Reviews (page 7 of 8)
“School’s Out” is anthemic but at the end of the day most of these songs are cookie cutter rock designed to kind of shock
1 decent song
This album was pretty dumb.
Eh
The 'shock rocker' Alice Cooper fails to impress. Aside from the title track, School's out fails to deliver anything more than middle of the road rock tunes, attempts at doowop and musical theatre, and generally a boring album.
Seminal title track, clear narrative arc (i.e., school)
Was that a crazy fever dream or a fucked up version of West Side Story?
it seems like it was much easier to make millions of dollars as a rock star in 1972
Relativ Langwilig
Some ok tracks. A little too theatrical for me. Not into Schools Out
whatever
1.89
bit weird
Some vocals and instrumental is not so bad but too much feels like annoying noise to be an enjoyable experience . Glad its over. No repeats
Marginally interesting.
Helt ok med et par høydepunkt, blant annet sistelåta. Har gode minner med Schools out på Guitar Hero, lett å få 100%.
School's Out is a great glam rock staple. The rest of this album isn't super fun. I like musical theater and I can appreciate some of the ideas, but it doesn't come together in a way that interests me.
2.5 - Meh
I get why it was popular when it was, and get that it’s fun. But didn’t really enjoy listening to it.
it's unapologetically theatre kid. I think that theatre kids should apologize. I hate the title track. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Try my to find something positive to say …. Nope. That’s it. Just nope.
5/10
for some reason this album reminds me of ghost; people think they're heavy metal but they just sound like bon jovi. this album sounds more like the band "yes"
fav song: School's out and My stars
boring. if not for the titular track and maybe public animal #9 the whole album would be skippable. reminds me of something ive heard before just done not as well
Not at all what I expected
I'm sure this was edgy back in the day, but to me it's just a boring mess. Somehow the most popular song on this thing was one of the worst ones.
This genre of music isn’t for me. I get the appeal, but I couldn’t make it through listening to this. It’s not because the music is bad I just don’t prefer it.
Meh
Not for me
It’s an alright album, I’ve heard better from him. The title track is classic for sure though. 2/5
It felt like I was forgetting the songs as I was hearing them.
I know Alice Cooper is cool, and I'm supposed to like Alice Cooper. But it's still US rock shite. I haven't spent the best part of four decades forming my finely tuned musical prejudices to give into this posturing.
The music doesn’t really fit the persona. I’ve known Schools Out forever. But never really listened to any other AC. Just normal 70s rock. Thought it would be a bit more Ozzy. 2.75
It’s been 957 albums since I reviewed Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies, and here we are, on December 1, with School’s Out, an album that couldn’t possibly be more seasonably inappropriate. Looking back at my review for Billion Dollar Babies, I feel like I was too harsh, giving it only two stars. Maybe I was having an off day when I wrote that review, but I don’t expect to feel the same way about School’s Out. Well, I guess I wasn’t being that much of a grump when I reviewed Billion Dollar Babies, because I didn’t care much for School’s Out either. Before I get into my reasons why I didn’t care for this, I’ll give Alice Cooper their flowers. These guys have obviously had a massive impact on music, and not just on glam rock or hard rock. Alice Cooper have built a very unique style of over-the-top showmanship without becoming some kind of hacky merchandising outfit (I’m looking at you, Kiss). They’ve shown how important it is to have an identity, and that you can craft an identity in way that’s fun and exciting. Alice Cooper does have some songs that I enjoy, although I’d have to say that “Poison” is my favorite one, even though that’s a solo effort from Alice the man and not Alice the band. I think that “Poison” being my favorite Alice Cooper song says a lot about why these two Alice Cooper albums haven’t really been my speed. I love that “Poison” has such a sense of atmosphere to it, and I love the way the keyboards and guitars sound together. It’s a distinctly eighties way to craft a song, but my ears love it. While the title track from School’s Out is excellent, the rest of the album just didn’t have anything distinct about it in my opinion. The other songs weren’t bad to listen to, but they didn’t really have any fun hooks, catchy melodies, or hard rock punch to them. I don’t know if that’s because of how this album was produced, or because that’s just how Alice Cooper arranged their music, but I just didn’t care for it. I enjoyed the keyboard and bass playing on “Gutter Cat vs. The Jets,” but the lyrics really took me out of it, because they were silly and nonsensical. I wasn’t sure if this was some sort of blend of Cats and West Side Story or not. But back to “School’s Out” for a minute here. This is easily the best song on the album. It has a catchy and instantly recognizable hook, vocals with a snarling attitude, a killer bridge, and just the right amount of added sound effects so as to create a sense of place, without making the song feel like it came from a Broadway show. I guess that’s something else I don’t care for about this album: it tried to create a sense of place, but isn’t very effective at it. Again, this wasn’t an unlistenable album, but my low rating for it just a reflection of my personal tastes.
has it's moments, but sounds dated now
Sorry Alice but this wasn’t great
This wasn’t as one note as I assumed it would be. Every song I’ve heard of Alice Cooper, mostly just the hits, have been pretty samey. This album has some more unique tracks like Blue Turk and Alma Mater. I didn’t love it but was pleasantly surprised by the variety.
An interesting carnival.
I’m out, forever.
Not terrible, quite diverse and a style of singing I hadn't heard from Alice before. It just didn't hit, ya know?
One good song
2 stars I guess the genre “hard rock” just means kind of generic rock? It’s competent and not unlistenable, but also not too interesting. That’s including the self titled single that I never cared for. I give it points for being not too long and for some decent instrumental moments, but I’ll never put this on again.
I don't like the vocals but I was pleasantly surprised by the music and production. It is a very listenable album for me despite my distaste for the vocals.
