New releases last two weeks: All genres

Review: Detroit rock monster Alice Cooper's band hit their stride in 1971 with this raw, swaggering major-label breakout, now reissued on Rhino's high-fidelity imprint. The set blends garage rock grit with theatrical flair, laying the foundation for what would later be called shock rock. Powered by Bob Ezrin's debut co-production, the groupiAlice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smithideliver hard-edged anthems laced with surrealist angst and proto-punk snarl. Tracks like 'I'm Eighteen' - the track that John Lydon auditioned for the Sex Pistols with - and 'Caught In A Dream' balance noise and nuance, while deeper cuts like 'Sun Arise' and 'Is It My Body' play with form and stagecraft. A new interview with Ezrin offers insight into the sessions and his early relationship with the band. Recut for audiophile listening, it's a vital snapshot of early 70s US rock, reissued with care and context.