Music review: Alice Cooper – ëƵRoadëƵ
He first eagerly welcomed us to his nightmare back in 1975. Now, Alice Cooper offers his fans a glimpse of life on the road with his latest release simply titled ëƵRoad.ëƵ
ëƵIëƵm AliceëƵ kicks things off with an informal introduction from the master of ceremonies about what he has been doing for over the last 50 years as Cooper announces, ëƵI accept your adoration and I revel in your fear/But itëƵs your imagination that has brought you here/So hereëƵs the revelation and let me make it clear/That I am your creation and now I disappear.ëƵ
ëƵWelcome to the ShowëƵ illustrates the transformation of Vincent Damon Furnier from the Motor City into the Godfather of Shock Rock when declaring, ëƵYou know the act, you know the dream/You know exactly when to scream.ëƵ
IëƵve personally witnessed at least seven Cooper concerts and can testify to the superb showmanship displayed during each exhilarating performance. The 75-year-old Cooper still sounds as sinister as ever and his band is spectacular as always.
The new recording is filled with plenty of hard-driving rock that features CooperëƵs tongue-in-cheek wit on tracks like ëƵDead DonëƵt Dance,ëƵ ëƵGo Away,ëƵ ëƵWhite Line FrankensteinëƵ and ëƵBig Boots.ëƵ
ëƵRules of the RoadëƵ outlines the ingredients for becoming a frontman that include finding a killer band and paying your dues because you only get one shot to become a star in a short amount of time.
ëƵ100 More MilesëƵ documents the physical and emotional demands associated with constant touring as Cooper confesses, ëƵIëƵm ragged and IëƵm tired/IëƵm shaking because IëƵm wired/Just finished up the final show/ItëƵs really strange to me/IëƵve got no place at all to be.ëƵ
The set comes full circle with Cooper covering ëƵMagic Bus.ëƵ The Pete Townshend-penned number is a great way to close things out with a touch of nostalgia.
CooperëƵs colorful career has always been about the show. Fortunately, it seems like he still possesses the desire to thrill audiences all around the world when proclaiming, ëƵAnother day, another night/Another month, another year/You know that rock will never die/As long as we donëƵt disappear.ëƵ
We know the act. We know the dream. And we certainly know when to scream. Welcome once again to another entertaining show.

