Alice of course emerged out of the Detroit Rock scene that spawned bands like MC5 and The Stooges and whilst his star rose more than his hometown alumni he’s now back revisiting those raw and real Rock and Roll sounds on his new EP ‘Breadcrumbs’. It’s actually very good and whilst to some extent it’s a Detroit Rock history lesson it’s also a lesson that will keep you awake there at the back of the class.
Opening with the only cover of his own tune here ‘Detroit City 2000’ is a rewrite of the Track from 2003’s ‘The Eyes of Alice Cooper’ and very nice it is too, it’s a song that’s so good it makes you rush out and check out that earlier version,and I have to say that this one has a little more ‘zing’. That’s followed by the brand new song ‘Go Man Go’ that follows and see’s Alice distilling the essence of Detroit rather adeptly! It’s a big thumbs up from me but it does get even better: my favourite here is ‘East Side Story’ originally by Bob Seger and The Last Heard (Bob’s first band) from 1966 which really reminds me of ‘Gloria’ from two years earlier. Its a song you can feel in your bones and a bona fide classic!
Suzi Quatro’s ‘Your Mama Won’t Like Me’ that follows it is funkier, has some nice horns and really strikes a great groove. I have to admit I rather like this cover more than the original, still I guess Alice has had a few years to perfect it!
As we start to say goodbye to our fleeting snatch of Detroit air ‘Devil With A Blue Dress/Chains of Love’ is of course the classic Shorty Long number and starts with a spoken word intro and probably needs no introduction.Chains of love that crashes the party is a nice more laid back take on the song that’s been a staple for many a band over the years. Closer ‘Sister Anne’ is a nice slab of Rock and Roll from probably Detroit’s most influential, if not successful, band MC5. It’s the only way to close really isn’t it?
Nice work from the maestro. Now how about an EP celebrating Alice’s long time residence Phoenix?