ACAS- your view now?

Anything Alice Cooper or AC band related goes here

Moderators: Devon, Gorehound, Si, SickThings, Shoesalesman

shock rock
Killer
Killer
Posts: 169
Joined: Sun May 15, 2005 4:40 am
Location: Canada

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by shock rock » Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:55 pm

I echo the sentiments of most of the above,i was gravely disappointed .Its no wonder Ezrin turned down a sequel to ACAS.The only thing i find somewhat endearing is the lyrics "You look good in the trunk of my car...." and "I got a head full of faces....."
You Can Take My Head And Cut It Off
But You Ain't Gonna Change My Mind

User avatar
While Heaven Wept
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1363
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:20 pm
Location: UK

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by While Heaven Wept » Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:22 pm

I just tried to listen to the album and had to stop after track 3. It's just awful.

EOAC and Dirty Diamonds on the other hand still sound great to my ears. Certainly not his best albums, but there's some really solid songs on those 2 albums, inspired lyrics and great playing....things that were sorely missed on ACAS.

In Chick
Killer
Killer
Posts: 149
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:20 pm

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by In Chick » Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:11 pm

Well, you're all intitled to your opinion on this album, but I must say that I like it. Great conceptual album, like just Alice can do. As for the production, who I am to criticize a music album? Who am I to criticize what a rock icon, a legend has been doing all his life, and doing good?
Slash and Ozzy, did participate in this album.
Not exactly no names and beginners, right?
Anyway, it rocks, it has horror features, à la ''Silence of the Lambs''. To me, listening to good music is like listening to a good movie. ACAS... give a listen one more time. Maybe it will excit you, make you laugh, scare you, make you cry, make you angry or perplex, whatever... but it was a good album.

User avatar
Headbangers Ball
Yorkshire Rose
Yorkshire Rose
Posts: 4443
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:05 am
Location: UK

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by Headbangers Ball » Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:58 pm

ACAS is ok. Vengeance and The One that Got Away are the only two songs that do anything for me. And TOTGA only appeals because of the opening lines 'I think you'd look good in the trunk of my car' - cause we all know someone we would like to lock in the trunk never to see the light of day again!

IMHO, the last decent album Alice brought out, was TEOAC, its one of my favourites that I still play.

As for Dirty Diamonds - absolute dross, total dross, and the most Un-Alice album I have ever heard.
IF YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, ITS A GOOD DAY!

User avatar
While Heaven Wept
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1363
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:20 pm
Location: UK

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by While Heaven Wept » Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:08 pm

I don't think the fact that Slash and Ozzy featured adds any weight to the argument in support of the album.

Also, Ozzy's contribution was minimal to say the least.

User avatar
wind_up_toy
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1163
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:08 pm
Location: Exeter, Devon, UK
Contact:

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by wind_up_toy » Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:26 pm

Wake the Dead sums the album up to be honest. It could have been great but then... "shake my head, wake the dead"!?!? Enough said :(

Probably the best album cover though, top class!

I sincerely hope W2MN delivers otherwise it will be quite a run of mediocrity I'm afraid.
Visit my fan site: http://www.welcometomynightmare.co.uk

That's a polite request not an order

User avatar
While Heaven Wept
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1363
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:20 pm
Location: UK

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by While Heaven Wept » Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:46 pm

I agree, the artwork, imagery and presentation was fantastic, as was the promo video.

I wasn't too negative though as for me i personally blamed the producer for the poor album. I have high hopes for WTMN2, if its anywhere near as good as EOAC i'll be happy.

User avatar
Headbangers Ball
Yorkshire Rose
Yorkshire Rose
Posts: 4443
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:05 am
Location: UK

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by Headbangers Ball » Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:36 pm

I have high hopes for WTMN2, if its anywhere near as good as EOAC i'll be happy.

I hope your right!!! I really think 'Eyes' was the last good thing churned out.

And while I think its a pipe dream to even expect anything close to the original WTMN kind of material - one can always hope??!
IF YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, ITS A GOOD DAY!

User avatar
RemarkablyInsincere
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 2800
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:47 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by RemarkablyInsincere » Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:47 pm

While I got caught up in the euphoria of a new Alice release when it first came out, ACAS hasn't stood the test of time for me. I don't find myself wanting to listen to it which is pretty much the litmus test on how I ultimately feel about an album years later. There are a few good things on it, as with every Alice album, however much of the album feels like it's missing Alice's special something.

I agree that the two bonus tracks were better than much of what made the album, which is a head scratcher. I also think that one of the best pieces of music on the whole CD is "I Am The Spider". I think this would have been better served as a center piece to build the album around rather than feeling like an abbreviated after thought.

DD has some excellent stuff on it, but isn't quite as consistent through and through as TEOAC which is really a terrific Alice Cooper album from start to finish.
"Golly gee it's wrong to be so guilty..."

ElectedPlus
Billion Dollar Baby
Billion Dollar Baby
Posts: 398
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:50 pm
Location: Japan

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by ElectedPlus » Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:44 pm

Best thing about the album was promo material - found the photo's to be some of the most striking / sinister I've seen, the one featured as the cover of ToD DVD being the greatest.

Then the weekly teaser videos were well made and did a good job of building up anticipation (my fav. being the 'psycho' homage).