This is the halfway point between David Bowie and Black Sabbath. It sounds like a Spirit Halloween
I'm sure alice cooper has been having a hard time ever since the coyotes left phoenix, and me posting my review of his dork music won't help, but unfortunately this is dork music
Glad it was not more than 35 mins.
extra star for the line "we can't even think of a word that rhymes." the rest of this is pretty forgettable.
I'd believe you if you told me half of this album was The Doors. boring
The hit still hits, the rest still misses. 2.5
What a classic. Probably going to give it 2 stars though. Just not very good.
Wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t listen to it on my own
Jazzy and Fun, Not what I expected
Meh, nothing special
Decidedly mid and surprisingly inconsequential. Gets a 2nd star for what's his face's use of the title track in the paddling/hazing scene in Dazed and Confused.
Curator, you can have one AC record, it's Billion Dollar Babies, smh
I'm not sold on this album. Schools out is a big hit of a song, enduring even now as a rebellious anthem, but the rest of the album doesn't match up in tone. I wonder what age group Alice Cooper was aiming his music at?
A musical theatre version of a rock album.
My older brother had it spinning nonstop in the late ’70s, so it is more than familiar. But wow… talk about theatrical rock overload. Beyond the still-great anthem “School’s Out,” Alice and crew wander off into cabaret, horns, and even a full-on Broadway lift from West Side Story (“when you’re a Jet…” why?). It’s campy, theatrical, and more “stage show” than rock album. 1.5 stars in truth, but I’ll round up to 2 for nostalgia and because that title track really does still rip.
Silly and sloppy and not at all worth the time. This is pretty close to full-on novelty act territory. Two albums by AC is two too many.
H: school themes weaved throughout a mid album. The only reason this one is on here is because Schools out is a classic. 5/10 H fav: Schools out Z: conceptually simple yet nostalgic. Not knowing anything about this album as a whole, I wonder if it was created as a soundtrack or for a play? It sounded cohesive and made for a stage. Not a fan of Cooper’s voice— in between rock and punk in a whiny, irksome manner. 5.5/10 Z fav: Schools out
Enough classic rock
kinda mid ngl
Wasn't a huge fan of this and at this point I think classic rock just isn't my bag.
Aika groovy - mutta aika basic. School’s out on ärsyttävä renkutus mut on taito tehdä sellainen.
Ihan ok rokkisetti.
Top heavy. Not that interesting outside the title track.
He was a good actor, but His music.....
I don't want to disrespect Alice Cooper but there wasn't a lot here distinguishing it from other rock and roll of the same era. Really more of a 2.5.
Meh. I get lost in the noise on most of these songs. I kept finding myself turning the volume lower and lower and lower.
A classic but it just didn’t click for me like other rock albums. Maybe need to listen to it a few more times
Cheesy, sorry Dad
Okay, but not outstanding.
Probably the only track I liked on this was Blue Turk, which was jazzier than I expected for an Alice Cooper track. Really hate the opening track, a really corny bit of pop-rock that's admittedly been a bit tainted by how overused it is in adverts. The rest of the album is also not for me. The West Side Story cover was like audio poison, whilst Alma Mater has real "we've got The Beatles at home" energy.
Like Weird Al did a glam rock/metal themed album.
schools out…. forever :/
Not even schools out was good enough to save this album.
Interesting but not my preferred style of music
Obviously the title track is an absolute banger, so it kicks the doors off the album with intent. There's a theory that this is a concept album about "youth lost when leaving school; I can't see it. I wasn't expecting the musical theatre aspect of the album but I suppose that's my fault - it is Alice Cooper after all. This album should not be on this list because of the strength of one track. Best Tracks: School's Out; Luney Tune; Public Animal #9
Heard the title track before. Not gonna lie, didn't know what to expect and yet I was a bit surprised suddenly hearing something a big jazzy on one song. Not bad 2/5
First song is a tune, and the rest of the album forgettable. Not sure I actually like the first song, it's just very well known.
I think that Schools Out is overplayed, but it makes sense when you listen to the rest of the album
I do not care for hard rock, so this album almost didn't do anything for me. I liked Blue Turk and Grand Finale though.
Only familar with the title track, and really only remember that from The Muppet Show. I was surprised the variety of the rest of the album. Wouldn't listen to it again, but it was better than I expected.
Never got into Alice Cooper. Title track hits but after that, it's annoying keyboards and overwrought horns that drag this down.
Honestly? I didn't love it. Schools Out is of course a classic hard rock song that's been played to death, and that's fine cause it's a pretty good song, but the rest of the album is kind of lacking. Blue Turk had far too much trombone on it for a rock record.
Schools out is a timeless classic. The rest is really not my cup of tea, not a fan of musicals. Public animal #9 was one i hadn't heard but other than that pretty meh album but i'm not surprised because I always only liked his more rock oriented tracks.
Some nice sounds
It was fine, really. School's Out is a bit of fun, but pre-Satanic elements to the songs, he was rather ordinary. Wikipedia tells me that around this time, they started to have success and could afford the outlandish tour show extravaganza. I expected more of an audio spectacle.
I think I enjoyed this more than the last Alice cooper album we had, but still not a convert. It's too theatrical and musical ish for me. I've never liked schools out. I do think there were better tracks though. I think my stars was my favourite....I actually think I preferred the latter half of the album. 2.5
i like alice cooper but this is meh
#564. He's not any less cheesy here than any of his other albums. There's the one song everybody knows here, but it starts with that and gets less interesting as it goes on. 2/5: meh
Yeah, hard rock again... the sound effect is a bit weird; I can't say I like it. There are some curious fragments, though. If only I didn't lose interest in this kind of music...Grande Finale is interesting, but noting unexpected.
I didn't expect much of this album as I'm not a fan of Cooper. The title track is ok, but the rest reminded me of a mediocre theatrical production with some musical interludes.
