Although I'm a big AIC fan, I don't actually know if I like it or not. I've given it 3 listens now and although there are some songs I liked at first listen and the others are growing on me, I have to say, I'm not completely blown away.
Early favourites are Check My Brain, Last of My Kind, When The Sun Rose Again and Acid Bubble. I love the tempo change in Acid Bubble but I do think the song could be 2 mins shorter.
I do like All Secrets Known as the opening riffs and drums remind me a little of Death Magnetic period Metallica... Not a bad thing.
Lesson Learned is probably my least favourite at the moment.
Black Gives Way To Blue isn't as mind blowing as I hoped it would be, especially considering the hype I've read and heard from friends who are all big AIC fans. I do like the EJ piano cameo though.
I like DuVall's vocals... from what I can tell. He doesn't sing solo as much as I'd like. He also sounded different to how he did when I saw them in 2006, but I'm putting that down to production. I was uncomfortable with the album at first as the harmonies are too Layne period AIC... It just didn't seem like anything new. I also find the whole album rather drawn out, it's also not as upbeat (for want of a better word) as i'd like and production seems to have made it rather heavy on the instrument sound. To me the vocals feel a bit lost.
However... I am warming to it. The album is growing on me and I think it will need more attention than I can give it at work today. I will listen to it more, I hope to like it more with time and i'm certainly not writing it off.
Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
it's also not as upbeat (for want of a better word) as i'd like
since when has AIC EVER been upbeat? I personally like this band because of that, that they aren't screaming into the mic, you can hear the words and the melodies but are still very dark.
I was a bit surprised, as you mentioned, about the lack of Duvall lead vox. However, over the course of the past few months, with the release of both singles, I realized from those two that was probably the direction we were going to hear on the record. I think maybe this is a transitional record. Easing the fans (and themselves) into a new singer. Jerry is very capable as lead, so I'm not put off by that at all. So not surprisingly, this feels more like a JC solo record than AIC.
And I've spent the better part of a year defending Jerry and Co for calling this AIC and not something else. Oh well! But personally, I don't really care what they call it, as long as it's good. But I think the JC lead vox gives more creedence to those that support that argument.
When The Sun Rose Again is easily my favourite off the album.
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
When i walked out of the listening party room 2 months ago i thought it was terrible, was just very boring slow ploddy riffs, no riffs that make you want to get up and go mad or riffs that slap you in the face i.e any aic song.
Listened to it more and its nice but it just really sounds like a jerry solo album, william only has lead vocals in 1 song?
Can't stop listening to Your Descision though, lovely song. A looking view in is still the best i reckon.
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
it's also not as upbeat (for want of a better word) as i'd like
since when has AIC EVER been upbeat? I personally like this band because of that, that they aren't screaming into the mic, you can hear the words and the melodies but are still very dark.
That's exactly why I said 'for want of a better word'. :roll:
My favourite AIC song is Man in The Box... bare that in mind when you listen to BGWTB. I like AIC songs such as that, We Die Young, Them Bones, Heaven Beside You and God Smack. There's nothing like that on the new album. The closest it gets is Check My Brain. I think maybe 'Upbeat' is the wrong word but Brisk put it perfectly, it's bit ploddy and no get up and go riffs... Except maybe on Last of My Kind - my favourite song from the album... and to me that song's very Corrosion of Conformity It is more like a Jerry solo effort and I think for me it feels like there's something missing.
Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
My problem with the album is that, while the songs are mostly fine, I just find myself thinking that Layne's voice probably would have been the key difference between "fine" and "great". Which is nothing against Duvall, who I think acquits himself as well as he could in the space he's given... It's just that Layne's voice was so unique, and so perfect with Cantrell's, that it's impossible not to compare the two. There's definitely nothing as strong as prime AiC, but then, it was probably foolish to expect it.
But yeah, I like it fine.
Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
The album could use 1 or 2 less of the mid tempo sounds and inserted 1 or 2 more songs like check my brain or last of my kind.
Those are the two to me for the lack of a better term seem to "ride" They have a bit of that old get up old AIC rockers had.
Last of My Kind rocks. To me if you take it and get whoever produced Facelift to produce it the same way it coudl easily have fit on facelift. Although it would probably have been about a minute and 20 seconds shorter. A couple of the songs suffer slightly from this (looking at you when i say this looking in view!) but overall it does not hurt the album.
I've only listened to it twice but i know i like it. Again i'm not expecting Dirt. I'm not expecting a masterpiece, but it is a nice album and i'm glad i've got it. Hopefully next tiem around William will get some more vocals. I have a feeling his lack of solo vocals was on purpose this time around.
Private Hell is a killer song and I'm happy with the way Black Fades to Blue came out.
