Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Fun album. I like it very much. I know this is kinda the start of Alice Cooper career. It makes me wonder how much has he evolved over the years. I've never really listened to him, so I guess I'll be looking soon for more albums to check.
Not knowing Alice Cooper very well, I was expecting everything to be ROCK and sounds somewhat similar to “School’s Out”. But no - there’s a huge amount of variety here, from musical theatre (“The Jets”) to jazz. A lot of creativity and talent here.
Album 687 of 1001 Alice Cooper - School's Out (1972) Rating : 4 / 5 Nice blend of hard rock & glam rock. Mix of blues, rock, and jazz influences. Fun album. Wasn't all that deep musically but overall it is a good listen.
Very interesting. I was generally expecting a 2nd rate rock album, but actually a quirky maybe trashier Bowie sound
Not listened to Alice Cooper particularly much. I admit I’m not much into his biggest track “Schools Out”, but bike so many other reviews I found it surprising to hear such varied styles. Was expecting typical glam rock, prog rock stuff and was pleasantly surprised with some bluesy, jazzy styles in there. His voice on some of the songs was mellow. Very nice indeed.
This was very nice. I liked the variety to the tracks a lot. The one random bluesy track was super fun. Cooper's voice sounded really good and he can change it around quite a bit. Everything sounded really good, really fun on this album. It does a really good job of capturing the feeling you get towards the end of the school year around May once it starts getting warm outside. Really solid.
Album fort sympathique, glam rock, quelques très bons titres, comme “Alma Mater”, très Beatlesque tardif, ou “School’s Out”, “Public Animal #9”. Une bonne surprise, Alice Cooper, deuxième album et toujours très recommandable.
This one was more enjoyable in listening to it this time than I remember it being back in the day.
Another legend. Still holds up i think.
everyone's favourite crazy grandpa, what's there to not like 🤷♀️
Really good album.
Fucking awesome tbh
if this is a 5 then so is paul mccartney's born to run, but also maybe i just give benefit of the doubt to first listens. but maybe they're both just 4s
Unexpectedly liked this one a lot.
Bin über mich selbst erstaunt: das hat mir richtig gut gefallen! Favoriten: Blue Turk
Fun album!
At first I thought it was mostly silly, but reflecting on it that is part of the point I think. He took a concept of school, teacher's, student lives, clique rivalries and graduation and made an interesting story. It lost some cohesiveness in musical style but it was cohesive with the story he was telling. Reading other reviews, I agree this could be the next Rock Broadway show. I would totally check it out!
I don't know what I was expecting... but it wasn't this! Way more creative and musically innovative than I expected. Some great bass heavy songs that take turns that I totally didn't expect.
School’s Out, the song, will always remind me of the movie Dazed and Confused. That soundtrack feels like puberty in the 70’s, and so does this album. Rockin’, raw, full of restless, sometimes violent, energy. Gutter Cat Vs. The Jets feels odd but creative. Blue Turk sways and swaggers. This album is a very cool discovery.
Album with a lot of variety.. Favorite track: Blue Turk other picks: school's out, my stars, alma mater, public animal
There’s not much to say here. Like most Alice Cooper albums I’ve heard so far, this one rates as average or slightly better, but it still manages to include a couple of really strong tracks. It’s a middle-of-the-road effort overall, with a few highlights that stand out.
It’s as silly and bombastic as I expected, but it’s also weird and clever and even subtle in some places. Perhaps it doesn’t go the full Zappa, but I think that’s a good thing, because it remains fun, personal, approachable, and pleasantly imperfect.
I've been missold Alice Cooper by mainstream media. The guy has diversity and a level of craft equalling his peers at the time.
This album was much more of a delight than I anticipated. The songs and music are great, the album has a wonderful arc, and there's humor woven throughout. This album reads almost like Zappa to me. I really enjoyed it.
An enjoyable listen, plenty of theatrics, twists and variety but it also rocks
Schools out is a great song the rest is kinda meh.
Great fun. Alice Cooper is always interesting and listenable.
I love the original Alice Cooper group, and this album is excellent, but possibly my least favorite of the original run (other than Muscle of Love). It's the campiest and fortells Alice's love for show tunes and old Hollywood. It also has Public Animal #9 on it, which is possibly the greatest song the group wrote. Inconsistent overall, but still essential.
Wtf. I had been putting this off because I am not a fan of the title track. The rest of the album totally caught me off guard. Blue Turk and Alma mater were my favorite tracks. I went in expecting very one note rock and was pleasantly surprised.
Loved this. Never saw Alice tho
Very interesting and varied album. Enjoyed it overall Standout songs: Gutter cat vs the jets Blue Turk My Stars
Surprised at how much is in this album. The title track is almost a bait and switch for the b-sides. Alma Mater could almost be a 2015 car seat headrest or twin peaks song
Never been more surprised by an album. I only knew the title track going in. Meticulous and progressive and not too serious. Overall, a lot of fun
Surprisingly eclectic, the West Side Story song was a joy
Enjoyed more than I expected. Good rock album with some jazz elements that I wasn’t really expecting. Got a little theatrical at times which I didn’t love, but overall I liked the album a lot.
It tickles me to no end that parents were afraid of exactly this.
This ended up being really fun. I wasn't expecting some West Side Story in there, but I'm all about it.
Glam rock proto hair metal. Your first band did covers of Schools Out because it was simple to play and evokes freedom. Juvenile lyrics and simplistic melodies but the rhythm is good. A few songs show creative genius. Blue Turk for example mixes a toe tapping bass line with a saxophone for a cool feel. Then there’s the one with cats meowing in the background. I guess you can’t always be great. Overall not super impressive. But hey, it’s only nine tracks.
Wonis zerst ide erste 15 min nachem uufwache glost ha hani denkt "absolute trash", aber isch glaub ned de ziitpunktt gsi. Bim zweite lose hanis nice gfunde, vor allem de gangfight zwüsche de Guttercat & de Jets. Gaht ab, het harmonisch cools züg dinne und d lyrics sind abgspaced-weird. Right up my proverbial shady alley (wieso tönt das zweidütig xd)
Sounds like a rock musical, which somehow is both really surprising and not surprising at all. However, it is pretty cool.