School's Out
I’m not a big fan of this one, title track is okay and definitely well known (I refuse to call it a classic). Otherwise it is a fairly boring album to my ears.
This album was far more theatrical than I ever expected. Really this feels like it's just the album of a musical theater production. Really weird and not what I expected. I guess the Alice Cooper stage show makes more sense having heard the whole album, but I was really underwhelmed with the music in general.
Two stars only because of the title track, otherwise this is a terrible album
he kinda right, school is out
Meh. Definitely would have been better in the seventies, a lot more jazzy than I was expecting, I think the initial track, and title single, wrote checks the rest of it couldn't cash.
The highs are high, the lows are catastrophic
Después de algunos discos olvidables, ya en Detroit, y sobre todo antes de convertirse en una parodia de sí mismo, Alice Cooper publicó este y otros discos bastante decentes (sobre todo Billion dolar babies). No incluye I'm Eighteen, de su disco anterior y que sirvió de revulsivo, pero es un listado de temas de buena calidad y completo. No son los Stooges, ni MC5, ni TRex, ni Deep Purple, ni Black Sabbath pero suena bien. Alguna sorpresa como Blue Turk o la beatleliana Alma mater. Disco imprescindible? por supuesto que no... pero ¿Qué importa?
I don't know if Spinal Tap ruined me or what, but it's hard to listen to some of this type of glam rock without thinking it's parody. But Alma Mater and Grand Finale where both enjoyable and pushed this one to a 2.5 by the time it was all done
Starts off with a banger and fades out pretty quick. Maybe I’d like it more on a second listen but even at 36 minutes I was checking the time left. I usually want variety but it felt scattered in terms of what it was trying to deliver. Underwhelming as an album and even with a solid hit I think a 2 is really the best I can do here.
A West Side Story sample was the last thing I expected on an Alice Cooper album. Once you hear School's Out, this album is mostly forgettable. I know Alice Cooper has been an icon for decades now, but I don't think this album had much to do with it. Not bad by any means, just doesn't leave much of an impact.
Alice Cooper cuando empezaba y era más rockero que otra cosa. Me ha gustado el aire años 70 (real) de My starts. No sabía mucho de los orígenes de este músico al que conozco más por su etapa más "Heavy". No está mal como cultura musical, habrá quién lo conozca más y lo valore extra así que lo dejo en 2 estrellas.
Alice Cooper is maybe the foremost artist of the album era who is great but doesn't actually have any Stone Cold Classic albums. There's like 2 or 3 killer songs on every record, some interesting deep cuts, and a couple absolute nutbar choices. Every time.
Pretty cheesie. Rock operaish
I guess I don't like Alice cooper as much as I thought
Great single, poor album.
This album does have an audience, it's just that audience no longer exists. This album was made for teenagers, more specifically teenagers in 1972. Obviously, many people who were teenagers in 1972 are still around today, but they aren't teenagers anymore. They grew out of listening to this kind of thing, and it wasn't accessible to the younger generations, leaving it with no audience. This album is kinda fun I guess, but it has aged like milk in my opinion.
I find his shock rock thing a bit embarrassing. Title track is good of course.
I always liked The Schools Out single ever since it was released. Became a family tradition to play it to my kids on the last school day before the summer holidays. Don’t think I’m unique there but personally never heard anyone else doing that. As for the rest of the album - it’s garbage. Probably a bit unfair as I’ve never really tried to get into Alice Cooper but listening to this album today became a bit of a chore as it always did. Pity because I like Alice Cooper (aka Vincent) as a fellow. I’ve listened to his interviews and read articles about him. A really intelligent and interesting guy but his music sucks. 2/5 5/1/25
ok
scuff
It's ok
I appreciate Alice Cooper as an artist and actor (Prince of Darkness, Wayne's World!) However, I found most of the songs on this album to be quite forgettable. Also, at times, I feel like I'm listening to a lesser than version of the Stooges.
Cool bass leads. Blue Turk was an unexpected jazzy jam. I know the visuals were an appeal to Alice’s shows but some of the music is too theatrical or just plain flat for me. School’s Out will always remain on my radio if it comes on.
The band finds some great grooves and jams that save this album from the dumpster, just like the last Alice cooper album I had. What had it on its way to the dumpster to begin with was that I don’t really like him or his persona and I think it’s ripping off others - the doors (Blue Turk), the Beatles (Alma Mater). But it gets a two because the band is keeping up with other artists of the era, and doing it as well as any other.
so so
More diverse than I was expecting
Somebody seems to have replaced the album with a recording of a local am-dram society performing an acid-tinged reimagination of West Side Story.
School's Out: I'm not sure if this was "just alright" because of its ubiquity and because it's just alright Luney Tune: meh Gutter Cat vs The Jets: funny to hear a West Side Story reference here. Overly long, the lyrics are a real reach, and uninspiring instrumentation Street Fight: this seemed like the last part of the previous song, but they made it its own pointless track because they couldn't release an album with just 8 songs Blue Turk: this was good. I appreciated the jazzy surprise My Stars: not bad at all. Enjoyed this Public Animal #9: this was ok. Kind of the bare minimum quality of song that should be on an album, but definitely of lower quality than I'd expect an album on this list to have Alma Mater: this sounded sort of Beatlesy to. Understandable, given the time period. Kind of a sad ending Grand Finale: This was alright too. This album was okay. Sort of confusing, but definitely some nice moments. However, there didn't seem to be much consistency between those moments and the rest of the album. "Lacking coherence" is maybe what I'd say about it 2.5
Schools Out is a bonafide classic, the song, not so much the album. It sadly fell into the in one ear and out the other category. With less than ten tracks at a quick 37 mins I’m not sure what the plan was. But that first song was a classic jam on guitar hero and always will be a great summer rock anthem.
