Dirty Diamonds (2005)

On his 24th studio album, Dirty Diamonds — his best in years — the now-57 Alice Cooper curbs his trend-jumping tendencies of the past few decades and goes back to his twisted roots, offering witty headbangers alongside ripe-for-radio glitter pop (''Perfect,'' ''Your Own Worst Enemy'') and a wonderful reading of the Left Banke's '60s baroque & roll chestnut ''Pretty Ballerina.'' What's now most shocking about the original shock rocker is how much fun he seems to be having.