The New Alice In Chains Track "A Looking in View"

**chefcraig** · 06-30-2009, 06:44 PM

This tune popped up at the Alice In Chains website. This song is an advanced single from the forthcoming Black Gives Way to Blue, which is due to be released September 29, 2009. The album will feature William DuVall on vocals.

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**Mr Walker** · 06-30-2009, 09:07 PM

I'll buy it, just to support Cantrell.
He seems like a good guy.

**jhale667** · 06-30-2009, 09:51 PM

Sounds interesting.
Mike Inez was one of the first people I was introduced to when I got to LA back in the day...think we were co-workers for like 10 minutes, then he got the Ozzy gig....

good to see him doing well, too.

**FORD** · 06-30-2009, 11:39 PM

DuVall is a good singer, but they really should have changed the name of the band. Layne really was Alice in Chains, in the same way that Freddie was Queen. It's not anything against the other musicians, who have a right to earn a living. They just need to be a new band.

**WACF** · 07-01-2009, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by FORD

DuVall is a good singer, but they really should have changed the name of the band. Layne really was Alice in Chains, in the same way that Freddie was Queen. It's not anything against the other musicians, who have a right to earn a living. They just need to be a new band.

Good track...I like it.

I hear ya on the name...the only thing that almost makes it OK is Layne passing on.

**binnie** · 07-01-2009, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by chan_bkny

Excellent! Looking forward to the new album.

Does this song sound as though it could have been on Degradation Trip?

I was thinking the same thing, although it's better than anything on 'Degradation Trip'.

This is a very promising song - they could never replicate Layne's tortured voice, and a large part of the band's soul clearly died with him. That being said, this is certainly a great song and sounds like a natural evolution for the band. Love the melodies.

**POJO_Risin** · 07-02-2009, 06:24 PM

Yeah, I'll buy it...sounds pretty good...as good as anything out there anyways.

Can it compare to old Alice? Of course not.

Should they change the name of the band? Christ, I've crossed that fucking street too many fucking times. Who cares....probably...

Will it still be good?

I think so.

Oh, and here's to AlinChainz...

wonder what he would have thought about the matter...

**Golden AWe** · 07-03-2009, 02:25 AM

Sounds very good!

I'll buy this. Yeah, I loved "Degradation Trip" too.

In worst case, it's better than Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley or Timbal...I mean Chris Cornell have to offer nowadays!

But what is Jimi Hendrix doing in that photo?

**if6was9** · 07-04-2009, 06:31 PM

What's wrong with you, guys? This track is sooooo boring!

**ELVIS** · 07-04-2009, 09:11 PM

It sounds like Alice In Chains on Pro Tools...

It would be better acoustic, but it's long and boring...

**kwame k** · 07-05-2009, 01:04 AM

Like it and I'm going to get it. Should they have changed the name? Sounds like Alice in Chains to me.

**damngoodtimes** · 07-05-2009, 11:58 PM

I like it, but agree it's a bit long. Hope there's a few songs on there with the snap of a Would?.

I'm with pojo on the name thing. it probably doesn't matter. we could all go round and round with "well, he's dead so that's better" or "how can they call it that if Layne's gone?"

in the end, we can all agree that this is AIC much more than the Axl Rose Project is GNR.

also, the simple truth is that the band name sells. just look at any of the nostalgia acts out there, from Skynyrd to Styx to Foreigner and however many in between that have varying levels of replaced members. people buy tickets based on the name. if it sounds good the first time, they'll buy 'em again for next year's tour.

like Ford says, by all accounts, these other 3 guys are good guys and I won't be the one to say that they can't get their paychecks.

I'll disagree with you, Ford, on this count, though. I think you dismiss Jerry far too easily by calling it Layne's band. while not quite rivaling Pete Townshend, Jerry was clearly the principal songwriter, only guitarist (who, by the way, was copied by just about every "new rock" guitar player from about 95-03), and also responsible for about 30-40% of the vocals.

Layne clearly provided a face for the tortured soul of the band (and fuckin' lived it, too); but, on top of the great guitar sound, what made that band was the amazing harmonies between those two voices.

I wish them all the best going forward. I've seen them twice with William. While it will never be the same, it's still pretty good. Hell, even for bands where they're all still alive, it is never the same, anyway.

by the way, nobody else mentions Jerry's guitar in that clip?

