Alice Cooper is not everybody's favorite rock act, but this debut was undeniably a crowning achievement, not just for Alice the man, but Alice Cooper the band. So much more than just "that weird creepy guy" singing songs about insanity and death and snakes, this is a really well-crafted collection of songs, both lyrically and musically. The music here does what great rock music should always do. It provides a narrative soundtrack, not just a beat and melody to accompany the singing. This stuff really commands your attention, hooks that would rival the greatest of Black Sabbath or even The Beatles. In terms of a top-to-bottom, cover-to-cover good listen, it leaves most of the other Cooper releases behind.

Combining good rock n' roll, memorable lyrics, creepy theatrics, sneering wit, and a young, lean, go-for-broke approach, "Love It To Death" is and always will be my favorite Alice Cooper release. Followed-up by the nearly-equal "Killer", this record shows the man as well as the band at an ultimate peak. Never again would the music rise above the shock rock antics as it does here.