The 25th studio album of a
recording career that spans five decades finds Alice Cooper
in concept album territory. Spider is an elusive serial
killer with a tendency to wrap his victims in silk who falls
in love with what could turn out to be his final victim and
is unable to carry out his grisly task. After a spoken
prologue to set the scene ‘I Know Where You Live’ paints a
menacing picture as the hunter stalks his prey. Slash pops
up for a trademark solo on the gritty ‘Vengeance Is Mine’
and already Along Came A Spider is shaping up to be
right up there with classic albums Welcome To My
Nightmare, The Last Temptation and Brutal
Planet. As an aside, its something of a travesty that,
in the UK at least, he will likely best be remembered for
the radio friendly Trash, an album on which Alice
sounded about as dangerous as Billy Idol.
The chorus for ‘Catch Me If You Can’ hits
the spot and more dark humour and lyrical wit is evident on
the pounding ‘(In Touch With) Your Feminine Side’. With the
songs until now taking on a consistent theme and structure
‘Killed By Love’ drops the pace and is the killer ballad
that really does takes you back to the 70’s heyday and ‘Only
Women Bleed‘. ‘Hungry’ is another groove-filled gem that
contains a verse so good it has to be reproduced here:-
I got a smile for the lady that goes on
my face
I got a kiss on my lips that leads to my place
I got a bed in my basement fit for two
I got some chloroform and handcuffs just for you
Now be honest, when did you last see a
lyric that good?
‘Salvation’ is a piano led ballad that
simply oozes class as the story begins to draw to a close
and like all truly great concept albums there is a twist in
the tail via the creepy ‘I Am The Spider’. If the upcoming
shows include a performance of the album in its entirety
then they could well turn out to be amongst the most
memorable of Alice’s career. Make no mistake, with Along
Came A Spider the founding father and elder statesman of
shock rock is well and truly back at the top of his game.
Catch him while you can.