Obviously only included for the title track, which really is a banger. The rest of the album less so, where Alice Cooper never really leans into the hard rock but stays in a safe space as a cheap knock-off of T. Rex with gothic sprinkles on top.
The title track is a classic. No doubt about it. It’s great! The rest of the album? Not that much. Cooper and the band try to be clever and incorporate everything from jazz to progressive rock - they just never pull it off, and it ends up being more comical than impressive.
Alice Cooper is okay. I'm not terribly excited by his music. This was the first time I've listened to an album front to back, and it was interesting that it was a concept album even if I didn't find it particularly inspiring.
Not a fan of the title track despite (or maybe because of)how ubiquitous it is. The rest were similarly not to my taste
This kind of glam-rock is not my thing. As I would say in spanish: "Hard rock para cuñados". If I had to describe this whole genre I would say it's overdone and pretentious. Just not my thing. Exactly the same thing as GnR or Bon Jovi and that type of things. Hard rock for people who don't know hard rock and pretend to do. Why the hell is there a jazz song in this record?
Blue Turk is a real direction switch, dodgy lyrics and all
More interesting than it has any right to be. Oddly the title track is the least interesting track on it. Like a rock musical at points That said. It's passable but I doubt I'd ever listen again TWO
geht soso lala. für mich ist der titeltrack OK, aber einiges weiteres eher weniger.
Eigentlich noch cool, dieser Hardrock auch wenn etwas verstaubt
Some alright moments, but mostly pretty bland
Album was okay. Besides the title track, much of this album just doesn't do much. Overall kind of boring. 2/5 Probably won't listen again
A bit of a rock and roll cliche but it was good to listen to it again! A girlfriend once told me she had bought me tickets to an Alice Cooper gig and I tried SO HARD to like this album... but it just washed over me to be honest.
More varied and musical than I expected, but I was not expecting much. A strange combination of Rolling Stones musical vibes and theatrical/joke lyrics.
Did I expect a west side story cover? No. Is this album anything special beyond one song? No, not really. The variety was alright, but I didn't feel like many of the songs excelled at much, and a lot felt meandering/repetitive in a not great way.
I love screaming "School's Out for SUMMER, School's Out for EVER!" every June as much as the next guy, but had no awareness of the rest of this album, which is both blandly generic classically rock and oddly all over the place stylistically - bits of prog, psych, RnB, funk, blues... It's fine, but pretty boring basic garage rock stuff despite the unexpectedly fun breadth - a singles band really.
veli on 24, ei tarvi puhua koulusta enään pikkuveli... EI ENÄÄN KIRJOJA!!! EI ENÄÄN OPETTAJIA!!! VAPAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSS!!!!! ei mitään syytä tähän. alkuhan on aivan kakkasontaa pyllypaskaa mutta paranee loppuun mennessä ja hyvä maku suuhun jää loputtua. likainen kikkeli jota imetty niin paljon että on puhdas alkaa maistumaan sekin niin... vaarin vanha luikautus... ensimmäinen homoseksuaaliliiton presidentti 1985... hirtettiin heti viikon jälkeen ... Two words. Fuck yeah! Two words, United States, no love, no breaks Low brow, high stakes, crack smoke, Black folks Big Macs, fat folks, ecstasy capsules Presidential scandals, everybody move Two words, Mos Def, K West, hot shit Calm down, get back, ghetto people got this Game 'pon lock shit, gun 'pon cock shit We won't stop shit, everybody move grande finale
Interesting topic
I bet if you have gone your entire life without seeing or hearing Alice Cooper that everything about this album would seem like an elaborate gag from Achewood. Two stars.
This was about what I expected. Pretty catchy "glam rock" tunes. But nothing really shocking.
This was way more diverse than anticipated. Not just Glam Rock but blues and show tunes as well. That doesn't mean it was good though.
Meh...
★★½
So so
A couple good songs, but mostly meh
Schools out is a classic but that’s it
Eh, my mate Ian would kill me for having this opinion, but this concept album doesn't really grab. Opening track bangs, of course. 2 and a bit
So as a kid I used to have a little radio in my room and I liked to listen to the classic rock station 93.7FM THE BUS. At 9:00pm every night except for weekends it was nights with Alice Cooper, and I didn’t like it then I don’t like it now. I’m doomed to be haunted by Alice Cooper to the end of my days.
Again, just wish the vocals weren’t there. Cool riffs
Besser als befürchtet
Hard MEH
Despite living hard rock, I have never cared for any A. Cooper songs. This album did nothing to change that
much more interesting than i expected. still not my thing
Not a fan of Alice Cooper
One good song
sounds like urine. im having a bad day and this album sucks
Classic title track, but a little light on much of anything else for me.
Too emo
Never was a fan of Alice Cooper. I mean, it's not bad, but just... corny? Maybe if I was 14 in 1971 I would love it. Just hasn't aged well in retrospect. Too theatric and gets a bit showtuney in spots.
That was shite. I've seen Alice before but was too pissed to remember. Looking forward to being made to listen to this when it popped up but what an absolute mess. Seemed to stumble from genre to genre, tweaking each slightly to try and sound cool to rebellious 14 year olds in the early 70s. Really, really not my thing. 1.5*
Reminds me of rock operas like "The Wall" but instead of hard rock-ish sounds it's dominated by glam rock which I personally find bland most of the time. It's surprisingly boring overall. But I gotta give it credit for being surprisingly interesting tho. I like the proggy jazz vibe in some places.
i wish school was out. it's got the standard rock sound for the time. it's fine.
