The Eyes of Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Eagle Records
• ASIN: B0000C7PQW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,302 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Breaking a circle into an arc is easy, but converting an arc back into a circle is a different matter, a task that Alice Cooper has succeeded in doing with the release of "The Eyes Of Alice Cooper." Produced by Mudrock (Godsmack, Powerman 5000), this album is clearly a return to Alice's musical roots, a conscious effort to capture the rock and roll sound that has stirred and excited the minds, souls, spirits and bodies of so many generations.

Simple, uncluttered and direct is The Eyes Of Alice Cooper. Recorded in a minimalist garage-like studio setting, unpretentious and live -- All instruments were recorded in a blue streak and at the same time with very little multitracking. Each guitar player was given only one extra track for overdubs. A few keyboard, synth and horn touches were added to some cuts as needed.

The songs are classic Alice Cooper, featuring his trademark clever lyrics as in "The Song That Didn't Rhyme" and "Novocain" as always, infectious melodies, hooks and a wall of guitars. All songs were co-written by Alice with guitarists Eric Dover and Ryan Roxie. Special guests include Legendary MC5 Guitarist Wayne Kramer who added his uncompromising garage rock sound to "DETROIT CITY."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Because Its' ALL His TURF!!!!!, April 29, 2004

By 

Graboidz (Westminster, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Eyes of Alice Cooper (Audio CD)

I am really surprised at some of the venom reviewers are tossing at Alice about The Eyes album. I am a huge Cooper fan, and of course I like some albums better than others, but come on guys!! The Eyes still has a distinctive Cooper sound, not Blink 182 or White Stripes. Songs like Detroit City and This House is Haunted could only be done by the Coop. Alice has experimented with various sounds throughout his career, and as a true fan I really appreciate that. Sure Brutal Planet experimented in nu-metal, but Goes to Hell was disco??!!! Constrictor played with the hair metal scene of the 80's, and I think it was one of the best albums of that era by any band period! The Eyes of Alice Cooper should remind everyone one thing, expect the unexpected from Cooper. I think Eyes has a nice blend of today's sound and a good mix of his own 70's sound. But no matter what Alice Cooper tries I will be there, because musically, all genre's of music are Cooper's turf, and no one can pull it off better than Alice. If you are a fan of Alice, definately pick this up, you won't be disappointed. If you haven't heard Alice since School's Out and Muscle of Love, you will find a couple tracks on Eyes that you like, that are very similar to the old Alice Cooper Band sound. If you found Cooper in the 80's you will still get a kick out of where he takes you on Eyes.
For all of the so-called Alice Cooper "fans" who have ripped Eyes of Alice Cooper apart, give it another listen. Give these songs a chance to sink in and you won't be sorry!

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glen Buxton Would Be Proud, October 1, 2003

By 

J Richter "muzik_guy" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eyes of Alice Cooper (Audio CD)

You haven't bought this yet??? Oh, you need a reason for such a bold move? Let me spell it out for you...

"What Do You Want From Me?" - Seething with energy & reckless abandon, this opening track leaps from your speakers & kicks the album off in vintage raw fashion. Vocally, this song is possibly one of the strongest performances by Alice on the album. I haven't heard Alice sing this well since "From the Inside". Throw in Eric Dover's gritty backups & the relentless wailing guitars & you have yourself a future classic. Think "Cold Ethyl" for the nu-millenium. Grade: A+

"Between High School & Old School" - Wow, another pummeling, attitude-laden anthem for disenfranchised misfits everywhere. This is REAL punk, the way Iggy, MC5 & Blue Cheer intended it. Mix in a touch of "Last Temptation" era vocal harmonies & clever start/stop changups & you get the picture. If you didn't know this was Alice Cooper, you'd be completely fooled by the exuberant youthfulness that lies within. Some of the roughest guitar tones since "Muscle of Love". Grade: A

