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“ALONG CAME A SPIDER” Alice Cooper (SPV) ****
The latest work from our favorite ghoul is a concept album about a serial killer named ‘Spider’. While not Cooper’s absolute best (that’s “Killer”) it’s certainly in his top five.

Alice Cooper hasn’t had much for chart or sales success since the album “Trashed” in 1988(ish), he still makes great records with stunning regularity. “Along Came A Spider” plays to Coop’s strengths- creating solid rock songs with irresistible hooks, powered by his ‘unique’ brand of storytelling.

This disc has been rightly praised as a mix of classic Alice with his more current metallic stylishness- think “Billion Dollar Babies” and “Welcome To My Nightmare” meet “Dragontown”. While not musically as heavy or de-tuned as “Brutal Planet”, a dark and largely ignored yet brilliant album from ’00, this puppy rocks out. This feels much closer to his last two sets, “The Eyes Of Alice Cooper” and “Dirty Diamonds”. .

Produced by Cooper with Greg Hampton and Danny Saber, “Along Came A Spider” sounds great. He’s using his road band in the studio; longtime drummer Eric Singer, Saber & Hampton (guitars, keys), and Chuck Garric (bass), while Slash solos on “Vengeance Is Mine”. He even invokes Steven, a character who first surfaced on “Welcome To My Nightmare”.

While in many ways classic Alice Cooper “Along Came A Spider” isn’t a tired rehash of his glory strokes. This is energetic and witty, which we’ve come to expect- DEMAND- from Alice, and he doesn’t disappoint. Fans that have been along for the whole ride will enjoy this immensely, and fans from years ago that find themselves wondering ‘what is that crazy bastard up to now?’ will be saying “Damn, he’s still got it!”

KEY CUTS: “Vengeance Is Mine”, “Wrapped In Silk”, “Killed By Love”, “Catch Me If You Can”