ALICE IN CHAINS, HAUNTED BUT NOT PHASED
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 10:30am by Axl RosenbergThe first words you hear on Facelift are “Scary’s on the wall/ Scary’s on his way.” The first words you hear on Dirt are “I believe them bones are me/Some say we’re born into the grave.”
The first words you’ll hear on Black Gives Way to Blue are “Hope, a new beginning/Time, time to start living.”
I’m saying this band has had a major shift in life-philosophy.
Here’s an album sampler. It’s a too-brief taste of what the band has in store for you when the record is released on September 29.
After the jump, check out Jerry Cantrell doing an acoustic performance of the title track, which is the last song on the album. I’d urge you to pay attention to the lyrics if you can. And don’t forget that Elton John plays piano on the studio version of the song.
-AR
That preview has me incredibly excited for the new album. I don’t get the criticisms some people loft at this that it’s just Jerry N’ the Chains, it really doesn’t sound like Jerry’s solo work nearly as much as it sounds like a newer, livelier Alice in Chains.
I will sort of miss the depressing lyrics, that’s part of what made Dirt such a great album, however, as long as they don’t write a bunch of happy, fluffy music I’m ok. This sounds like it will be their heaviest album yet.
A Looking In View sounded dark as hell to me. Maybe not depressing but it certainly didn’t make me want to skip through flowery meadows.
Wow. That was…
Wow.
Great live take there. Duvall sounds great with Jerry, and it’s nice to see a competent second guitar.
Now, I loved Layne as much as anyone else, but AiC has always been Jerry’s band. He writes the majority of their material, he should be able to dictate what direction the band takes and who sings the fucking songs he writes. Duvall is a welcome addition and I couldn’t be happier to see AiC making music again.
The title track sounds like a mix between “Sea of Love” by Robert Plant and “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star. This is not a bad thing at all. That was a great, moving song. I also like when Duvall plays acoustic lead guitar live. He does that on “Got Me Wrong” when Jerry sings the verses.
I’m picking this up as soon as the stores open….awesome.
Interviewed the band this past Sunday during a radio station festival and received the record two days ago from Virgin. They have had a major shift in life philosophy and it shows not just on the album, but in how they sound and interact with each other while on stage. Watching Sean Kinney and Mike Inez laughing at each other while playing “We Die Young” was an amazing experience.
And, the record’s really well-produced to boot!