This is after Layne..They've done 3 killer albums with the singer William and I think he not only stays true to Layne's spirit but brings his own style into the songs..this is from the first album after Layne passed RIP LAYNE hope you found the peace you were seeking ✌️🤘
So devastatingly sad, the way Layne left this earth. Huge loss. It was so hard to imagine anyone else standing in for him, but I love the music they have put forth since. R.I.P. Layne Staley and Mike Starr
This was off the album, "Black Gives Way to Blue" and the 1st album with their new lead singer William Duvall. The album was a tribute to Layne, and is actually a masterpiece, every song is great.
jerry cantrell was the lead singer for this album and william duvall was the back up, that's why is sounds closer to the original sound of alice in chains cause jerry cantrel was back up vocals to layne stanley
@@Chris.Davis.2 the reason this sounds so much like alice in chains is because jerry cantrell is lead vocalist in this song and always was back up vocalist for alice and chains and lead guitarist and big part of the sound of alice and chains and layne was a great lead vocalist of course!
I also had my doubts when I heard that they would continue with a new singer, but when this came out... 'Check my brain' has an awesome riff and the way their voices blend is divine. Sounds like vintage AIC to me. Had no more doubts afterwards.
One of the little secrets that some AIC fans seem to like to ignore is that Jerry Cantrell was always the main song writer, music and lyrics. Everybody loved Layne but it's so cool that they were able to figure out a way to go on. William Duvall is a great addition to the band, and was on tour performing with Jerry when Layne died. By all accounts it's one of the greatest comebacks in rock n roll history.
Yes but when people say this it seems as though they are saying Layne didn’t write many of there most memorable songs like Man in the box, Love hate love Angry chair or nutshell. Also he went on to write for Madseason. To me Layne and Jerry didn’t need each other to be great but together they were something magical. Something that was unique and top level.
Layne and Jerry wrote about half the lyrics each with Jerry writing slightly more. But the music is all Jerry he is the architect of their sound musically but Layne is the “it” factor vocally so it’s the combo for me. Without it it’s never the same
I think you're right about "check my brain," as in, _hey, am I crazy?_ but not because California is a bad place. "So I found myself in the sun / Hell of a way to end a run." I interpreted it to mean something like _After all the shit I"ve been through, somehow I came out in a bright place? Like, I actually feel all right-isn't that nuts? I _*_never_*_ expected that for me._
If I didn't know Layne was gone, I would of assumed this was him at the time of its release. Sounds the same to me with the layering, harmonizing of the vocals.
Growing up I listened to a big Genre of music and finely settled with pretty much Rock and Metal and maybe a little Pop. So I really like this band to.
Jerry Cantrell is the lead singer for new Alice contrary to the haters, William Duvall only sings majority lead on the Layne era songs in concert. It's either Jerry singing lead or both are harmonizing, you probably can count on 1 hand how many songs Duvall sings lead on in 3 Albums. Jerry sang lead with Layne in the 90's(Don't Follow, Heaven Beside You, Over Now) and has 2 solo albums. Jerry took over for Layne and William basically took over for Jerry. It's Jerry's band always has been.
Before Layne...what?? This was after Layne. This album came out in 2009, and Layne passed away in 2002. RIP. This whole album is fantastic. I was co flicted about it at first, too. But after that initial listen, i was blown away how good it was.
Believe me, when Alice In Chains announced a reunion tour in 2006 w/ William DuVall on vocals, they didn't want to assume that the new version of the band would be accepted... So, they booked club tours to play their classic songs live for the first time since 1996 (Guitarist Jerry Cantrell had launched a solo career in 1998 and played AIC songs in concert w/ his solo band) ...And they were thankful that the entire tour sold out. But there was still resistance to seeing the band without Layne or hearing any new music w/ a new singer. Now, Jerry Cantrell has always been Alice In Chains' primary songwriter + composer... their 1990 debut album 'Facelift' was written almost entirely by Cantrell (w/ some lyrics by Layne Staley) ... He already had 2 solo albums out, so he began writing for a new Alice In Chains album and the band signed a new record deal for the 2009 album 'Black gives way to blue' in honor of Layne Staley. They released a single online - 'A looking in view'... and the response was a very positive one. So, the album was released w/ the singles (and videos) 'Check my brain'... and 'Your decision'... the album went gold in the US (half million copies sold) and Alice In Chains was back in big business! Elton John (yes, him!) contributed piano to the title track 'Black gives way to blue'... Jerry Cantrell: "The whole thing with the heart(the album cover)... there wasn't a real intention or a reason. It's just a collection of ideas that we put together. To me, we had our hearts broken by losing Layne and losing ourselves. And also it took a lot of that to get through this process and to even take the chance, and to stand-up and risk. It celebrates his life."
