Throwback Thursday: Killer, by Alice Cooper

In 1971 the original Alice Cooper band put out their fourth album Killer, which was the second to be put out on Warner Bros. Records (the label that got them to the level of fame they would achieve). This album was where the band would get musically and lyrically darker, with tracks like Dead Babies stirring up a noticeable amount of controversy around them. This of course would naturally only help the band become more popular with the younger generation.

Killer is where the Alice Cooper band finally gained some real focus and direction with the sound and themes they wanted to present their audience with. As mentioned before, they got a lot darker and more hard rocking with songs like Dead Babies, Killer, Desperado, etc. At the same time they went in a more progressive direction with tunes like Halo of Flies. Naturally however they had to have some commercial appeal as well, so they put on Under My Wheels and Be My Lover (which in my opinion are two of the best songs they ever put out).

Dead Babies is NOT quite what people think it might be on a surface level. If you examine its lyrical content it's clearly professing an anti-child abuse message. However, it caused the controversy it did due to the fact that people are quick to judge and not take a closer look before getting all riled up. That said, it really makes you take a look at the state of society even today when you have parents out and about doing all kinds of messed up things while ignoring their young children that are clearly in need of attention and care.

Under My Wheels is one of my absolute favorite Alice Cooper songs. It's a simple straight up rocker that clocks in under three minutes, but it's fun, up-tempo, driving (go figure), etc. It's one of those tunes you will definitely air guitar and bang your head along to. Plus, the backing horn section gives it a bit extra pop and shine (not something you often associate with Alice Cooper, but still works in this context). Plus, the lead guitar work from Glen Buxton is pretty flashy and snazzy too.

Killer is one of those albums where if you really want to see where shock rock as we know it came from, it's where to begin. From start to finish there are all kinds of macabre, dark, and disturbing themes; some of which are all the more unnerving because of how real some of them are in the world around us. I guess some times we need shock rockers like Alice Cooper in order for us to realize just how much of a dark underbelly we as a society have. That said, Killer is definitely an Alice Cooper classic for a reason.

Killer, by Alice Cooper receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Under My Wheels
2. Be My Lover
3. Halo of Flies
4. Desperaado
5. You Drive Me Nervous
6. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
7. Dead Babies
8. Killer

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Alice-Cooper/dp/B000002KDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463119603&sr=8-1&keywords=Alice+Cooper+Killer