| | Alice In Chains Black Gives Way To Blue CD Alice In Chains Discography of CDs
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When Layne Staley died from a drug overdose in 2002, it had already been several years since most Alice in Chains fans stopped hoping for a new album. The singer had become a recluse since the late-`90s, and there was little indication that AIC would ever again produce much in the way of new music. As a result, when the remaining members reunited to release BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE in 2009, expectations were low. To the delight of all however, the album proved to be perhaps the Seattle combo's most energetic and consistent effort since its masterpiece DIRT. Perhaps the most surprising element of the new record was how much it sounded exactly like Alice in Chains. While new singer William DuVall was not an exact Staley soundalike, he managed to evoke both the unique timbre and sense of deep angst that were the late vocalist's trademarks. Throughout, the sound is heavier and sturdier than ever before, with songs like the first single "A Looking In View" and "Check My Brain" borrowing a bit from the nu-metal bands Alice in Chains inspired, and beating the upstarts at their own game.
It's hard not to feel for Alice in Chains -- all the guys in the band were lifers, all except lead singer Layne Staley, who never managed to exorcise his demons, succumbing to drug addiction in 2002. Alice in Chains stopped being a going concern long before that, all due to Staley's addictions, and it took guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez, and drummer Sean Kinney a long time to decide to regroup, finally hiring William DuVall as Staley's replacement and delivering Black Gives Way to Blue a full 14 years after the band's last album. To everybody's credit, Black Gives Way to Blue sounds like it could have been delivered a year after Alice in Chains: it's unconcerned with fashion; it's true to their dark, churning gloom rock; and if you're not paying attention too closely, it's easy to mistake DuVall for his predecessor. There's a difference between desperately attempting to recapture past glories and reconnecting with their roots, and Alice in Chains fall into the latter category. While they'll never be mistaken for a feel-good band, there is a palpable sense of relief that they get to play together again as a band, and what's remarkable is that they still sound like themselves, capturing that weird murk halfway between '80s metal and '90s northwestern sludge, reminding us that we were missing something in their absence. ~ Stephen Thomas ErlewineSpin (p.72) - "Alice in Chains still have an appealingly outcast aura on their first studio album in 14 years."
Billboard (p.84) - "The droning 'Private Hell' takes the listener into a trance-like state, while the album-closing title track is a salute to Stanley that features Elton John on piano."
Q (Magazine) (p.116) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he quartet sound reborn, with new vocalist William DuVall's eerie melodies perfectly complimenting Jerry Cantrell's lead-bottomed riffs. A stunning return." Black Gives Way To Blue Music | List Price | $18.98 (You save $4.89) | | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, Pop CDs, Alternative, Grunge, Rock | | Label | Virgin | | Orig Year | 2009 | | All Time Sales Rank |  3977  | | CD Universe Part number | 7989421 | | Catalog number | 67159 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Sep 29, 2009 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Producer | Alice In Chains; Nick Raskulinecz | | Engineer | Paul Figueroa; Nick Raskulinecz | | Additional Info | Limited Edition; Digipak |
Alice In Chains Black Gives Way To Blue Songs Black Gives Way To Blue Music Black Gives Way To Blue Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews Eerie sounding,Great AIC Disc.
Disc is a great comeback recording.
Almost sounds as if Layne Stayley has never left the planet!Jerry Cantrell is one damn good guitar player!
Submitted by ggwmack (Montgomery,Il,USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 2 of 2 found this helpful.
 very solid cd
There is alot of old AIC in this new cd so most fans will have no problem picking it up and nodding right along with it. By far not there best work but not forgettable in the least more than worth a listen. The Crunchy churning guitar riffs are there just like they should be. The vocals in places are eerily similar to Layne but never in a outright copying way. Highlights for me were "All Secrets Known" and "Acid Bubble". with any luck they will putting music of this quality for years to come.
Submitted by Michael (summerville,sc,usa)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 2 of 2 found this helpful.
Alice in Chains back in a big way
Alice in Chains returns, BIG TIME, to reclaim their throne as the dark masters of organically shadowed soundscapes. The new record is every bit as strong as "Facelift" and "Dirt" and would have made a more appropriate followup to album #2 than their inconsistent self-titled release at the time. There is no replacing Lane but Jerry Cantrell and the band have confidently proven, without doubt, that a determined life moves on. Simply stated, "Black Gives Way to Blue" is along side of the new Porcupine Tree, Megadeth, and OSI cds as the best of the year.
