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Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue

post #1 of 33
10/1/09 at 12:10pm
Thread Starter 
I think the easiest way to describe this album is, if you like AIC, you will like this album. Cantrell is still the heart and soul of the group, and his songwriting is still extremely strong. Vocals are split between Cantrell and DuVall, and I think some AIC fans might finally realize Staley wasn't the only one giving his vocal talents to the previous albums. I've only had one full listen through, but the album does mix the softer acoustic sound with the heavy one easily.

It's not Jar of Flies (one of my favorite albums, period) but it is really good. I think the worst part of this, is that this album is going to sell well because it says Alice in Chains. Cantrell put out two excellent solo albums, and neither broke out. That's a damn shame, because they are both better than this album, and much more accessible to a larger audience I think. But still, buy this album, along with Cantrell's solo work.

Oh, and the kid at Best Buy told me he was glad AIC agreed to have a reunion. Sigh.
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post #2 of 33
10/1/09 at 12:13pm
The current song on the radio, 'Check My Brain', sounds like a filler song at best. I'm glad to hear that the album itself is decent, though.
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post #3 of 33
10/1/09 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
Check My Brain is probably the most commercial song on the album. It's decent, but definitely not the best on there.
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post #4 of 33
10/1/09 at 1:48pm
I haven't picked this up yet, but I want to. That said, I do dig Check My Brain, I thought it sounded like classic AIC. Not quite Rain When I Die, but an awesome dirty little groove anyway.
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post #5 of 33
10/1/09 at 2:11pm
I just can't. I know, I know, I'm being silly, probably, and AIC was more than just Layne Staley, and Cantrell was always the driving force behind the band...but I just can't.
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post #6 of 33
10/1/09 at 3:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspberry Leper View Post
I just can't. I know, I know, I'm being silly, probably, and AIC was more than just Layne Staley, and Cantrell was always the driving force behind the band...but I just can't.
You really should. DuVall's voice is a bit of a shock the first time he is on the album, but really, you won't miss Staley.
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post #7 of 33
10/1/09 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspberry Leper View Post
I just can't. I know, I know, I'm being silly, probably, and AIC was more than just Layne Staley, and Cantrell was always the driving force behind the band...but I just can't.
This is the trouble I'm having. I normally can't stand this attitude- I was one of the giddy ones when Jane's Addiction sans Eric A regrouped in 2003- but AIC was special to me, THE group that got me through.

Selfishly, I wish they would have stuck another name on the band.

I'm torn.
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post #8 of 33
10/1/09 at 4:23pm
I dig it. "Acid Bubble" is my favorite track at the moment.
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post #9 of 33
10/1/09 at 6:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspberry Leper View Post
I just can't. I know, I know, I'm being silly, probably, and AIC was more than just Layne Staley, and Cantrell was always the driving force behind the band...but I just can't.
Layne had a great interesting voice, but let's be honest, Cantrell writes most of the material, and provides a huge chunk of the lead singing duties as well. A lot of the best songs had Layne singing the high (admittedly awesome) harmony. Trust me, give it a chance, it's very very close to the original band, and better than a LOT of things out there.
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post #10 of 33
10/6/09 at 8:49am
Not a bad album, but not making much of an impact on me either. Very few songs are really sticking out, and the opening track is a weak note to start on. I really love "Check My Brain" and particularly "When the Sun Rose Again"(starts out so haunting). "A Looking in View" is decent too, but overlong by about 3 minutes.

Not bad, I'm trying to give it more listens, but I find myself starting "When the Sun Rose Again" over in my car constantly. I want to hear this track in a film.
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post #11 of 33
10/6/09 at 1:01pm
This is slightly off-topic, but where I live, the rock radio will NOT stop playing "Check My Brain". I grew up on grunge, so of course I like the song, but this is what really grinds me up:

Pearl Jam has an excellent single out called "The Fixer", coming from a great album. That's a given. OK, so after playing "Check My Brain" for the millionth time, they play "The Fixer" and the DJ, who is supposed to be a bastion for great rock around town, says "That's not too bad of a song," as if surprised that Pearl Jam released a great single.

I don't want to pit two grunge bands against one another, because I like both, but the poor taste in rock music in this town bugs me to no end.

The number one song in my town as of the past month? That new Skinny Puppies song. I don't even know the title.

