The Contrarians Panel: Dark Horse Album #27 - Alice Cooper DaDa

Fan of the Alice Cooper black out era? Dig this vid of our crew discussing the most controversial of that period! DaDa!
The Contrarians is a show where one of us jumps in the hot seat picks a dark horse album from a band as that band's best album. The guest host will argue against them with facts, stats and all around truth, subjective and objective!
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[@thecontrarians2438]

Rank DaDa out of ten and let us know what you think! Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi: www.patreon.com/contrarians ko-fi.com/thecontrarians

[@DokkenSabbath]

I love DaDa and I think its criminally underrated. My favorite of the "blackout" period, actually. It's darker, weirder and heavier than the other 3. Favorite tracks: Fresh Blood, Scarlet and Sheba, Former Lee Warmer and Pass the Gun Around. I give it an 8/10.

[@danielflynm7546]

No man's land is a great song!!!!!!

[@bjmombo]

Agree man. Through out the years this one really grew on me and became my top 5 Cooper album. This and From The Inside

[@ronmclaughlin886]

I never referred to this period as the "blackout" period. I've always called these his "Contractual Obligation Albums." Having said that, I've always considered these albums, ( Zipper, Dada,Flush,Special Forces) to actually be some of his best, if not also, his most bizarre, work. I'd definitely give this album an 8/10

[@benatkinson5671]

I am GaGa for DaDa! A friend introduced me to this album in the late 90s by playing the opening track in his dark basement bedroom. It has since been near the top of my rankings for Alice Cooper albums. 9/10

[@alantennie1557]

In a recent interview Bob Ezrin stated that DADA is the album he'd like to go back to and remix and remaster.

[@ronmclaughlin886]

I consider myself a "Die-hard" Alice Cooper fan, and I absolutely love this album! All 4 albums from this period are in my top 10 Cooper albums

[@Skycladatdusk78]

Got to give it some points for its oddness and many dark moments. I love when artists take a hard left turn especially when they have a long career. I'd give it 7 / 10.

[@guillaumechabason3165]

I used to love this record when it came out ! As I loved The Elder and The Wall

[@prosperoeaton8201]

I'm a fan of this album. To my ears, it's his best record not released in the 70s. The title track is incredibly eerie, as is Former Lee Warmer. Pass the Gun Around with its Gilmour-esque guitar solo and heartbreaking lyrics almost gives me chills. I Love America is biting social commentary. It's easily his most underrated album. I rank it at number five, behind Killer, Welcome to My Nightmare, Love it to Death, and Billion Dollar Babies.

[@sspbrazil]

He toured for Special Forces, there is a video on KZbin of the show at The Capitol Theater in NJ.

[@jamesnetwall1193]

I love this album easily one of his most underrated.

[@daicullinane7746]

DaDa is a great album.

[@sarcastanaut]

As usual, Reed's opinion makes me want to tear my hair out. 7/10 for me.

[@chrisflood9205]

Yeah he gets on my nerves too

[@retro_wanderluster9962]

I love this album top 10 of his easily. When I saw Alice back in 2018 thr openining track before he hit stage was "DaDa" intro and I about freaked out thought I was hallucinating lol and loved that he used it. I wish he would do a song from this or Zipper one tour. Just go back and listen and get famimilar with the songs and go for an ultimate deep cut or two. Dick Wagner was awesome so underrated.

[@MrFishboneswim]

I was 15 when Constrictor came out and was raised by a bunch of teenagers in the 70’s so I always had AC records playing. By 1988 From The Inside was my favorite album, but I never heard any of the black out albums. In ‘88 my uncle gave me a copy of Special Forces, I found Zipper on vinyl and DaDa on a cut out and the 78-83 era became my favorite era after taking that all in during ‘88!! I still feel that From The Inside is his best album with DaDa right behind it. Dick Wagner carried DaDa and unlike the panel here I felt like this album was every bit as emotional as anything he has done. My fav AC song is Hello Hooray, but Pass The Gun Around is a close second. I own everything AC has done and I still give DaDa a 10/10!!

