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Just thinking of this album gives me great memories of the original “Welcome To My Nightmare” album back in the day. It is one of my favorite albums of the past and one of my favorite artists of all time has to be Alice Cooper. With pin-ups pasted all over my walls and my very first concert ever was Alice and Suzie Quarto back on May 5, 1975 at the legendary Madison Square Garden. That same year I also saw my very first KISS concert (with SAVOY BROWN) on October 4th at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ. Those were the days that can never be brought back but remain a mainstay in my memory.
Just reading the liner notes for the New “Welcome 2 My Nightmare” is stunning.
Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, the album includes original Alice Cooper band members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith. WOW!
Co-writers on various songs include the aforementioned Bob Ezrin, along with Dunaway, Bruce and Smith plus BUCKCHERRY’s Keith Nelson, Desmond Child (who famously co-wrote and produced “Poison” with Alice), longtime collaborator Dick Wagner, current touring band member Chuck Garric, film composer Jeremy Rubolino and in a WFT moment, pop tart KE$SHA.
A great beginning to the record with “I Am Made Of You” sounding like the old version of “Steven” and Alice’s vocals are prominent and explosives on yet another acclaimed release. The track is a masterful slow ballad that jumps right out at you and the musicianship is of pure gold. The guitar work has that voltage of PINK FLOYD and the keys and drumming are outstanding.
“Caffeine” has a flashback of tracks from the Coop’s “Killers” release. Fast-paced, off direction and slashing; kind of in the vein of a songs off the West Side Story soundtrack!
“The Nightmare Returns” just blows me away with tantalizing piano and elevation. Alice tells the story about his nightmare as it blows up and the music gets louder. Amazing!
I loved the song “Last Man On Earth”, which has a New Orleans jazz feel. It’s true vintage Cooper sound at its best with some tasty brass work.
With Alice’s dad being a preacher in the Church of Jesus Christ it was only right to have a song called “The Congregation”. Listening to the song I feel a bit of a Gary Glitter "The Hey Song" feel, but just a little.
“I’ll Bite Your Face Off” sure has some influence of the ROLLING STONES. The track has some rawness and slows down midway through the song and picks up speed again nearing the end. I’m sure Mick and the boys love the homage the Coop is offering up.
I’m going to have to pass on “Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever” as I just can’t see Coop rapping; not one of my favorite tracks.
After that it’s back to the Cooper we all know and love with “Ghouls Gone Wild”. The song would appeal to those New York boys THE RAMONES as it’s fast, tasty and to the point. Let the party begin “Gabba Gabba Hey”.
You knew there had to be a tear jerking ballad and here it is with “Something To Remember Me By”. Cooper really has an amazing career that has lasted decades and with “Welcome 2 My Nightmare” shows great tenure and just how masterful the man himself is.
Cooper and pop star Ke$ha hit ya with “What Baby Wants” which is possibly my favorite track on the new disc! Cooper brings his traditional sound full force with the song but also bringing it to the modern day and the soaring guitar smokes! The song can reach out to the rockers as well as those modern day gangsta’s! Move on over Madonna, Britney and Lady Gaga because it’s Cooper time!
Ending the disc is “The Underture”, which is an instrumental “dream” of all of Cooper’s popular songs of the past. It’s amazing and uplifting knowing exactly what song is playing instrumentally as you go through the musical history of Alice Cooper.
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