Alice in Chains- A Looking in View

[General Zod]

Originally Posted by Harvester

Dedicated to Zod:

What's ironic is, I actually find the sound of Tom Petty's voice more annoying than a Gildenlow/LaBrie duet.

Well played Harvester... well played.

Zod

[mandrake6]

Originally Posted by Harvester

This is what I do not agree with at all. Jerry wrote all the music, 1/2 the lyrics, and his harmonies were what arguably pushed them to a further unique status back in the day. Layne was an integral part of the band as co-lyricist and vocalist, but he was not Alice in Chains. Jerry and the band earned the name just as much as Layne did. Why should they give up potential profits in this day of shitty musical revenues if they busted their ass for over a decade on something. It wasn't their fault Layne was a junkie.

I have to say that I agree with both Zod and Glenn in different respects. When I first heard that Cantrell was going to do the AiC tour as AiC with Duvall singing, I thought it was a horrid thing to do the memory of Layne. I too said many times that AiC is not AiC without Layne singing. However, what Glenn says is true as well. By the time the S/T came out, Jerry was the primary songwriter and vocalist. And the harmonies between both Jerry and Layne are all Jerry's. Layne was a junkie (RIP), and he wasn't really a huge contribution to the musical direction of the band by this time.

With that said, I have purchased the song from iTunes, and I do think that it is a quality AiC song. It may be a little lengthy, but it is still a good AiC song. I am probably going to go see them when they come to Chicago, but I guess it is more out of curiosity than anything. Part of me believes this is the right thing to do for the memory of Layne.

And then part of me just wants to scream that he is using the AiC name. It goes back to the same argument for GnR, AC/DC, Van Halen, or any other band who has replaced a band member. I think "Chinese Democracy" is a great record, but I also believe that it should have been called "The W. Axl Rose Band" and not GnR.

Also, I wouldn't exactly say that Cantrell's solo efforts were a complete failure! "Boggy Depot" was a great album, as was "Degradation Trip." The quality was there, but there was no money from the record label for promotion, touring, etc. I saw him open up for Metallica many years ago and he was amazing.

It's hard to pick one side or the other (at least in my case). And I think that this is probably an argument that is never-ending, and as I told Met-Al this morning, it is one with no right or wrong answer.

Let us all remember what opinions are like...

P.S. And I know Met-Al is going to give me crap for posting from work, but what do you want? It's the day before a holiday weekend. I'm bored!!

[ICEDEARTHFAN]

If there was ever a clone singer it's got to be the dude that replaced Steve Perry in Journey.I'm not sure if he's still with them but when I heard Open Arms by this guy,I was shocked.I've never heard someone be DEAD ON like that to a previous singer.We all know Ripper can sing Judas Priest in his sleep,but you can still tell it's not Rob.The same goes with most bands that try and clone the previous singer.That Journey guy was just plain freaky though......

[Creeps]

Originally Posted by General Zod

David Lee Roth and Ozzy didn't die.

It's not solely about swapping singers out. Hell, my favorite CD of 2004 was "The Glorious Burden" by Iced Earth, even though my favorite singer had just left the band.

Zod

Well.. Ozzy could be in question . My point was replacements happen, dead or not. A lot of them, regardless of anyone's personal opinions, are very successful.

[Creeps]

Originally Posted by ICEDEARTHFAN

If there was ever a clone singer it's got to be the dude that replaced Steve Perry in Journey.I'm not sure if he's still with them but when I heard Open Arms by this guy,I was shocked.I've never heard someone be DEAD ON like that to a previous singer.We all know Ripper can sing Judas Priest in his sleep,but you can still tell it's not Rob.The same goes with most bands that try and clone the previous singer.That Journey guy was just plain freaky though......

I still think Jeff Scott Soto would have been better for the band and us. All the reviews he got were stellar as he took over on tour. A different voice might have been the start of something special.

[maleitch]

So some of you are having this silly teenage girl angst issue with the fact that three living members of the band would dare to continue on and still have the gaul to keep the band name the same? I saw the new AIC band live, and the evil clone sounded amazing. Sorry, but there is just as much talent there as when the dead junkie was singing. Feel free to cut yourself before your Layne shrine, but I am more than happy to have AiC back in whatever form they decide. Besides, last time I checked it was their f'n band.

[The Invisible Guest]

CASH CALL !!!

[Harvester]

Originally Posted by The Invisible Guest

CASH CALL !!!

So what?

[Creeps]

Ok here's an example of a singer who had passed away and was "replaced" (and I use that term very loosely).

The Doors.