OK, rant done.
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post #12 of 33
10/6/09 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Miller View Post
Layne had a great interesting voice, but let's be honest, Cantrell writes most of the material, and provides a huge chunk of the lead singing duties as well. A lot of the best songs had Layne singing the high (admittedly awesome) harmony. Trust me, give it a chance, it's very very close to the original band, and better than a LOT of things out there.

(NOTE: I've not heard the entire album.)

The sound matches their older work better than many other old-bands who've come back recently. The vocal work in particular is still strong.

However:

1) The thing about Cantrell, for me, is that he chugs with his guitar a little too much. I'm a JAR OF FLIES guy, myself.

2) Staley added a certain...soul, that I don't think comes through when they chug. There was real pain and suffering in his voice, while Cantrell just has a good voice. It's kind of a Cobain/Grohl thing.
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post #13 of 33
10/6/09 at 1:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JetManX View Post
This is slightly off-topic, but where I live, the rock radio will NOT stop playing "Check My Brain". I grew up on grunge, so of course I like the song, but this is what really grinds me up:

Pearl Jam has an excellent single out called "The Fixer", coming from a great album. That's a given. OK, so after playing "Check My Brain" for the millionth time, they play "The Fixer" and the DJ, who is supposed to be a bastion for great rock around town, says "That's not too bad of a song," as if surprised that Pearl Jam released a great single.

I don't want to pit two grunge bands against one another, because I like both, but the poor taste in rock music in this town bugs me to no end.
The sound of the new Alice in Chains disc is exactly the sound Pearl Jam could've been playing for years and years, and it probably would've sustained their popularity. I'm so glad they followed their own muse and actually grew as a band.

That said, I still dig Jar of Flies and AIC's self-titled. But they don't even begin to compare to the heights Pearl Jam has reached thus far.
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post #14 of 33
10/6/09 at 1:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Abed View Post
That said, I still dig Jar of Flies and AIC's self-titled. But they don't even begin to compare to the heights Pearl Jam has reached thus far.
That's an interesting perspective. For me, 'Dirt' surpasses anything that Pearl Jam ever released (although I really, really like 'Vs').
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post #15 of 33
10/6/09 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
I'll take anything from AIC over anything from Pearl Jam. The only Pearl Jam album I can even listen to anymore is Vs.
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post #16 of 33
10/6/09 at 3:18pm
Skinny Puppy has a new single?
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post #17 of 33
10/6/09 at 3:33pm
I think it's a solid album--plays a little too safe though. It's easily the most mainstream sounding record they've put out. The best songs for me are the ones most reminiscent of Jar of Flies--

Your Decision
Private Hell
Black Gives Way To Blue

Not to get off topic, but I think the tripod (3-legged dog) album was the best stuff they ever put out. It's not my favorite (that would be JOF) but it's easily their most challenging and innovative. Will be interesting to see where they go next
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post #18 of 33
10/6/09 at 5:00pm
You guys make Dirt sound like a waste of time.
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post #19 of 33
10/7/09 at 12:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmFuks View Post

Not to get off topic, but I think the tripod (3-legged dog) album was the best stuff they ever put out. It's not my favorite (that would be JOF) but it's easily their most challenging and innovative. Will be interesting to see where they go next
YES. The self-titled seems to be the black sheep in AIC's catalogue, but it's been my fave of theirs since I first heard it. Love the rhythm section on that disc with all of its sludgy glory. 'Shame In You' likely has my fave Staley vocal.
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post #20 of 33
10/7/09 at 12:17am
The self-titled has some of their best stuff("Over Now", "Again"), but it's also got some really weak, sloppy tracks.

I'm a Jar of Flies/Dirt guy myself, those albums are damn close to perfect all the way through. I enjoy the new one more than Facelift, that's something I guess. That could just be because I'd be fine if I never heard "Man in the Box" ever again, and the fact this album is new and shiny. I've grown to really dig the last two songs on the new one, I don't have the tracklisting near me at the moment.
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post #21 of 33
10/13/09 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Abed View Post
YES. The self-titled seems to be the black sheep in AIC's catalogue, but it's been my fave of theirs since I first heard it. Love the rhythm section on that disc with all of its sludgy glory. 'Shame In You' likely has my fave Staley vocal.
Makes you wonder what direction they would have pursued if Staley had lived. I think the new line-up is playing it safe for now. It's a smart move from a business standpoint.
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post #22 of 33
10/14/09 at 2:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7 View Post
I've grown to really dig the last two songs on the new one, I don't have the tracklisting near me at the moment.
Oops, would have been nice if I had the tracklisting around. I guess I only heard the last track on my first listen, then never again. I was pre-empting my disc changer from going to the next CD, and starting over after "Private Hell" played, thinking it was the last track on a 10 song album.