"Man of the Year" - An unusual mixture of nu-school pop punk & classic "Billion Dollar Babies" era backing vocals/lead guitar. This could potentially be a crossover single for the eMpTyVee generation. Alice's vocals are strangely VERY young sounding & his approach overall is like nothing you've heard him sing before. Great song! Grade: A-

"Novocaine" - I LOVE this track! VERY reminiscent of "Nobody's Home", from the "Fistful of Alice" disc. This has HIT written all over it folks. Excellent Hammond B-3 work by ZigZag, perfect harmonies & guitar work that mirrors Glen Buxton's classic style. One of the standouts on the disc. Grade: A+

"Bye Bye Baby" - Whoa! They just keep coming!!! This is prob one of my favorites here. This is prob as close to classic Cooper represented on this album. This would've fit perfectly on "School's Out". Alice sounds 25yrs old again, the horn section is subtle & perfectly interwoven. This sounds so much like the classic lineup, yet not derivative in any way. This one smokes!!! Grade: A+

"Be With You Awhile" - Another track which highlights Alice's flair for singing w/o the infamous sneer we all love. It's familiar & yet like nothing you've ever heard from Alice before. Not a bad song, but prob one of the lower points on the disc, if anything, for a lack of creative arrangement or chord changes. Grade: C

"Detroit City" - As if 1971 were warped into the nu-millenium, this track comes stomping thru the mix with an amazing "Killer" era vibe. Alice's vocal performance on the track is among the highlights of the album. INCREDIBLE chorus, infectious energy, slamming guitars, layers of horns & hey, Alice screams like used to when he was twentysomething! This track is unbelievable!!! Grade: A

"Spirits Rebellious" - Hmmm, pretty groovy dark track here that seems like a castaway from the "Brutal Planet" sessions, though it's clearly not since Eric Dover & Ryan Roxie co-wrote the tune with him this past year. Of course, we've heard this title thrown around since "Last Temptation" was released. I love the verses here & Alice's voice is pretty wicked sounding here, but this one might not fit in well with the general theme of the album. A decent, if unremarkable track. Grade: B+

"This House Is Haunted" - Though some reviewers might make the "Steven" references on this track, I would liken this more to a cross between "Gail" & "Formerly Warmer". Unfortunately, it's not as immediate or compelling as either of the aforementioned songs. Extra points for clever usage of the clarinet, but the lack of grandiosity & reverb really derail the ominous tone that was intended here. Grade: C

"Love Should Never Feel Like This" - Now THIS is more like it! This is a GREAT powerpop/retro blast of thick melody & harmonies. The chiming guitars & farfisa organs in the choruses really harken back to "Love It To Death" & the solo itself is BRILLIANT. Another standout track. Grade: A

"The Song That Didn't Rhyme" - Ok, the melody/accompaniment is very well written, but Alice's plaintive & wooden vocal delivery somewhat stifles the natural flow of the song. Sporting a mindblowing refrain & chorus, it's a shame to see this song really never progress to some sort of crescendo & resolution. A half-baked great idea that simply falls short of it's potential in the arrangement. Grade: B-

"I'm So Angry" - Holy SH*T!!! Like a trainwreck of "Long Way To Go" & "I Wanna Be Your Dog", this track is on FIRE. Another vocal highlight for Alice as well. I haven't heard him sing with this kind of unrestrained aggression since 1973!!! Chuck's bass work is VERY similar to Dennis Dunaway here also. The ending is EXPLOSIVE. WOW!!!! Grade: A+

"Backyard Brawl" - A sleek & choppy blend of "Brutal Planet" era & the heavier material from "Welcome to My Nightmare". Awesome subtle backing vocals toward the end & punchy guitars all the way around. A vicious way to end the album. This rocks! Grade: A-

It amazes me that a man in his mid-fifties can create such a vibrant, energetic & bombastic collection of tracks. For the first time in thirty years, we've been blessed with an album by the Alice Cooper BAND. The "group" feel of the album is undeniable & would surely make Glen & co proud of Alice's return to form. Make no mistake, Alice Cooper is NOT an oldies act. His creative steam has been building over the last decade & if this is any indication of the future for him, we'll be laughing at naysayers ten years from now, as a sixtysomething Alice is still kicking the a**es of his contemporaries in a true ROCK & ROLL backyard brawl...