Yes, they altered their name, but when Ian Astbury stepped in, it was pretty damn impressive. Also it had to be one of the best performances I've ever seen live. No Densmore either. Robbie, Ray and Ian put on a hell of a show. Did he sound like Morrison? At times, yes, spot on, but it wasn't like he was trying to imitate Jim (I think it comes naturally for those of you who have seen the Cult perform live) just trying to put on a good show.

Most of the time he would step back to the drum riser and "out of the spotlight" so to speak. Sometimes it seemed he was very intimidated by being on stage with them, but that could be my lone observation.

It's my understanding that for whatever reason Densmore didn't want Ian in the band and stated if they wanted him behind the kit Ian had to go. I have no idea who, if anyone, is singing with them now.

3/4 remaining guys in the band still want to play music, I see no problems with them doing so. They even played a Morrison penned tune that was never recorded at the show. Wasn't bad.

[The Invisible Guest]

Originally Posted by Harvester

So what?

I was just trying to further rile up the 3 post newb that posted before me ... figured that would elicit an interesting response. Oh well .. thanks for ruining my fun

When I read that post I was reminded of the Queensryche fans of old that would come out of the woodwork when someone would criticize their favorite band.


Britt

[maleitch]

Originally Posted by The Invisible Guest

I was just trying to further rile up the 3 post newb that posted before me ... figured that would elicit an interesting response. Oh well .. thanks for ruining my fun

When I read that post I was reminded of the Queensryche fans of old that would come out of the woodwork when someone would criticize their favorite band.


Britt

Oh look, its another internet message board veteran. What a warrior you are with your long distinguished record of posting on the Internet.

Hahah...it takes a special kind of insecure poindexter to make that point. The same kind of kook that uses little boy speak like "newb" and "".

Can't wait to buy the new AiC.

[The Invisible Guest]

Originally Posted by maleitch

Oh look, its another internet message board veteran. What a warrior you are with your long distinguished record of posting on the Internet.

Hahah...it takes a special kind of insecure poindexter to make that point. The same kind of kook that uses little boy speak like "newb" and "".

Can't wait to buy the new AiC.

Maybe I pegged you wrong ... just figured you were an old school AIC fan who didn't take too well to people having anything negative to say about one of your all time favorites. It just seemed from that first post of yours that you were taking the criticism a bit personally.

I liked them back in the day as well ... just didn't find this song all that appealing. I don't think it's anywhere up to the level of their top stuff, and thought it seemed a clonish and boring.

Oh well .. hopefully the disc will be worthy of your cash.


Britt

[Joel-RZ]

I can certainly understand why it's hard to take a 'new' Alice in Chains vocalist. Layne is one of my favorite vocalists. Dirt is easily one of the best rock albums. I love Staley's voice. But, imo, Jerry did this the right way. He has toured with Duvall, introducing fans to a singer who he thought could fill the shoes, who he gets a long with and has some sort of chemistry with. Then, spent a good amount of time in the studio with his band mates writing and recording, who all agreed with the move. I'm in the camp where I don't think Duvall is a clone and I was actually worried what he would sound like on NEW AiC after hearing what he sounds like live. But, giving this new song a chance, I was floored at how it recaptures the sound of early AiC, specifically Dirt era. I can't imagine any fan not giving it a listen just out of curiosity. That boggles my mind, the refusal to even listen. This song sounds awesome to my ears.

And I can't imagine ANY band not jizzing their pants at a chance to make money doing what they love, regardless of the line-up. People die. It sucks. But why judge them on moving forward with something, anything? Do you honestly think they are doing this to spite Layne or the name of the band? When people's spouses die, do people hope they never start to date again and expect them to live out the rest of their days respecting their former love by being alone and miserable? No, they make a new life, while retaining all the great memories of the past. Layne's memory is fully intact on every album he was on, every show he nailed and every show he barely functioned through. He made some great contributions to music, but he's gone and by his own hand. Jerry and the other guys didn't die with him. I watched the video updates they released from the studio and was totally digging the little teases they allowed. For those just judging them based on the name of the band without listening to the music, christ, let the music do the talking. If they made this album with a different name, I bet lot of people would say, "This sounds like AiC, what a ripoff". Piss on it after you can say "I don't like it". I love it when people say "they are just doing it for the money". Uh...of course they are. They are doing it for the love of music, the money, the fame, the blow-jobs, the chance to play music and make a good living, etc. It's one of the only reasons people start a band or want to be a 'rockstar' in the first place. That reason never goes away, just some people get good at what they do and people can justify the money they make as a result.

I can't wait to hear the rest of what they came up with.

[rushzil2112]

I love the new song. AiC have been a fav band of mine since 5th grade for me, and I listened to them for the whole band, not just Layne's voice. Their music actually draws me in more than his voice, and you can't deny that Sean Kinney is an amazing drummer and that Mike Inez is an awesome bassist. Plus, I like the self-titled disc a whole lot, mainly because it was different and had a cool vibe to it IMHO.