They have some great songs with the new singer. Hollow, Stone, and Phantom Limb are pretty good. Jerry wrote a song for layne called black gives way to blue. You should go down the rabbit hole more with them. They have some hidden gems in their archive.
Layne was not able to direct or lead AIC at any point. Drop D tuning on the guitars. The band was lead by Jerry Cantrell. Jerry has great solo records. Boggy Depot- Jerry Cantrell
Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who died in 2002. The band took its name from Staley's previous group, the glam metal band Alice N' Chains. "Check my Brains," comes on the album Black Gives Way to Blue, which is the fourth studio album released on September 29, 2009, on the 17th anniversary of the release of their second album, Dirt.
Song meaning: Back in the day these Seattle cats in the grunge movement looked at LA and it's glam metal scene as a joke and something to be avoided. But Jerry ended up moving to LA before this record was made and once he got there, discovered it wasn't so bad, Which made him question his own sanity.
Originally Layne Staley were in a glam rock band who called themselves Sleze. They wanted to change it to Alice In Chains. Layne's mother was a hardcore Christian and were not happy with the name so they changed it to Alice'N'Chains. After they broke up Layne joined a band with Jerry Cantrell and they decided to call it Alice In Chains. There are some Sleze and Alice'N'Chains on RU-vid. Also some early Alice In Chains under the name Diamond Lie. Jerry Cantrell are the main song writer and did most of their lyrics. If you listen to his first two solo albums Boggy Depot and Degradation Trip they sound very much like Alice In Chains. Check out Devil By His Side and Cut You In
This music is insane, this guitar riff is perfect and disturbing at the same time. I feel like as a portal opening when I listen this track, so, about the portal, what kind of portal is opening? I don't know hahahaha
I can't say how much I love this song..the sound ...the vibe...one listen is never enough for me. If you didn't see the video or no one told you, I think it's indistinguishable from AIC of yor This sounds like it came right off the "Grind" album:)
Hey Brad & Lex. Recently found your channel. Been binging on your videos for the last few days. Typical for me when I find a channel I like. I will continue playing catch-up. Lol. I think you're both awesome. Ooh... I guess baby makes three. 🙂
Listen you two Carlos Santana wrote "Maria, Maria it's from the same album as 'Smooth! The singer Rob Thomas is the vocalist from "Matchbox Twenty..... Carlos played at the original "Woodstock...
their first album with the new singer was good, but they got better and better each album after that. the magic of alice in chains man. its so rare to have a band like them nowadays. a band that doesnt seem to release a bad album.
Jerry Cantrell wrote half the lyrics, most of the music and sung on most AIC songs including lead on a few when Layne was still alive(he sings lead on most AIC now). That's why it's still AIC. Layne stans always use Nirvana not continuing after Kurt as a example but Nivana didn't have a Jerry Cantrell who was as big of part of AIC's success as Layne was while Nirvana was all Kurt. They still sound good and are great live, anyone still crying that they still call themselves AIC are idiots.
I remember when this album came out. Actually, the rumors were swirling about a new AiC album and I was a sophomore barely getting into 90’s rock. Killer album
Seen you guys haven't been uploading lately. If you come back might want to check out the title track from this one. Black gives way to blue, it's a tear jerker and is about dealing with the grief from Laynes passing.
I agree. It does sound different without Layne, but I still love Alice in Chains's music. Some of their other great songs with the new lead singer include: Lesson Learned, Stone, Never Fade and All I Am.
Definitely more recent. They're still touring (I saw them last summer). "Your Decision" is off the same album (2009). I'd also suggest "Voices" from 2013. There are a lot of nods to friends and the Seattle rock scene in that music video.
Layne was a great vocalists and an important part of AIC but Jerry Cantrell will always be the integral force behind AIC. He wrote or co-wrote most of the music and provided co-lead and background vocals to many songs.
I've loved all the post-Layne albums, especially songs like this one. Jerry writes great songs, no matter who sings them. Also, if I'm honest, without the drug related lyrics the band is a lot more relatable to me personally, because I've just never understood drugs or drug culture stuff. It sails right past me.
Lex....it isn't the same. The first three studio albums with Layne were amazing. There wasn't one song I would ever skip on those three albums. AIC's done three studio albums since Layne and there isn't one song that I wouldn't skip...so I never bought them. I still have the first three albums, plus Jar of Flies/SAP and Unplugged...and I have another album, by Mad Season, titled Above (1995); and Layne is the singer in that band. It too has no songs I ever skip.