Expectiation: spooky devil rock Reality: West Side Story No notes
## In-Depth Review of *School's Out* by Alice Cooper Alice Cooper's *School's Out*, released on June 30, 1972, is a landmark album that encapsulates the spirit of youthful rebellion and the bittersweet nature of growing up. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also discussing its pros and cons. ### ****Lyrics The lyrics of *School's Out* are characterized by their playful yet poignant exploration of themes related to adolescence, freedom, and existential angst. The title track serves as an anthem for students everywhere, celebrating the end of the school year with a mix of joy and rebellion. Lines like "School's out for summer! School's out forever!" evoke a universal sense of liberation that resonates with listeners across generations[1][2]. Other tracks on the album, such as "Public Animal #9" and "Luney Tune," continue this exploration of youthful defiance but with darker undertones. For instance, "Public Animal #9" features lyrics that reflect a sense of delinquency and societal rejection, while "Luney Tune" uses surreal imagery to depict a chaotic state of mind[2][4]. The song "Alma Mater" poignantly captures the bittersweet nature of graduation, where Cooper reflects on being overlooked and forgotten by his peers, delivering lines that blend humor with melancholy[4]. ### ****Music Musically, *School's Out* is a vibrant blend of hard rock, glam rock, and theatrical elements. The opening title track features a memorable guitar riff that sets the tone for the album. Glen Buxton’s guitar work is particularly noteworthy; his buzz-saw riffs and dynamic solos create an energetic backdrop that complements Cooper's theatrical vocal delivery[2][3]. The album showcases a variety of musical styles: - **"Blue Turk"**: This jazzy number introduces a sultry vibe with its seductive rhythms and intricate arrangements. - **"Gutter Cat vs. the Jets"**: This track pays homage to *West Side Story*, incorporating elements of musical theater into rock music. - **"Street Fight"**: An instrumental interlude that heightens the tension between tracks. The production by Bob Ezrin is another highlight; he expertly balances the raw energy of the band with sophisticated arrangements. Ezrin’s use of orchestration and innovative sound effects enhances the theatricality of the album while maintaining its rock roots[2][3]. ### ****Production Bob Ezrin’s production plays a crucial role in shaping the sound of *School's Out*. His approach combines traditional rock instrumentation with orchestral elements, creating a rich sonic landscape. The children's chorus in "School's Out," for example, adds an unexpected layer that enhances the song's rebellious spirit[1][2]. Ezrin’s meticulous attention to detail allows each instrument to shine while ensuring that Cooper’s vocals remain at the forefront. The production captures both the rawness and sophistication of the band’s sound, making it accessible yet complex. This duality is evident throughout the album as it oscillates between hard-hitting rock anthems and more nuanced tracks. ### ****Themes The central theme of *School's Out* revolves around freedom and rebellion against societal norms. The title track encapsulates the exhilaration felt by students at the end of the school year—a moment when they break free from academic constraints. This theme resonates deeply with listeners who recall their own experiences with school and adolescence. However, beneath this celebratory exterior lies a more profound exploration of identity and belonging. Songs like "Alma Mater" reflect on feelings of isolation and being forgotten after graduation. This duality—celebration mixed with introspection—adds depth to the album and invites listeners to reflect on their own journeys through youth[4][5]. ### ****Influence *School's Out* has had a lasting impact on rock music and popular culture. Its title track became an anthem for generations, often played during school-related events and celebrations. The song’s universal appeal lies in its ability to capture a moment that many can relate to—the joy of escaping school. The album also helped solidify Alice Cooper’s reputation as a pioneer in theatrical rock. His blend of horror-inspired imagery with relatable themes set a precedent for future artists in various genres, influencing bands like Kiss and Marilyn Manson who adopted similar theatrical elements in their performances[2][3]. Moreover, *School's Out* marked a significant moment in Alice Cooper’s career as it propelled him into mainstream success. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and went platinum, paving the way for subsequent hits like *Billion Dollar Babies*. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Iconic Title Track**: The song "School's Out" is one of rock music's most recognizable anthems. - **Diverse Musical Styles**: The album showcases a range of musical influences, from hard rock to jazz-infused tracks. - **Thoughtful Lyrics**: Cooper’s lyrics offer both humor and depth, addressing themes relevant to youth. - **Strong Production**: Bob Ezrin’s production elevates the album’s sound quality and complexity. #### Cons - **Uneven Quality**: Some critics argue that while the title track is stellar, other songs do not match its brilliance[4][5]. - **Less Cohesive Than Previous Works**: Compared to earlier albums like *Love It to Death*, some feel *School's Out* lacks thematic unity. - **Limited Appeal Beyond Rock Fans**: While influential within rock circles, its theatricality may not resonate with all music listeners. ### Conclusion Alice Cooper’s *School's Out* remains a significant work in rock history due to its energetic sound, relatable themes, and cultural impact. While it may not be universally regarded as his best album—often overshadowed by earlier works—it captures a moment in time that continues to resonate with audiences today. Its blend of rebellion, humor, and introspection makes it an essential listen for anyone interested in understanding both Alice Cooper as an artist and the evolution of rock music during the early 1970s.
Love this from beginning to end
I was pleasantly surprised by this. I didn’t think it’d be awful, but there is so much more here than I anticipated. I love a good finale. The 3/4 time in “Blue Turk” was a nice reference. I was confused by, not only the inclusion of, but also the frequency and apparent weight the Jets melody had in the album. I enjoyed it though. 4/5
This album is pretty fun. I like the range of styles and the playfulness overall. It's also nice and short, good for us short attention spanned folks, and on theme for being an album with a disaffected youth concept. 3.5/5
Not as good as Billion Dollar Babies, but still really enjoyed it. 3.75/5
Maybe not his best but it's up there.
This is a fun album. "School's Out" is a classic you've heard a million times, but the rest of the album mixes in jazz, show tunes, and more. Good stuff.
delicious glam crack music 8/10
We all know the title track, especially from Guitar Hero for me. But I was impressed with the variety and depth to this one. I don't know much about Alice Cooper but he (they?) seem weird enough to be worthwhile. Great album for sure, glad to hear it. Favorite tracks: School's Out, Gutter Cat vs. the Jets, My Stars, Public Animal #9. Album art: A carved and marked up school desk. Perfectly fitting, well done. Again, this Alice Cooper guy (group?) may be the real deal. 4/5
This was a fun album! I really liked the instrumentals here. Vocals not-as-much. It's a tossup between 'Blue Turk' and 'My Stars' for faves.
If you only know School's Out from this record then the rest is gonna surprise you, because it's really a swaggering, arrogant broadway/west end show with a bluesy glam rock foundation, and it rocks. Everything on side one is brilliant after the title reack, Blue Turk being the highlight, side two/the back half isn't quite as good but this is a quality album that's getting a strong 4 from me, it's ambitious, fun, weird and well crafted.
Love this album.
I really liked this album. It’s smart, good blues elements. Just a whole lot of fun beyond the single.
Not what I anticipated it to be. I thought this would go harder. Jazzier than I expected though, which I enjoyed.
This has been an eye opener, what a lovely surprise after a couple of disappointing albums. I wish we could score with half stars as this is a 4 1/2 * album all the way through, but not 5...
This album was all over the place and I loved it!! Super fun listen, went on a trip to outer space 🍄🟫
Another album where I like it more than the first generated by this list for a particular artist/band. This one is in a lot of places a bit silly, but in a way I find fun! The Westside Story section was definitely a surprise but not an unenjoyable one. "School's Out", "Blue Turk", "Public Animal #9", and "Alma Mater" were the tracks that stood out the most to me. This is one I will enjoy listening to again.
This felt really theatrical at times, and it was a pleasant surprise that it wasn’t just the title track rehashed 12 slightly different ways. Solid classic rock, but strays enough from that sound to prevent fatigue.
Alice Cooper's best stuff came as the Alice Cooper band in the early to mid seventies except the 1st two albums which aren't great. This album has 1 huge song in the title track and a the rest is ok to decent filler type songs, it's an enjoyable album but is really on the list due to the title track personally I would have gone for Love It To Death of Killer.
Приятно удивлен
Goofy y divertido, 4
School's Out is always a great track and a good way to start this album, my dad would always play this when I got home from school on the last day of school in each grade :) Thought the album would be a 3 but the second half picked up for me, I liked this, it was nice and short, would listen again.
While the songs on the album are great the guitar is the stand out. The solos are legendary and it sounds so good the whole way though. Favorite songs: School's Out, Luney Tune, My Stars, Public Animal #9, Alma Mater.
Wat een crazy combinaties
4-
The only song I knew from this was Schools Out. Have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the rest of the album. Another one to add to my ever expanding number of favorite albums
Not what I was expecting outside the title track! Reminded me of the Doors, Aueen.. The jazz on ‘Blue Turk’ was out of the blue but so great. 4.25/5
Bastante guay. No le pongo 5 porque no tiene la canción Poison.
