Dragontown

Alice Cooper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Spitfire
• ASIN: B00005NVJI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,101 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Marilyn Manson may have stolen some of Alice Cooper's thunder a few years back, but there is more to this old rock warrior than smeared mascara and ripped tights. The third and final chapter to his rock morality series finds Cooper unfurling more grim tales of life before the apocalypse, and with the same wit, ferocity, and genius that we first saw in his 1971 classic, Killer. On the Coop's 25th album, he's eschewed most of his comic shtick and self-parody of years past, employing a harder, guitar-saturated industrial sound that can compete with the best of agro rockers, such as Korn and Rob Zombie. And while there aren't any teen anthems like "Eighteen" or "Under My Wheels," lurking on the disc, "Mr. Fantasy," his paean to self acceptance, comes close, as Cooper's menacing cartoon voice thunders, "I don't read books / I don't French cook or stroll around in galleries / I hate opera / I hate Oprah / Don't fill my head with poetry." Listeners will be aghast when Cooper serves up sacred cow in "Disgraceland" as he croons in a flawless Elvis Presley imitation that the fallen king ". . . ate his weight in country ham / Killed on pills and broken dreams," and proves once again that this city ham still has what it takes both to shock and rock. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description

With well thought out songs paving the way, 'Dragontown' leads you down a nightmarish path into the mind of rock's original conceptual storyteller. Alice's deranged, tormented mind serves as your tour guide into a place that is bitter cold and conversely swimming in furnace blasting heat. A 2001 Spitfire Records release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow...even after all these years, September 29, 2002

By 

KB (Woodbridge, VA. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragontown (Special Edition) (Audio CD)

Alice Cooper is simply amazing...and his latest effort prooves it. I bought Dragontown when it first came out, and I didn't like it as much as his under-appreciated Brutal Planet, but I still liked it. Today I went to Best Buy and saw this Limited Edition CD in a white slip case with mirrorized red lettering and had to have it. Not only is Dragontown an awesome record, but the bonus disc just adds to its' brilliance. Four songs-3 live and one remix and 2 videos. "Clowns will eat me" I think is on the Brutal Planet deluxe edition, and the song is great. The 2 live tracks are ultimate classics (in my view), "Go to Hell" & probably my favorite Alice song, "Ballad of Dwight Fry." His vocals sound amazing...even on hitting the high notes in "Ballad of Dwight Fry." The remix could sound more haunting, more Alice. It sounds as if "Brutal Planet" was being played at a dance club (but not as poppy or cheesy). I think if Rob Zombie remixed it the song would be better. All in all, Dragontown Limited Edition is amazing and it's a must have for any Alice Cooper fan.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALICE COOPER: With "Dragontown"... still the master., October 24, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragontown (Audio CD)

With "DRAGONTOWN," the remarkable and ageless rock legend, Alice Cooper, completes his brilliant trilogy of good versus evil that started with the 1994 release of "THE LAST TEMPTATION." The second installment built to a crescendo with the 2000 release of the apocalyptic yet thoroughly entertaining "BRUTAL PLANET."

Now with "DRAGONTOWN," Alice has outdone himself with an album that not only hits all the right notes musically and lyrically, but also chronicles the events of the world like nothing I have heard in the last decade. This is a mission to the darkest regions of the Brutal Planet. Whether you are into hard rock, heavy metal, gothic, industrial, or even an occasional ballad, this collection hits the bulls eye on all fronts. Tracks such as "Triggerman," "Dragontown," "Deeper," "Somewhere In The Jungle," and "Sex, Death & Money" will absolutely pin you to the wall. "Disgraceland" is the most inventive and disturbing send-up on the life of Elvis Presley that has ever been written.

The album closes with "The Sentinel," where Alice seems to predict, almost to the letter, the catostrophic events that occurred on September 11, 2001.

For over 30 years, Alice has been a master visionary and observer, depicting the reality of life in America and the world with a dark tongue-in-cheek satire that few artists can ever hope to hold a candle to. What really disturbs me is the fact that if Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, or The Dave Matthew's Band were writing material like that found on DRAGONTOWN - or any of Alice's albums - they would be on the cover of every rock magazine in the country.

