Alice In Chains

[Ars Magna]

They are one of my favorite bands but I've only heard samples of the new material with the new vocalist. How is the album?

 

[Dick Sirloin]

You shoulda talked to me back in 9th grade when I was ULTIMO AIC FAN NUMBER ONE. Now I just love them.

 

[Ars Magna]

Have you heard their last release?

 

[dorian gray]

Watched the "Man in the Box" video the other day for the first time since, oh...1991. I was a junior when Dirt came out and it ruled the rest of my high school existence. They seemed to drop off the face of the planet after Jar of Flies because it was only recently that I discovered they released another album after that. Or maybe it was because I was smoking lots of weed at that time.

 

[General Zod]

How is the album?

If it's not Layne, it's not Alice.

Zod

 

[dorian gray]

I dunno. Cantrell wrote all the songs. While Layne's vocals had an obvious stylistic edge, they weren't anything technically special.

 

[Ars Magna]

If it's not Layne, it's not Alice.

I pretty much agree with this but am still curious about the album.

 

[Chromatose]

Pretty sure it's not out until the fall?

Anyway Boggy Depot is pretty great, sounds like AIC, and shows he could still pull it off without Layne. But then his second solo album was hit and miss, likely due to wanting to get away from that AIC sound, shrug.

I still think the best route for a new AIC album would be to just have Cantrell sing, and forget a new vocalist.

 

[dorian gray]

Yar, Cantrell did alot of vocals during the AiC years. Anyway, I'll buy the album. It comes out in November I believe.

 

[General Zod]

While Layne's vocals had an obvious stylistic edge, they weren't anything technically special.

He had an incredibly original sound, and he was very passionate and intense. He mad the band for me. Plus... the best thing either Layne or Jerry did, was Mad Season, which Jerry had no involvement with.

Zod

 

[dorian gray]

Wait. What? I'm pretty sure Cantrell formed Mad Season after Staley could no longer pull it together enough to participate in AiC. I'll have to do some research.
Anyway, I agree with you on Staley's vocals but for me, in some songs, he got kind of annoying. No one else could ever sing "Would?" though.

 

[einride]

i kind of decided to listen to this band a couple of weeks ago for some reason

they have at least 2 good songs

 

[Disgustipated]

They have many more than 2 good songs.

They toured here not long ago but I didn't find out about it till it was too late. Not too keen on the idea of no Layne, but as dorian said it always was Cantrell's band.

 

[Chromatose]

Wait. What? I'm pretty sure Cantrell formed Mad Season after Staley could no longer pull it together enough to participate in AiC. I'll have to do some research.
Anyway, I agree with you on Staley's vocals but for me, in some songs, he got kind of annoying. No one else could ever sing "Would?" though.

Naw, Mad Season has nothing to do with Cantrell, all Layne and Mike McCready and crew.

It reminds me of the Temple of the Dog album in that, musically, it's just some grunge "supergroup" churning out some sort of 70s-rock influenced jams that were perhaps less inspired than their normal fare, but totally made classic by their fervent vocal delivery.

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

I still think the best route for a new AIC album would be to just have Cantrell sing, and forget a new vocalist.

I feel the same way. Having just one half of the original vocal harmony is wayyy better than messing it up with some new guy that's supposed to sound like Staley and doesn't.

 

[einride]

for me because im stupid and ignorant about shit like this: the thing that really sealed the "okay aic is more than another shitty 90's alt rock mainstream band" deal was the mtv unplugged performance of "would?"

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikdg3hJXEYE&fmt=18[/ame]

i mean damn son. damn.

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Even then Layne was already so, so sick. Great performance but it's depressing to watch.

 

[einride]

yeah i'm morbidly drawn to any music with extremely depressing circumstances around it. it's pretty chilling when he sings the "KNOW ME BROKEN BY MY MASTER ... HAVE I RUN TOO FAR TO GET HOME" stuff knowing what had been happening/was about to happen

things like this makes me feel like a complete poser for ever writing about how ~HaRd My LiFe iS~

 

[Ars Magna]

Would is one of my all-time favorite songs. Like Slowdive's "When The Sun Hits", I get chills each and every time I hear it. I was lucky enough to catch AIC twice, both in amazing settings. Layne's voice was amazing.

 

[dorian gray]

Yes, to this day "Would?" still kicks my face in.