And of course the virtual pinball machine.

All brilliant promo material but the album itself I found to be rather dull (still do)...the lyrics mostly was a let down apart from a good few lines (opening of TOTGA as has been mentioned ... chloroform and handcuffs just for you being another). But overall had the impression that the idea of the album was more ambitious than the album itself.

The recordings that are out there of Vengence & Feminine Side performed live sound great tho. I wonder if more of the tracks would sound better when onstage.

User avatar
Shoesalesman
Little Mermaid
Little Mermaid
Posts: 15234
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:39 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Contact:

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by Shoesalesman » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:53 am

I play it sometimes at work, in the garage while tinkering, it's a good album. I play it on a regular rotation, especially on road trips. Could do without the clapping though.

Good concept, some good guitar hooks, Alice's voice was pretty solid.
If I may put forward a slice of personal colostomy...

WickedYoungMan
Goat Herder
Goat Herder
Posts: 1406
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:59 am
Location: Still Outside Your Bedroom Window

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by WickedYoungMan » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:51 am

In Chick wrote:Well, you're all intitled to your opinion on this album,
Thanks for the approval...
Slash and Ozzy, did participate in this album.
Not exactly no names and beginners, right?
Ozzy didn't really "participate" in the way you're probably thinking. As I understand it, his role (the harmonica intro) was left over from a demo that Danny Saber had several years ago (or at least the story is similar to that.)
Me = Winning

WickedYoungMan
Goat Herder
Goat Herder
Posts: 1406
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:59 am
Location: Still Outside Your Bedroom Window

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by WickedYoungMan » Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:54 am

shock rock wrote:The only thing i find somewhat endearing is the lyrics "You look good in the trunk of my car...."
It's ironic, since that was originally a "Saints of the Underground" song and so that lyric may not have been Alice's to begin with! (I'm really curious what the original version sounded like.)
Me = Winning

The son of Don Quijote
Billion Dollar Baby
Billion Dollar Baby
Posts: 358
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:45 am
Location: Finland

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by The son of Don Quijote » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:16 am

I also think that the album lacks the surprise element (Only surprising thing was weakness of the material) unlike many other Alice albums. Like for example on School's out album right after Street fight comes Jazz song Blue turk and on Goes to hell the extremely clever musical parody Give the kid a break comes out of nowhere.
But when you get to the middle of ACAS absolutely nothing surprising is waiting you behind the corner. I am hoping that WTMN2 is return to strange musical twists. I want something that attacks me behind the corner musically speaking.

And I agree the concept of the album is more ambitous than the album itself. I hope the WTMN2 lyrics are more along the lines of those extra verses that Alice added to Devil's food on Theater of death tour. They were great.

User avatar
Gunner
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1155
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:16 pm

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by Gunner » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:44 am

I really think 'Eyes' was the last good thing churned out.
I agree with that.

WTMN2 features Mr Ezrin, it HAS to be good, the bloke is excellent!!

User avatar
recoop
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1886
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:58 pm
Location: York, England

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by recoop » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:12 pm

Re Gunners last comment..I agree Bob E can be excellent but even he can preside over some not so great stuff...although it all depends on opinions again..e.g.some people love stuff on Lace and W AND DADA which I struggle with..I am naturally hopeful that W2 will be good
You are an individual, just like everybody else.

User avatar
While Heaven Wept
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 1363
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:20 pm
Location: UK

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by While Heaven Wept » Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:39 pm

Bob Ezrin is a producer in the truest sense of the word....he doesn't just twiddle knobs and mess around with frequencies, he is a master at crafting songs and bringing out the dynamics.... something that the original WTMN had LOTS of!

ACAS had very little in the way of dynamics and i'm not just talking about the production (did i mention that the production is awful? Think i may have suggested that before).... the songs lack any real direction.

Darren
Killer
Killer
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:50 pm
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by Darren » Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:31 am

I liked ACAS, even though I was not initially impressed with "Vengence" lyricly (sounds great though) and yes, some of the production may not have been to my liking.I am never a fan of clapping in any song, I just think it cheapens it.

I loved the ballads even, I haven't liked very many of them since the 70s. I love killed by love.

Over all, I dig the album...it's classic rock,...not really any different then TEOAC and DD...So I'm not sure why some people dislike it so much and love the other two. It is the same style of 4/4 beat, with classic rock guitar playing.

A_MichaelUK
Dada God
Dada God
Posts: 5383
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:35 pm

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by A_MichaelUK » Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:28 am

>So I'm not sure why some people dislike it so much and love the other two. It is the same style of 4/4 beat, with classic rock guitar playing.

Because not everyone has the same taste in songs. The "style" has nothing to do with it.

playingwithtrains
Trash
Trash
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:55 pm

Re: ACAS- your view now?

Post by playingwithtrains » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:18 pm

while it is not my favorite AC album, I like it a lot more than some folks.

My only disappointment was that the story was not all that scary. Perhaps the bar has been raised so high on what constitutes "horror" in pop culture these days as compared to the '70s... can anyone truly "shock" anyone anymore?

Admittedly I'm not a professional musician, engineer or producer... but I don't think ACAS is all that bad of an album. To each his own, as has been mentioned... I like Dada a lot and plenty of fans don't like that one much, either.

Locked