Album Review: Alice Cooper - “Detroit Stories”

 

The arrival of a new Alice Cooper album in 2021 is something where you generally think "well, this could go either way really..." The harsh truth is that since 2012's excellent Welcome 2 My Nightmare, Alice's output has been a bit patchy to be honest with 2018's Paranormal having a definite whiff of being phoned in and the two Hollywood Vampires albums being decidedly less than essential.

Detroit Stories is, as the name suggests, a tribute to the town where the original Alice Cooper band made their name and when it gets off to a start with a cover of Lou Reed's Rock 'n' Roll, although it's done well enough, it's not exactly a sign that this is a band with its kick back.

Then, of course, second track Go Man Go smacks you right in the teeth with a frenzied incendiary slice of garage punk. It's easily the best song Alice has put his name to in the last eight years or so and you breathe a sigh of relief. Lead off single Social Debris is a similar rip-roarer and sandwiched between the two is the downright odd Our Love Will Change The World - one part Sweet style '70s glam rock and one part Broadway musical number. It's pretty clear early on that you need to expect the unexpected here.

It continues on an enjoyably idiosyncratic path afterwards - the slinky Motown groove of $1000 High Heel Shoes and the sleazy blues rock of Drunk And In Love and Wonderful World add a bit of variety where it's needed to keep you interested. However, there's a very heavy MC5 influence on here and it's a satisfyingly meaty take on garage rock which comprises the majority of the stuff on here - Hail Mary, I Hate You, Shut Up And Rock, Independence Dave and a re-recording of 2003's excellent Detroit City are all great stuff and see Alice sounding re-energised after some of his more disappointing recent efforts. The sinister Hanging On By A Thread even sees him offering a message of hope to those who've been worn down by the world events in the last couple of years. Unexpected but definitely most welcome.

What Detroit Stories proves is that you write Alice Cooper off at your peril. After a couple of lacklustre albums, this is the sound of the flame being reignited and it's comfortably up there with Welcome 2 My Nightmare, Dirty Diamonds and The Eyes Of Alice Cooper as one of his best 21st century albums. Paying plenty of lip service to his golden '70s era but with a few unexpected tricks and turns in there to make sure that your attention is well and truly held until the end, this is a good 'un. Sing it from the rooftops, the Shockfather is back and he means business.

NITE SONGS: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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