Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains
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Free Music Notes for Alice in Chains
Free Music Review: Intense, disturbing, ironic and ultimately moving
Hit: 5 Stars
Originally called "Tripod" (evidenced by the 3-legged dog on the front cover, and 3-legged man on the back cover), this self-titled album divided many Alice In Chains fans, who probably longed for the band to return to the faster-paced doom-rock found on _Dirt_. They didn't lose the doom, but, things became a bit more slower, absorbing and sophisticated this time around.
Come 1995 and on, all kinds of rumors were flying around about Alice In Chains: (1). The band would continue in the direction of _Jar Of Flies_, never making another hard rock/metal album again. (2). Layne Staley was drugged-out, losing his teeth and some of his fingers as a result of gangrene (due to heroin abuse and other things.) The former was obviously not true, since this album was a hard rock/metal album. But, the latter was supposedly true. I can't confirm too much more, since I don't know too much about this band, so I'll just get on with the content found on this disc.
The music on here is dark as usual, exploring themes like pain, drug addiction, misery, depression and other things. "Grind" is an intense, grimy cruncher with some distorted backing vocals from Layne Staley during the verses. Jerry Cantrell sings lead vocals here for most of the track. "Sludge Factory" is my personal favorite on here. It features a slowly simmering, scorching, ominous, eerie guitar line fronted by a swapping of snaky vocal harmonies and a seemingly indifferent, but commanding line from Layne, rounded off with some descending jazzy basslines. This is only the description for the main theme that segues into the verses. Such seemingly odd fanfare that actually works. The ending features some robotic vocals, ominous guitar solos and some thick, doomy basslines. "Heaven Beside You" was supposedly written about Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. "Head Creeps" is a disturbing number featuring Layne, once again, in a distorted vocal performance. "Shame In You" sounds like something that could have came off of _Jar Of Flies_, as it's probably the most mellow on the album. A poignant ballad. "God Am" features some crunchy guitar, fronted by Layne Staley's moving and plaintive vocals. His vocals on the chorus are so melodic and moving, it makes this an aching listen. "So Close" and "Nothin' Song" seem to lighten up the mood a little bit - at least on a musical level, as both feature moments that actually make me laugh. "Frogs" is a haunting, slow and melodic number, for the first four minutes. The last few minutes feature Layne mumbling mysteriously. "Over Now" seems out of place on this album. The reason is because it's more pop/rock oriented, and is not as dark as the rest of the album. However, it's melodic, tasteful, reflective and catchy. However, the scathing irony of all of this is that the title of this song seemed to foreshadow the future of the band, and this was the last track of their last studio album. Very scary.
This is quite an astounding album, even if it was a departure from the material found on _Dirt_. Certainly worth a listen if dark, eerie, thought-provoking and moving music is your cup of tea. R.I.P. Layne Staley.
Free Music Review: Dark Final Album
Hit: 5 Stars
As many of you may know by now Alice In Chains have reunited, having William DuVall step into Layne Staley's position. Staley passed away in 2002, rest in peace buddy. So while "Alice In Chains" poses as the bands last studio album with Layne, it may not be their final farewell.
Anyways, the self entitled album is much darker then their mega hit "Dirt". Dirt was more aggressive and was noticeably dark, this album is much more passive and releases a much gloomier haunting aura of things to come. AiC have composed songs that weave amazing vocal melodies, and you'll find them here as well. Jerry Cantrell manages to belt out a few more guitar licks that are as memorable and hooky as ever. The band seems to approach these songs with a mildly slower manor.
Opening with "Grind" a slush of guitar effects soak up the intro, and Layne's vocals noticeably different (well some effects were added for this song but continue listening to it, sounds lower and more jaded). The song manages a catchy chorus and released an alluringly odd music video. "Brush Away" details the sense of late arrival, and disappearances, and just the overall carelessness.
Four rather long tracks appear "Sludge Factory", "Head Creeps", "Frogs" , and "Over Now". Sludge Factories guitar wanders helplessly, look at the lyrics "Now the body of one soul I adore wants to die
You have always told me you'd not live past 25
I say stay long enough to repay all who cause strife".