Charlotte 00 Charlotte 03 Asheville 04 Atlanta 12 Greenville 16, Columbia 16 Seattle 18 Nashville 22 Ohana Festival 24 x2
That's exactly why I said 'for want of a better word' :roll:
I know, but any word even remotely similar to "upbeat" doesn't exactly fit this band. The eyeroll wasn't necessary.
You forgot a valuable sentence on the end of your post there... "In my opinion."
Just so you know...
Post edited by Sian-of-the-dead on
Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
The album could use 1 or 2 less of the mid tempo sounds and inserted 1 or 2 more songs like check my brain or last of my kind.
Those are the two to me for the lack of a better term seem to "ride" They have a bit of that old get up old AIC rockers had.
Last of My Kind rocks. To me if you take it and get whoever produced Facelift to produce it the same way it coudl easily have fit on facelift. Although it would probably have been about a minute and 20 seconds shorter. A couple of the songs suffer slightly from this (looking at you when i say this looking in view!) but overall it does not hurt the album.
I've only listened to it twice but i know i like it. Again i'm not expecting Dirt. I'm not expecting a masterpiece, but it is a nice album and i'm glad i've got it. Hopefully next tiem around William will get some more vocals. I have a feeling his lack of solo vocals was on purpose this time around.
You have just said exactly what I was trying to say. Thank you for putting it so well... oh and for agreeing
Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
Still, the band knows there will be critics unhappy that they're playing under their old name. Kinney and Cantrell considered pre-empting such talk by toying with an alternative, very heavy metal name: Leather Snake.
They nixed it, though.
"It doesn't matter what we called it. People would go, 'The guys from Alice are playing down the street and they're playing their songs,'" says Kinney.
Leather Snake
Thank God they stuck with AiC lol
Charlotte 00 Charlotte 03 Asheville 04 Atlanta 12 Greenville 16, Columbia 16 Seattle 18 Nashville 22 Ohana Festival 24 x2
I miss Layne sorely, but I'm hoping the band still rocks. On Kimmel last night, the sound wasn't very good. Vocals were too low. Hopefully the CD as a whole is good. Still waiting for my Newbury Comics pre-order to arrive.
7/28/1992 Lollapalooza Cincinnati, 9/22/1996 Toledo, 8/20/2000 Cincinnati, 6/24/2006 Cincinnati, 8/5/2007 Lollapalooza Chicago @ Grant Park, EV solo 8/21/2008 Chicago @ Auditorium Theater
I just listened to the album for the first time on my way home from work. My first take, I found the album a little boring. I was kind of falling asleep at the wheel. The songs just seemed to bleed together. No stand outs except for the 2 I know from radio play.
Very reminiscent of a Jerry solo album as some folks said (in fact I remember having trouble staying awake through Boggy Depot when it first came out). I also was hoping for William to stand out a little more.
I'll have to give it another few plays before really knowing how I feel.
I miss Layne sorely, but I'm hoping the band still rocks. On Kimmel last night, the sound wasn't very good. Vocals were too low. Hopefully the CD as a whole is good. Still waiting for my Newbury Comics pre-order to arrive.
Did you get the autographed copy? Mine came today. Very cool. The CD kicks ass in my opinion. Can't replace old AIC in my mind, but this is pretty damn good.
Just finished my first full listen to Black Gives Way To Blue. Jerry's guitar was just as distinctive an element as Layne's vocals when it came to the original AIC sound. That being said, this is a fairly potent Alice In Chains record, alas, an AIC record minus Layne. Is it Dirt? Nope. Would the genius of Dirt be repeated even if Layne were still here to sing with the band? Probably not. I'm liking this record for what it is, and on it's own terms.
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I just listened to the album for the first time on my way home from work. My first take, I found the album a little boring. I was kind of falling asleep at the wheel. The songs just seemed to bleed together. No stand outs except for the 2 I know from radio play.
Very reminiscent of a Jerry solo album as some folks said (in fact I remember having trouble staying awake through Boggy Depot when it first came out). I also was hoping for William to stand out a little more.
I'll have to give it another few plays before really knowing how I feel.
I felt that same way after first listen, kind of boring, songs bleed together, but I like it the more I listen to it and distinguish the songs. The 2nd last song is really good, Private Hell
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2006 ~ Toronto
2008 ~ Hartford, Mansfied I,
2009 ~ Toronto, Chicago I, Chicago II
2010 ~ Cleveland, Buffalo
2011 ~ Toronto I, Toronto II, Ottawa, Hamilton
2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
I've just listened to a couple of songs and my heart is heavy. I keep hearing Layne. I keep wanting it to be Layne.
But I like what I hear, very much.