**ELVIS** · 07-06-2009, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by damngoodtimes

Axl Rose

Who ??

**Satan** · 07-06-2009, 12:35 AM

For the record, Layne is totally cool with the guys moving on. He told me that if anybody could have asked him to pick a replacement, Duvall would have been on his short list.

**Satan** · 07-06-2009, 03:11 PM

Joey's doing OK down here. He's patched things up with DeeDee and Johnny, and they're playing the occasional show. They won't name an official drummer until either Tommy or Marky makes it down here, but Keith Moon sits in with them every once in a while. Now that's an interesting show!

**Mr Walker** · 08-11-2009, 02:49 PM

ALICE IN CHAINS Collaborates With ELTON JOHN On New Album - Aug. 11, 2009
Among the many highlights on "Black Gives Way To Blue", the highly anticipated new album from ALICE IN CHAINS, is a special guest performance by Elton John. The two rock legends collaborated on the album's stunning title track, "Black Gives Way To Blue", a heart-stirring tribute to ALICE IN CHAINS' late lead singer Layne Staley. The album arrives in stores September 29.

"We were thinking about adding piano to the track and a friend suggested we call Elton," recalls guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell. "I remember laughing and saying, 'Yeah, I'll get right on that.' But I decided it was worth trying and wrote Elton an email explaining what that song means to us — that it's a real, raw openhearted song for Layne. We sent him the track and got a call shortly after saying he thought it was beautiful and that he wanted to play on it. We were blown away. Elton John is a huge influence on me as a songwriter and having him on that song is an amazing honor for us."

"I've long been an admirer of Jerry Cantrell and when he asked me to play on 'Black Gives Way To Blue', I was very flattered and couldn't resist," says John. "It was a great recording session with ALICE IN CHAINS for a beautiful song."

About the collaboration, Cantrell says, "Elton was finishing his Red Piano run in Vegas, so we flew there and hung out for a few hours. Walking into a studio and seeing the sheet music for that song on Elton's piano made it meaningful on so many different levels. The whole experience was pretty magical."

**Mr Walker** · 08-11-2009, 02:50 PM

I haven't listened to it in years, but I recall some Elton John sounding things on Jerry's 'Degradation Trip'

**chefcraig** · 08-15-2009, 02:53 PM

This is another advance track from forthcoming Black Gives Way to Blue album, called "Check My Brain".

Originally Posted by Mr Walker

I haven't listened to it in years, but I recall some Elton John sounding things on Jerry's 'Degradation Trip'

Here is a cover of "Curtains", from Elton's Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy album. This was recorded 10/19/2007 in Tulsa, OK. Apologies for the sound quality.

**Little Texan** · 08-16-2009, 02:15 AM

I like that new AIC song...it definitely sounds like AIC, but I agree that it drags on a little too long.

**Golden AWe** · 08-16-2009, 01:32 PM

I liked the first one too but the second one...it rocks! And same with the lyrics. Really like this! There's misery and darkness...but a little difference from Layne's stuff...

So I found myself in the sun, oh yeah
A hell of a place to end a run, oh yeah
California, I'm fine
Somebody check my brain
California's all right
Somebody check my brain
Check my brain anekatips.com

I walk these streets, I creep and I fall, oh yeah
When she sang I answered the call, oh yeah
California, I'm fine somebody check my brain
California's all right somebody check my brain
Aaaaah tears have filled my bones
Aaaaah years expended gone

guitar

I hung my guns and put em away, oh yeah
The trick of the trade, and by the way, oh yeah
California, I'm fine somebody check my brain
California's all right somebody check my brain

Aaaah tears have filled my bones
aaaah years expended gone
(Repeat)

Check my brain, check my brain ...

**binnie** · 08-17-2009, 02:24 AM

'Check My Brain' is awesome. Wow!

**Golden AWe** · 08-17-2009, 04:58 AM

You can (legally?) download the new single on this site: GrungeReport.net » Blog Archive » LISTEN TO ALICE IN CHAINS NEW SINGLE “CHECK MY BRAIN”

**Golden AWe** · 09-15-2009, 06:09 PM

Kickass video for Check My Brain: Media Page « Official Alice In Chains Website

Like Hunter S. Thompson meets Harry Callahan in the dark. Cantrell's mosh scares off birds is a grate little detail. What a coloring! Not many video has looked this kewl.

