Wednesday, April 30, 2008

414. Alice Cooper / From The Inside. 1978. 3/5

Alice Cooper is one of the masters of writing albums with entire concepts locked into the songs. His track record in this respective is almost unparalleled. So, with From The Inside Alice has done it again. Paired with Bernie Taupin, who was co-responsible for so many of Elton John's greatest hits, Alice produced an album that was inspired by his own stay in a sanitarium to deal with his alcoholism.The characters in each of the songs are no doubt inspired by those that he met within the walls of that institution.

So, about the music. OK, it's not as cutting edge as some of his previous work. In some ways it is some of his more mainstream stuff. Whether that was the feel he was looking for, or was the natural influence of co-writer Taupin, who can tell. Overall though, the songs don't have quite the hard feel of his best work from the 1970's. The songs skip along well, and their stories as always are funny and interesting.
Best for me would include "From the Inside", "Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills", "Serious" and "Inmates (We're All Crazy)"

Rating: Worth a listen if only for Alice's journey through one of his demons. 3/5.

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