Alice Cooper's latest effort with longtime producer Bob Ezrin and the surviving members of the 1970s Alice Cooper band delivers both classic tunes and refreshing sounds to the modern music industry. The album has something to offer for different types of listeners, from the Beatles-esqe "Our Love Will Change the World" and the motown-inspired funky "$1000 High Heel Shoes" to the grungyAlice Cooper's latest effort with longtime producer Bob Ezrin and the surviving members of the 1970s Alice Cooper band delivers both classic tunes and refreshing sounds to the modern music industry. The album has something to offer for different types of listeners, from the Beatles-esqe "Our Love Will Change the World" and the motown-inspired funky "$1000 High Heel Shoes" to the grungy motivational speech "Hanging on by a Thread (Don't Give Up)" and the vintage Cooper’s hard rock “Social Debris“. Besides, Cooper shares fantastic covers of The Velvet Underground's "Rock 'n' Roll”, MC5's "Sister Anne", and Bob Seger’s “East Side Story”, flawlessly adapting them to his own distinctive quirkiness. The expansive range of musical styles and influences of this record demonstrates Cooper's love for music throughout the decades.
Cooper's vocal sounds as crisp and powerful as his primetime, solidifying himself as an immortal legend of the rock culture. It is cliche to say, but Cooper rocks in his 70 during the 20s as much as he did in his 20 in the 70s. This record is a testament to his timeless songwriting capability and vocal quality, alongside the musical prowess of his band. There are multiple headbanger-worthy guitar riffs, killer solos, dynamic drumming, solid basslines, catchy tambourine hooks, and even some motown horn sections. Also, Cooper's experiences over the years help him write profound and introspective lyrics about social alienation ("Social Debris"), skepticism ("Our Love Will Change the World"), romance ("Drunk and In Love"), mental illness ("Hanging On by a Thread"), and of course his hometown ("Detroit City 2021"), among several topics. The dark themes of "Detroit Stories" seem appropriate during a time of social and political turbulence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Praises asides, I believe the album is weakened by several tracks I consider "filler", like "Wonderful World", "Shut Up and Rock" and "I Hate You". These songs appear dull and uninspiring with generic lyrics and melodies. The album has enough content to make these fillers seem unnecessary and distracting. But overall, Alice Cooper has returned with a bang and "Detroit Stories" has been an enjoyable ride. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone, whether you are a longtime Alice Cooper fan, a classic rock listener, or not.
Highlights: Rock 'n' Roll, Our Love Will Change the World, Social Debris, $1000 High Heel Shoes, Sister Anne
Rating: 7.8/10… Expand
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