Alice Cooper

Concerning Alice Cooper, it is by now axiomatic that any new album is intended only as the
soundtrack of the latest group traveling extravaganza. But even considered as a
soundtrack, Billion Dollar Babies seems an abortion. The extended numbers (ones around
which the stage skits revolve) are the most abrasive. Rather than following Cream's formula
of presenting a tight skeleton on vinyl that can be expanded at will onstage, the... More >

The title's as perfect as the band's latest symbol--a $, its "S" transformed into a two-headed snake. No outrage Alice has concocted equals the frank, sweaty greed of his current success. Oddly, though, this blatant profit mechanism is his most consistent album--even the song about (mercy me) necrophilia is tolerable, just like the song about tooth decay. But without a "School's Out" or an "I'm Eighteen"--neither "No More Mr. Nice Guy" nor "Elected" quite makes the grade--there's nothing to tempt anyone back to the new improved filler. (Grade: B)