Review ALICE COOPER ‘Road’

To introduce Alice Cooper is like carrying sand to the beach. Everybody knows the shock rocker who started his journey into rock music in 1964 and nearly 50 years later, he still releases albums. And not just that Alice Cooper releases albums, the recent ones are certainly as good as some of the classics he launched in the earlier days.

The latest blast from Alice Cooper is called ‘Road’, featuring thirteen songs on a long player that continues a streak of great albums by the master of his craft. ‘Road’ is the 22nd full-length solo album by Alice Cooper and the title isn’t chosen by coincidence. It’s about being on the road, playing shows, which determines whether you make it or break it. The inventor of shock rock has gone through all these phases and has seen many roads. And not only that, there are always stories that happen on the road, and the thirteen songs tell some of those.

Next to the iconic singer himself, it is again the collaboration with producer Bob Ezrin that is a success formula. Both have worked together for a long time and have a great understanding of each other’s musical ideas. And the fact that the band members have also been involved is another factor for the versatility that this album offers.

Always with a twinkle in the eye, Alice Cooper provides songs that are pure fun and entertainment. It all starts with ‘I’m Alice.’ It was Ryan Roxie who came up with the idea for the song, and it is perfect for kicking off this release as it serves as the perfect introduction.

The smoothly rocking ‘All Over the World’ is a little compilation of things that can happen on the road, followed by the roaring “Dead Don’t Dance”. More than a twinkle in the eye is what ‘Go Away’ offers. Listening to these lyrics is pure fun, and since the song is a stellar rocker too, we are talking about a highlight on an album full of great songs.

Next comes ‘White Line Frankenstein’. Now, Frankestein was fed on the ‘Hej Stoopid’-album and here things get a bit of a different context. It’s the life of a truck driver on the road, following the white middle line and maybe even more white lines.

‘Big Boots’ gives you a smile while the bluesy ‘Rules of the Road’ is another great moment on ‘Road’. Heavy, that is how ‘The Big Goodbye’ starts. The song represents the heaviest riff on this album and is thundering ode.

The heartbreaker moment is entitled ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ and that life on the road can be tiring is what ‘100 More Miles’ tells. The final chapter of this “road show” is a cover. ‘Magic Bus’ by The Who gets a new look by this Alice Cooper interpretation and fits perfectly to the rest of the album.

‘Road’ is another excellent work piece by Alice Cooper who seems to get more powerful, entertaining, and nuanced with each album he unveils. This longplayer represents music from an iconic musician that still inhales the real spirit of rock’n’roll. Don’t miss this amazing release and enjoy the ‘Road’ ride.