CD Review: Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds

Alice Cooper is back! Although, I don't think he ever really left. I am a fan of a lot of Alice's music, but have never really paid close attention to his career. For instance, I didn't even know that he was still making new albums, but when I saw this one I figured I'd give it a shot. The last album of his that I can remember listening to was the excellent Last Temptation of Alice from way back in the early 1990's.

Alice's new album is called Dirty Diamonds, and I think that is a pretty fitting title. Besides being the title of one of the songs, it also works as a description of the album. I have read that it was written and recorded in 13 days. In that short time Alice and crew have turned out a rough album that is full of gems of songs. This is a fun album that shows Alice running the gamut from old school rockers like "Woman of Mass Distraction" to the countryish "The Saga of Jesse Jane." With everything containing some great riffs and clever lyrics that have been a trademark of Cooper's for over 30 years.

The album has a mix of rockers and ballads, all with that Cooper edge. Although he is getting older, and has been around the block more than a few times, he still has that distinctive growl. A growl which, on demand, can recede back allowing a cleaner voice through, a voice which while safer sounding holds an edge of menace. He sounds great here, as he does whenever I here him sing. The band also sounds good, a rough, unproduced sound which fits Alice's gruff and growl like a glove. Ryan Roxie and Damon Johnson team up to provide the riffs and leads, giving the proceedings a sound that evokes the present rock scene, but doesn't betray the classic rock roots. Meanwhile, Chuck Garric on bass and Tommy Cufetos on drums lay down a solid rhythm bed on which Alice can lay down his vocals.

Not sure if I could pick out a favorite song from the album, but there are definitely a few standouts. First would have to be "Woman of Mass Distraction" which sets the tone of the album with it's raw bluesy rock riff and Alice giving us the clever wordplay. Next up is the Johnny Cash inspired transvestite track, "The Saga of Jesse Jane," a humorous tale of a trucker in jail wearing his sister's wedding gown. A couple rockers pick up the pace in "Sunset Babies (All Got Rabies)" and " Run Down the Devil." The second one having a great slow chugging rhythm to it. Not to be left out is the unlikely pairing of Alice Cooper and rapper Xzibit on the song "Stand." An interesting combination to say the least, with an end result that is pretty good.

Bottomline. This is a fun album which seems likely to be overlooked by many, although it deserves better than that. It may not be the best ever to grace the words Alice and Cooper on the cover, but it is definitely worth your time. I would recommend giving this a shot if you are tired of the current pop-punk trend and need a dose of good old rock and roll from someone who knows how to put it down.

Recommended.