You can't replace layne staley but these guys do write great music. This new aic settles in on you for sure. I like "stone" "the one you know" especially. You guys are pleasant to watch. 🙂
While Layne was an amazing singer and writer, Jerry was the real mastermind behind the band so its no surprise they still make killer albums. Duvall is a great addition as well. Hes no Layne, but thats like saying gold isnt as good as platinum
Being a bad friend would be not sticking with them. They've put out banger after banger with the new lineup. Layne's friends and family pushed so hard for Jerry to get the band going again. Layne would be thrilled that it's still such a huge band.
I know you haven’t reacted to korn in a little bit but you should totally listen to their cover of “wicked” off the life is peachy album! it’s one of my fav tracks, and it’s featuring chino moreno
Pavement and Sonic Youth drove the nail into sounding like you don't care while being absolutely unf*witable musically, Beck was good friends with Thurston Moore.
There are lots of things to consider with this new AiC line up. First, AiC did nothing for all the years Layne was still alive because they knew he was the soul of the band, and playing without him was decided against by the surviving members while Layne was still alive. Then, Jerry was so frustrated as an artist not being able to create new works that he did write a solo album just because he was so stifled not being able to create anything new in AiC for all those years Layne was sick and suffering. And it was only after Layne passed that AiC as a band finally started playing music again. At first it was just their old hits with various guest singers. But it took 5 years after Layne died and near 14 years after AiC's last album for this new one to be made. So, the new albums and the new singer may sound awkward to people who weren't living in the moment through all of AiC's drama over the years. But AiC did more than any other band would have done by waiting for Layne to possibly get better. And even when he did pass away, AiC didn't immediately go on the hunt to find a replacement. When they did eventually find DuVall, this is the work they all came up with and you gotta force yourself to not compare them to Layne's era - cuz it's just not fair to compare them to his legendary lyrics. AiC's new sound still has Jerry's heart in these new songs, and, to be frank, this is amazing work for musicians who were in their mid-40's who hadn't created new music in YEARS - let alone them rebuilding the AiC brand with a new singer coming along. This specific song may sound a bit hollow in comparison to Layne's era, but it's amazing considering how long it took AiC to get here =)
I like heavy music and I like psychedelic music, I like time signature cuts, I never got Alice in Chains. But the guys who get it love it. I don't think they're wrong. It's a band between times, not quite giving up 80s virtuoso vocals and not quite getting to grunge. No hate, just not my thing.
You should REACT to Counting crows. Check out the August and everything after album. It's one of the few albums, in my opinion, that you can listen to from beginning to end. Also, look at Stone Temple Pilots (Core Album) and Pearl Jam (Ten album), and if you want to go a bit softer, try Cyndi Lauper, Mariah Carey, and even Chicago or Air Supply.
Y'all are so damn cute! Been watching the both of you for some time. Y'all are refreshing & real! And y'all are so polite and classy. I love that. I'm currently going down the rabbit hole of the Tom McDonald with y'all. I wish I would have clicked on it a year ago. Y'all are using your platform for love and peace -- and y'all are rational. It breaks my heart that so many people are lost, boo Hoo, have such a level of immaturity that I've never seen in my life. That's why y'all are refreshing. Y'all see it, you have a healthy conversation about it. Talk about both sides. It's the way conversations should go. If people would latch on to y'all's style of communication, the world would be so much more peaceful. ❤❤❤❤❤
I love Layne he’s my second favorite singer of all time after Cornell.. I know he was a huge part of AIC and he wrote some amazing songs for AIC but I feel like Jerry added a lot to AIC so the new AIC isn’t that far off from the AIC sound .. not like when Kurt from Nirvana passed away .. they kind of couldn’t go on wit Nirvana because it would’ve been waaaaay too different to be Nirvana music since Kurt sang and came up wit most of the songs .. Jerry is too much of an impact on AIC for them to loose the sound .. again I love Layne but Jerry did harmonize wit him a lot and came up wit a lot of the riffs and music ..
12yrs ago or so my wife comes home and tells me she got us AiC tickets for a fall tour. I'm like what? They are still around? New singer? That's pretty random but ok. A few days later she's like Oh yeah and they are touring with Mastadon and Def tones. At this point im wondering wtf is with this line up? And AiC is going to get destroyed. I was truly expecting the worst for AiC. Boy was I wrong, They held their own no problem at all. I'd say they stole the show that evening. It was surprisingly good.
