| Alice Cooper - Along Came A Spider |
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by Ben Perry
Band Name: Alice Cooper Album Name: Along Came a Spider Release Date: July 29, 2008 Band on Record: Alice Cooper: Vocals Keri Kelli: Guitars Jason Hook: Guitars Chuck Garric: Bass Eric Singer: Drums Track 1: “Prologue/I Know Where You Live” A chilling beginning to this album with spoken words telling about the aftermath of the serial killer in a “newscaster” type setting, leaving you with a great cliffhanger to make the album interesting (and I want to know what it is!) The music is interesting as well, with the main part of it being a straight rocker with special emphasis on the drums. Song Rating: 8 out of 10 Track 2: “Vengeance is Mine” This was possibly the best track for Alice to release as the first one (on his Myspace) as it has the great rockability of this band showcased in all aspects of the music with a solid rhythm section and great guitar melody. The vocals are a clean and unaltered with some great atmospheric sections when the vocals are dubbed and echoed. Song Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Track 3: “Wake the Dead” This is an interesting musical track as it has a funky, almost psychedelic vibe to it at times mixed with a 90’s grunge and techno feel (special shout-out to the bass ). I’m not sure how I feel about the vocal sections, as it doesn’t sound like classic Alice material, that’s probably due to the overlapping vocals on most of the tune. That being said the double vocal tracking isn’t bad, and this song is actual infectious after a few listens. Song Rating: 9 out of 10 Track 4: “Catch Me If You Can” Bombastic drumming and a monster guitar riff is what makes this track really work and along with a unique and interesting solo saves the song. The vocals sound like they’re being put through a synthesizer at some points, and overall are decent but could have been a lot better to go with the sing-along and memorable chorus. Song Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Track 5: “(In Touch With) Your Feminine” Straight ahead rocking, mixed with some Dirty Diamonds overtones, and some classic Alice feel make this one of my favorite songs on the record. The solo isn’t as long, or good, as I would like, but the great vocal and other musical aspects make up for that little misstep, and at least there is a hint of one. Song Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Track 6: “Wrapped in Silk” It took me a few listens to really get into this track, and I’m not sure why, but the music is fantastic in its rhythm and ebb and flow from rocking to straight guitar driven. The vocals range from regular singing to Alice doing some weird vocal changes; preference for the regular singing, but the changes aren’t too bad. Song Rating: 9 out of 10 Track 7: “Killed by Love” One of those classic Alice Cooper ballads that just have the power within the softness (somehow), and of the two on this record this is probably my favorite as it has more emotional quality. There is a comparison to one of the older ballads he’s done, I’m not sure if its “I Never Cry”, but it could be. Until I figure out that vocal comparison I’m going to be going crazy :? Song Rating: 11 out of 10 Track 8: “I’m Hungry” Wow, if that’s not an AC/DC song beginning with the guitar then I must be going death. This is one of those straight rockers, as that beginning riff alludes too, but the lyrical and vocal delivery is all Alice (with some of those woohoo vocal choirs left over from Dirty Diamonds). This is another of my favorite tunes, and with that guitar solo might even be my number one. Song Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Track 9: “The One That Got Away” This is another song that took a few listens to get into, but again, it turns out to be a great track musically and vocally. I only wish the soft guitar solo during the spoken part was more forward, but the spoken parts serve a great purpose of creating the story. Song Rating: 9.5 out of 10 Track 10: “Salvation” Another ballad, and also on par with a lot of the classic Alice ballads, though this one has some powerful sections added (and some orchestration?) Of the two on this album, this one ranks second, but it was not an easy choice and both are great listens. Song Rating: 10 out of 10 Track 11: “I am the Spider/Epilogue” This is another song that took a few listens for me to get fully into. The use of stringed orchestration was a bit shocking (although its appearance on the previous track should have prepared me) and frankly it adds a little, but there already is a lot going on within the track. That mess may be what tends to make me dislike this track at parts, particularly during the chorus when the vocals rise and are joined in a chorus. The ending spoken part…wow…just wow, Alice still has it Song Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Overall Review: This album is something I would expect crafted from Alice’s ‘70’s period when his conceptual albums were the absolute best and all had that sick, demented theme to them. The storyline is absolutely perfect and is conveyed without a hitch in the lyrics, with music that accompanies more or less perfectly to what is trying to be conveyed. There are a lot of different musical elements present on this album, I guess a lot in the line of Brutal Planet or Dragontown, both albums I’ve heard and had at one point, but no longer. Essentially, those that are into the newer Alice Cooper albums will dig this, and for the old, hardcore fans out there, the elements are still present and the classic Alice story is there so there’s something for everyone. Overall Album Rating: 9 out of 10
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