New Alice In Chains

texasmetal

texasmetal

Active Member
Wow this album is quite a surprise. I had assumed that with a new singer they would just write another album, just another rock album, without the inspiration for writing they had with Layne. Way better than I ever could have imagined considering the lack of Layne, but in a metaphysical sort of way, you can even hear his voice in the mix. His musical influence is prominent. Excellent tribute to the man. Just about every song has a heaviness to it, and I don't mean high-gain distortion, I mean emotional gravity. Jerry Cantrell turned his grief from the death of Layne Staley into the most beautiful rock music I've ever heard. I wanna give the man a hug.
The new vocalist harmonizes very well with Jerry. He doesn't let loose and wail on any of the new songs, but I think that's awesome. This album was about Layne, not about having a new singer.
The title track Black Gives Way To Blue features Elton John.
 
darthtang aw

darthtang aw

Active Member
Why are you surprised that it is good? Cantrell is the musical and lyrical genius in the group to begin with.....how could it not be as good as the albums before?
 
kjr_trig

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3154547
Why are you surprised that it is good? Cantrell is the musical and lyrical genius in the group to begin with.....how could it not be as good as the albums before?
Are you kidding me....Not this again

Yes Jerry Cantrell is a great writer and good singer, but Layne Staley was AIC. His unique voice made Alice what they were, this new album is good, but nowhere near as good as Dirt or Facelift....Not even close.
For those that need a refresher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9GAEFTeWko
 
darthtang aw

darthtang aw

Active Member
Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/3154566
Are you kidding me....Not this again

Yes Jerry Cantrell is a great writer and good singer, but Layne Staley was AIC. His unique voice made Alice what they were, this new album is good, but nowhere near as good as Dirt or Facelift....Not even close.
For those that need a refresher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9GAEFTeWko
So you are saying had Jerry died AIC would have the same quality lyrics and music with Layne at the helm? Doubt it....He was not Nirvana's Cobain.....Who I hate but understand Cobain was nirvana....Jerry is AIC.
 
kjr_trig

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3154593
So you are saying had Jerry died AIC would have the same quality lyrics and music with Layne at the helm? Doubt it....He was not Nirvana's Cobain.....Who I hate but understand Cobain was nirvana....Jerry is AIC.
Having lived in Seattle from 1990-96, I assure you AIC was not Jerry as you say. Nirvana was Kurt, Soundgarden was Chris, AIC was Layne, and Pearl Jam was Pearl Jam...Come talk to me when this new album sells over 3 million like Dirt did, then you might be able to say Jerry is AIC.
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
sirius (octane)needs to get over check my brain the song barely starts and i am switched over to liquid metal or lithium(for some real aic)
 
texasmetal

texasmetal

Active Member
Originally Posted by chilwil84
http:///forum/post/3154986
sirius (octane)needs to get over check my brain the song barely starts and i am switched over to liquid metal or lithium(for some real aic)
Check My Brain is a cool song, but as far as the new album goes, it's the weakest on the album. Just the most radio-likely to be a hit, because it has lyrics that don't so much tie into the heaviness of the rest of the album and anyone can find catchy and anyone who knows the music industry knows the label is going to release the song they think they can make the most bucks off of radio play.
Any true Alice In Chains fan can pick this album up and enjoy it knowing that Jerry completely felt that ache in his heart, missing a dead friend who he spent about 17 years with making music, while recording these songs. And they can listen to every single song and hear the inspiration and influence in the music, that Layne had on Jerry. Layne IS Jerry's musical inspiration. Has been from the get-go. He heard Layne's voice when they were teenagers, and Layne had already founded Alice N' Chains.
Jerry knows the band never would have been what it was and what it is without Layne. He KNOWS it. And for this, I wish I could give the man a huge hug. Jerry misses Layne bad, and it's so very obvious.
Layne was the voice that gave the band life. Now they continue on in his legacy, and I'll guarantee you'll always find a reference to Layne in Jerry's music... because Layne left that much of an impression on Jerry, and Mike, and Sean. Mr. Duvall isn't and never will be Layne, and he knows that. He's just building a new space for creation around what Layne did and it's not fair to compare or judge him with expectations of fulfilling the emptiness Layne left. And that's what this album is about.... not replacing Layne, but building something around what he did, what he created. That's the most crazy, beautiful, inspiring thing I have ever heard of. This is the SECOND album Jerry has written and dedicated to Layne.
And it's some of the most beautiful rock music I've ever heard.
The most beautiful. The most emotionally raw music I have heard in....... EVER.
It brings me to tears actually. 2 weeks of listenting to it and it still shakes me up. I don't imagine it will ever cease to give me chills. But hey, I think Layne was extraordinarily special and talented and I was a vocalist who idolized him and I can't expect everyone to get that. I cried the day he died like a little girl, but I knew it was coming. First song, first album.. "Aaaaaaand weeeeeeee diiiiiiiiiiie youuuuuuuunnnnnng!" His addiction was the driving force of the music.
Unfortunately it takes a cosmic disaster to witness the beauty of a supernova.
 