The album to say the least is pretty messed up. "Head Creeps" isn't much brighter and is much thicker too (not to mention creepy). "Frogs" guitar serves as the spine, and never changes too dramatically during the eight minutes. At the end, you can hear Layne almost testing words in a trivial feel. "Over Now" is probably the most accessible of the four. After a brief static dotted intro, and a trumpet the song begins to really flesh itself out. Dry kicking guitar, and a song as ominous as Nirvana covering "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" for MTV Unplugged. It's like the band could just leach each others energy and just flow with it. One always seems to dip slower throughout a song.
Some of the other accessible tunes include heavy hitter "Again", and acoustic based "Heaven Beside You". The album oozes of depth, and is to be taken in consideration that this isn't a radio friendly album. Songs drift too long, some tracks progress too far, and overall isn't as hook ridden as some of the other grunge bands albums. Alice In Chains are thought to be a 'grunge' band, they are highly unique and draw upon dark punk material as well as metal.
So with Layne's last studio AiC album we have one of the darkest albums to date. From the powerfully deep "Frogs", to the short rocking "So Close", to the requiem like "Over Now", AiC left no terrain untouched. This is an album that sinks in with every listen, and should be a staple to your collection.
Free Music Review: (4.5) Touching Finale
Hit: 5 Stars
After creating one of the finest albums of the 90s with the almost perfect tour-de-force of emotional grunge - 1992's "Dirt" - and one of the most touching EPs I've ever heard - 1994's "Jar of Flies" - AIC's final output before Staley's death was this self-titled album, AKA "Tripod". I feel it lacks the consistency of "Dirt" and at times feels a little bloated, but then it also contains some of AIC's finest work and has a very unique eerie feel to it, as it is the final works before the tragedy.
The opening two tracks kick things off in typical AIC grunge style. Grind has a menacing sluggish riff combined with an infectious chorus melody, a trademark of AIC at their best, and Brush Away is probably my favorite of the more straightforward rockers on the album with its stellar guitar interplaying from Cantrell and Staley's desperate cries of `I gotta get away...And brush away loose ground'. The vibes of anguish and depression are continued and multiplied tenfold by the punishing Sludge Factory, which feels like, well...sludge. This is the pinnacle of the album, and definitely up there with AIC's best achievements. The band bludgeon their way through the 7 minute entirety with huge walls of down-tuned guitars and one of Staley's best ever performances, his delivery is full of such deep frustration and anguish it is genuinely touching. Heaven Beside You then adds a different angle on the depressive and gloomy atmosphere, replacing the crushing chords with delicate acoustic playing (and yes, the odd strum of a power chord, naturally) and a rather desolate and detached vocal performance from Cantrell and Staley, both adopting an almost `laid back' style which works very well. After this break from the booming guitars, albeit a very emotional and intense break, Head Creeps opens with a bang, big guitars and distorted vocals from Layne, a fantastic opening.
The rest of the album is not quite as heavy, with the exception of God Am and So Close, both solid rockers, tracks such as Shame In You, Frogs and Over Now are slower and stripped of the powerful guitars. Shame In You is the first sign of a `happy' vibe, although it is quite open to interpretation, it could either be taken as a rare glimpse of sunshine or as a desolate, `given up' type ballad. The two closing tracks, which the band also use to close out the "Unplugged" session are both very touching and hold that eerie feeling I mentioned earlier - the feeling of the tragedy that followed the album.
Overall this is a fine piece of 90s grunge music, portraying a band that while not on their peak, can still create some fine music and with a vocalist like Layne Staley, there is a heavy emotional aspect, emphasised by his death which followed the album.
Free Music Review: Extremley Underrated!
Hit: 5 Stars
Alice In Chains are one of the few bands in rock history well musical history for that matter that have not realeased a bad album. This self titled third album and final album by the band is nothing less then glorious. Some of Alice In Chains best songs are on this album, some of their most emotional songs were written for this record. Layne Stalys vocals are stronger on this album then they were on Jar Of Flies(which is amazing in itsself!). Jerry Cantrells vocals are awesome as well and his guitar playing is good as ever. Their new bass player brings a new flavor that fits perfectly.