Zero doubt about the influence this had when it first came out. It's pretty raw and really good music. Rock, Blues, Funk, it's got a lot more to offer than the title track.
3.75
Hyvää settiä, joskaan en tiedä jääkö kuinka moni kappaleista soimaan itsellä.
Not the best Alice Cooper album, but a very good Alice Cooper album.
Glam rock gets credited mostly to T. Rex and Bowie in the nearly '70s, but it was Alice Cooper who would bring glam across the pond. His creepy take on the heightened performance of glam made him (and the band of the same name) all the more popular. Paired with the rising popularity of hard rock in the early '70s, the group was bound for success. School's out is best known for it's title track, the full album maintains a strong consistency throughout it's runtime. I think it shows how the band knew what sound worked best and attempted occasional theatrics to help heighten the whole experience. Nothing too crazy here, but it's well-made for what it is.
Thoughts before listening: Alice Cooper is great. He wrote some timeless classic rock hits (i.e. the title track here) but also brought a level of theatricality to rock n roll. I have seen Alice Cooper a couple times, and his stage show is just straight fun. This should be an enjoyable listen today. Review: This album starts out with the title track which I love, but then it gets weird...and I like it. I mean its still very much a 70s rock record, but a song like "Blue Turk" with its jazzy breakdowns isn't what I'd usually expect from Alice Cooper. Having seen Alice live, I know his show is almost like watching a musical, so this album bringing almost a Meatloaf like theatricality probably shouldn't be a surprise. Also, on the title track, I'd never noticed the children singing background vocals...reminds me quite a bit of "Another Brick in the Wall". Other songs Im enjoying include "My Stars" and "Public Enemy #9". 4-stars
Lovely
Cooper plays around with the instruments and production while still keeping the heart of the rock and roll genre!
I think I have only ever heard schools out from this album and I wish I had listened to it sooner because I like other songs on the album as well. There were a few where Alice changed his voice and it kind of threw me off, but I also appreciated Slightly different styles across the songs. I also liked his humor at the end at the end of Alma Mater. Overall a great album!
For something called shock rock, this album is actually pretty tame…it dabbles in jazz and country, but is mostly a punk-leaning rock album. I appreciate the cohesion of the bands sound while playing with elements from other genres.
Schools out is a pretty decent album, with the titular track being a great one. 3.6
Some decent stuff on here
6/6/24. School's Out! I've known the title track for so long but never listened to the full album. I'm glad the day came because this was an enjoyable listen, more diverse songwriting than I anticipated. It ranged from heavier to slower songs, and even in style a bit. Will check this out again.
This was a really enjoyable record. Favourite tracks: School's Out, Gutter Cat vs. The Jets (love the bass guitar intro), Street Fight, Blue Turk, Alma Mater.
Blue Turk is nice, met de jazzy notes. 'School's out' zelf is een classic track, de rest voelt vrij skippable op zich. Het album voelt wel als een experimenteel geheel. Ik zou 3,5 geven, maar 4 is op zich ook verdiend voor dit classic rockalbum.
Classic dad rock era <3
A bit too rock opera for me
not my favourite album from Alice but solid
ah, the incomparable alice cooper. while not necessarily his best effort, this is still a good album to show that ol’ black eyes is so much more than his hits. this album not only contains good old fashioned rock and roll, but also references to west side story, and even flirtations with jazz. the album focuses on teen rebellion and alienation, but also nostalgia… all wrapped up in alice’s songwriting. highlights: “school’s out”, “luney tune”, “my stars”, “public animal number 9”…
One of the glam rock albums that actually rocks from that period. Also a concept album that is not recognized as frequently as its contemporaries. While the single "School's Out", gets all the attention, I actually also loved the cheeky humor of the glam rock rewrite of "Jet Song" from the musical West Side Story as the renamed "Gutter Cat vs. The Jets" along with "Street Fight". My other favorites were the jazz loungie snark of "Blue Turk", the blues of "My Stars", the rocking rebellious "Public Animal #9", but perhaps my favorite track on the album is the instrumental "Grand Finale" that works in bits of the "Jet Song" melodies as closer. While I enjoy bits of David Bowie's THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST, I actually enjoy SCHOOL'S OUT, which was also released in 1972, more. SCHOOL'S OUT, in my opinion, is a better mixed record and shorter, and tighter collection of songs at just 36 minutes.
Classic, but a bit to classic for me... Still good
I love Alice Cooper and haven’t listened to this album inmany years. I first heard this album as a young teenager. And it had the best line of all time (we can’t even think of a word that rhymes).
A very good album that surprised me at first by the sound of Alice Cooper beyond just the title track
4st
Great rock and roll but not my favorite Alice album
I feel like it would be better as a live show.
Not what I expected as someone who only knew the title track before today. Pretty cool stuff.
Probably the most unexpected album of the list so far. It was an eclectic work of art really.
Very fun, very theatrical, very interesting that I’d never heard anything beyond the title track before.
I’m surprised by how good this album was, given how little I liked the other Alice Cooper album. Billion Dollar Babies? Not gonna look it up, but I think that was it. This one was dynamic, creative. I enjoyed and didn’t expect the bluesy, jazzy, soulful elements.
This is a fun album that has managed to not age all that much over the years
I love Alice Cooper, and I think this album was going for a theme of what happens in the absence of school. A critic on the Wikipedia article confirmed that. I get it. I don’t know if I’d come back to it unless I just wanted to hear more Cooper. I liked the West Side Story connection.
A powerful rock album with an especially powerful title track. It's something that bangs. As a prog rock fan mostly, it's not what tickles my fancy that much though.
Shoutout Guitar Hero. Was surprised to hear a West Side Story song on this record.
swag
Once the glammed up Strum und Drang of School's Out approaches its conclusion, Alice Cooper (man and band) take great strides to refine and surprise listeners with their blown-up and blown-out definition of rock and roll. Delinquency has never sounded as delightfully and dangerously cool as this and you can thank all the tables you've drawn on, scratched up, drooled or put gum under for that. avorites: School's Out, Luney Tune, Gutter Cat vs. The Jets, Blue Turk, Alma Mater, Grande Finale.
The Waynes World movie in the 90s introduced me to Alice Cooper. What a fascinating person! This album has the song most people know, which is also the title of the album. What I wasn’t expecting was hearing a show tune from West Side Story and the horns and blues influences. Eclectic and eccentric.
Much more textured than I thought it would be. Could be a musical theatre soundtrack, if that musical was a freaky, sleazy blues-rock musical set in a haunted high school. The musicality is impressive too. Rather unfairly I was expecting a 12 bar blues bar room kind of feel, but they throw in Blue Turk - a jazzy, saxy bordello vibe, then go into My Stars which is an operatic opus with more changes than a Jim Steinbeck song. Alma Mater sounds like McCartney. And it's a tight 9 songs in 37 minutes. A lesser band would have had made a couple of these songs 8 minute numbers to pad it out. Track 3 (Gutter Rat vs The Jets) was a bit dull and I nearly gave up on this, thinking I had got the gist of the album after Schools Out and a good fun rock number Luney Tune. Glad I stuck with it.
Solid album. Can see why Alice Cooper was influential for several bands.
Listened Before? N A real rocker! Alice Cooper at his peak in the 70s was the complete package. A showman and a good musician - with unique things to say. I enjoyed this album. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: School's Out
Blev positivt överraskad av denna. Trodde hela skivan skulle vara tonårsbandig och glamrockig i samma stil som School’s out, men det var verkligen en blandad kompott. Lite svårt att betygsätta då det spretar åt så många håll, men landar i en fyra åt det lite svagare hållet.
