New Alice in Chains is SOOOO freaking good...

Ground Pounder · #1 08-28-2009, 07:13 PM

So far, I've only heard the two songs on their website, www.aliceinchains.com: "Check my Brain" and "A Looking In View", but if this is any indication of what the rest of the album is like, we are in for a hell of a treat on September 29th when this comes out.

And yes, the vocals are absolutely freaking AMAZING!!!!

Godbody · #2 08-29-2009, 08:55 AM

I love Layne Staley, and miss his presence in the band. That being said, when I heard these songs on the radio I thought they were playing some old, amazing B-side I had somehow never heard before, which seemed incredibly unlikely. When it finished and the DJ said it was a new track... Well, it restored some of my lost faith in the radio and in modern music. As soon as they play a show near me, I'm there.

Getaway Driver · #3 08-29-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godbody

When it finished and the DJ said it was a new track... Well, it restored some of my lost faith in the radio and in modern music.

sadly, AIC is not "modern music"... Pearl Jam is still putting out some great tunes, and hell, even ACDC recorded a new album. "Modern music" is in disarray, but I'm keeping my hopes up for bands like the Kings of Leon and Silversun Pickups.

On topic, though, I agree with what you said about the new track. With Cantrell harmonizing on the vocals the original sound is still there. The new guy isn't exactly doing a Staley impression, I can tell the differences in his voice, but they're definitely grooving and the material coming out of it is AMAZING.

TOOL460002 · #4 08-29-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Getaway Driver

sadly, AIC is not "modern music"...

blues rock never dies. its timeless.

tplyons · #5 08-30-2009, 11:58 AM

I gotta say, I really like the new stuff.

nutso42 · #6 08-30-2009, 06:21 PM

Bass Player Magazine just had Mike Inez as their cover feature. That was an awesome issue. If you somehow missed it, check their website. I'm pretty sure they'll have transcripts from it up.

Did you know that before joining AIC, he was Ozzy's bassist?

WookieeForLife · #7 08-30-2009, 06:43 PM

Im going against the grain here. I like alice in chains, but I like new music too. Not the music that gets radio play, but other stuff. It's simple to the point where you can get into it, but has some cool basslines. My .02 s music doesn't die, but styles come in and out. The style you grew up with is "the best" in your view. I try to keep an open mind on diff. peoples view on music. One style I cannot stand though is Hip hop and rap. IMO they lack talent. In your eyes my music might lack talent. Currently I'm into post hardcore music. All in all, music is in the ears of the beholder.

On topic: Their new stuff is good.

Godbody · #8 08-31-2009, 08:43 AM

In my post, by modern radio music I meant music that has been recorded recently and is currently getting airplay. In that sense, the new AIC tracks are "modern."

I wholeheartedly agree about KoL and Silversun Pickups being the bright rays of the future. Now I've added AIC to my little list.

Mike Inez absolutely crushes, but the original bassist (Mike Starr) did some great work on the first two LPs and EPs. All around, it looks to me like Jerry Cantrell is the man most responsible for AIC having a consistent sound year in and year out; as long as he's in the band, it's probably gonna be good things.

johnnycat42 · #9 11-28-2009, 08:44 AM

Cantrell is/was the mastermind behind AIC. Staley was a great singer and frontman. I saw the new incarnation a few years back and they were really really great with the new guy. Sounds like classic AIC to me.

MrTAteMyBalls · #10 11-28-2009, 08:50 AM

yeah, the record is really good.

Rock-Bassman · #11 11-28-2009, 08:53 AM

I like it a lot, but I honestly miss Staley... Jerry sounds good and all but imho I feel that it sounds godsmack playing AIC... That being said the rythm section totally owned.

troll · #12 11-30-2009, 03:17 PM

I really dug the single and the droning bending riff is amazing. Totally hypnotic.

I wasn't blown away by the album as a whole. It just sort of played on in the background and didn't suck me in. However this is likely the time and place I was listening. I am sure to give it more goes in the near future.

It's long been known that Jerry was everything to that band, especially the vocal harmonies. Just not everyone recognized it. So yeah it still works.

My favorite recording is still the MTV Unplugged stuff, I'd love to hear some of the new material in that setting.

metalbass777 · #13 11-30-2009, 07:13 PM

No Layne Staley, No Alice In Chains.

In Absentia · #14 11-30-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalbass777

No Layne Staley, No Alice In Chains.

No Layne Staley, no problem. Jerry is AIC.

Chowowbus · #15 12-01-2009, 08:29 PM

+1 In Absentia.

I love new AIC...Willam Duvall is a perfect fit.

metalbass777 · #16 12-01-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Absentia

No Layne Staley, no problem. Jerry is AIC.

Wrong. Jerry is nothing without Layne.

SixString · #17 12-01-2009, 08:47 PM

The new AIC is pretty much a Jerry solo album using the AIC name to boost sales. Jerry sings way too much on it for his lackluster voice.

Ground Pounder · #18 12-01-2009, 11:38 PM

I think Duvall did a satisfactory job on the album. He certainly doesn't have the dynamic impact that Layne had - no one will - but he fills the role very well.

Is it a JC album? Well, yes, but it's also an AIC album. Mike Inez and Sean Kinney certainly stand out rhythmically in ways that the "session guys" didn't on JC's solo stuff.

Double Agent · #19 12-02-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ground Pounder

....it's also an AIC album. Mike Inez and Sean Kinney certainly stand out rhythmically in ways that the "session guys" didn't on JC's solo stuff.

Exactly. I own 1 of JCs solo album and have heard the other one. To me, the new AIC does NOT sound like the JC solo albums, although there are similarities. They sound more like a band on the new album and I am for it. It isn't their best album (that would be Dirt), but it stands up very well against some of the later AIC albums from before Layne died. I'm glad they're back.

And, I would hardly say that Jerry is nothing without Layne. Jerry wrote a LOT of the old AIC material and was always the driving force behind AIC. Layne was an amazing vocalist and frontman, easily my favorite vocalist from the 90's. But, AIC is, and always was, more than just a great voice. They are not what they were with Layne, but they are still great and miles better than most bands I hear on the radio these days.

CapnSev · #20 12-02-2009, 09:18 AM

I absolutely love this album! It sounds like classic AIC to, and I would even go as far as to put it above the Tripod album.

My only complaints are that the album has kind of a "modern" mix, with all the instruments kind of mashed in one big mix. I'd like to hear more of the separate guitar tracks and bass track.

I'm also not as big a fan as I should be of Duvall's voice solo. I love it when the harmonies are together, but I think my brain still expects Layne Staley's solo voice. No biggie.