**Golden AWe** · 09-17-2009, 01:15 AM

And here's the last song of the forthcoming album played live, another tribute song to Layne:

YouTube - Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue - Live Acoustic NYC 9/9/09

Here are samples from every song of the album. Sounds promising!

YouTube - Official Alice In Chains Album Sampler for Black Gives Way to Blue

**binnie** · 09-17-2009, 02:07 AM

Thanks Golden Awe, sounds fucking incredible!

**chefcraig** · 09-28-2009, 06:58 PM

You can hear several of the tracks from Black Gives Way To Blue at Youtube here.

This is the title track.

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**Golden AWe** · 10-04-2009, 02:53 PM

Title by title

1. "All Secrets Known" - definetely one of the best tracks on the album. Jerry's lead vocals. Haunting voices, very dark athmosphere...but the song is alive, it moves on nicely, better than "A looking in view". Really like the small part from 2:30 and the small solo guitar part at 3:10. AIC can sound DARK even without Layne.

2. "Check My Brain" - being the first video released, I really dig this faster track. Grate lyrics, and the video is kewl as ice. This title is also a bit insane.
William and Jerry share lead vocals. Nice. "SOMEBODY CHECK MY BRAIN..."

3. "Last of My Kind" - William's lead. I really dig this song too. William kicks ass, he's not trying to be Layne, but he sounds really angry on this one. He's got an interesting voice, he sings high notes but it somehow sounds thick. Btw, I think this is what Metallica often tries to sound like, but they lack songwriting like this.

4. "Your Decision" - Good acoustic tune. Jerry really knows how to write these tunes, they somehow sound alike, but still different. The part (b-part?) starting from 1:40 is aces. Really a Cantrell solo tune.

5. "A Looking in View" - Good song, but as said, a bit too long.

6. "When the Sun Rose Again" Acoustic song. This somehow reminds me of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. I think Chris Cornell should sing this.

7. "Acid Bubble" - Heavy tune. Quite slow too, but rolls a bit better than "A Looking in View" - the songs comes alive at about 2:50. Very AIC.

8. "Lesson Learned" - I really dig the guitars on this one! Very cool like "Check My Brain". You feel like driving a car on the highway to hell, where you can see the cities buring into a desert.

9. "Take Her Out" - Another succesful song, quite simple but it works. Really dark, but rolls well. Jerry lead vocals.

10. "Private Hell" - End of The World-song. Top 5 on the album. I do think William's voice should be let loose more, now they've been a bit too careful? It somehow sinks into the whole mass of sounds?

11. "Black Gives Way to Blue" - A very beautiful acoustic tune dedicated to Layne.

Overall, I give this 8/10. It feels like they played it safe and Jerry sang most of the lead vocals, and even though he's gotten better and better all the time, they should let William really show what he really is made of. So far, and on the songs he's on the lead, I really like his voice, and he has participated on the song writing too. Jerry's songwriting really doesn't let us down, on that scale this is better album ovarall than the tripod-album, S/T, that last album with Layne.

Get this album!

**binnie** · 10-05-2009, 02:29 AM

That's a good review 'Awe.

It is a very, very strong album. Sounds like AIC, but an AIC that is moving forward rather than looking back.

**Figs** · 11-13-2009, 12:09 PM

OK I'm slow....just heard Check My Brain, pretty good!

**Terry** · 11-14-2009, 06:53 PM

Their new stuff is okay.

Cantrell wrote so many of those older songs...even a tune like "Rain When I Die" which sounds like it would be a Staley song, is a Cantrell composition. From what I've read, the band were trying to put something together in the couple of years leading up to Staley's death, but Staley was too debilitated and didn't even want to participate.

They're trying to move ahead. Might have been a good move to change the name in some ways, but whatever. AIC had such an odd career, anyway. They got big, then just...stopped. Stopped for no particular reason, either. No long career-fade like Pearl Jam. No abrupt, dramatic end like Nirvana. No continual stops and restarts like Stone Temple Pilots. Didn't hang in there perhaps one album too long like Soundgarden.