darthtang aw

darthtang aw

Active Member
Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/3154706
Having lived in Seattle from 1990-96, I assure you AIC was not Jerry as you say. Nirvana was Kurt, Soundgarden was Chris, AIC was Layne, and Pearl Jam was Pearl Jam...Come talk to me when this new album sells over 3 million like Dirt did, then you might be able to say Jerry is AIC.
Having lived in Minneapolis, I assure you Prince was not the key element in the New power Generation or the Revolution. Come talk to me when Dirt is downloaded from Itunes more than Check my brain.
See what I am driving at here?
 
texasmetal

texasmetal

Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3155237
Having lived in Minneapolis, I assure you Prince was not the key element in the New power Generation or the Revolution. Come talk to me when Dirt is downloaded from Itunes more than Check my brain.
See what I am driving at here?
Um.... come talk to me when Alice In Chains is downloaded more than

[hr]

[hr]
. See what I'm driving at? (Wow, you can't say Brit Knee Spee'ers on this forum?) Getting rather fascist around yaw.
People who succumb to the mercy of mass media have no brain or opinion, so why should I worry about what some statistic says when it comes to ART and what my heart tells me is good?
AIC wouldn't be the same without either Jerry or Layne. Without Layne you never would have had Nutshell, or Dirt, Rooster, Sunshine....ohhhhhhh myyyyyyy Goddddddddd how silly it is to argue. No, without Jerry, Alice In Chains would not have floated, absolutely. However....... it's beyond special education to think that Alice In Chains ever would have been the band they were without Layne's voice or the lyrics that constantly sprang forth from Layne's addiction.
Without Layne, Jerry would have never had the inspiration to write 90% of the music he has created. Even his own solo albums have SOOOOOOOO MUUUUUCH influence on the sound and writing from Layne.
 
kjr_trig

kjr_trig

Active Member
Agree with Texas Metal
Darth what you are arguing is that AIC is essentially the same now as with Layne because Jerry is the better writer. Jerry and Layne both made AIC what they were, and they couldn't be the same without either of them.
And your statement about you living in Minnesote/Canada and Price is of course irrelevant. I lived in Seattle in the 90's and all I'm saying is Layne was revered there, even more than Jerry.
Like TM said, these 2 fed off each other, it is unfortunate that drugs ruined Layne.
Go to u-tube and pull up anything where Layne is singing and every single clip gets 5 stars....Pull up about anything with Duval and you get about 3.5....The people have spoken.

For example Duval's attempt at Junkhead...not bad, but not Layne....note the 3.5 stars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aUcA...eature=related
 
darthtang aw

darthtang aw

Active Member
Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/3155882
Darth what you are arguing is that AIC is essentially the same now as with Layne because Jerry is the better writer. Jerry and Layne both made AIC what they were, and they couldn't be the same without either of them.
And your statement about you living in Minnesote/Canada and Price is of course irrelevant. I lived in Seattle in the 90's and all I'm saying is Layne was revered there, even more than Jerry.
No, what I am saying is without Cantrel, you would not have a continuation of this band. Stop and think about it, Had it been Cantrel that died, do you think Layne would have continued on with AIC or even had the inclination to?
We know Layne was revered there. You were justifying your opinion by backing it up, saying you lived in Seattle....You living in Seattle is Irrelevant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top