Alice In Chains

While arduously rebuilding my music library, due to the big ‘09 New Year’s Dump, I seemed to have recently zeroed in on one of my all-time faves, Alice In Chains. I’ve simply loved absolutely everything they have ever released… EVER!… from start to finish. I mean it, there’s not one song they’ve done that i can’t get into to. The music the band dishes out is superbly written and the late Layne Staley’s vocals on top are just pure gold! Sadly, ol’ Layne went and killed himself in a typical musician fashion back in ‘02 and left us all wanting more. But, after a lengthy hiatus, the band returned to the studio in ‘08 to begin recording all new material with new frontman William DuVall. Release is scheduled for 09.29.09. I haven’t researched this new frontman much, but have heard the new single being played around. I have to admit, it sounds very much like the ol’ Alice In Chains we know and love, but the vocals do seem to be a bit lacking. Guitarist, Jerry Cantrell, does his best to balance out the harmonizing vocals, but the fact remains: Layne Staley’s pipes are too big’a shoe to fill. In this single, I instantly miss all the unique yells and ad libs that Layne gave us in his choruses and bridges. It’s a pretty good song and all, but so far, I don’t hear the dynamics that I’m used to. We’ll just have to wait another month to see if this new guy has the goods. I fear he may not and the band’s days will, consequently, be numbered. Shudder to think. Remember Black Sabbath post-Ozzy? Ugh.

Anyway, I’ve built a celebratory playlist chock full of the band’s greatest songs (from my perspective of course.) I tried to focus the selection on those that emphasized Layne’s vocal range, but I think one song features Jerry at the mic. All the same, I’ve listened to the list a coupl’a times now and fucking love it! I’m sure you will, too.

Less babble. More music.