Hey Stoopid was an album I found sitting around and collecting dust in a long abandoned antique cabinet. I actually listened to it because I thought the cover art was hot. More than just the album art is hot.
Hey Stoopid has not so remarkable lyrics. Just reading the lyric book wouldn't have drawn anyone's notice. But the music is so energetic in most of the album. The way the lyrics are coupled and complimented by the music makes it work like a well oiled machine. Cooper's voice is probably a saving grace, though. It has a gargling quality that engages the listener almost immediately. His tone is pure rock and it compliments the music tremendously. It also struck me that Hey Stoopid's song titles were short and closely related to the song...unlike a lot of current music.
Coincidentally, the first and last songs on this wonderful album are the best. Hey Stoopid was the first song. It's one of the best songs. The chorus is infectious, what with the heys being shouted stadium-style. Ozzy sings backing vocals for this one, along with Joe Satriani and Zachary Nevel, and also features Slash on guitar. Something about it just stirs up energy and even a little bit of lividness. Crazy and contemptuous. In other words, perfect.
The last song is Wind-Up Toy. It's a sad, sad lyrical story of a boy who is neglected by his parents and therefore turns into a living zombie, so to speak, a wind-up toy. "Daddy won't discuss me, what a pain I must be, Mommy couldn't stand living with a wind-up boy." The beginning opens with a wacked out music box playing the way music boxes do. Then it has this shaky horror movie screech. This song probably has the most amazing lyrics on the album. The lyrics are the perfect picture of isolation and completely mad "freak." "These good little shots must be working...all my friends live on the floor, tiny legs and tiny eyes, they're free to crawl under the door, and someday soon so will I...drawing rats on the wall, solitary confinement, chained in a cell, got my own private hell...preacher crucifies me, warden wants to fry me...doctors want to check me, poke me and dissect me," all excerpts that show that feeling. And of course, there is a beautiful addition to the ending. Two high and "low" voices say in unison "They come here every night. I see them, don't you see them? Hmm, that's odd, isn't it...I'm so tired. I'm winding down. You'll have to go now, its bedtime!" And then a child's wail. All this to the background of the softly screeching violin-like tone.
Hey Stoopid was the perfect energetic album. It's mad for bouncing in your chair. Most of the songs are fast and what you think of when you think of real "rock n' roll," but the slower songs, such as "Might as Well be on Mars" and "Die For You" just fall short.
Recommended Tracks:
Hey Stoopid
Snakebite
Feed My Frankenstein
Hurricane Years
Wind-Up Toy