I'm not really fond of the title track. Not bad, per se, just doesn't leave much of an impression, like much of the album.
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post #23 of 33
10/14/09 at 2:19am
I think it's a very, very solid album. It would definitely make my top 10 list for the year.
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post #24 of 33
11/5/09 at 3:12pm
I finally picked this album up and man...it's REALLY, REALLY good. 'Check My Brain' is probably the weakest cut on the entire album.

After a couple of listens, I'm putting this one right up there with 'Dirt'.
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post #25 of 33
11/5/09 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
'Check My Brain' is probably the weakest cut on the entire album.
I agree with that, and I really like "Check My Brain" a lot.
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post #26 of 33
11/5/09 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
After a couple of listens, I'm putting this one right up there with 'Dirt'.
Really? I'm still listening to the album (which is a good thing I suppose) and I'm still torn. Almost think it would have been better for them to go with a different type of vocalist because while the instrumental sound is definitely there I find myself constantly comparing William DuVall to Staley.
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post #27 of 33
11/5/09 at 4:37pm
I got past the whole DuVall vs Staley thing pretty quick. Comparing them is a disservice to the band: It's not like they pulled a Journey and found a replacement singer that they could get along with. Staley died, so there's no ill will from me in having the guys find a singer who is sonically similar to what they had before. AIC had a specific sound and feel, and they've been able to find a guy to carry on that entire package without disrespecting Staley's memory. I'm actually thoroughly impressed with the final product.

I also like how the new album isn't as sluggish as the Tripod album was. Don't get me wrong...I LIKED that album, but it's a real negative feeling slog to get through. This album has a similar feel to 'Dirt' for me: a bit more aggressive and a bit more upbeat in its vibe. I fucking love it.
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post #28 of 33
11/5/09 at 4:53pm
Don't get me wrong. I'm not opposed to DuVall out of misplaced respect to Stanley. It's that, in some ways, DuVall sounds too similar to Stanley. So making that comparison is natural. I wish they would have gone in another direction tonally. It's definitely a solid album musically but they would have been better served with either a different vocalist all together or someone who would duplicate Stanley vocals AND soul. DuVall has the vocals down perfect but I can't feel anything behind them. Thus my disconnect.
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post #29 of 33
11/5/09 at 8:53pm
Has anyone seen them live? Back in the old days, Layne was the front man, even if Jerry was singing the lead (and writing all of the songs), Layne was in the middle, and definitely the lead singer and front man. I saw the play "Check My Brain" on the Tonight Show, and it is certainly Jerry's band now, he's in the middle, and DuVall is on the side singing harmony. Is this the same way for their whole live show? Not judging either way, just curious. One definite bonus DuVall brings, he's playing guitar. Their old shows definitely felt light compared to their albums guitarwise, so it's nice to hear them bringing a fuller sound to live shows now without having to resort to the random "not in the band but playing the shows" guy.
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post #30 of 33
11/5/09 at 10:23pm
Thread Starter 
I saw Jerry Cantrell on tour for Boggy Depot (I think it was Boggy Depot). DuVall was already playing with him then, and it was most definitely Cantrell's band.
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post #31 of 33
11/5/09 at 11:28pm
Agreed. Saw them at House of Blues in Orlando. Live is definitely better, but still no fan of DuVall (yet).
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post #32 of 33
11/19/09 at 6:58pm
I saw Cantrell perform in '98 for Boggy Depot & in '02 for Degradation Trip. DuVall was playing in his live band for the '02 show (his other band, Comes With the Fall, was opening, & now that I think of it I think they all made up his live band as well). DuVall sounded fantastic & really won the crowd over (this was like 2-3 months after Staley died). I'm actually on my way to the store now to grab the new album -- I can't believe I've been slacking on buying it for this long. Glad to see the positive reactions in this thread.
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post #33 of 33
11/22/09 at 6:51pm
Man, I'll bet these tracks fucking KILL when you hear them live.
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