Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever, Ghouls Gone Wild and What Baby Wants. I clearly understand what DBBF is about and why. The arrangement is actually interesting but Alice rapping just kills me. I probably wouldn't have minded if someone else did the rap but hearing Alice do it goes right through me. The song falls short in my opinion. My kid likes it so that's all that probably matters.
Ghouls Gone Wild is a little to poppy for me. Keepin Halloween Alive is much better. At least that has a little edge to it. GGW's cheesy chorus is just a little lame for me.
What Baby Wants. This song just doesn't seem to belong. It has nothing to do with Keisha. Just a crappy pop song. The end.
Now the positives. Everything else is pretty awesome.
I Am Made of You is brilliant. Some have complained about the auto-tune but that's kind of what's hot today. I get it. I don't think it matters. The song is epic. If this was the 90's it would have been that over-used megaphone sound. Steve Hunter is the man. What a great solo.
Caffeine: My kid loves this one. I do too. Great fun rocker with a cool hook.
Nightmare Returns: Clearly the "Years Ago" for this album. No complaints but no need to praise it either. Just a good segue into the nightmare.
A Runaway Train: This just kills. Vince Gill lays down a pretty mean solo and the guys lay down a serious groove. Love this song.
Last Man On Earth: Clearly the "Some Folks" for this album. Excellent. I picture Ernest Borgnine in Escape From New York watching that weird play in a run down theater. Love it. Strange reference but that's what popped into my head.
The Congregation: Good song. Sounds to me like a song that could have been on The Last Temptation or something. Good song but not "Nightmare" caliber if that makes any sense.
I'll Bite Your Face Off: Awesome song. Just awesome. Perfect for the first single. Great bridge. Great piano. Love it.
After IBYFO, this is where the album kind of loses me. I don't dig DBBF or GGW as I explained above.
Something to Remember Me By is good ballad. I don't consider it one of the great Cooper/Ezrin/Wagner collaborations but it's good nonetheless.
When Hell Comes Home: The highlight for me. This sounds like Alice Cooper, the band. That's because it is. That pocket is unmistakeable on this song. Dennis and Neal are just awesome together. This could have been at home on Killer Part II if they ever made one. Might be my favorite song on the album. Awesome. Makes me want more of these guys.
What Baby Wants: Crap. Sorry. Poor attempt to fit in, in my opinion. This album is better without it.
I Gotta Get Out of Here: Wasn't sure about this one at first. Reminded me of a Tom Petty song at first but after a few listens I find this song pretty cool. Is Steven really dead or just dreaming he is? Pretty cool.
The Underture: Very very cool how Bob bridges the music from both albums here. I enjoyed this track a lot. Kind of like the Grande Finale on School's Out.
Under The Bed: Decent song.But I can see why it's a bonus track.
A Bad Situation: Reminds me of The Who. But this song just kicks. Great track. I'd rather this be in the story before Under The Bed.
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place: Never cared for the original version. Don't care too much for this one either.
Bottom line. Aside from the three songs I mentioned, this just may be the best Alice solo album since From The Inside. I'm not sure if I like it more than ACGTH but it's up there. I think Tommy did a great job writing and playing. This album also shows what Bob Ezrin brings to the table. Most of Alice's solo albums seem to be missing something. That something is Bob Ezrin. I'm hoping they make another album together. I'm hoping Dick Wagner becomes well enough to be the main guy again. That's really my only thing. Dick's absence sticks out like a sore thumb to me. And I'm sure this all has to do with my expectations. When you call something Part II it's inevitably going to be compared to the original. This album is fun and great to listen to but the original was a masterpiece that apparently can't be touched. If they do a Part 3, which Alice alluded to, please either bring back Wagner completely or just make a whole album with the original band. The songs they are on shows they are a unique and viable entity even all these years later. Could anyone imagine a new complete album with DD, NS, MB, AC and SH on guitar? I'd be first in line as long as Ezrin is producing. Maybe the albums could have there own title and not be associated with the one and only Welcome To My Nightmare.
