Post by H2IZCOOL on Sept 15, 2003 9:24:43 GMT -5
Killer - Alice Cooper - 1971
I surprised myself by signing up to do an Album Review, and, lucky me, I get to lead off. You probably know by now that I’m more into singles than albums, but there are a handful of albums that I have liked a lot, and not because of a hit single or two on them, but because of the overall package. Such is 1971’s “Killer” by Alice Cooper. It has no hit singles. It has no change-of-pace soft ballads. It’s fast, driving rock interspersed with slow, driving rock. The entire album consists of only eight songs. Seven, if you consider Dead Babies/Killer to be one continuous piece.
1. Under My Wheels A good Rock and Roll song. Simple, but an effective starter for the album. The lyrics are simple but hint at the “evil” to come. “I’ve got you under my wheels” ??
2. Be My Lover Another simple song. A slower rocker. Much sexuality here. A one night stand love song.
3. Halo of Flies The Lord of The Flies is, of course, the devil – and this is the devil’s song. It is complete with the devils version of “My Favorite Things” A long, complex song.
4. Desperado DEFINITELY not to be confused with The Eagles song. I read somewhere that this was written for Jim Morrison. The lyrics, the tune and the beat all portray a “real” gunfighter. If you mess with him, you better be prepared. -- Yet.... he's also a clown. - But clowns frighten little children, dont they?
5. You Drive Me Nervous This one is almost a throwback. Like a teenager’s lament told from a third person’s point of view. Another hard driver.
6. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah My least favorite song on the album. (I usually skip it.)
7. Dead Babies This is a very controversial song. Plays like a funeral dirge, but appears to treat a parent’s worst nightmare lightly. “We really didn’t love you anyway” IMO, simply repressing the horror, not making light of it.
8. Killer Alice segues into the title song from Dead Babies as if this represents the punishment thrust upon the parents from the last track. The segue – a courtroom, commotion, shouts of order in the court – is very effective. The lyrics to Killer, however, make it clear that this is a gunman (perhaps a flashback to Desperado), not a baby neglecter.
I never saw Alice perform, but I believe that in this final track Alice pretended to hang himself. The sound effects: wailing, the sound of a priest praying, walking the last mile, a drum roll, and what sounds like a trapdoor opening, all lead to a mental picture of a hanging about to occur. This all leads to a rising, discordant sound, and then silence.
Your opinions, please.
I surprised myself by signing up to do an Album Review, and, lucky me, I get to lead off. You probably know by now that I’m more into singles than albums, but there are a handful of albums that I have liked a lot, and not because of a hit single or two on them, but because of the overall package. Such is 1971’s “Killer” by Alice Cooper. It has no hit singles. It has no change-of-pace soft ballads. It’s fast, driving rock interspersed with slow, driving rock. The entire album consists of only eight songs. Seven, if you consider Dead Babies/Killer to be one continuous piece.
1. Under My Wheels A good Rock and Roll song. Simple, but an effective starter for the album. The lyrics are simple but hint at the “evil” to come. “I’ve got you under my wheels” ??
2. Be My Lover Another simple song. A slower rocker. Much sexuality here. A one night stand love song.
3. Halo of Flies The Lord of The Flies is, of course, the devil – and this is the devil’s song. It is complete with the devils version of “My Favorite Things” A long, complex song.
4. Desperado DEFINITELY not to be confused with The Eagles song. I read somewhere that this was written for Jim Morrison. The lyrics, the tune and the beat all portray a “real” gunfighter. If you mess with him, you better be prepared. -- Yet.... he's also a clown. - But clowns frighten little children, dont they?
5. You Drive Me Nervous This one is almost a throwback. Like a teenager’s lament told from a third person’s point of view. Another hard driver.
6. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah My least favorite song on the album. (I usually skip it.)
7. Dead Babies This is a very controversial song. Plays like a funeral dirge, but appears to treat a parent’s worst nightmare lightly. “We really didn’t love you anyway” IMO, simply repressing the horror, not making light of it.
8. Killer Alice segues into the title song from Dead Babies as if this represents the punishment thrust upon the parents from the last track. The segue – a courtroom, commotion, shouts of order in the court – is very effective. The lyrics to Killer, however, make it clear that this is a gunman (perhaps a flashback to Desperado), not a baby neglecter.
I never saw Alice perform, but I believe that in this final track Alice pretended to hang himself. The sound effects: wailing, the sound of a priest praying, walking the last mile, a drum roll, and what sounds like a trapdoor opening, all lead to a mental picture of a hanging about to occur. This all leads to a rising, discordant sound, and then silence.
Your opinions, please.
