Dirty Diamonds (Dirty Diamonds, 2005)

Dirty Diamonds, released in 2005, is Alice Cooper’s 24th studio album. The album is a “back to the basics” Rock album – it has no theme per se, but every song has its own story.

A good portion of the album also has a comedic feel and vibe.  It’s one of the more light-hearted in Cooper’s repertoire of LPs, and every track is worth the listen.

Included with the “back to the basics” mindset is a hat tip to garage bands and the gritty sound that accompanies them.

“Right now, I’d rather take the songs, and as I said, make it sound like a garage band, but a really good garage band. Because you know, basically, every good hard rock band is a garage band. I think the Stones were a great garage band – AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith – every guitar band that is out there making it, was probably a great garage band.”– Alice Cooper

“Dirty Diamonds,” the title track, is filled with the narrative you would find in a dark comedy, crime, drama, or thriller such as “Ozark” or “Breaking Bad” – a get rich quick scheme or theft that’s gone awry.

Oh, it looked so good, the perfect plan
You had ta be greedy to be the man
Now you’re holding the bag, paying the price
Gonna get burned from the heat of the ice

Dirty Diamonds

You roll the dice, bet your life
Put your trust in your trophy wife
Got stabbed in the back in a blink of her eye
She’s in bed with the boys and the F.B.I.

In the song, we find a man that took shortcut after shortcut and wound up at the wrong end of the gun barrel. As mentioned earlier, the song has a cinematic theme – almost James Bondesque, but the character in the song is not Bond; it’s his nemesis. Blinded by greed, the dysfunctional villain is left for dead.

Life leads us done various corridors that sometimes present us with multiple narratives that aren’t healthy or don’t allow us to see where our potential lies. We often try to find the easy road instead of putting ourselves into the more strenuous scenario – one that requires grit and fortitude.

It’s easier to try finding the shortcuts or gambling with our lives instead of walking the straight and narrow – putting in the time and genuinely working hard for what it is that motivates us.

Although God’s grace and mercy are always available as we draw breath, that doesn’t mean we aren’t immune or removed from earthly consequences. On the contrary, we reap what we sow.

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
    who rely on human strength
    and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
    with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salty land.

7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit.

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
    and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
    according to what their actions deserve. – Jeremiah 17:5-10

The above-listed verses contrast the difference between trusting in humanity (and ourselves) versus placing our trust in God. It’s not to say that there isn’t a time to trust others. However, our hearts are inclined to sin. Therefore, we should place our confidence in our Creator, not humankind.

Faith in humanity leads us to brokenness. The souls of men and women are fleeting and unable to provide the constant strength and support we need to maintain our assurance for tomorrow. In a nutshell, the foolishness of God is wiser than man, and the weakness of God is stronger than man (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Faith in God leads us to fulfillment and a clear vision. Not only do we gain tremendous strength when we learn to Trust in Him, but we are also able to inspire others. Our faith is expressed when we serve others – we were created to assist and love others, our Father wants us to (Hebrews 6:10).

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6:1-10

We are called to lift one another. However, we are warned to be cautious in doing so. Focusing on the earlier verses of Jeremiah 17, we know that the human heart is easily swayed. Therefore, we must guard it and steadily rely on our Lord to keep us from temptation.

Paul, in Galatians 6, explains that what we sow based on our flesh and desires will lead us to corruption while the Spirit grants us eternal life. If we are selfish with our desires and actions, evil and sorrow are bound to take root. However, if our inspiration stems from Christ, joy and everlasting life will be attained.

It boils down to choice and free will. Who’s way do we choose? The methods of man or the blueprints of our Heavenly Father?

Wrapping up this week’s post, life is riddled with decisions. Some of those are trivial, and others are more detrimental. How we live and what we choose ultimately defines our path.

Luckily, we are given a reprieve through the grace of our Father and the gift of His Son. However, it requires us to choose Him as Lord. After making that decision, life doesn’t become any less stressful, but the path becomes more pronounced.

Through Him and His Word, we learn that our understanding is not always trustworthy, and we begin to realize there is a better path – a narrow road found by only a few (Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 7:14).

In conclusion, it’s most likely evident that Alice from the ’90s to today is “Fridays With Alice’s” favored era for The Coop and his music. During that time, Dirty Diamonds and The Eyes of Alice Cooper, a double album of sorts, are two of our favorites.

While Shock Rock and Horror are evident in Alice Cooper’s discography, there’s also a cinematic element and a love for action, sci-fi, and adventure laced within Alice Cooper’s music. There are many examples, such as Killer’s “Desperado” and Muscle of Love’s “Man With The Golden Gun.”

“The title track, “Dirty Diamonds,” that’s pure Alice. When I think of how Alice connects up, the cinematography, and the song, I tried to make that sound like a soundtrack for a movie that has not been written yet…There is no movie called Dirty Diamonds, but there should be.” – Alice Cooper

How cool would it be to see a movie based on an Alice Cooper song? The script for “Dirty Diamonds” would be fun to imagine. What characters would play those roles, and how many nuggets and life lessons would be mixed within the adventure? It’s fun to think about.

That’s it for this week. Be well and catch you next week.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ With Alice!​