[TENTH DREAMER DECEIVER]

What do the young ones say... QFT? Then QFT it is!

Originally Posted by Joel-RZ

I can certainly understand why it's hard to take a 'new' Alice in Chains vocalist. Layne is one of my favorite vocalists. Dirt is easily one of the best rock albums. I love Staley's voice. But, imo, Jerry did this the right way. He has toured with Duvall, introducing fans to a singer who he thought could fill the shoes, who he gets a long with and has some sort of chemistry with. Then, spent a good amount of time in the studio with his band mates writing and recording, who all agreed with the move. I'm in the camp where I don't think Duvall is a clone and I was actually worried what he would sound like on NEW AiC after hearing what he sounds like live. But, giving this new song a chance, I was floored at how it recaptures the sound of early AiC, specifically Dirt era. I can't imagine any fan not giving it a listen just out of curiosity. That boggles my mind, the refusal to even listen. This song sounds awesome to my ears.

And I can't imagine ANY band not jizzing their pants at a chance to make money doing what they love, regardless of the line-up. People die. It sucks. But why judge them on moving forward with something, anything? Do you honestly think they are doing this to spite Layne or the name of the band? When people's spouses die, do people hope they never start to date again and expect them to live out the rest of their days respecting their former love by being alone and miserable? No, they make a new life, while retaining all the great memories of the past. Layne's memory is fully intact on every album he was on, every show he nailed and every show he barely functioned through. He made some great contributions to music, but he's gone and by his own hand. Jerry and the other guys didn't die with him. I watched the video updates they released from the studio and was totally digging the little teases they allowed. For those just judging them based on the name of the band without listening to the music, christ, let the music do the talking. If they made this album with a different name, I bet lot of people would say, "This sounds like AiC, what a ripoff". Piss on it after you can say "I don't like it". I love it when people say "they are just doing it for the money". Uh...of course they are. They are doing it for the love of music, the money, the fame, the blow-jobs, the chance to play music and make a good living, etc. It's one of the only reasons people start a band or want to be a 'rockstar' in the first place. That reason never goes away, just some people get good at what they do and people can justify the money they make as a result.

I can't wait to hear the rest of what they came up with.

[maleitch]

Originally Posted by The Invisible Guest

Maybe I pegged you wrong ... just figured you were an old school AIC fan who didn't take too well to people having anything negative to say about one of your all time favorites. It just seemed from that first post of yours that you were taking the criticism a bit personally.

I liked them back in the day as well ... just didn't find this song all that appealing. I don't think it's anywhere up to the level of their top stuff, and thought it seemed a clonish and boring.

Oh well .. hopefully the disc will be worthy of your cash.


Britt

Fair enough. Not taking anything personally, just like to argue. In my opinion their top stuff ended with Dirt so I don't think Layne was the magic ingredient for the group as much as his voice and harmonizing were amazing.

Currently I am so blown away by the old John Arch EP that I am not sure I want to listen to anything else.

[maleitch]

Originally Posted by Joel-RZ

I can certainly understand why it's hard to take a 'new' Alice in Chains vocalist. Layne is one of my favorite vocalists. Dirt is easily one of the best rock albums. I love Staley's voice. But, imo, Jerry did this the right way. He has toured with Duvall, introducing fans to a singer who he thought could fill the shoes, who he gets a long with and has some sort of chemistry with. Then, spent a good amount of time in the studio with his band mates writing and recording, who all agreed with the move. I'm in the camp where I don't think Duvall is a clone and I was actually worried what he would sound like on NEW AiC after hearing what he sounds like live. But, giving this new song a chance, I was floored at how it recaptures the sound of early AiC, specifically Dirt era. I can't imagine any fan not giving it a listen just out of curiosity. That boggles my mind, the refusal to even listen. This song sounds awesome to my ears.

And I can't imagine ANY band not jizzing their pants at a chance to make money doing what they love, regardless of the line-up. People die. It sucks. But why judge them on moving forward with something, anything? Do you honestly think they are doing this to spite Layne or the name of the band? When people's spouses die, do people hope they never start to date again and expect them to live out the rest of their days respecting their former love by being alone and miserable? No, they make a new life, while retaining all the great memories of the past. Layne's memory is fully intact on every album he was on, every show he nailed and every show he barely functioned through. He made some great contributions to music, but he's gone and by his own hand. Jerry and the other guys didn't die with him. I watched the video updates they released from the studio and was totally digging the little teases they allowed. For those just judging them based on the name of the band without listening to the music, christ, let the music do the talking. If they made this album with a different name, I bet lot of people would say, "This sounds like AiC, what a ripoff". Piss on it after you can say "I don't like it". I love it when people say "they are just doing it for the money". Uh...of course they are. They are doing it for the love of music, the money, the fame, the blow-jobs, the chance to play music and make a good living, etc. It's one of the only reasons people start a band or want to be a 'rockstar' in the first place. That reason never goes away, just some people get good at what they do and people can justify the money they make as a result.

