blindsider's Full Review: Alice in Chains by Alice in Chains
In my many years as a die-hard fan of music, I've noticed a few general rules, one of the most important ones being this: No band's fanbase can seem to agree on which album of theirs is the best. Seattle-based rock band Alice In Chains is a really good example to prove this point. You've got tons of those people who swear by 1992's dark, demented Dirt (me! me! me!), then there are always the ones who are most partial to AIC's 1990 debut, the metal-rooted Facelift -- and oh yeah, there are those who lean toward the pensive ways of the band's 1995 self-titled (and final) release.
Alice In Chains, also known as "Tripod" due to the three-legged dog on the cover, is a great album by all means. It's unique and experimental, and while there seem to be an abundance of songs with a quieter, semi-acoustic nature, the band did not neglect their heavier tendencies. This album came a year after the highly praised Jar Of Flies EP, which put a tremendous amount of focus on how excellent Alice In Chains can be in a soft, melodic and acoustic environment. Because of this, many fans of the band were surprised that there was a bit of a "return to (aggressive) form" here.
Although guitarist/songwriter/backing vocalist Jerry Cantrell always was a necessary part in creating the eerie, droning two-part harmonies that were trademark AIC, Alice In Chains sees him taking on role of lead vocalist in a few more songs than what was typical in the band's prior releases. I personally think he does an excellent job, and the deliciously crunchy opening track "Grind" illustrates that beautifully. Steady, loud guitar rhythms chug along as Cantrell sings softly with Layne Staley groaning quietly along in the background. The verses are dark and creepy, yet the chorus sounds optimistic somehow. It's an amazing song.
"Heaven Beside You" is another Cantrell-centered song. Built around a memorable acoustic guitar melody and light, pretty drumming, "Heaven Beside You" puts Cantrell's breathtaking voice in the spotlight. Although it's quite different from most Alice In Chains songs in that it's light and feathery in its delivery, this is one of the band's most popular songs to date for obvious reasons. The arrangements are simple, yet beautiful. "Head Creeps" follows, with its sharp, loud guitar riffs quickly snapping the listener back into reality. Lead vocalist Layne Staley, who passed away in 2002 from a heroin overdose, wrote the music and lyrics to this song. The vocal distortion used here is especially effective in creating the tortured, bleak atmosphere.
Recalling some of the harder, angrier sounding material from Dirt, "Again" has a steadily churning guitar riff backing multiple layers of Layne's creepy drones. Fast-paced and hard-hitting, this song is definitely one of the more accessible ones on Alice In Chains. The gorgeously depressing, slow-paced "Shame In You" then arrives to mellow things out again. Cantrell's solo here is outstanding, as is Staley's vocal performance.
Strange changes in tempo and loud bass personify "God Am", a song that contains some of Staley's most incredibly honest lyrics: "Dear God, how have you been, then? / I'm not fine, f*ck pretending / All of this death you're sending..." Closing Alice In Chains out appropriately, "Over Now" mixes delicate, pleasant acoustic and slightly louder electric guitars to create a constant, smooth rhythm that isn't too bold or elaborate and doesn't overshadow the lovely Cantrell/Staley vocal harmonies. "Over Now" took on new meaning after this actually was Alice In Chains' final full-length studio release, due to Staley's debilitating health after his heroin addictions unfortunately continued to string along.
I love Alice In Chains, and would highly recommend it to rock/metal fans and to AIC fans who are just building up their collection. Since my first impression of the band came in the form of Dirt, an album not exactly similar to this one, it's difficult for me to say whether or not this is a good starting point for those unfamiliar with Alice In Chains. Some of these songs are, indeed, harder to get into than what you may expect. However, Alice In Chains isn't really a band that you want to go hunting down for instantly "fun" or "catchy" music; there are many layers you may have to peel back to really decipher certain meanings, and there's a sophistication and complexity with this band (and certainly with this particular album) that's hard to define. But when all is said and done, Alice In Chains is one fine collection of music. Check it out.
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