Alice Cooper
Welcome 2 My Nightmare

October 2011
Released: 2011, Universal
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Celtic Bob

What can I say? I am an Alice fan and have been for many years. He did lose me for awhile in the 90’s but regained my allegiance with the release of THE EYES OF ALICE COOPER back in 2003. Since then I have loved every album until now



WELCOME 2 MY NIGHTMARE features a guest appearance by Pop singer Ke$ha (who, according to Wikipedia insisted that NO Guitars be used on her album) who duets with Cooper on “What Baby Wants”. This is not the only bad thing about this album. Nowhere is Damon Johnson’s guitar playing found on the recording. Longtime bassist Chuck Garric is credited on 1 song. It gets better, Cooper uses Auto-Tune, yes Auto-Tune on his vocals. Blasphemous!!! What in the name of fuck are you thinking Alice? For over 40 years you were the King of Shock and created many damn fine albums. There were a few that were a bit out in left field that lost you fans and popularity with critics but this use of Auto-Tune is just so in your face and horrible.



The songs are classic Alice lyrically and are what we’ve come to expect and love about his albums. There is even a ballad on here; “Something To Remember Me By” that is just as creepy as anything he’s ever done. It is songs like “What Baby Wants” and “I Am Made Of You” with it’s blatant use of Auto-Tune that take away from this album drastically. Also the poppy/dance/computer generated “Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever” is hard on the ears for the most part except for the guitar solo segments done by John 5. However it is great to see him working with his old band and producer but it never should be called WELCOME 2 MY NIGHTMARE. The original is a timeless classic and this doesn’t come close. The song “Ghouls Gone Wild” puts you in mind of the old Eddie Cochran song “Summertime Blues”, a fun and upbeat song. Even so, not one of the album’s stronger tracks.



Like many albums there are good songs, bad songs and OK songs. With WELCOME 2 MY NIGHTMARE there are some OK songs and some terrible songs. There are a few numbers that I do really enjoy and “The Underture” was really well done and a nice way to end the disc. With a stroke or 2 of luck Alice will pick up his phone and call up Keri and Damon or Jason or Ryan even and get them back in the band. Alice’s live band has been nothing short of amazing every time I have seen them so why isn’t the live band playing on the album? There is no excuse. Alice really missed the mark on this one.