Why has the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame continued to neglect Alice? Why does someone like Ozzy Osbourne (who hasn't grown a lick musically) continue to garner so much press? And what about Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Godsmack, Alice In Chains, Ministry, White Zombie, Black Sabbath, Stone Temple Pilots and numerous other contemporaries? All great bands in their own right, but next to Alice they sound repetitive and lacking in fresh ideas.

I think Rob Zombie summed up the Alice Cooper phenomena best when he said: "People have been ripping him off for years. They just don't have the stones to admit it." Remember The Coop'. Accept no substitutes.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More diverse but still dark, the core of Brutal Planet, May 18, 2002

By 

"deadbabies" (Malta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragontown (Audio CD)

After welcoming us to Brutal Planet, Alice Cooper gives his loyal fans the second instalment in the Brutal Planet Trilogy. This album is more diverse than its predecessor but it is still as dark themed. Here is a review of the songs, one by one:

1. Triggerman- This is one of the best opening tracks in Alice Cooper albums. Hard rocking, up-tempo music which is very energetic. The booklet states this is a remix, mainly because the vocals were distorted to give the song a better effect. The only flaw is that in the end it changes beat and becomes rather funny.(rating:9)

2. Deeper- This is one of those songs which are present only for the continuity of the story. The riff is similar to the song "Brutal Planet" however this is slower and tends to get boring by time. (rating 6)

3. Dragontown- This is the perfect Alice title track. The song starts off slowly but has a very good up-beat chorus, which is also one of the best choruses on the album. This one is full of references to the first album of the trilogy. Wicked young man, the family of bones, everyone is mentioned here. One of my personal favourites. (rating 10)

4. Sex, Death & Money- Another slow song but much better than Deeper. Very interesting intro to the song and the opening drum beat sounds somewhat like Marilyn Manson's "The Nobodies". The lyrics are very good and somewhat ironic. Overall this is an enjoyable song and a lyrical highlight.(rating: 8)

5. Fantasy Man- This is another up-tempo song with classic Alice Cooper tongue in cheek lyrics. This song is possibly the catchiest one on the whole album with a really good chorus. It's one of my personal favourites and I think it would have been a good single had Alice decided to release any. (rating:9)

6. Somewhere in the Jungle- Slow jungle beat. Not one of my personal favourites but it is a lyrical highlight. This is a song about wars in Africa and the suffering of African people which we tend to forget. (rating:7)

7. Disgraceland- Rockabilly song. Alice sometimes does Elvis style vocals and it turns out to be a sort of Elvis-Alice duet. Even Elvis is in Dragontown!! Classic tongue-in-cheek Alice humor but sounds like it shouldn't be on Dragontown. (rating:8)

8. Sister Sara- This is a mid-tempo but very heavy song, ala Eat Some More off Brutal Planet. It is abuot a nun who turns into a whore. The song also features Calico as Sister Sara. Somewhat catchy chorus, but not one of the best. (rating:7)

9. Every Woman Has a Name- Another great Alice Cooper ballad, this is part 3 of the trilogy, which is made up of Only Women Bleed, Take it Like a Woman and this. Good lyrics and awesome performance by the Coop. It is somewhat similar to How You Gonna See Me Now, but Alice sounds better. (rating:9)

10. I Just Wanna be God- A lyrical highlight, up-tempo song which features Alice rapping on the vocals and a catchy chorus. Alice is impersonating the devil, who is frustrated and singing about how he wants to be God. My personal favourite. Very nu-metallish song. (rating:10)

11. It's Much too Late- Beatelesque song about a man wondering how he ended up in Dragontown. Beatle-style chorus and once again a real good vocal performance by Alice Cooper. (rating:8)

12. The Sentinel- Very heavy mid-tempo song. This one has good lyrics but it should have been a faster song to close off the album better. Alice is sending everyone to hell here, the lyrics sound as if written after September 11, "there's something disturbin' goin on in my turban" (rating; 7)

Overall, this effort equals but fails to surpass its predecessor, Brutal Planet. Alice's vocals are in better shape but the lyrics on Brutal Planet are better. Also this is very varied, and while it can be seen as an advantage it sometimes makes the album sound like it is many bits and pieces put together on a cd. That said, it is still a great album, Alice shows that he's still capable to rock n roll. Deserves full marks.

If you're an Alice fan, this is a must. If you're a nu-metal fan, this is a must. If you're a fan of the new "shock-rockers", pick this up to see the power of the original master and creator of shock. He's still out there and ready to rock. Can't wait for number 3!!! :)