Alternative Weekend: Focus on ‘Alice in Chains'

I have been posting most weekends using @detlev’s #metalweekend tag, but my main love of music is progressive and alternative music. Some of my posts have included these songs, but I feel they are not keeping with the spirit of metal.

I will continue to post article’s using #metalweekend occasionally but feel I have more to offer regarding these other genres that I am more familiar with.

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Introducing #alternativeweekend. Post an article that highlights THREE great songs that are either progressive or alternative and use the tag #alternativeweekend or use the ‘Focus on’ series if you like. There are no rules, just make your own!

If you have a short story or something to offer regarding an opinion on your songs, then share it with us!

I was introduced to Alice in Chains like many other bands in the early 90’s courtesy of MTV’s Alternative Nation. Sadly this great show has since gone by the wayside in 1997 according to the link.

Songs such as Rooster were played which I would consider an initial slow burner that explodes into a flurry of the heavy classic guitar.

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The voices of Layne Staley combined with Jerry Cantrell made for a very distinct sound which you loved or loathed. It all sounded so ‘American' but with no disrespect to the American race the accent sounded very clear to my ears.

As I mentioned in last weeks’ Alternative Weekend, the music world lost Layne Staley in 1996 to a drugs overdose.

This was not the end of the band as Jerry Cantrell was the orchestrator and main songwriter of the big hits such as Would?, Them Bones and Man in the Box (although Staley is credited for the lyrics in the latter).

Alice in Chains – Them Bones (Dirt – 1992)

Though I first heard ‘Them Bones’ via the excellent Alternative Nation MTV show, I most remember it from the game Guitar Hero II and me failing to play the damn thing.

It was tricky as hell even on my piece of plastic, so playing it for real must be really hard.

This is a hard rocking song with a great driving riff. Don’t play it when grandma is around.

Alice in Chains – Man in the Box (Facelift – 1990)

This song elevated the band to new heights after it was placed on MTV’s rotation list thus exposing the band to a whole new set of budding watchers and fans.

It particularly highlights Staleys’ voice as both an individual vocal and the collaboration with Cantrell.

Even @bingbabe likes this one, and she’s into Westlife, Backstreet Boys, er need I go on?

Alice in Chains – Grind (Alice in Chains – 1995)

Grind is synonymous to a horror song, listen to it and judge for yourself. Did the band go out of their way to create the creepiest, scariest introduction to a song possible?

What it does is create an immediate impression on you. It contains a strongly driven verse that if anything suffers from a weak chorus.

Play loud for the best experience and like ‘Them Bones’ make sure grandma is locked away somewhere.

Alice in Chains – Would? (Dirt – 1992)

Without doubt, their finest hour, ‘Would?' had an instant effect on me, the one who never connects with music until I have played it a song a dozen times.

Like ‘Man in the Box’, the song has been played to death on MTV and is likely their most recognizable tune and with good reason.

Several years ago I noticed this broody menacing song was playing in the background to the game, ‘Burnout Paradise’ on the PS3. They didn’t half pick a good one for that game!

You may have noticed that I have chosen zero songs from the post Layne Staley days.

The band are still active and have had a few shifts in members, notably vocalist ‘William DuVall’ when they reformed in 2006 ten years after the death of Staley.

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I simply haven't listened to any of this new material and so cannot judge it. My memories of the band remain fixed in the '90s and linked to the Grunge scene of Seattle.