Bastante guay. No le pongo 5 porque no tiene la canción Poison.
Pretty cool but couldn’t get into it past a few songs … did love the grand finale
Not a fan, but this one is a collection of ultra-hits, which makes it solid to me
Much more enjoyable than I expected! Sometimes it crosses over into being a little campy or theatrical, but that’s who Alice Cooper is. The jazz blues influence caught me off guard and some of those bass lines are pure funk.
Very iconic, very fun.
A lot more going on here than I’d have expected. It’s theatrical, glam, intricate and fun. My head wants to give it a 5 but for some reason my heart can only go up to a 4. I should listen to more Alice Cooper though.
This is very good. I only knew the title track but I really enjoyed the rest of the songs as well.
Much groovier and poppier than I was expecting!
fun with lots of different sounds
You know, I really like classic rock. I like the tone, I like the musical instrumentation, I like the general vibes. I also like that the albums tend towards 36 minutes long so during say, a project to listen to 1001 albums, I'm not stuck on the same one for an hour and a half. About this album in particular, it rocks. What else is there to say. It's Alice Cooper.
Only familiar with School's Out from this album, but it showed a surprising amount of variety for such a small album. Not bad.
# Playlist track - Grand Finale # Notes - I've first seen this album playing Guitar Hero! It is still amazing. - The "Grand Finale" absolutely blew my mind. I don't know what the hell was that and what is it doing on an Alice Cooper album, but it is GREAT.
'70s at its best.
Surprised to say the least. Sure, we all know "School's out". But who knew they "sampled" West Side Story? And there were moments that were very jazzy on this record. Really surprising and entertaining.
Chock-full of performative, angst-fueled shock rock anthems, School's Out proves that even though Alice Cooper looks like a goth or a metalhead, he was always a theatre kid at heart.
This was a surprise. I definitely wasn't expecting West Side Story or jazz. Very unexpected. I have adjusted my clearly woefully incorrect impression of Alice Cooper. Really like Blue Turk.
Great record sleeve!
It was pretty good, a bunch of songs I was unfamiliar with. I have outgrown the style, but it was good to hear a blast from the past.
Very good. I liked most of the other songs more than the title track.
Love Alice. Always good R&R
What a diverse sounding album. I love School's Out. Appropriately enough it was in the charts when we were leaving our penultimate year at Secondary School and it was an exciting time so the song always resonates, even now. I thought some of the other tracks were very different & interesting. 4*
Only knew the title track before listening, but I think this is a really good album. Not just hard rock. I love the way they incorporated the music from West Side Story!
Chat, is it bad that I just learned that Alice Cooper was the name of his band too?
Surprisingly great singing and you can feel Alice Cooper influencing every heavy rock artist that came after. Noteworthy for the Broadway style theatricality, which is not unexpected for Alice Cooper considering his reputation as a live act (esp. in the early days). I love that Alice Cooper is partially responsible for jettisoning the hippies from the pop charts. In 1972 I think everyone was probably ready for a break. Fun album!
This record surprised me a lot. I'm not super familiar with Alice Cooper aside from the myth and image and the obvious title track hit on this record. I was not expecting the whole cabaret feel and him doing his own take on a West Side Story. I also loved the squonky sax all over it too. This record is awesome and my impression of Alice Cooper has been raised considerably.
I liked this more than I expected. It’s far more melodic than I expected. More like Boston than like metal. Some parts were a bit too theatrical (like Meatloaf), but on the whole it’s great.
As others have suggested, this is far more varied than you might expect. Even enjoyed the West Side Story numbers.
i feel some songs lean quite heavily into classic rock and are decent (like the first two tracks), and some lean much too heavily into experimenting with orchestral or jazz music (like grand finale) for my tastes. however the songs which are just between two groups are perfect to me such as blue turk (jazzy undertones here are nice) and my stars (made dramatic with theatric-sound rock). these two alone bump the rest of the albums average 3 rating to a 4. also gutter cat vs the jets was an interesting experience.
This was unexpected. Some very cool songs
Man, I did not expect to like this album, but I did. First time I heard the tracks apart from School's out, and they went from psychedelic to jazzy to hard rock and back again. Blue Turk kicks ass. I was expecting the band known for their onstage antics, but there's interesting innovation and creativity here.
In grade 7 or 8 I got this album on release with the vinyl wrapped in panties. I remember my uncle taking the panties and putting them on our doberman. That's a glam rock moment! I can still recite from memory every line from the West Side Story bit in Gutter Cat vs The Jets. Yup - my culture for musicals (or lack thereof) started with the Coop. This album doesn't sound anywhere near as good as it did when I was 12 but I'm giving it a 4. I don't care if you don't agree with it; I don't agree with it either - but I'm giving it anyway.
I was going to gripe about how 1001 could possibly pick this LP over either of the 2 previous AC LPs that launched the theatrical live shows that made them famous. The Wiki review confirmed this by stating that the only song from “Schools Out” retained in their live shows was the title track. However, after listening, my mood improved. I have to admit that there are some pretty great songs here, my favourite being “Blue Turk” with its jazzy interplay between trombone and saxophone at a sophisticated level unheard of on rock albums at that time (Roxy Music or Pink Floyd, for example; Steely Dan exempted). “Luney Tune” and “My Stars” are also great, the latter featuring proggy piano and drumming. I’m undecided about the mixed concept of Highschool vs West Side Story but it produced some songs that were different (ie not shock rock) for AC and reflective of bands trying to expand their sounds in the early 70s.
Wow, I was pleasantly surprised by this one.
I had only heard the title track prior to listening, and this was not what I was expecting. Very similar in style to what the Who were doing at the time. Definitely good.
This had a lot more electronic and blues to it than I anticipated. I was expected straight up rock n' roll with some hair metal. First song is a classic. At one point in your life you listened to School's Out while leaving school for summer for the last time and never got to leave school for summer ever again :( The rest of the album had tons of variety and fun elements that I was not expecting. Alma Mater and Grand Finale was a great way to end things.
I have known the title track for many years now and it is such a fun song to sing along with. The album took a much different turn after that song and it seemed to change styles completely. It took me a few songs to get into it but I was pretty hooked in once it got really jazzy in Blue Turk. Grande Finale was a cool way to end it with more instrumental big band style. I was not fully paying attention to this album but from what I heard I really liked so I am certainly going to have to give this another play through.
De webpagina liep vast op mijn telefoon. Ik kon wel de Spotify-link zien, maar niet welk album het zou worden. Best geinig eigenlijk zo'n verrassingsconstructie. Ik hoopte op een lekkere rock-plaat. En ja hoor, er komt Alice Cooper uit de roulette rollen. De eerste klanken kent iedereen. 'School's Out'. Ik ben inmiddels niet meer de doelgroep. Maar stiekem ook voor de werkenden een lekker in het gehoor liggend plaatje. De volgende nummers kan ik geen evergreens noemen. Maar het luistert allemaal prima weg en het is lekker afwisselend. Fijn bijvoorbeeld dat er ook wat jazzy klanken voorbijkomen (Blue Turk). Klapstuk van de plaat: 'My Stars'. Piano, gitaar, drum, en zang krijgen allen dwars door elkaar de hoofdrol, maar vormen toch een geheel.