Why was this top 35 in 2023 weekly hungarian chart? For one (egy) week? And more importantly, why mention it on it's wikipedia page? This anomaly was the only thing about this album that I cared about. Not bad, just uninteresting
good length
Ganska tråkig rock. Tycker inte ens schools out är särskilt bra. Lite "lattjo". Mer en gimmick.
Dislike: My stars Meh: Gutter cat vs the jet Street fight Blue turk Public animal #9 Grand finale Like: School's out Luney tune Alma mater Added to playlist:
Not my thing not my thing not my thing
Has some good recognizable tunes
Only good song is the title
School’s out is great but rest of album underwhelmed.
Best song was “school’s out” and not much else on the album
School's out is a killer single. It's the first track on the album. From there, tracks slowly become more instrumental, culminating in the final song, which sounds like something a fan composed for the Avengers sound track.
N: 1, J: 3'5
Kind of weird hearing a 24 year old sing so much about school. Move on brother, it's just creepy at this point! This album sounds like it's tailor made for playing faintly over the shitty speakers at a dive bar. The thing is, if you dropped me in the 70s, put 5 beers in me, gave me a couple cigs, and sent me to that dive bar, I'd rock right along with the music. 2/5
I don’t like Gwar or Rob Zombie or Alice Cooper. I don’t want any horror in my rock & roll. The only thing scary about those bands is how shitty their music is. Grand Finale was decent because it was an instrumental and they couldn’t make it all stupid with their stupid lyrics. Other than that this is total garbage.
I was expecting more straightforward late 70s/early 80s rock/metal... and this was definitely weirder and more interesting than that. Still, just shy of 3 stars in my book.
Does this accompany a movie soundtrack? I have no other explanation for the theatrical instrumental songs (Street Fight, Grand Finale.) Didn't mind Blue Turk but was otherwise not really my thing.
Not my cup of tea, but not the worst I've been subject to listen on this venture.
Like individual songs but not the album. 2/5
Not exactly what I was expecting, but Schools Out is still the best track on the album. Seems kinda soft, mello, & easy going for a shock rock musician. Grande Finale is good too..
A pretty campy, musical theatre style classic rock album. It's well played and it's fun in a tame sort of way. There's nothing to dislike about the album but nothing I loved either I think I'm just at least 15 years too old for it. A light 4/10
Better live than on record
Surprisingly bad, very different to the single
Fine ig,,, kinda noisy but somehow also tedious and boring
When I’ve heard of the title track, but can’t name any other songs by that artist, I begin to worry. I am especially skeptical when that title track comes first. This album confirms those fears, the title track doesn’t hold up, and the remainder of the songs are incredibly thin.
Yeah, classic rock is classic but this one feels a bit thin apart from the title track. I prefer Billion Dollar Babies.
I dunno how to feel about this. This album squanders a lot of its own potential for me, usually by throwing a wrench in some otherwise solid songs. I was there at the start: the campy stadium rock production, the bombastic raspy vocals, the theatrics and the showiness of it all — I was getting into it until “Gutter Cat.” That really left a sour taste in my mouth that never really left. The first half features some classically sexist catcalling lyrics made leagues creepier by the nasally raspy delivery and then the second half is frankly a huge disrespect to West Side Story and Sondheim. Woof. It didn’t help that the following full-length track, “Blue Turk,” which features the singer at what I’m sure is his regular voice since the rasp appears only occasionally when he forces it out, is a nice and groovy song. It left me wondering what the point of the rasp was in the first place since he sounds nicer when he’s singing like, well, himself. It seemed to me, then, that he was just trying too hard to be idiosyncratic, and that issue follows the album to the very end. It tries to do camp well, but it falls short. Fav tracks: Luney Tune, Blue Turk, Public Animal #9
Honestly p wack
Pretty good
Much less interesting or exciting than i expected. Grande Finale and Blue Turk are the most straightforward and seem fine... the rest of the album is not the classic rock i was hoping for... it seemed like a lot of misses.
Worse than expected, what’s with the musical theatre bits. Hope to never hear any of his music again.
Some decent tunes, but too much random West Side Story musical theatre shit.
Dogshit
Not my kind of thing. Probably ground-breaking at the time, but just sounds like dated radio-friendly rock these days, which isn't something i'd listen to through choice
Ég hef nú aldrei verið hrifin af þessum kalli, og ekki bætti það úr skák fyrir stuttu þegarr hann fór að tala um trans fólk með rassgatinu á sér. Þessi plata er heldur ekkert spes. Ansi mikið copy paste frá öðru listafólki þess tíma.
its a hair metal album inspired by West side story
(Retroactively reviewed on 25/08/23, generated 9/08/23) BL: heard the opener track from this one before, but never listened to the album the whole way through. Will have to see my thoughts on this AL: I just thought this was quite boring to be honest. Maybe I’m missing the point but it just came off as very basic, the orchestration had some moments where it stood out but otherwise mostly faded into the green and blue. Still deserves its place on the list but relatively speaking this was quite weak. FT: “Gutter Cat vs. The Jets” 2/5
not what i was expecting nor very enjoyable
Yllättävän monipuolinen, mutta on tää jotenkin aika yhdentekevää.
Cooperin ongelma on, että sillä on pari hyvää biisiä ja muuten todella meh sisältöä sen ympärillä. 2/5
Meh
Generally noisy but not in a way I find at all pleasing. Some interesting choices.
Apart from some hits, this was boring
Wow, on the first lesson the promise of School's Out made the rest of the album fade into insignificance. So I thought of it as an album all school leavers should listen to but still didn't get right into it. Fave track is easily Grande Finale, sounds like a James Bond them played by the High School band at the game.
Always like the band, but didn't really enjoy this album.
1972
Power cords, unique riffs, powerful solos, a medley of instruments, and a resonance od rebellion. All things that I enjoy in a typical record. However, this album doesn’t stick with me. I appreciate it, I just don’t love it or even particularly like it. I suppose it’s fun enough, Ana I can understand others’ enjoyment. Just not for me.