The album starts of with one of the harder rockng songs on the album 'Grind' its a perfect way to start the album. 'Brush Away' opens with a killer leading riff and is filled with deep lyrics. 'Sludge Factory' is one of my favorite songs on the album, a little long but it never gets boring. 'Heaven Beside You' was written and is sung by Jerry, its acoustic and it seems like it was written as a single and a damn good one at that. 'Head Creeps' is one of the best songs Layne Staley ever wrote, it gets better with every listen. The big single off the album was 'Again' it was the major selling point for the album with its catchy chorus and heavy guitars. 'Shame In You' is the best song on the album and is one of the best songs AIC ever reccorded. Its slow and errie and is so full of emotion its almost scary. Truly one of the best songs of all time! 'God Am' is one of my favorites on the album with its self wallowing lyrics and religious references. 'So Close' is a weak point on the album that I cant get into. 'Nothing Song' is kind of like Head Creeps but not as heavy and less in your face, a really good song.
Now on to 'Frogs' I dont really know what to say about 'Frogs' it is truly one of the best songs I have ever heard. Its epic if there ever was such a thing. The lyrics are fantasic and the slow rhtyhm of the song suits perfectly.
The album ends with 'Over Now' which is also written by Jerry and sung by him as well. This is kinda 1970s blues rock and roll, almost Led Zeppelin-esque. A great way to end an almost perfect album.
Like I said Alice In Chains was known for making great albums and this is no excaption. Many Alice In Chains fans concider this to be their least favorite AIC album and I dont see way its just as good as Facelift and Sap(both of which are killer!) I think this is the best way to start a collection of AIC and if you like the heaver stuff then get Dirt and Facelift and if you like the softer deeper stuff go with Jar Of Flies and Sap.
Free Music Review: I like it
Hit: 5 Stars
I Know that i am part of the minority but this is my favorite album by alice in chains
Grind: 10/10 Awesome and great jerrys voice is good at the start. throughout the whole song jerry and lyne sound magnificent with jerry as the main guy with laynes voice backing it and it sounds great.
Brush Away: 9.7/10 Great as well i like this song a lot. a semi acoustic start and the song has good lyrics like" my conception a joke or latest craze; i try to get away and yet i stick around so fall and crawl away and brush away loose ground" the solo is alright but sounds a lot like the rest using jerrys favorite tool obviously the "wah" bar.
Sludge Factory: 9.6/10 One of the heaviest riffs at the start and the ending is one of the best because of whatever theyre doing but all you can understand is your weapon is Kill! the song is good and jerry doesnt sing at all it is all layne but it will surprise you how hard the starting riff is.
Heaven Beside You: 10/10 Jerrys song and it is one their best the entire song is unclear and semi acoustic i think its about jerrys exgirlfriend or something like that.
Head Creeps: 9.7/10 One of the best songs on the album. laynes voice could not sound wierder but the song has great lyrics like " tired of infantile claims" or "one day my head creeps someway my head leaks some way my brain leaks some way" then he does creepy moaning screams.
Again: 9.2/10 Maybe good but the lyrics are all very short in all
the songs lyrics to the song are very simplistic as i stated has a very catchy tune.
Shame in You: 8/10 Is good but is the start of the less heavy songs very moany
God Am: 9.1/10 Good but i like the live version better as well picks up the heavy again layne says something about gods at the beggining but i cant tell what he says
So Close: 8.7/10 Great. but it sounds a little out of tune the start has a guy say something like hes got my eyes.
Nothin Song: 6/10 Too long and you have to listen to it a lot to even come anywhere to like it took me forever just to listen to it...
Frogs: 7/10 continues to the longness but its pretty good just like nothin song
Over Now: 9.8/10 Another all Jerry song and it is awesome but semi acoustic so it sounds like it needs to be on sap just like heaven beside you an all jerry song and is very calm and melodic. jerrys voice is very smooth.