I can't wait to hear the rest of what they came up with.

Fooking ditto a million times over...

[General Zod]

Originally Posted by Joel-RZ

I can't imagine any fan not giving it a listen just out of curiosity. That boggles my mind, the refusal to even listen.

I guess we're even then; the desire to listen boggles my mind.

Zod

[Harvester]

Originally Posted by General Zod

I guess we're even then; the desire to listen boggles my mind.

Zod

It's like the Zod I know has slipped into a parallel dimension...

[General Zod]

Originally Posted by Harvester

It's like the Zod I know has slipped into a parallel dimension...

I call this parallel dimension home.

Zod

[Joel-RZ]

Originally Posted by General Zod

I guess we're even then; the desire to listen boggles my mind.

Zod

"whatevs". You are just scurred that a band you once thought created good music might actually produce something you might like again. Don't be scurred, man. Just click the little triangle. You might even like it!

[General Zod]

Originally Posted by Joel-RZ

"whatevs". You are just scurred that a band you once thought created good music might actually produce something you might like again. Don't be scurred, man.

I don't know what "scurred" means. Is that some sort of cool Hip Hop lingo?

Originally Posted by Joel-RZ

Just click the little triangle. You might even like it!

I listened to the song a few days ago. It's not bad... it's not good... it's boring. Sounds like the same crap they were doing on that self-titled piece of crap in 1995. Which is the other aspect to all this. When Queensryche has more recently released something of quality (Promised Land), maybe it's time to just let it go.

Zod

[Pelata]

Originally Posted by ICEDEARTHFAN

If there was ever a clone singer it's got to be the dude that replaced Steve Perry in Journey.I'm not sure if he's still with them but when I heard Open Arms by this guy,I was shocked.I've never heard someone be DEAD ON like that to a previous singer.We all know Ripper can sing Judas Priest in his sleep,but you can still tell it's not Rob.The same goes with most bands that try and clone the previous singer.That Journey guy was just plain freaky though......

Steve Augeri did indeed sound a lot like Perry, but the more you listen to him he truly sounds like himself. He just had a similar range (smooth, higher end) to Perry. The new guy they have, Arnel Pineda, sounds much more like Perry tone-wise than Augeri ever did. JSS sounded great on the bootlegs I heard. I do wish they would have taken a sabbatical and let Augeri heal and return to the band, though...I thought he was a perfect replacement. In fact, when the album came out and my buddy asked me how he was, I said "Journey found their own Ripper...".

And someone who REALLY sounds freakishly identical to Perry would be Hugo Valenti (singer for Valentine and Ramos Hugo)...his solo stuff under the name Hugo sounds exactly like Steve Perry solo/lite Journey material.

[ICEDEARTHFAN]

Originally Posted by Pelata

Steve Augeri did indeed sound a lot like Perry, but the more you listen to him he truly sounds like himself. He just had a similar range (smooth, higher end) to Perry. The new guy they have, Arnel Pineda, sounds much more like Perry tone-wise than Augeri ever did. JSS sounded great on the bootlegs I heard. I do wish they would have taken a sabbatical and let Augeri heal and return to the band, though...I thought he was a perfect replacement. In fact, when the album came out and my buddy asked me how he was, I said "Journey found their own Ripper...".

And someone who REALLY sounds freakishly identical to Perry would be Hugo Valenti (singer for Valentine and Ramos Hugo)...his solo stuff under the name Hugo sounds exactly like Steve Perry solo/lite Journey material.

What is the Augeri guy doing now?

[Joel-RZ]

Originally Posted by General Zod

I don't know what "scurred" means. Is that some sort of cool Hip Hop lingo?

I listened to the song a few days ago. It's not bad... it's not good... it's boring. Sounds like the same crap they were doing on that self-titled piece of crap in 1995. Which is the other aspect to all this. When Queensryche has more recently released something of quality (Promised Land), maybe it's time to just let it go.

Zod

"scurred" = scared. Just trying to lighten it up and not come across so pointed, is all.

But I'm glad to know you at least gave it a shot. That's all I was trying to get at. I disagree with your assessment, but such is life. I guess I hear this as more of a Dirt era AiC, which can't be bad. But I don't really care for their later output much either, so if that's what you hear, then I can understand that...