School's out is natuurlijk een episch nummer, maar het heeft wel een enorm top2000 gehalte. Misschien dat ik me dat voorstel, nu het tijdstip van het jaarlijkse boomerfestival van de radio dichter en dichter nadert, maar het voelt wel flink gedateerd aan in ieder geval. En ondanks dat het gedateerd is, klinkt het toch wel lekker. Beetje foute glamrock. Ik kan het prima hebben.
Actually much better than anticipated. Wasn't expecting the West Side Story quotations.
Pretty good. Nothing amazed me, but there wasn’t really anything bad. Not my favourite Alice Cooper album (so far that goes to Billion Dollar Babies) but not too much worse. Also, School’s Out (the song) is vastly overrated. I really don’t care for the lyrics at all. 7/10 Top 3: 1. Luney Tune 2. Blue Turk 3. Gutter Cat vs. The Jets
Solid
Dramatique, bien arrangé, parfois orchestral. Différent de ce que j’attendais, mais j’ai beaucoup aimé
Alice Cooper’s persona’s such a fun middle ground between guitar hero music and gothy theater kid, hard to not be charmed by that
i love this album, i listened all day, so creative and fun and spooky
I was gifted this album when I was 14 years old, listened to it once and forgot about it. Much better than in my memory, little bit more bluesy than 80's Alice and I like that.
Je trouve ça drôle que je disais sur l'album de Deep Purple juste avant que je n'étais vraiment pas fan de old school hard rock, pour que l'album du lendemain soit exactement ça, mais que je le trouve vraiment bon. Probablement parce que ça cherche à être plus que lourd et avec beaucoup de notes de guitares flashy. Il y a un soucis de composition qui est un peu plus présent. Les chansons sont mieux structurées, plus de couches présentes. Il y a carrément même un aspect un peu théâtral, surtout la finale. Pas un album parfait, mais un album vraiment fun à écouter. 8/10
Stand-out work from the original shock-rocker. Cleverly mashes mainstream rock with actual musicality making for an exciting yet satisfying listening experience. Recommended.
Good
3.75
Classic
Normally, it's this genre of '70s to '80s hard rock (or metal) that doesn't age well. A few decades after it sounds cheesy and dated, only passing as either guilty pleasure music or drunken karaoke staples. Not this album though. It's a lot more varied than I thought it would be - there's obviously plenty of rock, but we also hear a fair bit of jazz, some theatrics and drama, and a fully instrumental closing track. And all the while it stays familiar to the Alice Cooper sound. This is how you write a record that stands the test of time. Besides the title track, standouts are Blue Turk, Public Animal #9 and Grande Finale.
Pleasantly surprised with a bit of variety here. Last two tracks are cool as well. It has highlights for sure. Good album with good tracks.
This album surprised me. I was expecting more basic glam/hard rock like the title track. I wasn’t expecting a concept album that spanned musical theater, jazz, blues, and art rock. Alice Cooper’s use of West Side Story was brilliant, and linking that to a loose story of getting older and uncertain about the future as exemplified by graduating high school was rather inspired.
Classic rock
Great classic rock album with good guitar tones and the legendary Alice Cooper wailing at the mic. 4.5 stars if i could.
B+ School's Out 4 Luney Tune 4 Gutter Cat vs. The Jets 3 Street Fight* 3 Blue Turk 4 My Stars 5 Public Animal #9 3 Alma Mater 4 Grande Finale 3 Adam texted me about this before I listened: "Brotha this Alice cooper album is actually so surprising" and "It feels like a broadway musical". So, when I listened for the first time and heard direct musical and lyrical references to West Side Story, it made sense. However, this is more like "Inspired by West Side Story" than an indirect spinoff. The music was so friggin' good in this. It totally took me by surprise. I didn't like it much on the first listen, but after multiple more, it felt like one of the best albums of the past 100 or so.
It's an interesting enough take on "classic" rock that it kept my ears perked. Gutter Cat vs. The Jets caught me off guard at first, but I got into it by the end.
Not much to this album except School's Out, which is surprising
Very good Alice Cooper album with a big hit (the title track) and a couple of other great songs. But maybe a bit too much cabaret and not enough rock. So very good but not on the same classic level as Killer (best opening song ever ...telephone is ringing), Love It To Death and Billion Dollar Babies, which are all 5-star albums. score: 8/10.
cool album, was a good listen
4.25
Really enjoyable slice of rock opera nonsense that's a fair bit better than i would have expected.
p278. 1972. 4.5 stars. Class early 70s glam rock with a sense of humour, and which doesn't outstay its welcome. Suitably weird - big band jazz, opera and outstanding rockers - and it still sounds fresh today.
holup ok alice
Alice cooper has surprised me. I thought this was going to be White Zombie in the 70s but it’s ultimately more blues than anything else.
School’s out! Let’s rock, jazz, funk and musical! Yeah!
After 2 failed albums, The Alice Cooper Band had successful 5 album run. Of that 5 album run, "Killer," "Billion Dollar Babies," & "Love It To Death" are all superior to "School's Out," There's a lot of filler on this one. Thankfully, the majority of the filler is still good and entertaining, but I wouldn't even rank this as THE Alice Cooper album that you need to hear before you die (that would be "Killer"), let alone one of the 1001 albums that you need to hear before you die.
School’s Out is definitely the best track, but I did not expect as much variety as I got from the rest of the album. Show tunes? Jazz? What?
Another helping of Alice Cooper today. Most of what is to be said about Alice, I said in my review of his album Billion Dollar Babies. This album was better than that one. School's Out is a staple of summer vacation for students everywhere!! Every time I hear that song I think of the movie Dazed and Confused. There is a lot going on in this album. The first two songs are good rockin' hits, then Alice throws in a curve balls in the form of a song that has a show tune feel to it (Gutter Cat VS the Jets sounds like it could be in West Side Story), this is immediately followed by a short track that features the bassist canoodling while shit is smashed and broken in the background. Blue Turk is a jazzy blues number, and sounds like something Frank Zappa would put out. After this hiatus from rock, he comes back strong to round out the record. Overall, a great album. Would be a welcome addition to my record collection. It's neat to hear the range of Alice Cooper's musical exploration. They are always stuck in the shock rock genre, but they are so much more than that! Favorite songs: School's Out, Luney Tune, Blue Turk, Public Animal #9, My Stars, Alma Mater Least favorite songs: Street Fight 4/5
This is a surprisingly strong album with 'School's Out' being the weakest track of the 9.
This was a pleasant surprise! I knew Alice Cooper had a theatrical presentation but didn't expect the music to be so varied! I'd rate this 4.5 if I could! Fave track - "School's Out" is great for karaoke purposes. "Gutter Cat Vs The Jets" was awesome, and I also dug "My Stars". My cats _really_ didn't like the sound effects in "Street Fight" 😾
I respect the sly weirdness and wit of this one, as well the excellent musicianship. I don't think a lot of people appreciate just how musically GOOD Alice Cooper's music can be, because you have to look past the big persona, the gritty vocals, the twisted approach to lyricism, etc. But Cooper always surrounded himself with outstanding musicians and was willing to go off the beaten path musically. "Blue Turk" and "My Stars" are great examples of this. The songs are carefully crafted and the overall work is structured loosely like a concept album about school, with a broad range of musical styles. Most importantly, this album totally rocks. No one else making rock music sounds like this, and it's pretty damn cool. Fave Songs: School's Out, Blue Turk, My Stars, Luney Tune, Alma Mater
This is an all time classic. It would have been better to have scheduled it a month from now, closer to the time when schools actually get out.
