1989 |
Trash  In 1989 Alice gets commercial which is a taboo word among some fans. I have to agree I wasn’t into this album as it was produced by Desmond Child who also worked w/ other bands like Bon Jovi and Aerosmith. Not the good Aerosmith but the Aersosmith of 80’s. This is also on Epic label another change for Alice. Alice’s backing B horror movie band is slaughtered except for Kane and Winger who appear as guests. Alice’s other guests are Aerosmith (except Brad Whitford), Jon Bon Jovi, Ritchie Sambora, Steve Lukarther (Toto), and Guy Mann-Dude who’s an extraordinary guitarist. Too many of these songs sound like other bands such as “Poison” starts off like “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. “Spark In The Dark” sounds like Bon Jovi and “House of Fire” sounds like Joan Jett even though she co-wrote it along w/ Alice & Child. Desmond Child co-wrote all the songs with Alice plus others. The theme was sex which Alice thought of the title “Trash”. There are some songs I do like but only a few “Only My Heart Talkin’” which Steven Tyler uses his trademark scatty vocals especially at the end. “Trash” is another good track which originally came from a Boston band called Unattached. Mark Frazier and Jamie Sever of Unattached wrote a song titled “Downtown Prayer” Alice altered the lyrics and would become the album title. “I’m Your Gun” is the last song that sounds just as good. Desmond Child is much a control freak and Alice’s vocals sound too rehearsed. Such as in “Hell Is Living Without You” when Alice sings the fist two lines he just stretches the words into too many syllables. In articles I’ve read Alice does mention singing the tracks over a number of times which is more often than he usually does in recording. Alice also mentions his vocal chords were raw at times from so many takes. The only thing good that came from this album it produced a major hit “Poison” which brought Alice back out in the spotlight. I wasn’t crazy for the songs and I get much flak from people who adamantly disagree with me. But then I’m far from commercial and one who thinks “DADA” and “Pretties For You” are great albums. Artwork: the cover is of Alice standing off to one side staring down with the boxy Alice Cooper logo and the title TRASH scrawled over it on top right. The back is large print of the tracks. Inside is filled both sides with lyrics and credits. On my CD I have two images of Alice. The cover the same as on the album but back of CD booklet is another pic of Alice staring down but you can see more of his face. Very slick cover just like the slickness of the recordings. Although I have to add it’s a great album to have Alice sign which I did back in ‘96. The position of Alice off to one side gave room for him to legibly sign it. |