Schools out is the best song on here and I wouldn’t say schools out is my favorite song
It's all right. I appreciate his eclectic-ness.
Boring as all hell
The only thing that I noticed about this album was the West Side Story song. Why is it there? I really don’t care for hard rock. All of these albums just go through one ear and out the other.
An iconic guitar riff opens to a shockingly young growling Alice! wow. Gutter Cat vs. The Jets has a killer bass tone, but the overall tone of the song just sounds so dated. Though props for going at a showtune like that. WHO IS THIS BASS PLAYER?! Damn this album really opens up into these breathy bluesy wide soundscapes in the middle of the album. Grande Finale is not something I would have expected on this album. Big important listen for rock and roll history. for blues rock fans this is an easy 5. I'm not a blues rock fan.
Just ok other than the title song.
Not a fan
When we were kids, nothing brought my brother and I more joy than playing this song at the end of the school year. We'd start about a week before the last day but it definitely hit hardest when we'd get home on the first day of summer break and toss this LP on in his room and rock the fuck out! I would leave the room after this song. I had things to do...it was summer. Listening now I don't feel like I missed anything great. Except maybe discovering that Alice Cooper is not as subversive as I thought way back then. I
Not the greatest example of its type. Starts off well but deteriorates into mediocrity
While this album has a couple of good moments and a few pretty nice guitar parts in particular, I'm not a fan of "pop metal" or "party hard rock". The title song was quite obnoxious and most of the rest of the album also felt pretty superficial and soulless. It wasn't horrible, but I preferred the quiet when it was done.
Inte ens låten School's out är särskilt kul.
1 massive tune, the rest underwhelming, not like his other album on here
Couple enjoyable moments, but unfortunately this thing is a mess. Love the jazz/rock combinations, but most of the album is just mediocre and a chore to get through. The energy Cooper brings and some great riffs make this project worth a listen but don't think I'll be revisiting most of the songs on this one.
Listening to "School's Out" while driving to teach high school at 7:15 on a September morning was probably a mistake. I felt taunted by the album generator. But then I was curious as to how Cooper would follow up on that classic track. Weirdly, it turns out. Particularly when "West Side Story" suddenly interjects itself. I don't think I get Alice Cooper. Don't judge a book by it's cover? Who knew that under that cover was a hard rocker with a passion for Sondheim and jazz. "Blue Turk" was interesting, maybe even enjoyable, but most of this album just left me scratching my head.
My conclusion is that this album’s reputation is entirely based on one hook (the title track chorus) and Alice Cooper’s bad makeup. School’s Out Isn’t even a good song. The chorus is vastly overrated from where I sit, but I can see why it gets the youth excited. I’m not trying to shit all over this album, but I don’t know what is must hear. It’s tolerable, not enjoyable.
Title/opening track is obviously iconic. Definitely wasn’t expecting a little West Side Story reference on here. A lot of the synth tones sound like they are straight out of a SNES game ost. I did not expect the weird jazz break in the middle. Other than the title track the best thing about this record is how short it is. This record is out completely.
Interesting production by Bob Ezrin, of *Berlin* and *The Wall* fame. Funny how children were also involved in those Lou Reed and Pink Floyd LPs at some point. I wonder if that's a coincidence or if it is the influence the producer had on the artists as he was producing them... Unfortunately, apart from "My Stars" and "Luney Tunes" (nice main riff on this one), the songs are not striking enough musically speaking. Even the famous title track seems a little overrated now. I understand some rock fans were in awe with Alice Cooper's persona, hence his place in the rock pantheon. Honestly, his voice can be a little grating--even annoying on some tracks--but I imagine its *outré* theatrics are actually the very thing that his fans have found endearing, so I'm ready to suspend my judgment here. Yet one can't help feeling all of this feels a little insubtantial, in spite of a few funny or memorable lyrics in some spots... Besides, there's something very weird about *what* this record is about as a whole. You have whiffs of a rock opera or concept album coming from it, but it's as if it was left unfinished, as if the band couldn't be arsed writing its ending at some point. It's not sprawling enough. And since most of the individual songs are nothing but somewhat derivative drivel, there's not much that can satisfy you there. Best (or worst) example: the "Grand Finale" instrumental closing this LP. Ezrin does a little of his usual magic here, bringing a vast array of synths, orchestral arrangements and nice guitar effects to the table. But take away those baroque trimmings and rococo flourishes, what we have left is just by-the-number rock'n'roll played and written without much invention in mind, ironically. It's a little as if you took out the make-up of a diva or a glam-rocker, and suddenly realize there's no one but a old hag or an old fart under all that paint. And here, in *School's Out*, you can easily see through those thin layers, as theatrical and outrageous as the lead vocalist thought he was. Sometimes theatrics won't fill the hole inside you. And the more you use them, the more that hole becomes visible to others. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 800, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter (including this one)
Alice Cooper? Oh man, the image does not fit the sound! I've heard Andrew Lloyd Webber go harder than this!!!
I used to listen to the song Schools Out when I was younger. Rest of the album doesn't match the energy.
boring
Not for me at all...
Not terrible but meh for me
Only notable for its title track, 2/5 Highlight-"Schools Out"
Just realized that the lines “we got no class, we got no principles” is clever. Hah why is it west side story?
Buiten de title song een zeer saai album. Beats zaten soms wel goed, maar tekst is niet veel waard.
Theatrical and a bit hokey to me. Even the title track felt off once I took off my rose-tinted glasses.