Even thougb Cantrell wrote so many of the Staley-era tunes and Cantrell's co-vocals were a big part of the AIC sound, it'll still be odd to hear someone else singing Layne's parts on something like Rooster, or Them Bones...

**binnie** · 11-16-2009, 08:25 AM

I saw AIC on Saturday, and it was like a RELIGIOUS experience.

Duvall fits in very well - he doesn't try to dominate, or to be Layne, he just sings the songs. The band were crushingly heavy, note perfect, and oppressively melodic - outstanding.

They played a couple of curve balls too - What The Hell Have I, for instance.

**Golden AWe** · 01-09-2010, 06:30 AM

In case there's someone who hasn't seen this...Phil Anselmo with AIC performing "Would?".

Pretty kewl version...beats the hell our of James Hetfield singing this back in the day

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**HELLVIS** · 01-11-2010, 04:23 PM

There was once a band called AC DC who's singer died. He was replaced, and they did just fine (I think)....Thanks to Brian Johnson millions of kids in the 90's also got to know Bon Scott.

**VAiN** · 01-11-2010, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Golden AWe

In case there's someone who hasn't seen this...Phil Anselmo with AIC performing "Would?".

Pretty kewl version...beats the hell our of James Hetfield singing this back in the day

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I was at this taping! They actually did Would? twice!

**Mr Walker** · 02-18-2010, 10:37 PM

I know there probably aren't a lot of fans of exploitation TV here, but tonight's episode of Celebrity Rehab when Mike Starr came clean to Layne Staley's mom about being the last person to see him alive was pretty compelling.

**Golden AWe** · 02-19-2010, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Walker

I know there probably aren't a lot of fans of exploitation TV here, but tonight's episode of Celebrity Rehab when Mike Starr came clean to Layne Staley's mom about being the last person to see him alive was pretty compelling.

Can you tell me which season and which show? I might find it via dowload sites...I'm interested.

**Mr Walker** · 02-19-2010, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Golden AWe

Can you tell me which season and which show? I might find it via dowload sites...I'm interested.

It was the episode that aired last night... I'm sure if you go to the VH1 site and look for a Celebrity Rehab link you can watch the episode there.

During the begining of the season Mike would walk around telling everyone Layne was his best friend and I just thought he was a deluded junkie since he left/got kicked out of the band in 1992. I just assumed that Layne probably had nothing to do with him once he left the band. Then when they showed Layne's mom show up at a family get together along with Mike's mother I was like 'Damn... maybe these two did stay friends', but then when he went on to tell the story of being the last person to see Layne alive I was really surprised. He said Layne was pissed off at him because he was all fucked up on Benzos so Mike said fuck it I'm leaving. Then Mike said the last words he ever heard Layne say were 'Not like this, don't leave like this'. Layne's mom straight out asked him if he watched Layne die, but Mike said no. He left Layne's apartment and went to him Mom's house where he said he holed up in her basement for a two week black-out. One thing I've learned in dealing with addicts is that if their lips are moving... they are probably lying, so who really knows what the 'true' story is.

**Golden AWe** · 02-19-2010, 12:31 PM

Wow. The imdb lists only one show aired, so I'll look into the first episodes of the third season.

This is also interesting because my better half has dealt with addicts in her work. She might be interested too. And I don't mean "AWe+internet" when I talk about addicts

I also have some alcoholics in the relatives, or have had, some of them already passed away. It's sad to see someone you used to look up to piss in his/her pants just to get attention, and then cry for his misery.

**chefcraig** · 02-19-2010, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Golden AWe

Can you tell me which season and which show? I might find it via dowload sites...I'm interested.

GA, the episode is part of the current (3rd) season. Here is a link to the official site in order to watch complete episodes. I have to warn ya, I'm unsure if you'll be able to view the shows at this site outside of the continental United States, yet it's worth a shot.

**Mr Walker** · 02-19-2010, 12:37 PM

Check these links Awe...

BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Ex-ALICE IN CHAINS Bassist Talks About Death Of His 'Best Friend' LAYNE STALEY; Video Available

BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Ex-ALICE IN CHAINS Bassist MIKE STARR On 'Celebrity Rehab': Entire Sixth Episode Available

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