SickthingsUK

Since this year marks the 10th anniversary of Dirty Diamonds, how does it still hold up to you?

As for me, when it first came out I hated it. I thought it was the most immature album Alice had ever recorded. I don't like him being on indie labels and thought it was a throwaway disc.

Then came Live at Montreux, which for me is possibly the best live show I've seen Alice perform on film. The setlist was tight, the band was hot, all cylinders were on fire...I never wanted that dvd to end.

Revisiting Dirty Diamonds, It is one of Alice's best. My all time favorite track being Six Hours. I think of this record as Alice's "Noir" album. I'm sorry I didn't see it before but hindsight being what it is...lol.

Anyhow, I give the record a 9/10 stars.

What about the rest of you?

MacQueen wrote:Since this year marks the 10th anniversary of Dirty Diamonds, how does it still hold up to you?
What about the rest of you?

I like it so much that Dirty Diamonds has a permanent home in my Cd changer, along with Love It To Death/Killer & a "Best Of" that I created.

Played DD continuously when it first came out. Still gets regular play, more so in June, July and August for some reason. Good summer album, I suppose.

I really love this album, it's the album I've been waiting from Alice for years !!


When I heard "Sunset Babies" as a teaser on this board, I couldn't believe my ears !

That album/tour is what made me a fan. It'll always be special for me!

DD has a lot of really good songs, but there's a sense of cohesion that's missing. It's hard to put my finger on. When the album is all over, I'm not quite satisfied, even though I have an affection for most of the songs. Something is missing.

However, I have to agree with MacQueen about the strength of the Montreux performance. The energy of that show was so high and the set list was really strong. I think I enjoy that performance more than the TOD blu-Ray, but maybe I'm alone in that.

I'm glad some people are singing the praises of DD. It's an Alice album you can put on around non-Alice fans and they like it.

DD is one of my favorite albums and possibly the best of Alice's non-concept solo albums. The song Dirty Diamonds is the only song Alice plays live regularly from his recent albums and one reason is the arrangements are more complex, more instrumental, the music has a chance to breath. I wish Alice did this more often.

DD is the last album by Alice that I really like.

Dirty Diamonds made me a fan. A friend of mine borrowed me the album saying me it was "a reallyscary singer" .That freaked me out and made me curious. When I listened to "steal that car " and "your own worst enemy" I was like ... whaaat? That guy seems to have a great sense of humor and I can't get rid of his catchy lyrics.
Well , really those 2 songs were enough.I was an alice cooper fan at the age of 16 , because of his new stuff . Just like other guys back in
70s or 80s, hell yeah ☺

always liked it, some great songs.

I was quite disappointed in The Eyes Of Alice Cooper. So Dirty Diamonds came to me as a huge relief. It had more diversity and in my opinion better songwriting. I liked the album instantly. Even though it lacks the energy of The Eyes, it was in other aspects a better album. I saw Alice Cooper first time on this tour and I was a bit disappointed for some reason. I remember it being the least loud hard rock concert I have ever seen.

That disappointment is why I was very hesitant to buy Live at Montreux DVD for a long time. But when I finally bought it I was amazed how good Alice Cooper's voice sounded, maybe his best filmed vocal performance and the band was tight to say the least. That Montreux gig was better than his concert here in Finland that I witnessed. I can tell it from the DVD.

Luckily I really enjoyed the Theater Of Death concert here in Finland and that made up for my disappointment of my first Alice Cooper concert. Anyway I probably listen Dirty Diamonds 10 years from now and still put Live at Montreux to DVD-player every now and then. Unlike Along Came a Spider Dirty Diamonds has aged very well.

Live At Montreux was a very good concert to capture on film (especially the high definition Blu-Ray version)

It's just a shame no-one told the audience how good it was.

From MacQueen:
"I never wanted that dvd to end."

The editing of the footage is really bad.

That dvd did nothing for me. I think I gave it to Toronto Bob.

It's a pretty good album.

High Point-Dirty Diamonds
Low Point-Steal That Car

Song title most apt for a K-Tel Halloween Hoe-Down album: Zombie Dance

"Pretty Ballerina" is better than the original. Alice has a great track record with cover songs--giving me hope for the new album.

I agree with Pitkin about the dvd. My copy is buried in a storage unit--most likely next to my Trash cd.

Have always loved this one...great on all counts.

mr.barlow wrote: Low Point-Steal That Car

Agreed.

That and Woman of Mass Distraction, which doesn't fit conceptually. I always skip and start with Perfect.

From darkmenace:
"That and Woman of Mass Distraction, which doesn't fit conceptually."

What was the concept?

darkmenace wrote:

mr.barlow wrote: Low Point-Steal That Car

Agreed.

That and Woman of Mass Distraction, which doesn't fit conceptually. I always skip and start with Perfect.

I hate both of those songs though musically the first is strong. Perfect name checking J Lo makes me want to hurl.

A_MichaelUK wrote:
What was the concept?

Alice has said it's an AC/DC song and it sounds like it. The album (more or less) has a 60s psychedelic vibe to it, I know there are exceptions, but I like the way it starts off that way with the songs that follow.

pitkin88 wrote:Perfect name checking J Lo makes me want to hurl.

I'm not a big fan of Alice putting current pop culture references in his songs because it tends to date them.