My original exposure to Alice Cooper was his guest starring spot on The Muppet Show. I was creeped out by Cooper then, and not much has changed. It's not a frightened version of creepy, but creepy - I need to wretch a little and go wash up. I don't understand who Cooper is writing for with topics including blood, jail, fighting, getting out of school, and possible sexual assault of underage women. Cooper is playing a character, but I'm not sure that I understand the character. Singing about "no more teacher's dirty looks", and adaptations of music from West Side Story keeps me confused. There was more musicality than I expected from this album. "School's Out" could be a good rock song I could follow if there were different lyrics. The instrumentals ("Street Fight", "Grande Finale") held my attention, and it's possible that I could like "Blue Turk". School's Out was an interesting listen, and had several unexpected surprises, but I don't want to listen to it again. Should I round up to 3 stars when I know that I would skip this album in the future? "Alma Mater" and "Luney Tune" say 2 stars.
While I enjoyed listening, this album was SUPER all over the place with so many shifts in musical style and genre. While it lent to making it interesting since you never knew what kind of song was coming next, it didn't impress me cohesively.
Alice Cooper is a highly influential artist, shocking audiences with his punk attitude and controversial shows years before the movement was popularized. This album isn't his best nor does it accurately show his wild displays he does in live shows. The highlight of course is "School's Out" one of his most famous songs and a landmark in glam rock. The other songs are nothing to talk about, although they're decent examples of the genre and show his wild and wacky sides. The lofi sound works against them. There's a few quirks (especially in the keyboard effects), but Cooper could be more energetic, and the instrumental progression is predictable. At least the first side has some interesting ideas ("Blue Turk" has jazz and rockabilly influence), but the second side is just generic glam rock (and a Lennon copycat).
So puzzling why anyone thought this was "edgy", more like musical theater than "rock'n'roll" and not in an entertaining Meat Loaf way. Self-satisfied and boring, but not bad enough for a 1*
can see why school's out is the only one anyone has heard off this album, very different to the rest of the album, enjoyed the last 2 songs but not great overall
I expected a lot of screaming and pounding drums, but there was much more musical variety than that, along with some cool sound effects. Still, none of the songs grabbed me, and some of the lyrics were juvenile: the school's been blown to pieces? Hmm...
A cpl good songs, I wanted to like more though
Ok… It starts off with the album’s title track it’s got an alright guitar riff and singing is eh, I mean the song should really appeal to me but it doesn’t. Luney tune is slightly better Imo it’s more slower and downtempo but not a slow song, it’s just not clicking though. Then we have gutter cat vs the jets it’s probably the best so far great intro, fitting singing and a cool subtle keyboards so yeah cool for this album. Street fight is just an instrumental interesting but nothing special. The first half ends with blue turk I mean it’s got a good bass line and the song is fine just a bit generic you know. My stars has an awesome intro but it’s not as good as the song progresses actually now I think that its his voice that puts me off this music. Public animal #9 is a better song a stomper of a track a little early 60’s sounding I do like it though especially compared to the majority of this thing. Gloomy rain tripes throughout the album’s penultimate track alma matter It’s decent slow but likeable. The album closes on grande finale it’s cool and grand but not a favourite of mine I don’t know it just doesn’t feel right really not the worst but still a 2.
Andra Alice Cooper-albumet på kort tid för mig! Och precis som i Billion Dollar Babies fortsätter Alice Cooper krossa mina förutfattade meningar om bandet. Det är lekfullt, humoristiskt och genreöverskridande. Även om grunden ligger i rocken utforskas många olika sounds och stilar. Är det bra då? Nja. Albumet känns tyvärr inte lika genomarbetat som Billion Dollar Babies. Titelspåret har kanske NÅNTING, men för mig är den mest den enklaste och tråkigaste första låten på Guitar Hero III som man alltid tvingades igenom när man startade ny campaign. Också temamässigt är det svårt att engageras. Många låtarna har något sorts high-school-tema. Jag vill be den då 24-årige Vince Furnier att SLÄPPA den tiden och sjunga om vuxensaker i stället. Bäst är Blue Turk, med sin vemodiga refräng och 2-3-minutslånga gitarrbastrumpetdel i mitten. Lagom skruvat. Gillade också Luney Tune. Gutter Cats vs. The Jets är urdålig och fjantig!!! Bästa låt: Blue Turk
bleh
Yep. That's Alice Cooper...
Apart from the title track this is generic stuff. Varied tracks but nothing world-shattering. It had been already done better and was soon superceded in 1972 by other genres. It's pleasant enough but that's all.
Fetch me some Jack Daniels and some ass-less leather chaps, we're rock and rolling all night.
It's a bit glam, it's a bit prog, it's a lot dull. It's a mess of an album, it goes in a million different directions, a bit of jazz here, a bit of cabaret there and none if it hits home with me. Based on the music alone this album would have been long forgotten. Vince Furnier creating Alice Cooper was a stroke of genius, he is still a household name in 2022 and it sure as hell isn't due to the strength of the music on this album.
2.5
betty’s mom can really rock!
Detta sög !!!!!
Quite boring to be honest, although I didn't hate it. Even the hit single is cheesy and overplayed at this point, so there's really no need to ever hear it ever again.
It’s whatever
Wtf is this At least it's it's short 2
Novelty rock.
Weird album! Not very heavy at all aside from the title track. Also not very interesting
Peakalo na prvoj pjesmi, volim. Ostalo meh.
Inte så illa, en del bra låtar och intressant texter. 2.5 just nu.
Sorry Coop, even with the school's out nostalgia this was crap.
It was more diverse than I expected - I thought it would be the same kind of cheesy rock sound as the (admittedly very fun) title track and was pleasantly surprised by the variety on here - but nothing really stuck with me and I can't imagine going back to this record
First listen, a bit disappointing and meh, but gets better with repeated listens. It's a bit too theatrical in a pantomime way - which makes it hard to consider as more than a cartoon-y or novelty album. But title track is I guess a bit of a classic in it's own way. What stood out for me was 'Public Animal #9' and, strangely 'Gutter Cats vs. The Jets' - but all in all, didn't feel that great as an album
meh....
