Article Database

Welcome To My Nightmare Album Review

ALICE COOPER
Welcome To My Nightmare
Producer(s): none listed
Atlantic: SD 18130

Solo set from Alice is by far the best musical project he has yet undertaken. LP is soundtrack to upcoming TV special, and is vastly different in parts from his group efforts, but similar enough to retain old fans. Fine use of horns and strong arrangements throughout, as well as the powerful metallic sound (Dick Wagner on guitar) and razor sharp vocals Alice is associated with. More universally appealing than previous LPs, with the vocals simply better than on recent LPs, the arrangements more interesting and sophisticated and the package more commercial. There's a John Lennon type song here that is beautifully arranged and sung, some material reminiscent of "School's Out," and a variety of other things. Alice has always been recognized as a masterful rocker, but we see here there is far more to him than that. He proves himself able to handle many kinds of music, though the rock is still dominant. A truly superb effort. Best cuts: "Devil's Food," "Some Folks," "Only Women Bleed" (the Lennon styled cut), "Department Of Youth" (like "School's Out"), "Cold Ethyl," "Steven" (a truly frightening piece of rock theater), "Escape."