I do believe William adds a very nice mix to the band (and his voice sounds sososososo much like Layne).
Once you hold the hand of love, it's all surmountable--LBC
Not that Alice in Chains has ever been known for great lyrics, but there are some absolutely shit lyrics on this album. Doesn't really matter, because they are backed up by a fantastically great sound.
California, I'm fine
Somebody check my brain
California's all right
Somebody check my brain
I mean, what????? But when that chord kicks in with the low hum of distorted guitars, and Cantrell's and DuVall's voices meld together... who fucking cares if there's any real point to this song, other than the crazy goodness of it. Ohhh yeeeaaaaaahhhh!
You forgot a valuable sentence on the end of your post there... "In my opinion."
Just so you know...
so did you.
Ok, maybe i'll give you that one
Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
Brilliant album, shame DuVall doesnt get more lead vocals but as the first album with him on board i guess it was inevitable that Cantrell would do most of the lead vocals.
Leagues ahead of Backspacer in my view, favourite tracks are Last of my Kind and When The Sun Rose Again.
Kinda surprised that it doesnt seem to be getting much discussion on here.
Opinions anyone?
I like AIC, but it always iriitated me that Layne didn't get more lead vocals, so I guess this is so with the new new "singer." I just never liked Cantrell's vocals. My Favorite AIC was "jar of flies" because Layne Staley got to sing
"All I Ever Knew" available now in print and digital formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.
I miss Layne sorely, but I'm hoping the band still rocks. On Kimmel last night, the sound wasn't very good. Vocals were too low. Hopefully the CD as a whole is good. Still waiting for my Newbury Comics pre-order to arrive.
Did you get the autographed copy? Mine came today. Very cool. The CD kicks ass in my opinion. Can't replace old AIC in my mind, but this is pretty damn good.
I pre-ordered the autographed copy while still in stock thanks to a tip posted on here, but I just haven't gotten it yet. For some reason, Newbury Comics waited until the release date to mail it, but its on its way! I made sure to get the signed one to go along with my personally signed AIC ticket from Layne himself. We were both wearing Ministry clothing when I met him. Very cool!
7/28/1992 Lollapalooza Cincinnati, 9/22/1996 Toledo, 8/20/2000 Cincinnati, 6/24/2006 Cincinnati, 8/5/2007 Lollapalooza Chicago @ Grant Park, EV solo 8/21/2008 Chicago @ Auditorium Theater
Comments
10-4-96 \ 5-6-10
9-6-98 \ 5-7-10
4-19-03 \ 9-22-12
10-6-04 \ 7-19-13
6-24-06 \ 12-6-13
10-1-14 \ 4-16-16
\ 4-26-16 \
Although I'm a big AIC fan, I don't actually know if I like it or not. I've given it 3 listens now and although there are some songs I liked at first listen and the others are growing on me, I have to say, I'm not completely blown away.
Early favourites are Check My Brain, Last of My Kind, When The Sun Rose Again and Acid Bubble. I love the tempo change in Acid Bubble but I do think the song could be 2 mins shorter.
I do like All Secrets Known as the opening riffs and drums remind me a little of Death Magnetic period Metallica... Not a bad thing.
Lesson Learned is probably my least favourite at the moment.
Black Gives Way To Blue isn't as mind blowing as I hoped it would be, especially considering the hype I've read and heard from friends who are all big AIC fans. I do like the EJ piano cameo though.
I like DuVall's vocals... from what I can tell. He doesn't sing solo as much as I'd like. He also sounded different to how he did when I saw them in 2006, but I'm putting that down to production. I was uncomfortable with the album at first as the harmonies are too Layne period AIC... It just didn't seem like anything new. I also find the whole album rather drawn out, it's also not as upbeat (for want of a better word) as i'd like and production seems to have made it rather heavy on the instrument sound. To me the vocals feel a bit lost.
However... I am warming to it. The album is growing on me and I think it will need more attention than I can give it at work today. I will listen to it more, I hope to like it more with time and i'm certainly not writing it off.
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
since when has AIC EVER been upbeat? I personally like this band because of that, that they aren't screaming into the mic, you can hear the words and the melodies but are still very dark.
I was a bit surprised, as you mentioned, about the lack of Duvall lead vox. However, over the course of the past few months, with the release of both singles, I realized from those two that was probably the direction we were going to hear on the record. I think maybe this is a transitional record. Easing the fans (and themselves) into a new singer. Jerry is very capable as lead, so I'm not put off by that at all. So not surprisingly, this feels more like a JC solo record than AIC.
And I've spent the better part of a year defending Jerry and Co for calling this AIC and not something else. Oh well! But personally, I don't really care what they call it, as long as it's good. But I think the JC lead vox gives more creedence to those that support that argument.
