In just two weeks from today, Alice In Chains will release Rainer Fog, the long awaited follow up to 2013’s The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. Two songs have already been released, The One You Know and So Far Under. Both songs are classic Alice In Chains. This new song Never Fade, really harks back to the Alice In Chains style we all fell in love with back in the early 90’s. William DuVall sounds great on this new song. It’s about time Jerry really let him take the lead. Rainer Fog is definitely going to be one of the best albums of 2018.
On August 24, Alice In Chains will release their long awaited new album Rainer Fog. The 10 song set was produced once again by Nick Raskulinecz (Deftones, Foo Fighters, Rush, etc) and mixed by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age, etc). Rainer Fog is the first Alice album to be recorded in Seattle in more than 20 years as well as additional work done in Los Angeles and Nashville. In anticipation of their upcoming new album, Alice In Chains has released another song called “So Far Under” and it’s just as good as “The One You Know” which makes me one happy guy.
Today is a great day. Alice In Chains released their first new song in 5 years called “The One You Know” and it’s fuckin awesome! I’m not going to waste your time talking about it. Just listen and you’ll get it!
Alice In Chains- The One You Know:
When you look back at Alice In Chains’ discography, most people tend to look at Dirt and Jar Of Flies as the bands masterpieces. Facelift is often looked as a great album as well. Their self titled and final album with Layne is often overlooked. The album, most commonly referred to as “the tripod” album due to the three legged dog on the cover, is quite possibly one of the deepest and darkest albums the band has ever written.
This album is truly a remarkable record filled with all the things you know and love about Alice In Chains. In a way, it has a bit of a Jar Of Flies vibe to it with the way the acoustic layers are put in, as well as the signature heavy sound. Something else that I’ve always held in high regard about this album is that Layne wrote all the lyrics for the album minus three songs (“Grind,” “Heaven Beside You,” and “Over Now,” all of which Jerry sang lead on). Before this album was recorded, Layne spent his time working with Mike McCreedy on the Mad Season album.
I remember first hearing this album when it came out in 1995 and I was hooked, and that’s not just because “Again” was a rad song. There are so many great songs on this album that have truly become timeless classics like “Sludge Factory,” “Shame In You,” “Brush Away,” “Head Creeps,” “God Am,” and “Frogs.” Though Alice In Chains never toured on the record, probably due to Layne’s increased drug use, some of these songs were performed live during their Unplugged performance. My favorite of these songs done at that time has to be “Sludge Factory.” What a great song that is. I really wish the band would play more from this album live these days. Layne’s performances on these songs are absolutely remarkable. He’s always had a knack for creating great vocal melodies but on this album he really set a standard for how it should be done. Something else about this album that I’ve always loved is the way it flows. The themes of depression, isolation, drug use, anger and death are all found throughout but, the way the arrangement of the songs are on the album, really leaves a lasting impact the way all the emotions hit you.
I highly recommend you all taking some time and re-introduce yourself to this unsung masterpiece. Not only will it leave you with a sense of awe but, it will add another level of love for Alice In Chains.
I have so many different playlists for my favorite bands, it’s often really hard to just pick a few songs, so I’m really loving doing this feature. As most of you who read this site have figured out I am a huge Alice In Chains fan. So I present to you my Ultimate Set List for them
Here are the rules:
Rule 1: maximum 25 songs
Rule 2: What line up of the band would it be
Rule 3: Where would you want to see the show
Lineup: Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, Mike Starr, Mike Inez, William DuVall
Venue: The Moore Theatre (Seattle)
Setlist:
Man In The Box
Them Bones
Sea Of Sorrow
Stone
Again
We Die Young
Bleed The Freak
Down In A Hole
Heaven Beside You
Rotten Apple
Nutshell
Black Gives Way To Blue
I Stay Away
No Excuses
Sludge Factory
Love, Hate, Love
Confusion
Rain When I Die
Angry Chair
Phantom Limb
A Looking In View
Private Hell
Hollow
Last Of My Kind
Would?
Alice In Chains is in the top 2 of my favorite bands of all time list. I thought today would be a good day to rank their albums from not the best to their best.