I have been a fan of Alice Cooper since the first time I saw him on The Muppet Show. Weird, right? But I love him and I love his music. This album was kinda weird. He was really working towards some sort of concept album maybe? Either was I was totally along for the ride.
My kid has been reading the Warrior Cats books so after track 3 she couldn't stop herself chatting away about that so I missed a few songs I guess. What a strange record. I think I prefer Billion Dollars Babies because I just prefer the style there, but this is equally interesting. Overall been surprised over those two albums that there's much more to Alice Cooper than I knew.
A fun run of glammy jammies. This is what I was hoping Alice Cooper would give me.
From the opening "School's Out" this is Alice Cooper at their best.
I did not expect to like this album, but I really enjoyed it!
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected, everyone knows the title track, but some great songs and was really caught off guard by and enjoyed the west side story cover. This really is a great 70’s heavy rock album so much better than the opening song.
A decent classic rock album which has influences from hard rock, glam, jazz and blues. The second half of the album has particularly interesting songs.
My first Alice Cooper album I got on here I met with a raised eyebrow - until I realised that it was actually really good, and there was a lot more going on with it than I thought there would be. So I was actually really looking forward to getting stuck into this one. This one is really varied. There's some great songs on here, and it's hard to place it in any one genre. Alma Mater as an example sounds like a Beatles song, and you wouldn't expect quite so much brass either. I'd say a few of the middle songs lag a bit, but it's still very listenable overall. I like a lot in here. I really like the songs with lots going on instrumentally, including brass, piano and violin. Bring on more Alice Cooper!
That was fun! Nothing mind blowing but a good listen all the same.
This was better than I expected, it has a very wide variety of sounds and a strong concept with the school thing. Obviously the title track is the most famous but it's not a bad record all around
sabe
Great album, great memories
Uhh, that's nice. I liked "Street Fight" and bass + guitar tones, but nothing catchy for me
Best track(s): School's Out // Blue Turk (at least the first half) Worst track(s): My Stars The songs were all pretty good and I was pleasantly surprised. Quite varied. I expected having to turn the volume down on most songs, but that wasn't the case at all. However, the last song was a bit underwhelming. Fun, but it shouldn't be the last track. I expect I will listen to this again.
An interesting mish mash of ideas.
Genre spanning. This is way more than “School’s Out”.
7,5/10. muy gueno
OOOh yes. took me back a logn way - great times
I had no idea how much I enjoy Alice Coooer! What a nice surprise.
That's just really fun. Sure, it's got a bit of an "oogie-boogie, I'm so scary" vibe but it was the 70s and shock rock was A) all the rage and B) not all that shocking in retrospect. For all that, Cooper is a great performer and this was a lot of fun.
With only cursory knowledge of Cooper's music and stage persona, I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy this listen. But this collection of tunes is fun, weird -- and at times, even beautiful.
This was actually not horrible. Pretty mellow, actually, which I always find hilarious when these proto-Goth, monster lovin', scary make-up wearin' 80s bands are really just softies at heart (albeit with some serious issues with public education - no need to blow up the school, Alice). Maybe you could teach the kids about the history of Milwaukee and put the fun back in education...
An impressive album for the time, but didn't stand out enough for me in the now.
One of Rock's classic showmen, a hugely enjoyable pantomime of an album
When this one popped up I was a little bummed. Apparently I had a specific image of Alice Cooper. I truly enjoyed this album.
I was surprised by the variety and energy in this album. I felt good listening to it, and appreciate the style and lyrics
I'm a huge Alice Cooper fan, so I know this album well enough, but I imagine it might surprise or confuse more casual or new listeners. Alice is most known for his shock rock persona. The title song would become by far the most popular song off of this album, and one of Alice's all time biggest hits. While School's Out (the song) is not entirely shock rock, it's probably the closest example to that on this album. That said, this album came at a time when Alice Cooper and his band were still experimenting with their sound and deciding where exactly they intended to land. (It wouldn't be until Alice's next album, Billion Dollar Babies, that they would really cement that shock rock sound that he's so known for.) This album is an example of the band's exploration prior to breaking fully into shock rock. Alice Cooper would continue experimenting throughout much of his career, but most of that exploration would still be centered around shock rock. What you have here is an intentionally bizarre, not-quite-shock-rock, progressive hard rock album that is most certainly also a concept album (it was never declared to be so, but the songs certainly have an overarching theme) with qualities not unlike a musical. While this album is not yet manifested fully into shock rock, you can hear the hints of it; the album is fairly campy and odd. It has an almost dark cabaret/burlesque quality to it mixed in with glam rock and hard rock, a combination that could maybe even be considered proto-shock rock, thereby making it an important stepping stone in what Alice Cooper would become. While this is not my favorite Alice album, it is no doubt an incredibly important piece in the story of shock rock. This particular album lands at about a 3.5 for me, but I have no problems bumping it to a 4.
Come for the ubiquitous title track (School's Out the song is an all-time 5, no one denies this). Stay for all of the surprises the Alice Cooper Group has up their sleeves. This somehow continues to get even better with age.
Rock it babe
She does what she does best she gave it a character
8/10
is good.
A classic
varied sound rock style favourite song: blue turk guitar sound is very cool short album
Great album, really solid.
A classic
Dazed and confused anyone?
The first song on this album was very welcome after this past week of the dregs of this list. And NIN. Three tracks in, we've got Stephen Sondheim. Give this man a Nobel Prize. We end on Sondheim, too? What is this album? It's a delight, that's what it is.
The second in a trifecta of incredible Alice Cooper albums (topped and tailed by 'Killer' and 'Billion Dollar Babies'), 'School's Out' is testament to what a strange, idiosyncratic band they were. Before Coop went off on his own wobbly but varied solo career, he and his compares made some of the most interesting music of the era. It doesn't quite fit into any box - too complex and twisty for straight-up garage rock, too dirty to be prog and far too dark to fit in with glam. It's not heavy metal, either, despite its aggression. So what is it? Alice Cooper music, I guess. All the musical performances are great but the standout for me is bassist Dennis Dunaway, who anchors everything with his looping, rubbery, kinetic playing. The double-stop riffing he does on 'Gutter Cats vs The Jets' is insane, and insanely good. I feel like every time I spin 'School's Out' I find something else to geek out about. Very cool!
Am I an idiot for not being aware of the overt WEST SIDE STORY bent on this album? I wasn't prepared for "Gutter Cats vs. the Jets" on here but enjoyed his take on it. "Blue Turk" was solid. "Public Animal #9." The "Grand Finale." I enjoyed my time with this one. That said... I think "Billion Dollar Babies" is a superior record. I wrote "Elected" into the script for THE CAMPAIGN as a music cue, but I don't think anybody ever bothered to actually listen to it. Lol. Here's hoping that one makes it on the list, as well.
Was minder hard-rock dan ik dacht. Wel leuke nummers, met goeie samenhang onderling
I just joined yesterday after my son invited me to the group. This is my first review and it's an album I'm very familiar with so this will be a bit wordy. This was the Last Alice Cooper album that I really liked all the way through. I was 16 when this album came out and the previous album, Killer, was even better. The early albums had some great guitars, bass and drums. Schools Out - classic, big hit Looney Tune - There's a guitar part in this song that sounds very much like "ooh that smell" by Lynyrd Skynyrd which was released years later. Gutter Cat- love the bass intro and the overall musicality of the song and doing the west side story stuff was pretty clever. My Stars is a cool song, piano part is cool. Blue Turk is a really different but great song. Alma Mater - I still play the first seven chords to the song when I'm trying to tune my guitar. Overall I think it's a great album With a lot of catchy hooks.