Submitted by The Trooper (Spokane, WA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. Black Gives Way to Blue - Layne Gives The Way to William
I am a huge Alice in Chains fan. I am always skeptical when bands try to replace their singers and move on, doing this has very rarely been a successful move in my opinion...but I gotta say, Layne lives on in William Duvall. Wow. Seeing Alice in Chains play live, I closed my eyes and just listened...William emulates Layne so well, I could have been fooled - is he channeling him from the other side somehow?! I know this is the bands first recording since Layne died almost 15 years ago... and from the very first listen, I was floored. Jerry Cantrell captures a sound that is even below "the brown sound"; creating a darker yet brighter sound all at once, as only Jerry can. He has created his own new color palette of sound...Black Gives Way to Blue captures the classic essence of A.I.C and at the same time it provides the listener with a fresh twist that matches the demands of today's hard rock audience. I think Layne would approve.
JayDee 10-17-2009
Submitted by jacqueline1323 (Walnut Creek, CA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Back from the (virtual) dead
This is what Alice should've been back in the day, not the lackluster eponymous album that was nearly their swan-song. They sound rejuvenated, recalling the energy of Facelift and the dark majesty of Dirt;all mixed in with modern nuances. Definitely (alongside new Megadeth and Lacuna Coil) one of the best albums of 2009.
Submitted by mikestan75 (Gros-Islet, St.Lucia)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
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| | Nine Circles Situations CD (2009)
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Completely DIY and self produced, Northern New Jersey's Nine Circles makes a bold mark with their polished sound and dynamic stage show. Nine Circles is currently showcasing across the East Coast with their explosive live show, promoting their debut independent release, "Situations", amazing audiences and converting new followers at such venues as The Bitter End, Arlene's Grocery, Crash Mansion, Maxwell's, The Whiskey Bar, Sullivan Hall, Don Hill's, and Kenney's Castaways.Situations has received rave reviews on New Jersey's Rock radio station 105.5 WDHA and Allentown, Pennsylvania's, 95.1 WZZO. The catchy masterpieces of their previous record (From the Outside, Now Entertainment) landed them an independent deal with Warehouse Records. Although the label fell by the wayside, it brought them the exposure they needed and numerous licensing and publishing deals. Nine Circles has since shared the stage with national acts such as Eve 6, Butch Walker, American Hi-Fi, SR-71, Bigwig, Splender, Wheatus, Ben Lee, Tidewater Grain, and Liquid Gang. Their hook heavy, hard rock, performances put the band in a league all its own, far from all the emo/hardcore/punk outfits that are crowding the Tri-State music scene today. With vocals you can sing along to, and chords that make you want to break out your air guitar, Nine Circles create moments that ...
| | Trisonics Live In Stadelheim Prison CD (2009)
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Rock'n'roll in prison: The TriSonics play for outlawsDerek Singleton, guitar player and composer, is the "brain" of The TriSonics who's coming from Texas where plenty of youngsters learn to play the guitar in their adolescence! It is quite amazing the fact that he is professionally involved in several rock'n'roll bands for 20 years now! Living in Germany has managed to impeccably combine the American rock'n'roll tradition with neo-rockabilly sounds and build the exciting sound of The TriSonics. Accompanied by Barbara on double bass and Dim on drums, they altogether offer an astonishing live album from the Stadelheim prison in Munich. Highlights of the album are, Johnnh Cash's "Folsom Prison", Blondie's "Call Me", their smashing hit in Germany "Mystery Lady" and the brand new song "Solitude". When rock'n'roll is one's "native tongue", will surely know how to play and sing in the best possible way, like Derek does.Read some excerpts from an interview with the bass player, Barbara (read German version below):Your prison concert is reminiscent of Johnny Cash. Were you deliberately walking in his foot steps? BS: Participation is a very important component of any functioning society. We chose to play there, just as other people donate blood. By the way, the Bad Toelz Boys Choir performed in the same prison. I wonder if they were asked about the Johnny Cash connection. What's it like playing for people that definitely won't be going home after the show?BS: Well, you don't wish them a safe trip home, that's for sure, but that doesn't ...
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