Alice Cooper " Welcome 2 My Nightmare"

          Only out of sheer insanity and pure inspiration would an artist attempt to forge a new chapter in a classic; close to a near nightmare if you will. There is also money, but not every musician is captivated by capital gain; it does help to get paid after working hard on a project. What’s more insane is trying to return to that concept THIRTY SIX YEARS after its original inception. I’m talking about the classic solo debut from Alice Cooper which was a masterful blend of the theatricality of a broadway show, suspense of a horror movie, mixed with cabaret and progressive styles in a shell of hard rock. Tron Legacy also came to mind, but there was only a twenty eight year span. Why the long wait? There was no plan until the idea came about after a sequel for his last record was shot down.                                                                                                Like the original, the sequel is a product of its time, and would not be able to be replicated elsewhere. The opening track uses some auto tune, which is interesting in this context, and has Cooper talking to Dani California in the November Rain. The next song is a campy, cowbell-infused shot of “Caffeine” for the cowardly protagonist, or for the listener, as he tries to prolong his state of wakefulness to avoid succumbing to his nightmares. No matter how hard he resists the urge to fall asleep “The Nightmare Returns” in what sounds like it will be avenged sevenfold. Cooper wakes up in a boxcar of “A Runaway Train,” speeding like a bat trying to return to hell, surrounded by 13 other men who are trapped in someone else’s dream.  As “The Last Man on Earth” he sounds like he is somewhere between New Orleans and Tennessee. “The Congregation” is waiting to greet you on this Green Day, with vocals reminiscent of Noel Gallagher, and an interesting spoken word passage presented by your guide.                                                                                    Considering what had happened months ago this next song speaks volumes, even though it occurred almost a year after the release of the album, but this song is about a zombie beauty queen, who may be a little horny, and if you disagree “I’ll Bite Your Face Off.” On second thought, I’m really not interested in doing that, and I couldn’t care less if you disagree with me; everybody is entitled to their own opinion. The next song documents that the nightmare Cooper is trapped in has caught “Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever,” brought on by a balanced diet of dance-metal, Evil Dead and Thriller Imagery, and shredded strings with traces of attitude in the final minute.“Ghouls Gone Wild” sounds like Weird Al Yankovic, with an interest in the paranormal, parodying a song that would often score beach party scenes in the 1960’s. While the following song is just a little “Something to Remember Me By.”                                                                               Cooper writes an ode to his father, and uncovers haunting memories of abuse that awaken “When Hell Comes Home.” One of the most interesting and unexpected collaborations would have to be “When Baby Wants” featuring the glitter-obsessed and off kilter Ke$ha; who plays the she-devil in this track. As the nightmare comes to a close, Alice claims “I Gotta Get Outta Here,” and in campy fashion he is answered by rotting corpses who rise out of their coffin to sing “What part of dead don’t you get?” He summarizes what happened, if you are not in the mood to hear it all, but why wouldn't you? “The Underture” is the perfect score to the end credits full of varying styles, moods, and tempos.