Overly theatrical for me. Only bit I really enjoyed was the end of Gutter Cat that sounded a bit like The Birthday Party for a few seconds.
I feel quite meh about this album. Was there anything memorable about it besides a song about getting out of school for summer vacation? Probably not. Also some weird lyrics scattered across this thing. 3/10
Meh
Seemed childish. Never heard it before and don't regret it.
ну чот вроде есть интересное, но не сказать чтоб переслушал бы снова. Запись плоская такая, надо ремастер сделать
The title track is great. My mom used to sing it every last day of the school. It was a great thing to hear. Past that, I think this kinda sucks. I mean, it's fine. But ever since I took the plunge on The Stooges, there really isn't a way for me to think this record is "edgy." This is edgy in the same way that buying a Rancid T-shit at Hot Topic, is. So, even in 1972, you didn't have to look very hard to find darker, more interesting, rebellious music. Sorry Alice. Your cameo in Wayne's World is still one of my favorites.
I was never a big Alice Cooper fan, but this album is okay. It's odd that he's portrayed as this "shock-rock" icon when most of these songs are kinda goofy, jazz-based tunes. It reminded me of the Stray Cats more than anything else. School's Out is awesome though.
Not heard before. Didn’t do anything for me at all, just dated and a bit silly.
School's out is a good tune but was not for me. Respect Alice Cooper and i like some for their songs, but I was pretty bored. It's a bad sign that I was distracted as his band's appearance in Wayne's World kept popping in my head.
It was okay. I probably would have liked this a lot had I been around in 1972.
Kinda garbage.
This is the fifth album from the Alice Cooper band; it's a hard rock album released in the early 70's. Can't go wrong with rock from its golden age, however it doesn't seem like you would miss a lot if you skipped this album. The most well known song is the title song, but in my opinion there is a remixed version that is much better. Fun fact: some people believe this is a concept album about youth feeling lost when leaving school.
Pretty trashy. I think Cooper is going for some kind of classic 50's American High School mood - maybe this is the original High School Musical? - and there's something to be said for the nostalgia vibes - but it's just not an enjoyable listen. The lyrics and vocals are tired, the glam rock is all up in your face and it's only the first and final track that really holds your attention. And, dude, if you love West Side Story so much, go listen to the soundtrack and save us from your re-interpretation/cover version. A dud.
He wears scary makeup! Yay...I mean yawn. This is a generic rock album
This album felt tedious. The messy rock songs on it for the most part were pretty boring, a couple of them stood out as a bit more interesting but not enough to make a 35 minute long album feel like an hour. The problem is the messy, sometimes discordant rock isn't actually doing anything interesting with that sound.
Not for me
Apart from the single School's Out which immediately transported me back to my schooldays, this album was very boring
Interesting concept album that all hung together pretty nicely. That being said, School's Out is the standout track, and one I'm so tired of hearing that it doesn't do anything for me. The rest don't have the mojo to stand on their own, so really this is an all-or-nothing proposition. If I'm honest, I don't know that I'll ever listen to this end to end again.
Alice should think himself lucky to get a 2. Could easily drop to a 1 with the West Side Story covers
A high 2, considered a 3, but honestly only the first song is much fun to listen to, and even it kinda overstays its welcome
i'd probably listen to it over cat stevens? at least it was short.
No hay canción más emblemática de Alice Cooper que School's Out, también es, en mi opinión, de sus canciones más flojas y sin chiste (aunque pegajosa). De él solo había escuchado como tal el disco Billion Dollar Babies (que se lleva a este de calle) y canciones aisladas. Se siente demasiado como disco para espantar niños de secundaria, de otras canciones de él le he visto letras más... "exquisitas" creo es la única palabra que se me ocurre en cuanto a ese punto de mórbido/humor. Este disco no tiene eso, en letras se siente plano y sin tanto chiste. Tiene un par de canciones agradables pero de hecho son las que más salen del estilo de la banda al que estamos acostumbrados como Blue Turk. Añadido que en mi opinión la verdadera atracción de Alice Cooper es poder ver todo un espectaculo tanto en música como en visual dentro de un concierto; la música sola no es que sea mala pero si palidece un poco. Musicalmente estándar sin mucho destacado para lo que había escuchado y en letras un poco más infantilizado y menos macabro de lo que le conozco.
weak
I mean, "School's Out" is a classic. But, outside the title track, the album doesn't 'wow.' It's a good sound, but not something that I would turn to again.
Contains School's Out. Really there are some west side story rehashes. that is all.
Oikeastaan pelkkä nimikko toimii ja sekin varmaan toistojen kautta tullut tutuksi...
Varmasti omalla aikakaudellaan jossain määrin merkittävä teos, mut ei enää tänä päivänä säväytä. Ainakaan mua.
1972: School's Out
Grating
Schlechte Popsongs schlecht gemacht. Okay, das kann wirklich weg. Braucht niemand mehr.
Never was a fan. After a new listen? I remember why.
I saw Alice Cooper and immediately thought there would be nothing of value. That was a mistake. There were a few lovely moments of West Side Story covers.
Really didn’t enjoy. I hate screaming ape rock
man. I like him as a person and school's out on guitar hero helped expand my classic rock knowledge and my general enjoyment of rock but I hate this record.
Didn't get into this at all! Man whose whole schtick was to scare teenage boys in to buying his records and go to his concerts forgets to write tunes that the milkman can whistle. Typical po-faced 70s rock album with one well-known song. So boring.
only got through the first song