Great album. Innovative. First time listening to it.
And here's the album where the Alice Copper Band goes all show tuney, showing off their jazz chops believe it or not...and believe it or not they damn well pull it off. The album starts off conventionally enough with a couple of straight ahead rockers; with the all-time classic School's Out and then Luney Tune, which is a great tune as well than things get a little sideways as Gutter Cat Vs The Jets is a West Side Story tribute and a pretty good one at that. Then Blue Turk continues the jazzy theme and it sounds freaking awesome; great guitar work, some nice keyboards and some very tasty horns. My Stars sounds like it could have been a The Who outtake from Quadrophenia and Public Animal #9 is a bluesy number that swings like hell with a stonesy feel. And the album closes with a lovely nastalgia laced ballad number in Alma Mater and Grande Finale brings back the West Side Story, big band feel. I had this album as a young teenager but it must not have impessed me then as I remeber little of it apart from Scool's Out and perhaps Luney Tune. Well it impressed me on this listen and I think I'm going slot it into my current playlist. 4 stars
When it doesn't scream so much it's actually very good
One big song. Others cool to jam to
Wow, I love Blue Turk. I was not at all expecting this from Alice Cooper. Wow. There's a lot more to this than I would have guessed. I like.
Great album
Rock/Heavy. Or is it? Songs like Alma Mater would be difficult to classify under rock, they sound very mellow and pop-like. Blue Turk sounds like being in a Jazz club after midnight. And the finale...the Grand Finale indeed! It was pretty sweet. Is it a disco song in an Alice Cooper album? It does sound like it. Favorites: - Grand Finale - Luney Tune - Blue Turk I checked statistics in Spotify and apparently "School's out" has 120 million plays, whereas all other songs have under a million. It's a shame that so many songs just fly under the radar because they don't appear in a movie or get picked up by radio DJs.
I LOVED this album! Most of the songs on it I really enjoyed. I will be listening to it more.
Classic rock? Reminds me of Wayne’s World! I’d listen to it again.
OK
What a weird concept album. Totally at odds with the Alice Cooper concert I saw on Showtime in the 70s, but maybe I wasn't clued in then. An 4 for the effort.
What a weird album. There's some really good songs on it but also the most unhinged things lol. Big variety of genre blending too. Very interesting.
Much more variety than I would have expected. Really enjoyed it, would probably never have picked it out to listen to without this.
Alice Cooper just school'd me
certaines tracks sont assez surprenantes dans le bons sens?
After "School's Out" the album got a little boring to me. Felt like a bit of a time piece in an archaic way. I didn't really care much for Luney Tune or Gutter Cat. They just felt like what you'd expect Alice Cooper type punky rock. They're fine, but not for me. However once Blue Turk hit everything changed. The album picks up this progressive element and I started to recognize the story this album was going for. Fusing Jazz and Blues into this very complex rock structure. The words started to matter a lot more. Telling a story about a guy being this archetypical "bad guy" getting in trouble all the time, and being unapologetic for it until the end where he finally "graduates" and hopes all of his friends stay his friends. I love it. It all links back to the bonified classic "School's Out" in such an intelligent way. I did not expect such a concept from the album that features "School's Out"
I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected to.
I enjoyed the variety this album had to offer.
Not my favourite AC album, but probably my favourite from when it was an actual band and not just Alice with hired guns. Everyone knows the title song but it's kind of an outlier - the rest still rocks but has more of a psychedelia influence, kinda similar to early Sabbath. These first days of heavy metal (if you'd call it that at this point) hadn't completely shaken off the 60s influence, so there are a few Beatles-isms around. But they aren't jarring or anything. And at half an hour this is a great album length. 4/5.
I had no idea this was a concept album. Reminds me a bit of the Meat Loaf album. Best track: School's Out
70s classic rock still rings true.
I was not expecting the “West Side Story meets 1970s hard rock” sound at all. I guess now looking at the album art above this text box, it’s not accidental. I enjoyed this album. Kinda fun listening to “School’s Out” in June, too.
good album
strong 3.5 will round up. Other Alice songs off other albums are more fun.
Everyone's favourite cadaverous, golfing evangelical Republican makes his most famous album, the grand celebration of the teenage boy (strictly speaking, this is by the band Alice Cooper, led by Alice Cooper, who would later go solo under the name Alice Cooper). Although not a concept album, School's Out sticks its central theme out like a tongue. This theme is, of course, the unthinking delights of the male adolescent. This extends even to the artwork: the original sleeve came with four legs so the "desk" could stand up, the album opened like a proper desk, revealing depictions of a catapult, a pen knife, marbles and a comic book. Topping all this was a pair of paper knickers covering the vinyl itself, a girl's underwear being the greatest prize a boy's desk could hold. As such the music itself, though firmly hard rocking, actually comes across as oddly ingenuous. It's the music of a 13-year-old playing GTA, still feeling mildly guilty over his fifth wank of the day. The opener and title track, Alice's Cooper's most renowned song, has become the quintessential song about the end of the school year, which is a fantastic turn of events because it is a brilliant song. They pitch the song perfectly, sufficiently childish and mischievous without being obnoxious. However, the album beginning on such an apex may cause the rest of it to appear diminished to the listener. One leitmotif that occurs throughout the album is West Side Story, one of Alice Cooper's (the man, not the band) favourite films. Indeed, Gutter Cats Vs. The Jets lists Bernstein and Sondheim in the credits. The inclusion of these allusions is thematically fitting, what with those finger-snapping street toughs dancing into a rumble. But you may find that this pushes the album over the line from self-awareness to self-parody. Personally, I'm fond of dear Alice, so I'm happy for him to indulge his peccadilloes. The album rocks like a bastard, and has several aces (Public Animal #9 is a particular killer), but I can't quite muster five stars for it. Maybe the issue is structural: you start off with School's Out, you inevitably have to come down after that peak. Still, it's not as if you won't enjoy the descent. Michael Bay's favourite film is also West Side Story.
Классный альбом, необычный, хард-роковый :)
I expected this to be more 80s hair band rock. It was a bit deeper than that imo. A pleasant surprise!
I only knew the title track and the reputation of Alice Cooper as a shock rocker but this was completely unexpected. A wide variety of music that was completely unexpected.
Vet inte alls vad jag ska ge den här skivan men kommer dra till med en fyra bara för att jag blev så förvånad? Aldrig lyssnat på Alice Cooper bortom hitsen, vem visste att de var ett jazzband??
förvånandsvärt bra? me likey
Far Bluesier than I thought and much better than expected too!
Surprisingly fun and creative, wasn't expecting to enjoy this.
Buena conjunción de banda de rock, encabezada por el carismático Alice Cooper. Rock sin estridencias y con buenos ritmos.
