Hey Stoopid
After Alice survives the rigorous tortures of Desmond Child this album is produced by Peter Collins. Which is a much better album than “Trash” although sales wise it’s not. “Hey Stoopid” almost follows the same theme as “Trash” Also there is one song “Dangerous Tonight” co-written by Alice and Child that was left over from the previous album. Whether these songs are out takes or not they sound much better and Alice’s vocals are back to normal.

Again Alice’s uses an All Star band having guests play on every track. The list goes as this; Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Satriani, Nikki Sixx & Mick Marrs (Motley Crue), Slash (Guns n Roses), Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore. As you see it’s a very guitar driven album. It also brings back one Alice’s old co-writer Dick Wagner on “Might As Well Be On Mars” with co-writer Desmond Child and Alice.

Alice creates another anthem song “Hey Stoopid” which is an anti-suicide song. Alice enlist the help of Ozzy Osbourne for the background vocals. Who else would be appropriate since Ozzy was cleared of the suicide case of two stoned out men saying Ozzy used backward masking on his own song “Suicide Solution” If anyone in their right mind would know if you listen to that song it isn’t condoning suicide. Since “Hey Stoopid” had a deep meaning it showed Alice wasn’t always talking about horror and sex.

“Feed My Frankenstein” was song that Zodiac Mindwarp co-wrote and is also a song that appeared in the movie “Wayne’s World”. Although I mention these two songs they aren’t my favorites on this album. Some of the songs I do like are “Might As Well Be On Mars” which I mention earlier that Dick Wagner co-wrote this track. “Dirty Dreams” has Alice playing harmonica which I believe the last time was back on “Generation Landslide” on the 1973 “Billion Dollar Babies” album.

“Wind-Up Toy” Alice returns to the days of being in the padded cell.

But now I’m all smiles
the good little shots must be winning
yes, they crank my dial
my motor is stalling but my wheels are still spinning

Alice also brings back a character from the past at the end of “Wind-Up Toy” you hear a voice calling Steven from “Welcome To My Nightmare” album. Alice did mention that it’s a sort of postcard. Naturally Alice has been thinking of the return of the Steven character.

Artwork: cover art is a show of decadence with two silver arms stretched out one in lace holding gems. The other arm holding a fistful of cash. A skull is in the center wearing Alice’s eye make up and the background is filled with stones, razors, spider and skull pins. The Alice Cooper logo is the same font as on “Trash” with “Hey Stoopid” written over it just like the previous album.

The back cover has full shot of Alice in leather holding a whip out stretched from behind his head. The track list are small on the bottom left corner. Inside is the record sleeve with the lyrics and credits on both sides.

On my CD the booklet opens up like a poster with the picture of Alice on the back cover on one side. The other side is all the lyrics and credit plus a another picture of Alice holding a switchblade in one hand and rose in the other. This pic appears on the back of the booklet when it’s closed.

The Last Temptation
And Alice’s last official vinyl album which was only in limited supply. This also is one of the most underrated albums to be released since “DADA” It was produced by three producers Andy Wallace (one of the best), Don Fleming for Instant Mayhem, and Duane Baron and John Purdell (I know that’s four but the last two worked together). Also the last recording with Epic label.

In 1979, Bob Dylan release his most Christian album "Slow Train Coming" which caused stirs in the music business among his fans.
In 1994, Alice moves into a moral aspect theme and this will be a new stage that Alice will be heading into for now. Being raise in a religious family Alice has biblical references as far back as his first album. What do you think "Fields of Regret" was about in "Pretties For You" album? But this will be not just one or two songs it will be the major theme of the album. “The Last Temptation” can be viewed on different levels and you don’t have to take it as a repentance album. Temptation comes in many forms spiritually and physically. This is taking Alice back to doing a concept albums since last one was in 1979 “From The Inside” album.

Alice also reprises the Steven character from “Welcome To My Nightmare” days. Steven is a teenager now dealing with temptations that typical teenagers are bound to come across which are basically pare pressure in the three basic themes sex, drugs, and money. Alice also collaborates with writer Neil Gaiman who’s known for his graphic novels most noted “The Sandman”. What they both came up with was a Three part comic book. The comic book illustrations are done by Michael Zulli. The first issue would be included with purchase of the CD, cassette or album. The other two issues you would have to go to your local comic book shop. The comic book comes across more on a higher level of temptation as the songs are written could be interpreted on both spiritual and physical realms. Some of Alice’s guest who co-wrote were Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), Tommy Shaw (Styx, Damn Yankees), Jack Blades (Damn Yankees), Brian Smith (Beat Angels).

“Sideshow” written by Alice and The Beat Angels gives the carnival atmosphere as in “Here We Ago Again” from “Welcome To My Nightmare” album.
I can’t help but think of Dylan especially the “and the hunchback midget and his twisted friends” line.

and the hunchback midget and his twisted friends
offer me a world of thrills that never end

“Lost In America” is so simply written it reminds me of an Iggy Pop song

I can’t get a girl cuz I ain’t got a car
I can’t get a car cuz I ain’t got a job
I can’t get a job cuz I ain’t got a car

Two songs written by Chris Cornell are “Stolen Prayer” and “Unholy War”. Alice altered some lyrics on “Stolen Prayer” which made it as co-writer. “Stolen Prayer” is an excellent song and Cornell’s background vocals give it that extra feel to it.

you showed me your paradise
and your carnival of souls
but my heart keeps telling me
that's ain't the place to go
well, I'm not invincible
so I want you to leave
well, I'm so convincible
but have I been deceived

Alice includes a ballad “It’s Me” which is very well written but it doesn’t fit the concept of the album or story line with the Steven character. The chorus part of “it’s me, it’s me” reminds me so much of a Moody Blue song. But with that aside if you just listen to it an appreciate it as a good piece of music.

The final song “Cleansed By Fire” which Steven triumphs his temptation.

I don’t know but I’ve been told
the streets of hell are paved with gold
crazy, crazy
you told me that’s nothing’s free
except my own insanity
crazy, maybe

What’s great about this album is you can play any song and it stands up on it’s own as well as in the story. If you check my book review section it will give you a more detail explanation of the graphic novel.

Artwork: The last official vinyl album by Alice Cooper. An excellent cover by artist Dave McKean who is known for his collage work and worked with Neil Gaimen on a number of projects. McKean also worked on a number of musicians covers like Counting Crows “This Desert Life”, Life Of Agony “Soul Searching Sun” and Keith Caputo “Died Laughing” (btw the last two are excellent CDs) to name a few.

So “The Last Temptation” cover gives that sideshow mystery with Alice’s face in the middle and odd images circle around him. As written in “The Illustrated Collector’s Guide To Alice Cooper” by Dale Sherman it’s stated that the Japanese writing in the upper right hand corner translate as: “Honored by being viewed by the Emperor three times,” “Nothing like it in the world” and roughly “Stupendous illusions.”

The back cover is also by McKean as of a metal ring skewered what looks to be road maps and some other abstract images. Alice’s eye with the make up is in the middle of the ring. The song titles are listed top to bottom on the left side with producing credits on top right.

Inside sleeve has on one side an except of a page from the comic book where Steven enters the old theatre and meets Mercy. This is in black & white. As the other side has the lyrics and credits on background image of a blurred Alice face and other texture images.

Also the album, CD and cassette all came with the first issue of the comic book. Which was the same image as on the album. The comic book store had a different cover art for the first issue. Again more on that in the Book Review section.