When The Sun Rose Again is easily my favourite off the album.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Listened to it more and its nice but it just really sounds like a jerry solo album, william only has lead vocals in 1 song?
Can't stop listening to Your Descision though, lovely song. A looking view in is still the best i reckon.
That's exactly why I said 'for want of a better word'. :roll:
My favourite AIC song is Man in The Box... bare that in mind when you listen to BGWTB. I like AIC songs such as that, We Die Young, Them Bones, Heaven Beside You and God Smack. There's nothing like that on the new album. The closest it gets is Check My Brain. I think maybe 'Upbeat' is the wrong word but Brisk put it perfectly, it's bit ploddy and no get up and go riffs... Except maybe on Last of My Kind - my favourite song from the album... and to me that song's very Corrosion of Conformity
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
But yeah, I like it fine.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Those are the two to me for the lack of a better term seem to "ride" They have a bit of that old get up old AIC rockers had.
Last of My Kind rocks. To me if you take it and get whoever produced Facelift to produce it the same way it coudl easily have fit on facelift. Although it would probably have been about a minute and 20 seconds shorter. A couple of the songs suffer slightly from this (looking at you when i say this looking in view!) but overall it does not hurt the album.
I've only listened to it twice but i know i like it. Again i'm not expecting Dirt. I'm not expecting a masterpiece, but it is a nice album and i'm glad i've got it. Hopefully next tiem around William will get some more vocals. I have a feeling his lack of solo vocals was on purpose this time around.
Private Hell is a killer song and I'm happy with the way Black Fades to Blue came out.
Charlotte 03
Asheville 04
Atlanta 12
Greenville 16, Columbia 16
Seattle 18
Nashville 22
Ohana Festival 24 x2
You forgot a valuable sentence on the end of your post there... "In my opinion."
Just so you know...
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
You have just said exactly what I was trying to say. Thank you for putting it so well... oh and for agreeing
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
so did you.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
10-4-96 \ 5-6-10
9-6-98 \ 5-7-10
4-19-03 \ 9-22-12
10-6-04 \ 7-19-13
6-24-06 \ 12-6-13
10-1-14 \ 4-16-16
\ 4-26-16 \
They nixed it, though.
"It doesn't matter what we called it. People would go, 'The guys from Alice are playing down the street and they're playing their songs,'" says Kinney.
Leather Snake
Thank God they stuck with AiC lol
Charlotte 03
Asheville 04
Atlanta 12
Greenville 16, Columbia 16
Seattle 18
Nashville 22
Ohana Festival 24 x2
Charlotte 03
Asheville 04
Atlanta 12
Greenville 16, Columbia 16
Seattle 18
Nashville 22
Ohana Festival 24 x2
Just a dodgy sound mix, the vocals were really burried in the mix.
Very reminiscent of a Jerry solo album as some folks said (in fact I remember having trouble staying awake through Boggy Depot when it first came out). I also was hoping for William to stand out a little more.
I'll have to give it another few plays before really knowing how I feel.
Did you get the autographed copy? Mine came today. Very cool. The CD kicks ass in my opinion. Can't replace old AIC in my mind, but this is pretty damn good.
9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
I felt that same way after first listen, kind of boring, songs bleed together, but I like it the more I listen to it and distinguish the songs. The 2nd last song is really good, Private Hell
2003 ~ Toronto
2005 ~ London, Toronto
2006 ~ Toronto
2008 ~ Hartford, Mansfied I,
2009 ~ Toronto, Chicago I, Chicago II
2010 ~ Cleveland, Buffalo
2011 ~ Toronto I, Toronto II, Ottawa, Hamilton
2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
But I like what I hear, very much.
I do believe William adds a very nice mix to the band (and his voice sounds sososososo much like Layne).
California, I'm fine
Somebody check my brain
California's all right
Somebody check my brain
I mean, what????? But when that chord kicks in with the low hum of distorted guitars, and Cantrell's and DuVall's voices meld together... who fucking cares if there's any real point to this song, other than the crazy goodness of it. Ohhh yeeeaaaaaahhhh!
Ok, maybe i'll give you that one
... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
I like AIC, but it always iriitated me that Layne didn't get more lead vocals, so I guess this is so with the new new "singer." I just never liked Cantrell's vocals. My Favorite AIC was "jar of flies" because Layne Staley got to sing
I pre-ordered the autographed copy while still in stock thanks to a tip posted on here, but I just haven't gotten it yet. For some reason, Newbury Comics waited until the release date to mail it, but its on its way! I made sure to get the signed one to go along with my personally signed AIC ticket from Layne himself. We were both wearing Ministry clothing when I met him. Very cool!