Dirty Diamonds
Co-produced by Steve Lindsey (who has worked with a number of artist from Leonard Cohen to Elton John) and LA guitarist, writer, Rick Boston (Rickie Lee Jones),
This is also Alice’s first release from label New West Records. From what I hear New West is trying to expand their music library.
Alice continues his garage band style such as the previous “Eyes of Alice Cooper” CD.

I really wanted to like this CD. If you ever listen to Alice’s albums he has an M.O. that is 1 ballad, 1 humorist song then the rest some good rockin’ tunes. To me this reminds what if Weird Al Yankovic made a somewhat serious rock album. I find a number of these songs being humorist that tends to get tiring after a while. Out of the 12 tracks (not including “Stand” the bonus track) I like about half.

‘Perfect’ is a good song about a girl who thinks she’s real good singer, dancer, etc… but in actuality as Alice sings

“She’s so wonderful. In the arena of her mind”

‘You Make Me Wanna’ is another good number that has that Rolling Stone influence.
‘Six Hours’ starts w/ a bluesy guitar solo that it reminds me of Gary Moore…to bad they couldn’t get him to actually do this song it’s one of the best on this CD.
‘Your Own Worst Enemy’ starts off like The Who. A plus.
‘Zombie Dance’ is another one of my favorites as Alice plays his harmonica on this only dark song.
This song also reminds me of The Stones. They even include some great R&B background vocals.

As for the rest songs I have a hard time to like..I’ll just name a few…
‘Pretty Ballerina’ originally written by a band called The Left Banke who had a hit with “Walk Away Renee,” I don’t know why Alice picked this song to cover. It does have that early garage sound but I’m not crazy for the song itself.
‘The Saga of Jesse Jane’ is one of the funniest songs about a truck driver who wears women clothes. This sort of reminds me of Stan Ridgeway’s solo material. For those who wonder Stan Ridgeway was the original vocalist of Wall of Voodoo.
‘Steal That Car’ is like a jam song just as previous CD has ‘Backyard Brawl’ but ‘Steal That Car’ is one of the weakest lyrics on this CD.

Now I have been reading good reviews about this CD. So I really wish Alice the best. It’s good he’s getting positive results. A lot are saying it’s a different sounding than Alice. Maybe that’s what I don’t like it as much. If I wanted to hear White Stripes or The Vines I’d buy their CDs.
I seem to expect more from Alice as a leader of Rock. I do enjoy the days of ‘The Last Temptation’ album even think ‘Brutal Planet’ was his last greatest material.

Before the CD came out there was talk about bonus tracks, 'The Sharpest Pain' or 'Stand', will appear. 'Stand' was the bonus track which was already on the 'Unity, the Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games Album'. This song included Rapper Xzibit. You can read my review here.

‘Dirty Diamonds’ is a good fun album if that’s your music. I just don’t see myself playing this one that often.The Dirty Diamonds band, I have to say they are one of the best backing bands which includes long-time guitarist Ryan Roxie who’s one of my fav performers. Guitarist Damon Johnson (Brother Cane), bassist Chuck Garric, drummer Tommy Clufetos (who played live w/ Alice), bassist Mike Elizondo (Eminem, 50 Cent) and keyboardist Teddy Zigzag (played w/ Guns n Roses who’s been around as long as Ryan Roxie more or less).


Artwork: Sort of like ‘Eyes Of Alice Cooper’ as they show a close up of Alice’s eyes. This time Alice is wearing his later eye make up not the spider eye make up he use to wear in the early 70’s or in ‘EOAC’. Except Alice has Diamonds in his eyes on this cover. The font sort of jagged is hard to read the title if you look quickly at it. Also this CD is packaged in a cardboard cover so there is no plastic involved except for were the CD is held.
As you open the inside cover is a pic of Alice looking into a diamond framed mirror which you see his reflection staring at you.

The booklet cover also has another pic of Alice’s reflection from the diamond framed mirror. Inside includes lyrics easy to read and song-by-song credits, which is very informative. The inside booklet cover is b&w pic of Alice w/ diamonds background.

The last 2 pages are 2 more b&w pics. One is a very cool pic of Alice playing poker in an unbutton shirt & tie w/ make up. The setting reminds me of a backroom in New Orleans which fits in to the song ‘Zombie Dance’. Behind Alice is a woman; I believe it’s his daughter Calico in a skull voodoo mask holding a stack full of money in one hand. Alice is playing poker w/ a table full of money and 2 unseen poker players cut out of the frame that only shows their hands on the table holding cards.
The other pic is the backing band Ryan Roxie, Damon Johnson, Chuck Garric and Eric Singer. Now even though Eric Singer didn’t contribute in the recording of this CD since he was on the road w/ Kiss. Alice considers Eric as one of his loyal members of the band since Eric toured w/ Alice for quite a number of years.

The back cover of the booklet is a color pic of Alice in black holding switchblades in each hand. Although his stance isn’t that menacing. Reminds me of Jerry Lewis in the alleyway scene in his movie “The Delicate Delinquent”.
The back cover of the CD has Alice standing off to the side w/ the lyrics of the songs to his right. Better picture but I think his lipstick was too red.