Lost/Forgotten Album #91 (For Reals!)

[Jon]

 

(Many thanks to Scandal 2000 for the following excellent writeup!)

 

The mid 1990’s were not a particularly good time to be a classic hard rocker or a hair band. Due to an oversaturated market and countless mediocre albums tailored made for the MTV crowd, many record labels began to shy away from rock music all together. Those that stayed in the game, began to promote grunge bands such as Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Alice in Chains. While the grunge movement brought in a new generation of teenage rock fans, it also felt like suicide for many fans of more straight ahead rock. In fact, many hard rockers were so frustrated by the “modern rock” scene of the era, they either tried making their own grunge album or quit recording altogether. Fortunately, that was not the case with a few of the veteran rockers and that included 70’s icon, Alice Cooper.

Cooper had actually revitalized his career a few years earlier with the hugely successful “Trash” album, which capitalized on the fact most 80’s hair bands viewed Alice as one of their biggest influences. A couple of years later, Alice followed up the “Trash” album, with the slightly less successful, but hard rocking “Hey Stoopid” album. Unfortunately, like most other bands, Alice’s return to commercial success and massive radio airplay was relatively short-lived and that was a tragedy because it is 1994’s “The Last Temptation” album where the Alice many people grew up on truly returned.

Some of Alice’s most powerful works have been when he has chosen to record a concept album. Who could forget such classics as “Welcome To My Nightmare” and “From the Inside?” Though Alice had made some decent albums in the 80’s (The Dada album is a particular favorite of mine), it wasn’t until 1994 that Alice made an album that would truly find the right balance between his classic sound and more modern elements.

The Last Temptation is truly a forgotten gem that borders on a masterpiece. The album was much more moody than anything he had recorded in years and the production was excellent for its time. In fact, the album actually mixes a variety of styles with each song telling the story of Steven (fans of the Welcome To My Nightmare and Goes To Hell albums will remember our buddy, Steven) and his battle with the devil for his soul.

The Last Temptation starts off with an up tempo song called “Sideshow” which is arguably the weakest track on the album, but everything else is a pure joy to listen to especially one of my favorite Alice tracks of all-time “Nothing’s Free.” Fans of more modern rock, might also be pleasantly surprised to hear Alice trade vocals with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden fame on the standout track “Stolen Prayer.” Neil Gaiman even created a comic book around the album.

The Last Temptation did surprisingly well considering the album tragically received virtually no airplay and in a commercial sense probably came out a year or two too late. It went on to sell roughly 125,000 copies in the United States, but for those who did by the album Alice once again proved that the shock rocker still had plenty of game left in his tank.

 

 

The Last Temptation

1. Sideshow

2. Nothing's Free

3. Lost In America

4. Bad Place Alone

5. You're My Temptation

6. Stolen Prayer

7. Unholy War

8. Lullaby

9. It's Me

10. Cleansed By Fire

 

 

Availability: Quite!

 

 

 

[Scandal 2000]

Thanks for the kind words. TLT is definitely a favorite of mine. For some reason, the picture of the girl at the bottom wasn't anywhere in my album liner notes, but I likes, I likes!

[Jon]

Absolutely no problem at all. You did all the hard work, the rest was nothing. Spent more time looking for the "right" picture!

If there's any other you want to do down the line, just shoot me a message and we can see if we synch up.

[RJhog (Admin)]

That's a really good picture.

 

This is a pretty good album.  I've had it for a while and this is the first time I've listened to it.  Lost In America is humorous but good as well.  I think the second half of the album is stronger than the first half.

 

I still prefer Brutal Planet, as it seems a little bit heavier than this.  Still a nice post and a nice write-up Scandal.

[Scott]

Instead of writing a long response to this, like how I really liked the riffs and melodic tempos of this music, and how it really feels like a solid album that I totally missed out on, instead of doing that and rambling on about how I loved the production and how weird it was that you posted "Bad Place Alone" twice in a row, I won't focus on any of that, no no no ...  Instead of a song by song review and witty comments all over the place like I usually do and without any focus on rebutting others comments either, because I want this review to stand on its own, you know?  Why argue with anyone when they are all correct in their responses!  I mean why do that? Seriously!  I won't even focus on how this fits really well into the Religion in music discussion started earlier because isnt it obvious that an album titled "The Last Temptation" containing tunes like "Stolen Prayer" and "Unholy War" that these may play into that discussion somehow?  Everyones knows Alice is a Christian now anyway.   Ya, too obvious to mention here.  Im not even gonna let some hot, not naturally blonde, dressed in fish nets, and leather distract me from a solid muscical experience.  No open jacket exposing really really nice cleavage isnt gonna take my focus away from the, umm...  umm...  oh yeah, Alice Cooper...  Nope instead of any of that all I want to say is....

 

Nice listen and post Jonster!!!

[Jon]

Give Scandal 2000 the credit (for the post! pistures are mine, all mine. MINE!)

And damnit! Just noticed that that song is on there twice! Crap! It was taking eons to upload this for some reason and I kept on cancelling and starting again. DAMNIT!

[Jon]

fixed!

[Mike Mills]

Good album! It's about what I expected, typical Alice Cooper. A lot of rock, laced with creepy vocals! There were a few surprises though, "The Prayer" & "It's Me", both caught my ear. I like 'em!!

[Alan Christensen]

Lost in America and Stolen Prayer used to play on the Radio. I remember liking Sideshow when I first heard this CD too! :) Hmmm, should I relisten to this one. It wasn't half bad! :)