Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.90 You Save: $5.04 (36%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $7.38 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2
Free Music Review: Degradation Trip is finally here.
Hit: 5 Stars
For all of us who have already purchased the single CD-edition of "Degradation Trip" it may seem like this is an unnecessary listen, but please let me implore any previous fans of Jerry's work, solo or with Alice, to find a way to pick this up. The full 25 songs flesh out his musical ideas and make for a much more satisfying listening experience. In fact, to those drawn to Jerry because of his potential to be one of the more original guitar/vocal composers in the history of heavy rock music, I'd say that the great majority of the inspired moments of "Degradation Trip" weren't on the original release. There are twelve additional songs that, as a whole, represent the darker side of his music that defined most of Alice In Chains' songs, but were almost entirely absent from "Boggy Depot" and only hinted at in the original 13-song release of this album. Jerry is a very apt rock musician, capable of churning out up-beat rockers and countryfied ballads, but he's at his best when he's doing his own thing: slow, unpredictable, heavy dirges of melancholy rock and roll. His power chord rockers like "Anger Rising," "Angel Eyes," and "My Girl" were well represented on the first release, but to whomever wanted more of the stuff suggested with "Psychotic Break" and "Chemical Tribe" it's here in spades, and now his other musical tunes offset the overtly depressing music nicely, instead of dominating the mix. If it wasn't for the arena rock production of most of the songs, this album might be perfect, but I'll settle for two hours of often amazing music, thinking how lucky the rock world is that Jerry keeps making his music while the rest of the mainstream hard rock world imitates.Free Music Review: Is there anything better than this?
Hit: 5 Stars
Here it is, the limited edition Degradation Trip 1&2, 25 tracks instead of the original 14! The complete artwork, the way Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains' mastermind and writer of hits like Would, Grind, The Rooster or Them Bones) designed it to be. It's a trip in the centre of your soul, your ego. Maybe it should go with a warning: no use in case of depression. No record you get easy access to. Although songs like Anger Rising - watch out for the video - and Angel Eyes or She Is My Girl (from the Spiderman-OST) actually have the classical qualities for success. But if you let go, you will be easily caught by the spell of these songs. This compilation offers you a whole new dimension. In comparison to Degradation Trip 1 you can call Boggy Depot (Cantrell's first solo work) though all its darkness a walk in the sunshine, cause Deg Trip 1 goes a lot deeper in Cantrell's psyche. Volume 1& 2 completes this and builds up a stylistic connection between both records. Most of the new material is related to the music-business and how it corrupts the artist's personality (Owned, Pro False Idol), and that quite merciless. It will surprise you that these songs didn't make it on the first version. Cause they give you a sense of Jerry Cantrell's versatility. So much variety and so much of the spirit of Alice in Chains, it's a pleasure! Sometimes it rises memories of Facelift and Dirt. When you listen to Pig Charmer it's like hearing Layne Staley (R.I.P.) sing. Not to talk of Hurt's Don't It with these haunting hypnotic guitars. No matter if you already have Degradation Trip 1. You have to get Volume 1&2 because of the new songs. When you are a fan of AIC ... this is an absolute must!Free Music Review: It makes you mad at Layne Staley!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I heard the first 'Degradation Trip' I was blown away. Now I could stop listening to my Alice in Chains records over and over again-because this record is like listening to Alice in Chains-2003; and all I have is AIC up to 1995! The unreleased songs on Trip 1 & 2 are darker with better guitar and vocal tones than the first release. The thing about this release is the ability to make you see Jerry's point-of-view. It is obviously a self loathing record which also points the finger at a certain singer and band members for destroying his dreams. The Liner notes only confirm this people! Jerry goes on to say "bargain basement howard hughs" is about his view toward Layne whereas "Pig Charmer" is also about Layne it is almost cruel. "Pig Charmer" is a VERY harsh attack on a Layne but it's so honest that you can't help but see the beauty in it. With death comes denial & anger so it's only natural. "Hurts Don't it" -people say these songs are so awesome why can't they have been put on the first release? Well songs like "Hurts don't it" is an instrumental>>>which never would have been a radio B-side let alone a single. But that song is so beautiful it sounds like a cross between Metallica's "unforgiven" & "Orion". When you buy this CD go straight to "Pig Charmer" it is so catchy and the vocals are 100% identical to Layne (circa tripod) and listen to the lyrics, it will shock you. This is the closest Alice CD I've heard it's actually closer than TRIPOD is!
Free Music Review: Free return alone -- in time to see the sun go black
Hit: 5 Stars
What an awesome album!! I normally can't justify giving albums 5 stars... but this one REALLY deserves it.On this release guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jerry Cantrell moves more in the musical direction of his former band, Alice in Chains. Whereas Boggy Depot was a little more polished as far as production goes, this one returns to the more grungy sound that Alice in Chains made popular with such releases as Dirt and their self-titled album.
I was extremely saddened to learn of Layne's passing in spring of '02 and to come to terms with the fact that now another AIC album is completely out of the question. But after hearing DTrip, I have no complaints. Some songs on this release actually send shivers down my spine as Cantrell's vocals are starting to sound more and more like Staley's, like for example, the middle bit of Spiderbite.
Important to note, however, is that if you're thinking of picking up this album --- PLEASE do yourself a favour and get this version (volumes 1 & 2 set) and not the single disc version. Although you may think that nearly 2½ hours of haunting guitars and AIC-style fourth-interval harmonies may be a bit too much... IT ISN'T. The extra songs aren't filler or unreleased B-side material. Jerry recorded all of these 25 songs and intended for this to be the normal release. It is worth it for "Feel The Void" alone!
Free Music Review: A trip worth taking
Hit: 5 Stars
This 2-disc set is a must-have for Jerry Cantrell fans. I thoroughly enjoyed the original release of Degradation Trip earlier this year, but was simply blown away by the recent album, all 25 songs released as Jerry originally intended. I simply can't get enough of it. His honest, raw, wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics are just breathtaking. This man truly writes from the heart. Musically, Jerry returns to his Alice roots, but with his own spin. The trademark haunting harmonies, chanting, humming and crunching guitar riffs are there in all their splendor. Jerry Cantrell also is a master of dichotomy. The song Pig Charmer, a brutally honest assessment of rock-star living, is at once chilling and catchy. The lyrics almost make me want to crawl out of my skin at the same time I am singing the catchy chorus. The instrumental Hurts Don't It is a masterpiece of raw emotion. The man has a way of making the guitar speak to you. It's really a crime that RoadRunner records has not done more to promote what I think is hands down THE best rock album of the year. It's a refreshing change from most of the prefab garbage that gets the air play and promotion. Shame on RR for not doing a better job with one of the most influential guitarists/writers of our time. Take the trip. You'll be glad you did.