Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains
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Free Music Notes for Alice in Chains
Free Music Review: A Career Considered
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm still not sure how we should feel about AIC. If this album is the final chapter in the story of their career, then it was probably too short. Part of me believes this was meant to be their final album, because they've really perfected their signature sound. Jerry's accessible melodies and Layne's odd sense of rhythm are the backdrop for the haunting harmonies.
More realistically, I feel betrayed because they had 1 or 2 more great albums left in them that could have put a final statement on their unique brand of metal. Behold the thickly layered guitars accompanying Layne's prose on the outro of "Sludge Factory", a 7 minute monster that "Dirt-heads" decribe as weird and drawn out (Actually "Rain When I Die" is comically drawn out). Or listen to "Frogs" through a pair of headphones. How can Dirt-heads protest that the album is under-produced?
Cantrell/Staley are clearly establishing themselves as the best songwriting team since Lennon/McCartney. With "Heaven Beside You" and "Over Now", Jerry is coming into his own as a quasi-frontman. One more soft album, (Unplugged doesn't count) and one more hard album would've cemented the band's legacy. Some touring would have been nice too. What if Layne wasn't too smacked up to record music? (I assume he wrote and took some great songs to the grave). What if Jerry brought his awesome solo material to the confines of AIC?
Of course, personal rivalries and drugs cut the band short. So instead of closing out their part of the brilliant "grunge" era, we have to suffer through a billion AIC knockoffs attempting to do it for them. Ditto Nirvana. Well, at least Soundgarden and Pearl Jam closed out their careers nicely. (Although someone forgot to tell Pearl Jam to break up after "Yield").
RIP AIC
Free Music Review: Tripod
Hit: 5 Stars
Alice in Chains is one of the few bands to never put out a bad album, and tripod (so nicknamed because of the three legged dog, and a subtle reference to a three legged camera, due to the medias intense ramblings and rumours that circulated this album, and the scrutiny that they put forth) signifies the last true album AIC would put out besides their unplugged set. Straying away from the softer acoustic vibe of jar of flies and regaining the overall animosity and hard metal sound that seperated AIC apart from any other band at the time, this album was the perfect way for Alice to leave rock behind. From the opening track Grind where Staley exploits the pressure that the media put on them to release an album after Jar of Flies, to the closing Over Now we realize that AIC will always remain in the hearts of those that grew up and lived through the "grunge" movement of the late 80s and early 90s. Songs like So Close, signify the troubles of coming up with ideas for an album, while head creeps has such a strange vibe and some of the catchiest lyrics that stick in your head the whole day, and show just how far Alice have come. Though not my favorite AIC album, that would have to go to the stellar Jar of Flies, it is definitely a good starting point for any listener of fine rock. If you like the harder songs, like grind, again and so close lean more towards dirt for your next purchase, if you enjoy the slower songs: Heaven Beside You, and Shame in You then get up off your butt and get Jar of Flies. If you aren't impressed by the emotions and feelings that album stirs up, especially No Excuses then just stop listening to rock and go pop on some N Sync and wallow in your pop egocentricies.Free Music Review: Probably reviewed this one before, but I rediscovered...
Hit: 5 Stars
I probably have reviewed this album here before, but I've rediscovered the brilliance of this record in recent months, and it's just blew me away how much new stuff I keep finding upon going back to it. To many AIC fans, this is their least favorite album of the band's career, but as AIC's studio swan song, they created a masterpiece on par with "Dirt." First off, one of the things that I really love about this album is how much between albums Jerry Cantrell had developed as a vocalist. On "Dirt," he did a lot of great low-key harmonizing with Layne Staley, but here he sings some great leads, and you can tell how much Layne had influenced Jerry, vocally and lyrically, as Jerry probably influenced Layne a great deal as far as his guitar playing went (see also, Mad Season's "Above".) Having one of the pre-eminent "guitar gods" of the 1990s in the band allowed Layne to concentrate primarily on his amazing voice and songwriting, but you can still tell his guitar sound on several of the tracks here. Another development with the band around this time was the collaborative songwriting by the group. Before bassist Mike Inez joined, most all of the songs were either written by Cantrell or Staley, with the former doing the bulk of the songwriting and the latter writing most of the lyrics, but here, most of the songs were written by all four members, except for Cantrell's "Grind" and Staley's "Head Creeps," and "Again," co-written by Layne and Jerry.
Overall, this album is on par with "Dirt." While it isn't quite as dark as that album, it's just as engaging.
Free Music Review: Beautiful, Haunting and Moving their greatest work!
Hit: 5 Stars
Unlike most people who consider Dirt to be the best album I actually think this album which would be the groups last was their best work. Dont get me wrong I love everything these guys have done but I always thought they always seem to improve with each realese.
This record sometimes known as Tripod is perhaps their darkest offering. The production and musicship on here is alot stronger than before. Layne Staley despite being in a poor state of health still manages to sing beautifully throughout the album notably on Shame in You which I felt was one of the most personal songs he'd ever written.
I think every track is a Gem, Jerry Cantrell contributes some gems of his own such as Heaven beside and Over Now which would be the state of the group in a years time shortly after the death of Laynes fiance, where he very privatlty quit the group although it would never be publically announced.
Head Creeps in another favourite it was the only Alice in Chains song done entirely by Layne himself playing all the instruments.
Frogs is perhaps the strangest song they ever did but its brilliant none the less quite an unsettling listen especially towards the end where Layne mumbles strangley to himself. Sludge Factory has the most creative lyrics Ive ever heard and has a temendous chorus.
Alice in chains and this album in particualar never got the acclaim they deserved which is a shame cause there was alot of talent in that group and they where alot better then most of the other bands from that whole grunge era.
Rest in Peace Layne Staley you'll never be forgotten.
Free Music Review: this album would put Dirt in the Dirt, 5 Stars
This album would put Dirt in the "Dirt" but it would need a few adjustments. First off, this is worth buying and is very different from Dirt or any of their albums.Like the gem on Dirt (Would),The gem of this CD(Over Now), is also the last song on the album.
Many find this album out of place and so do I.But does that make it bad? The CD starts out with the very popular "Grind", which is an exellent song both written and made by Jerry Cantrell.
The next song is an underdog, but i love it, entitled "Brush Away"."Sludge Factory" is probably one of the best songs i have ever heard and the "OooOooOoo" makes it lovely. One quote about this song and many on this album is that it stretches the time limit with the nonsense talking and that is one of the flunks about this album.One of the top three best in my opinion is next which is "Heaven Beside You" another single, and again we have Jerry on the vocals.This next one is musically made by Layne Staley,which is sad.It is called "Head Creeps".I am very disappointed with this one and it is really just,bad.Hey that rhymed!!! 6-7 are nonstop amazing including the single "Again"."Shame In You" is soothing and "God Am" is AMAZING!
"So Close" has an awesome beginning guitar (especially when Jerry comes in with guitar), and then ends up in the pre-chorus and chorus.What can i say about "Nothin' Song"..."Frogs" is an even bigger underdog and i love it with all my heart."Over Now, personaly, is my favorite of the album along with "God Am" and "Heaven Beside You". Well that's about it and hope this helps.