[@SuperClarky666]

8.5 for me I love the album.I came in at constrictor and enjoyed getting into the back catalog dada is definitely in my top 10 of his albums 🤔not sure where though.great video guys 👍🤘

[@sufferingzappatache7231]

My favourite Alice album from his 'lost' years. I love the dark songs on this. 8/10

[@georgemathie8123]

Dada is definitely an unique album in the legendary Alice Cooper's catalog and to me has a fun combination of his trademark theatrical rock, macarbe, and hard rock and some of his most darkest material since the 70s with the creepy opening title track bookended by the rather unnerving album closer pass the gun around it's an underrated album in his catalog that is well worth a listen

[@sspbrazil]

I like his early to mid 80’s albums a lot more than the crappy stuff he put out in the mid-late 80’s and 90’s, I know he was in a bad way with booze, but those albums are gritty and raw.

[@paulcropper4717]

A solid 8/10. The best album from his Black Out Period. Pass The Gun Around is a classic.

[@purpletemple1]

Love that album! The Blackout is imo one of the most interesting Alice Cooper periods. This said, my fav from that era remains Special Forces, which I think is an incredible record. This certainly was a very intense and emotional period for Alice. The 1982 French show for Special Forces is such a creepy experience to watch too. 7.5/10. Special Forces 9/10. Cheers.

[@careful__Icarus]

Dada was actually the first Alice Cooper,recording I ever bought. On cassette,for 99 cents at Woolworths in about 1986. Had about 5 or 6 markdown stickers and the obligatory hole burnt into the top corner. So its my emotional favorite. Bought Tin Huey cassette the same day. I Love America...obvious presidential entrance song,lol

[@Klaatusuit]

Yes, it was Dee Long of Klaatu who co owned the studio

[@NP-ip3nj]

I'd rate it a solid 8/10. Not perfect but some genuinely great songs. The drum machine is probably its biggest flaw. I listened to all of the blackout albums a lot as a teenager and they're some of my favourite Alice albums.

[@Nazman06]

AC's best album is "From the inside "

[@grooveyerbouti]

Love this album remember first getting mad and brilliant only weak track for me is dyslexia. possibly my favourite Alice album. Had to get a Japanese import back in 1990 ish as well as Zipper as were out of print back then in UK.

[@bustergoldenrod]

7.5/10 the best of the “blackout” albums.

[@careful__Icarus]

Lisa Dal Bello in the credits. Tenuously slim Queensryche connection.

[@chrisschurke4151]

It's a scary thought that if he had died, "Pass the gun around" would have been the last Alice Cooper song. Listening to those lyrics, it's clear that he knew.

[@rj3969]

9.5 Probably my favorite Alice Cooper Album.

[@TheHk1966]

“New wave version of From The Inside”. Interesting take on the album

[@Klaatusuit]

You guys forget, with the absence of Alice because intoxicated, this is a Bob Ezrin solo album featuring Alice Cooper

[@rayzerwrecker70]

Good talk guys.

[@MsKalachakra]

To say is the scariest or the weirdest Alice Cooper for me is almost the same as saying its his best. And then I like synth music probably more that guitar music, I prefer the 80's sound to the 70s sound and so on. So all that plus this being hard to find on vinyl and having it on vinyl makes it a top 3 Alice Copper album in my ranking. Probably I like the black out albums more than his more famous 70's albums. Special Forces and Flush the Fashion might complete my top 3. Zipper catches skin is amazing too.

[@ashbowen6551]

The only Alice record that I can't make through, and the other "blackout" records are some of my faves.

[@ramonace4770]

Same for me! Love "Flush the Fashion", "Zipper Catches Skin" and "Special Forces" to death, however, "Dada" does nothing for me.

[@DamageCase91]

I love this album. Couple of “meh” moments, but the fun and creepy pieces make up for it. Yeah, synth heavy, but it’s also raw & heavy beyond the New Wave aspects-the latter took over on Zipper. The darkness of the lyrics & atmosphere give the LP a jolt. “Fresh Blood”, “No Man’s Land”, “Former Lee Warmer”, “Scarlet and Sheba” . . “Pass the Gun Around” is my favorite off the album; Dick Wagner’s emotional, sorrowful guitar playing meets this crescendo that transfers into a gut punch. 9/10.

[@steverosten7101]

so it is ok that i was totally freaked out by this epic album it is scary and moody, enough reminds me of family problems we had as a kid kinda sad but i love it ,,,i love alice coopers music so much hes been there the whole time,,,

[@jbmckean]

I'm a big Alice cooper fan have been since i was about 9 years old i was introduced to him through my uncle i have a lot of his albums i even have some tapes of his spiders period (inherited again from my uncles collection) i was told he hated this album as it was a real dark time in his life also after reading the GOLF MONSTER book he brought out i have seen him 6 times and i asked him when i met him at the edinburgh playhouse about DADA he more or less ignored my question on DADA album he just said he hated making it and also did not like the finished product....i rate it as his best album IMO....i rate it 10/10 my fav song on it is pass the gun around .but that was even hard to pick as i love the whole album.