As it has been said before 1994 was beyond a great year for music. Riding high (no pun intended) off their masterpiece Dirt, Alice In Chains gathered in London Bridge Studio in Seattle, in September of 1993, just to see what they could come up with. A week later they had another gem on their hands. One of the most interesting things about Jar Of Flies was that they band never intended to release it, but their record company heard it and truly enjoyed it. When it was released Jar Of Flies became the first E.P. to debut at number 1 on the billboard charts. Since it’s release the album has gone on to sell over four million copies. Jar Of Flies was also the first Alice record to have Mike Inez on it. Kicking off things is “Rotten Apple” a very dark and deep song that delves further into the mind of Layne Staley. Musically this song has such a great structure. Jerry Cantrell’s ending guitar solo is strange yet fits perfectly. “Nutshell” is one of the most soulful deep songs that the band has ever released. The vulnerability and sheer pain of Layne is very present in this song. “I Stay Away” again taps into the darkness that surrounds the band. One of the best things about this song is that it shows off Layne’s range as a singer. The string arrangement really adds something special to the song. “No Excuses” is one of the bands biggest hits and a more upbeat song. As an instrumental “Whale and Wasp” acts as a little segue in the flow of the album. “Don’t Follow” continues on the path of dark and deep while reaching further into the soul. “Swing On This” offers up a more blues driven feel that has a bit of a country twang to it.
This album has always been a go to for me after ending a night on my way home or if ever I was feeling low. There is something beyond genuine and unrelenting about this piece of work. Every aspect of this record is done with the utmost precision. The subtle drums of Sean Kinney, the sultry bass lines of Mike Inez, the slick guitar work by Jerry Cantrell, and Layne Staley pouring his heart out really make this a masterpiece all on its own. It’s hard to believe that this is now 20 years old, and how good it still will be for years to come,
Since the reformation of Alice In Chains, there have been many debates. The most common is that since Layne Staley is no longer with us they shouldn’t call it Alice In Chains. Another one is that William DuVall is no where near close to Layne. Granted I never got to see Alice In Chains with Layne, I have seen the new Alice In Chains 4 times. And let me tell you it is something special. Rather than try to be Layne, William pays tribute in a very meticulous way. His voice bellows over the music in a beautiful way. He is also the only one that has come close to complimenting Layne’s voice. There are moments during the show if you close your eyes and just focus on the music you can hear Layne. I know that sounds cheesy but it’s very true. In particular when Nutshell is played. William DuVall really gives it his all during every song. While the subject matter might not rully resonate with William, there are always different ways the songs meanings can be taken.
Their new music is something that also needs to be given a second chance. Many people won’t give it a listen. I know of a few people that are complete naysayers. Though after playing certain songs they’ve started to come around. The return album Black Gives Way To Blue was a wonderful sentimental album containing tributes to Layne and the content we’ve all come to expect from an Alice In Chains album. Songs like A Looking In View, Private Hell, Your Decision and the title track Black Gives Way To Blue really shine and capture the essence of the band, without compromise. The live performances during that time were quite special. The set lists were chock full of the great songs of the past with large sing alongs, and the new songs really striking the audience’s ears.
Alice In Chains most recent release The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here is almost a pick up where they left off musically from way back when their self titled album (or as some call it tripod) was released back in 1996. There are moments where the real classic Alice is summoned. Songs like Hollow, Stone, Scalpel, and Choke all have that feel to them. One of the most standout tracks is Phantom Limb, which was written primarily by William Duvall. The music on the song is pure Alice In Chains , and the lyrics have the emotional, raw take on life that Jerry and Layne were able to capture.
There is a reason that Alice In Chains came back. I honestly don’t think it was a cash grab. I really believe it’s because they still have something to say. They came back without compromising their artistic integrity or ability to write great songs. They have the written some of the best songs in the last 25 years and put out albums that are epic and real. Layne is undoubtably one of the best ever and will forever be recognized as so. The new Alice In Chains does every bit of justice as the old. Give it another chance and see what you’ve been missing.
AUDIOECLECTICA 