Easy Action
Alice Cooper · 1970
34 min · 9 tracks · hard rock
A theatrical blend of hard rock and proto-heavy metal infused with dark humor and biting social commentary.
Top tracks — play these first
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Below Your Means — This track showcases the band's ability to weave complex narratives within their music, featuring elaborate instrumentation that contrasts sharply with the lyrics' introspective themes.
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Return of the Spiders — Highlighting the band's signature blend of macabre imagery and catchy hooks, this song reflects their growing confidence in combining theatrical storytelling with rock music.
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Lay Down and Die, Goodbye — The closing track offers an ambitious composition that encapsulates the album's themes of mortality and existential reflection while exhibiting dynamic shifts in tempo and mood.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases early theatrical elements and dark humor, establishing Alice Cooper's unique style.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong mid-tempo track that sets a theatrical tone, followed by a series of songs that alternate between upbeat and slower tempos.
- Several tracks feature abrupt transitions, such as 'Return of the Spiders', which shifts from a melodic section to a more aggressive sound.
- The lyrics often employ dark humor and social commentary, particularly evident in tracks like 'Shoe Salesman' and 'Refrigerator Heaven'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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5/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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4/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- playful dark humor throughout
- short bursts of energy
- narrative twists in lyrics
- theatrical storytelling elements
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, immersive pieces
- seek straightforward lyrical themes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on March 27, 1970, Easy Action was Alice Cooper's second studio album, following the debut Pretties for You. At this point in his career, the band was beginning to establish their identity, experimenting with a unique mix of theatricality and music that would later define shock rock.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Kiss· Ozzy Osbourne· Rob Zombie
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Mr. and Misdemeanor 3:10
- 2 Shoe Salesman 2:39
- 3 Still No Air 2:34
- 4 Below Your Means 6:54
- 5 Return of the Spiders 4:32
- 6 Laughing at Me 2:16
- 7 Refrigerator Heaven 2:01
- 8 Beautiful Flyaway 3:01
- 9 Lay Down and Die, Goodbye 7:36
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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