Dragontown
Encyclopedia
Dragontown is the 22nd studio album by Alice Cooper
, released in 2001. Like Brutal Planet
, the album displays a heavier style than many of his previous releases. The album peaked on Billboard's "Top Independent Albums" Chart at #12, and the Billboard 200
at #197, his lowest album chart performance to date (other than those that didn't chart at all).
It has been believed by many that the album is a sequel to 2000's Brutal Planet.
The title song "Dragontown" mentions several characters from that album, such as the "wicked young man" from "Wicked Young Man", the "family of bones" from "Pick Up the Bones", and the lyrical hero from "It's the Little Things". While Dragontown is billed as the worst place on Brutal Planet, several songs are about Hell
and who goes there, as opposed to the apocalyptic world of "Brutal Planet." The songs "I Just Wanna Be God" and "The Sentinel" are sung from Satan's perspective, as was "Gimme". "Sister Sara" deals with a nun who "lost her soul" ("Sister Sara/It's your penalty for eternity/Did you think that you were saved?"), and "It's Much Too Late" contains direct references to the life of Alice's former drinking buddy, John Lennon, sung in a faux-Liverpudlian accent.
Doug Van Pelt, editor of the Christian music oriented HM Magazine
, likened Cooper to C.S. Lewis, stating that he "grabs the devil's microphone and attempts to spill his guts and reveal his wicked schemes." Van Pelt further states that "It's Much Too Late" exposes "unrestrained truth" in stating that "The road to hell is littered with nice guys and good intentions..." and likens "Sex, Death and Money" to Proverbs 5
and isn't really about 'Sex, Death, and Money, but talks against it, as the Bible states.
This is the first Alice Cooper studio album to contain no singles.
and Bob Marlette
, except where noted.
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, released in 2001. Like Brutal Planet
Brutal Planet
Brutal Planet is the 21st studio album by Alice Cooper, released in 2000. Lyrically, it's a Concept Album that deals with themes of dark "social fiction", including domestic violence , Prejudice , War and school shootings...
, the album displays a heavier style than many of his previous releases. The album peaked on Billboard's "Top Independent Albums" Chart at #12, and the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at #197, his lowest album chart performance to date (other than those that didn't chart at all).
It has been believed by many that the album is a sequel to 2000's Brutal Planet.
The title song "Dragontown" mentions several characters from that album, such as the "wicked young man" from "Wicked Young Man", the "family of bones" from "Pick Up the Bones", and the lyrical hero from "It's the Little Things". While Dragontown is billed as the worst place on Brutal Planet, several songs are about Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
and who goes there, as opposed to the apocalyptic world of "Brutal Planet." The songs "I Just Wanna Be God" and "The Sentinel" are sung from Satan's perspective, as was "Gimme". "Sister Sara" deals with a nun who "lost her soul" ("Sister Sara/It's your penalty for eternity/Did you think that you were saved?"), and "It's Much Too Late" contains direct references to the life of Alice's former drinking buddy, John Lennon, sung in a faux-Liverpudlian accent.
Doug Van Pelt, editor of the Christian music oriented HM Magazine
HM Magazine
HM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
, likened Cooper to C.S. Lewis, stating that he "grabs the devil's microphone and attempts to spill his guts and reveal his wicked schemes." Van Pelt further states that "It's Much Too Late" exposes "unrestrained truth" in stating that "The road to hell is littered with nice guys and good intentions..." and likens "Sex, Death and Money" to Proverbs 5
Book of Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
and isn't really about 'Sex, Death, and Money, but talks against it, as the Bible states.
This is the first Alice Cooper studio album to contain no singles.
Track listing
All songs written by Alice CooperAlice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
and Bob Marlette
Bob Marlette
Bob Marlette is an American record producer, recording engineer, mixer, keyboarder and songwriter.-Musician:Bob Marlette started out as a session musician and the first album he appeared on was Al Stewart's 24 Carrots...
, except where noted.
- "Triggerman" – 4:00
- "Deeper" – 4:36
- "Dragontown" – 5:06
- "Sex, Death and Money" – 3:39
- "Fantasy Man" – 4:05
- "Somewhere in the Jungle" – 5:22
- "Disgraceland" – 3:34
- "Sister Sara" – 4:35
- "Every Woman Has a Name" – 3:45
- "I Just Wanna Be God" – 3:53
- "It's Much Too Late" – 4:40
- "The Sentinel" – 3:53
2002 Special Edition
A special edition was released on September 24, 2002, limited to 7,500 units. It includes the original album and includes a bonus disc with four additional tracks.- "Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me" – 4:09
- "Go to Hell" (Live) (Cooper, Dick WagnerDick WagnerDick Wagner Dick Wagner Dick Wagner (born December 14, 1943, in Oelwein, Iowa is an American rock music guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and KISS.-Performing career:...
, Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
) – 3:48 - "Ballad of Dwight Fry" (Live) (Cooper, Michael BruceMichael Owen BruceMichael Bruce is a US rock musician. He was a guitarist, keyboard player and backing vocalist for the original Alice Cooper group .Bruce co-wrote many of the hit songs with some or all of the other members of the band...
) – 4:27 - "Brutal Planet" (Remix) – 5:27
Personnel
- Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
- Vocals - Ryan RoxieRyan RoxieRyan Roxie Ryan Roxie Ryan Roxie (born in Sacramento, California, December 1, 1965 is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter currently residing in Stockholm, Sweden. He is the founding member of Roxie 77 and probably most well known for his guitar work with Alice Cooper, Slash, Casablanca, Dad's...
- Guitar - Tim Pierce - Guitar
- Greg Smith - Bass
- Kenny AronoffKenny AronoffKenny Aronoff is an American drummer. He has played drums for many musicians, including John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The BoDeans, Gregg Alexander, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Iommi, Jon Bon Jovi, Vasco Rossi, Cinderella and...
- Drums - Bob MarletteBob MarletteBob Marlette is an American record producer, recording engineer, mixer, keyboarder and songwriter.-Musician:Bob Marlette started out as a session musician and the first album he appeared on was Al Stewart's 24 Carrots...
- Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Keyboards