Alice Cooper
Along Came A Spider

August 2008
Released: 2008, SPV
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Celtic Bob

Alice returns with a concept album with a sinister streak like only Alice can. Before there was Kiss, before Bowie, The New York Dolls and Marilyn Manson there was Alice Cooper. Right from the get go he was despised by parents, authority and adults alike but the youth loved him and everything he stood for. He was and still is one of the most influential rock and roll personalities that ever walked. Hell even Johnny Rotten auditioned for the Sex Pistols to the tune of “I’m Eighteen”, how’s that for influence?

A story told from the killer’s point of view in 11 songs. Alice takes on the persona of the killer (Spider) and teaches us of the victims and the plot without being too specific so we the listener can use our own minds to create an actual visual. The story of his mind is told as only Alice can with his sick and twisted dark humor.

The darker side of Alice is rearing its head once again. Capturing the essence of earlier 70’s classics such as BILLION DOLLAR BABIES and SCHOOL’S OUT and mixing in a bit of the DRAGONTOWN heaviness, ALONG CAME A SPIDER is a fantastic record from start to finish. It has the spoken narratives like earlier discs had and that eerie aura of the WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE album all blended in together. A true modern day classic that is easily distinguishable as Alice Cooper. The lead off single “Vengeance Is Mine” is a solid rocker with some of the guitar work performed by Slash. This is one of the only ‘Real’ guest appearances on the album, the other is Ozzy playing harmonica on “Wake The Dead” which he co wrote with Cooper; the rest is done by his touring band which are some of the best around. The guitar duo of Canadian Jason Hook and Keri Kelli is second to none and add in long time Cooper bassist Chuck Garric and Eric Singer on drums and you have one of the most talented groups of musicians to ever hit the stage or a recording studio.

For the most part the songs are up-tempo rockers with the classic feel and edge. It is when he slows it down for the ballads like “Killed By Love” that it gets eerie. Alice is not known for nice love songs and stays true to form here. Such is the case on the other ballad “Salvation” which is very similar in structure to his earlier song “Steven” from the WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE album.

A fantastic concept album and one of the greatest albums you can buy this year. A true classic that will never die.

Alice Cooper
Along Came A Spider

November 2008
Released: 2008, Steamhammer/SPV/Border Music
Rating: 2.0/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

This iconic rocker has been a huge inspiration for several artists and ALONG CAME A SPIDER is his 25th album. Cooper’s long career has had its ups and downs and his peak was during the 70’s with a revival at the end of the 80’s and beginning of the 90’s. Personally, I think that his albums have become worse and worse during the last few years.



Slash guests on the song “Vengeance Is Mine” which is one of the killer tracks on the album. Copper doesn’t have any problems with his voice and he has managed to maintain his charismatic voice through all these years. The fact that he is surrounded by skilled musicians makes the music really good.



Cooper, Danny Saber, Greg Hampton, Chuck Garric, Keri Kelli and together with Damon Johnson and Jani Lane, Cooper has written the material. Cooper himself is taking the central part, acting out the main character’s (a murderer) diary. The bio draws parallels between this album and Cooper’s classical album WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE. I have listened to both albums and I can’t really see the resemblance. The songs on ALONG CAME A SPIDER cannot stand on their own and Cooper has mixed several different music styles on one single album. I got confused while listening to the disc. It is sad to say but maybe Cooper should quit and do something else because it is obvious that he doesn’t have what it takes nowadays.



There are however, a few tracks that rise above the rest; “Vengeance Is Mine”, “Wake The Dead”, “Catch Me If You Can” and “Wrapped In Silk”. Those combine the essence of Cooper. Sharp rock’n’roll music with Cooper’s vocals fits together perfectly in these songs. The first part of the album feels a lot stronger than the second part. It feels like the writers lost their inspiration when it came to the second part. Production wise the disc is OK. Every element is where it is supposed to be and the rhythm section sounds really tight. The producers Danny Saber and Greg Hampton, together with Cooper, have done a solid upgrading of his 70’s sound to fit the 21st century.



Well, Mr. Cooper has some problems with this album, the musical styles aren’t cohesive and I’m really fed up with theme/concept albums by now. ALONG CAME A SPIDER could have been Coopers big comeback but for me it did not do much.



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