until it drops to a fiver or less.

The Washington Post

Alice Cooper: Paranormal | Album Review | Slant Magazine

Paste Magazine

Rock Sins

Alice Cooper, Paranormal review: No signs of growing old gracefully | London Evening Standard

Alice Cooper - Paranormal album review - Classic Rock

Metal Inside - Swiss language review, but a rating of 7.5/10

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Seeing as the response to this new album has been underwhelming to say the least, i think i'll wait until it drops to a fiver or less.

Thank you for the list of positive reviews, Susan.

I meant underwhelming from people on this forum. In this thread.

[Justin101]

I said it was great it and the other review said it was good as well
I was lukewarm on the second disc which wasn't really needed.

[SymbioticFunction]

I thought that it only had 3 great tracks only (out of 12). Would really struggle to very highly recommend the rest of it. Apologies to any big fans of the album!