Alice Cooper, the undisputed master of theatrical rock, returned in 1976 with his second solo studio album Alice Cooper Goes To Hell. Following the success of its predecessor Welcome To My Nightmare, this album continued the narrative journey into the macabre and sinister realms of Cooper's imagination. While not as commercially successful as its predecessor, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell is far greater than that 1975 release and stands as a unique and ambitious chapter in Cooper's discography.
Cooper's vocals and witty lyrics draw you into the narrative and the musical arrangements are diverse, blending elements of hard rock, glam, and theatrical pop, along with rock ballads. Via this diversity, Cooper showcases his ability to seamlessly combine different genres while remaining true to himself. With an elaborate production, thanks to Bob Ezrin, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell is more than just an album, it’s a musical experience first and foremost; one that hardcore and casual fans alike shouldn’t turn away from as there are few peers to this incredible release; even from within Cooper’s own celebrated discography.
Visually striking, the album artwork draws you in in a similar manner as all of Cooper’s releases, but as impressive as it is, it would be for nil had the music and sonic presentation of the album been subpar. While not presented as an Apple Digital Master, Warner Records has ensured that Alice Cooper Goes To Hell sounds thoroughly enjoyable. It’s dynamic, immersive, and is probably about as pleasing as this album will ever sound via streaming. To my knowledge, there has never been a thorough remaster for Alice Cooper Goes To Hell and this is a good thing for I’m more than happy with the CD facsimile presented on Apple Music. That said, as a physical media fan, I do have to hunt down one of the respected copies from the Rocktober 2018 reissue series as the releases from that series that I already own are exceptional and take their respective albums to further levels of appreciation. Until then, however, the lossless Apple Music stream is perfect for this Alice Cooper fan.
Go To Hell launches the album with a catchiness that not only sets the tone for the entire record but is 100% Alice Cooper. The upbeat and energetic rock elements, with Cooper's signature theatrical vocals, ensure that Go To Hell is a masterful tune that sounds as fresh today as it would have when first released in the 70s. It’s nothing short of perfection and the closing third of the song, with instrumental elements galore, is a pleasure that must be heard firsthand in order to fully appreciate what an incredible tune this opener is.
You Gotta Dance is a lively and danceable track with a glam-rock feel that was ideally suited to the era. The catchy rhythm and infectious energy make it a fun addition to the album. While this type of song may cause disagreement amongst fans, I consider it to be one of Cooper’s all-time greatest and I strongly believe that it should have been released as a single for it had the potential to dance its way to the top of the charts.
I'm The Coolest slows the tempo a little with its swaggering rock vibe. The spoken word lyrical styling is perfectly suited to the musical bed, but it’s the egotistical nature of the lyrics, some very beautiful guitar licks, and the overall mix that ensures I’m The Coolest is amongst the coolest songs (pun intended) that Cooper has ever recorded.
Didn't We Meet is a bluesy and soulful number that flows perfectly within the album’s sequencing. That said, as much as I adore Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, I have a love/hate relationship with the chorus. Yes, it works but there is some aspect of it that I don’t feel works well with the song’s structure or the overall musical approach to the record. Nevertheless, the album wouldn’t be the same sans Didn’t We Meet but it is, subsequently, a lull in an otherwise perfect album.
I Never Cry is one of the greatest ballads of all time and is as spectacular as Only Women Bleed from Welcome To My Nightmare. The emotional depth of the lyrics, coupled with a melodic arrangement, ensure that you’ll want to play this tune on repeat for Cooper is, arguably, as good a vocalist on ballads as he is on his other rock-focused tunes, if not more so, for the shock rocker never fails to disappoint on slower numbers.
Give The Kid A Break returns the album to an upbeat tempo by injecting the album with a little rock and roll energy. While it’s an album-only tune, it’s a fantastic song that could have quite as easily come out of the 50s era, yet is perfectly suited to Cooper’s 70s styling.
Guilty flows seamlessly from Give The Kid A Break and maintains the rock vibe with a catchy chorus and infectious guitar riffs. While not necessarily a standout, exceptional albums are the sum of their parts rather than possessing a killer song or two. It is this aspect that ensures many 70s releases, and most of Alice Cooper’s albums, are worthy of adding to one’s collection for even the filler material is exceptional.
Wake Me Gently takes us on an atmospheric journey with dreamy instrumentation and ethereal vocals. The song adds a surreal and introspective element to the album and is another of Cooper’s remarkable ballads.
Wish You Were Here has an eclectic nature to it; an aspect that continues throughout the entire song. It is rock and roll to its core, most certainly a 70s rock masterpiece, and is a song that will encourage you to get your air guitar out. While it would have never worked as a single, Wish You Were Here is amongst Cooper’s greatest recordings, particularly from a musical and mixing perspective for it will envelop you and there isn’t a single element that is unnecessary; despite its busy composition.
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows was an odd, yet perfect choice, for this well-known vaudeville tune is perfectly reinterpreted with Cooper’s theatrical intent that adds a darkness to the nostalgic melody, fitting seamlessly into the album's overarching theme.
Going Home flows seamlessly from I'm Always Chasing Rainbows and, the two, in some respects could have been a singular song. Despite that, Going Home is one of Cooper’s most beautiful songs with orchestral elements and a cinematic quality that will leave you with a sense of closure, contemplation, and compulsion to play the album again.
Each of the 11 songs from Alice Cooper Goes To Hell contributes to the album's narrative cohesiveness, showcasing Cooper's ability to experiment with various musical styles while maintaining a thematic thread throughout the theatrical journey. Granted, it’s Cooper’s trademark, but it is amongst his greatest releases and that’s saying something for with a career spanning six decades and a discography of 29 studio albums under the Alice Cooper banner, numerous records could share the top billing as his very best. Nevertheless, Alice Cooper Goes To Hell is a masterpiece and is not only one of the greatest Alice Cooper releases but one of the best albums ever released in all of recorded music history.