'School's Out' è una delle mie canzoni preferite, quindi questo album parte almeno da 4* Purtroppo perde un po' di mordente, ho trovato bella 'Gutter Cat vs. the Jets'
Man I love classic rock. Full of energy and way ahead of it’s time considering it came out in 1972. Alice cooper is sick. Favourite track - school’s out
None of the songs bested the title track, but it was still a pretty good album. Not as good as billion dollar babies but still good. Very eclectic production
Solid
I am fascinated by Alice Cooper Alice Cooper the band, Alice Cooper the character, and Vincent Fournier the person behind the mask. They all (as the story, or stories, behind them) have a depth and substance, and quite some contradiction, that escape to most; dudes be like "Alice rocks!" and they completely miss the point, but I am not here to illustrate. Actually, nobody is, even the documentary that was released a few years ago failed at really getting a grip over the whole thing. I saw Alice Cooper live a few times in the later years, his shows are quite something, it's a bit like going to the opera and ending up at a horror burlesque theatre. Yes, I saw Alice Cooper stab a baby, slash a nurse, be put in a straighjacket, be hung, be decapitated, and always come back scarred but undefeated. I guess I will be forgiven by the reader if I see all this as a metaphor of the individual struggling with the modern society. And that's exactly what this record tries (and in a way succeeds at doing so) to capture between garage-psych and Broadway-esque musical, and almost everything in between: the theatrics, the horror behind the irony, the Greco-Roman tragedy. Even if I already had the record and had listened to it before, on this occasion it took me several spins to really get an idea of the complexity of these songs; a really challenging but rewarding experience.
“School’s Out” is the second Alice Cooper album I’ve had here in a couple of months (the other being “Billion Dollar Babies”, released the following year). By comparison, “School’s Out” is looser, more varied, more ambitious… and much better. It’s the title track that has become “School’s Out”s stratospheric, enduring legacy (check the Spotify plays of each song for proof). The euphoric, anarchic and somehow slightly menacing chorus call of “school’s out for summer” introduced the Alice Cooper band to the world as a heavier offshoot from glam rock, retaining theatrics and flirting with camp shock value: a pantomime Iggy Pop. It’s an all time classic track and the one most closely associated with Alice Cooper, but there’s much more lurking in the background. “Gutter Cat vs. The Jets” branches from a bass masterclass from Dennis Dunaway into a full-blown West Side Story cover of “Jet Song”. The sleazy “Blue Turk” features a squalling brass section, threatening total collapse but still managing to cling on to a catchy chorus. Alma Mater has a much more interesting chord progression than I expected to hear in an Alice Cooper album, taking cues from Paul McCartney as much as anyone else. It’s easy to see how producer Bob Ezrin (referred to by Cooper as their George Martin) brought out the best in the band and enabled them to work with grander concepts and visions, injecting orchestral arrangements into tracks like “Luney Tune” and the gloriously overblown “Grande Finale”. Also, incidentally, the success of “School’s Out” is perhaps also the start of Ezrin’s strange tendency to use children’s voices in his work (he would go on to include a children’s choir in “Another Brick in the Wall: Part Two” and plaster screaming children all over Lou Reed’s “The Kids”). So it’s sprawling, far-reaching stuff… but at heart, of course, “School’s Out” is still a glam record. It cycles through styles like stunts in a circus routine with unabashed theatricality. Aside from the title track, “Public Animal #9” is the most thrilling rock track on the album and also the most straightforward: it is enough proof that there’s still meat on the band’s bones, substance to their style. This album isn’t perfect- “My Stars” in particular feels like a bit of a misfire, and none of the other tracks strike with the same immediacy as “School’s Out”- but it’s still damn good fun, successfully instilling a giddy teenage wonder at the concepts of rebellion and coming of age.
Rock de Alice Cooper. Un megahit.
Bastante guay. No le pongo 5 porque no tiene la canción Poison.
This album was so much better than I anticipated. There were rock songs, nods to musicals (not my fave but an interesting take), and even a brass send off.
Done. 4.
Liked two of them. My Stars and School's Out. My Stars is fire. I like guitar solos and chorus.
Brought back great memories of a 16 yo guy..still fun although my tastes have changed and after listening again pretty decent album..love the fact that he is also a scratch golfer…rock on Alice
Pretty good
Love Alice, seen him live so this was right up my street.
Funny and good
While Alice Cooper (person) may have been the first to introduce horror and gore imagery into rock&roll, it should not be forgotten that early 1970s Alice Cooper (band) was one of beauty and variety. Interestingly, moments on this album (Alma Mater) remind me of McCartney's early solo work.
Kinda hard to talk about rock legends without Alice Cooper, I think. Solid album too.
Better than I remember. More theatrical.
Dès les premières notes, on s'aperçoit que la prétendue Alice est en fait un homme. On se sent dès lors bien honteux d'avoir jugé l'artiste sans le connaître. Et celui-ci ne manque pas de nous prendre à notre propre jeu en démontant notre pensée binaire. Tout est passé en revue: les jouets roses ne sont pas que pour les filles et les bleus pour les garçons ; une fille peut très bien porter un jean et un garçon une jupe, etc... En bref, un album dérangeant mais nécessaire.
Pretty interesting and not at all as hardcore as I expected from Alice Cooper. Some nice acoustic work even.
Enjoyed this one. Lots of good tracks, not so much a fan of the Westside story rendition and a few other parts were annoying but for the most part a good album
Not what I expected when I saw it was Alice Cooper. Very diverse and well done lyrically
Rock de Alice Cooper. Un megahit.
An obvious classic to start with some underrated songs behind it.
School's Out itself is strong, but the rest of the album is meh.
I know this album but first time listening from start to finish. Alice Cooper is great.
Somewhere between a 3 and 4… but I’m feeling generous. Not as heavy as I was expecting.. some pretty eclectic stuff on here. It’s good.
None of the deep cuts are as good as the stone cold classic title track, but Alice Cooper has a goofy theatrical sense of humor that made this album a pleasure to listen to.
Some are classics and better than expected.
A carnival of musical styles that has much more range than the lead single suggests.
I'm partial to "Killer", but this is still a great album. I was never a fan of Uncle Alice's move to concept albums that bordered on Broadway shows, but this one only skirts that style. Already in my library.
Pretty good album. Alice Cooper is one where I'd like to listen to and get into his music a little more. 1RS
Muy buen album. Intenso
Классный экспериментальный альбом по меркам того времени, переслушал бы в компании.
De la seva primera época daurada, és el disc amb menys hits instantanis. Fora del tema titular, la resta són 'album songs', però això no les fa menors. Tot el contrari, és un dels discos d'Alice Cooper on més es pot tornar a descobrir nous matissos, des dels aires jazzístics de 'Blue Turk' al rock punyent de 'Gutter Cat vs the Jets', passant pel dramatisme d''Alma Mater'
Good album. Didn't expect that from Alice Cooper. (7/10) Favorite Tracks: School's Out, My Stars
Segunda audição confirma a verdadeira aula de hard rock
Boppin trumpets mhm
A wider range that what I thought. Not just a standard rock classic.
not what I expected an alice cooper album to sound like at all!!
Was so weird when I was just listening without looking at the tracklist and suddenly there's a cover of Jet Song from West Side Story 😂 I was pleasantly surprised by this. Obviously I knew the title track and it's always fun, but the rest of this album was better than I expected it to be. Really enjoyed Blue Turk (very jazzy with juicy instrumentation) and Alma Matter
title track brings back memories of playing guitar hero in like 2007 or 2008. this song is so good. look at the gap in streaming numbers between this song and the other album tracks. on song number 2, yeah this is perfectly listenable for me. singer's voice is super nice and music is interesting enough to keep me interested*. song 3 has so many little things i love and cool switch ups and it kind of sounds like a song from a musical lol. oh next song does as well. oh it's just an interlude. lyrics aren't that idiotic or if they are, fittingly so, i'm satisfied. i'm having a great time actually. i was in a little bit of a weird mood but thankfully this album was a lot of fun so it wasn't affected by that. it's also nice and short. it's an easy 4 baybe. *rereading before posting, i'm leaving that sentence as it is to show how tired i am haha