[@jackhouck2687]

Pass the gun around should be redone today honestly think it would be a hit. Love this album.

[@garyjoyce2160]

I’m different, I like the “ blackout” AC period. DaDa / 7.7 out of 1️⃣0️⃣. Thanks guys for your shows 👍💯

[@markrago7217]

I really like Dada. Former Lee Warmer is kind of autobiographical, definitely some substance abuse references, same with Pass the Gun Around. Scarlet and Sheba is cool. Enoughs Enough and Dyslexia are fun songs. I'll give it a 7.5.

[@lukelemieux5420]

I really wanted to love this album because of his reunion with Ezrin, but I just can't! The opening track, DADA, sets a tone that this will be a dark classic Alice album, but then it's followed up with "Enough is Enough" which totally took me out of that groove. He's got so many better albums since then. It hurts me, but I'll have to rate this one a 2/10.

[@anonanon526]

Dada IS a good album its just... a little unfocused and doesn't "flow" as you would expect a Cooper album to. Individually I would say the songs stand up well. I can imagine most songs would be better off on other albums and would not seem out of place. Examples: From the Inside: Dada could be the first track and Pass the gun around could be the last. Goes to hell / Lace and Whiskey: Fresh Blood, although its obviously 80s it has a GTH ambience - could be on that album after The title song. Scarlet & Sheba could be after Wish You Were Here. Even I love America could fit on these albums especially after Dammed if You Do Welcome to my Nightmare: can you imagine Former Lee Warmer around Years Ago? I can. I think I can make a reimagined/concept album of just New Wave songs and I would just include Enough enough and Dyslexia on that. Maybe even No Mans Land just because its a bit dumb and kooky and would kinda fit. I look at all Cooper 1980-1983 the same way. Although Zipper and Flush can be used as Fillers or Interludes because they are so short!

[@nicholashodges201]

It's a great album, not just "good". It's just extremely hard to digest...

[@written12]

Even hallucinating and paranoiac, Alice had talent and it came across on record at least to some extent.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

To my ears, it's the least interesting of Alice's so-called 'blackout' era albums there's a few good fun songs on it but overall a vast disappointment. Having said that, I'll still take it over anything he's released since then that's how little I'm into Constrictor and moving forward into the metal years. Sure, his big commercial comeback would lay in wait looming on the horizon but he sacrificed a lot of his old musical heart and soul to get to it, at least on DaDa there's still some of that vintage inspiration and classic Cooper variety left intact.

[@deadpan80]

I love the other blackout albums. This one I just can’t get into for some reason. Not sure why. Just don’t dig it.

[@ramonace4770]

Same for me, I think it's boring. Love the other blackout albums!

[@RunLikeAVillain]

I’d say Special Forces is my favorite, then Flush the Fashion… after that, hard to say; Zipper Catches Skin is certainly more in-line with those albums than Dada is. Not sure I’d say it necessarily better, though. Dada is very different… despite the copious amount of Fairlight synthesizer use, it sounds more like his late 70’S stuff than the other new wave AC albums. It’s not my favorite blackout album, but I think it’s way better than 99% of the ‘86-onward albums

[@scottmark5345]

Zipper was his crack album - rambling lyrics 2-3 min songs fast tempo like a crack addict rambling. Dada is his alcoholic depression album, its mesmerizing, so weird and absurd, its the exception album. I love Flush thru to Dada. I think Zipper is the weakest album of that 4 album era.

[@jamesbradford8090]

Da Da is one of Alice's best albums, unfortunately......he doesn't remember recording it.

[@alantennie1557]

10/10

[@franciskocher200]

I Never Heard Dada

[@thecontrarians2438]

what are you waiting for!? 😛

[@franciskocher200]

@@thecontrarians2438 I'm not an Alice Cooper fan and he has a lot of albums.

[@laurencelevene4333]

Easily his best album of the eighties. But it's not as good as most of his classic 1970s albums

[@reckia]

I think I Love America is great, probably one of Alice’s funniest songs. I never really liked any of the other songs, though.

[@GMHG777]

This a weird but super cool album … I give it a 7.75/10