Overall Grade: A-

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Godfather of Shock Rock is BACK!, October 29, 2003

By 

Sean Parauka (Orange, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eyes of Alice Cooper (Audio CD)

After Alice Cooper finished his Brutal Planet and Dragontown tour, in 2003 he returned to the studio to record his new album. His mind was set on creating an album that none of his fans had ever seen before since the 70s. In Alice's last two albums, he was experimenting with new metal. On this one, Alice turned the clock back and returned to his original rock and roll roots. To do this Alice hired a a whole new line-up of musicians including: Eric Singer (Drums), Ryan Roxie (Guitar), Eric Dover (Guitar), Chuck Garric (Bass) and of course Alice on vocals. When Alice collaborated with these guys, together they wrote some of Alice Cooper's best songs to date. This album, "The Eyes of Alice Cooper" is one of Alice Cooper's greatest albums to date.

The Masterpieces:

1. What Do You Want From Me? - One of Alice's greatest openers to an album. This album is loud, heavy and the lyrics are undoubtably amazing. It's about a man that gives his woman everything and she still isn't happy which Alice explains in his lyircs, "I've given you everything. Baby, What Do You Want From Me?" The song is a: A+

3. Man of The Year - An excellent song and excellently written. The song is very catchy. It's about a guy that is married, has kids and does everything write and never breaks the law, as the lyrics go "Cus' I'm the Man of the Year." The song is even a little humorous where the lyircs go, "I can make Madonna faint. Cus' I'm the Man of the Year." The song is a: A

4. Novacaine - THE GREATEST SONG ON THE ALBUM! This song is nothing short of a MASTERPIECE! I went into Alice Cooper's web-site before the album came out and I heard the song and within the first two minutes, I was HOOKED! I literally love this song. The lyrics are excellent, the riffs and beats are really good. This is one of Alice's greatest hits ever. This song definately is in my Top 10 Alice Cooper hits. The song is a: A+, 5 stars, Perfect 100!

6. Be With You A While - Another Alice Cooper ballad. This a pretty good ballad and goes right along with Dragontown's "Every Woman Has A Name." This song is about a man that will do anything to make the woman he loves happy and now she's gone. Some of the lyrics go, "I just wanna be that someone you were looking for. Cus's I can Be With You A While." The song is a: A-

7. Detroit City - A real heavy peice. This song is great. It's very heavy with an array of instruments mixed in with the guitars and drums. The lyrics are also excellent. This song goes right along with KISS's "Detroit Rock City." The song is a: A-

9. This House is Haunted - A scary song but also a perfect Halloween song. The way Alice sings the lyrics is very similar to Brutal Planet's "Pick Up The Bones." You got to hear the lyrics on this one. They are freaky but definately says Alice Cooper. The lyircs are as scary as those on Billion Dollar Babies, "I Love The Dead." The song is a: A-

10. Love Should Never Feel Like This - Excellent song. The song is extremely catchy and the lyrics are genius. It's about a guy that broke up with a girl and he still loves and he can't eat, he can't sleep and he's so weak. That's where the lyrics fit in with "Love Should Never Feel Like This." The song is a: A

13. Backyard Brawl - Excellent closer to an excellent album. The song is fast and real heavy. Of course the title explains that it's about gang fights. It's the perfect gangster song or anyone who likes getting into fights. The chorus line is very catchy without a doubt. "Backyard Brawl, backyard brawl. I like the Backyard Brawl." The song is an: A

Alice Cooper: The Godfather of Shock Rock has done again! This album contains some of Alice's greatest songs ever written. Alice made the right move when he chose to stop experimenting with new metal and just go back to his original roots. This album is a must buy in your Alice Cooper collection. After listening to it once you'll be hooked on "The Eyes of Alice Cooper."