Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

[boomhauertjs]

http://www.spin.com/articles/alice-chains-return-studio

I'm looking forward to this album, whenever it comes out. Jerry's solo albums were really good, but having a strong lead vocalist brings out the best in his songs. From seeing them live, I think William Duvall is definitely up to the task. Hopefully, the unnamed producer is Dave Jerden, who did the producing for the immortal Dirt.

Of course, no matter how great the new stuff, they can't ever replace Layne.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

I was really bummed when Layne bit it. AIC was one of my favorite bands of the 90's. Cantrell's voice is good enough to carry them but you're right...it will never be as good as it was when Layne was around.

[bsb13]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

I'll be honest, I am interested to hear it but I know the glory days are long gone.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

New album is confirmed to be released this summer. Check out this video of the guys in the studio (with a special guest taking a listen). The song they are playing sounds like vintage Alice.
<a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=52068 337">Week 11 Update</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=52068337,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=52068337,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>

[UNC_Pete]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

It's a definite buy for me. I'm a huge Alice fan. I can't say my expectations are super high but Jerry was always the main song writer for the group and William does have quite the vox, so we'll see.

I saw them live last year opening for Velvet Revolver. With the crowd reaction it seemed that AIC should have been the headliner. Half way through about a 1/3 of the crowd was on the way out while Velvet played.

I swear if they have to play under Nickleback or some newer crappy new age rock band when they have their tour I'll be super pissed!!

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

From the Alice in Chains official blog:

AIC Record (and Beards) Finished!

As most of you who have been paying attention have already figured out, the new Alice In Chains album is finally complete. We've been in the studio since October, and since it all began we celebrated 6 major holidays, elected a new President of the United States, crowned new World Series and Super Bowl champs, endured fires, earthquakes, & blackouts in and around Los Angeles, took a 2 1/2 week break to go to Australia, and to cap it all off, William & Jerry finally euthanized their beards.

This long, arduous process is complete, and although there's still a lot of work to be done, the songs are in the can and that's the most important thing.

So what can I tell you when I look back on the last six months?

I can tell you that the monotony of 12 to 16 hour days in the studio can be broken up by multiple costumes & hair styles, hours and hours of dice games, any sort of dialogue delivered in a heavily accentuated southern drawl, and a slew of special guests dropping by the studio.

Most of all I can tell you that some amazing songs were written and recorded. From the heaviest riff-dripping gut puncher to the most sadly beautiful song I think this band has ever recorded, I honestly believe that this album will return Alice In Chains to the top of the hard rock heap.

So now the next few months are dedicated to things like album artwork, lining up interviews & press, shooting videos, planning tours, and figuring out whether to bury Jerry & William's beards at sea or donate them to science.

Hopefully these new songs will strike a chord and make a similar impact on all of you out there that were moved by this band in the first place. These songs have definitely done that with me, and frankly I'm getting pretty sick and tired of loving this stuff alone, so I can’t wait for it to be released so it'll become your favorite record of 2009 and we can discuss it at the shows.

So clear a slot in your CD shelf and schedule maternity leave from work in September, because the long drought will be over soon...

-Baldy

[aukevin]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

Looking forward to it!

[Scottdau]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

I was really bummed when Layne bit it. AIC was one of my favorite bands of the 90's. Cantrell's voice is good enough to carry them but you're right...it will never be as good as it was when Layne was around.

While I like Layne, Cantrell is the talent in that band. So this should be good.

[Coug00]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

Can't wait, I'm interested to see how they sound w/o Layne. I still can't believe its been almost 15 years since the last AIC studio album and 7 years since he died (we just celebrated what is practically a state holiday in WA - the passing of Staley and Cobain on April 5).

[Brandon13]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

I can't wait for this.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

New album title and release date set.

Black Gives Way to Blue

Is it September 29th yet?

http://aliceinchainsnews.blogspot.com/2009/06/album-title-and-european-dates.html

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

This is going to be great.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

Looks like the new single is going to be released on June 30th and the album is going to have 11 songs.

<a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=59204 327">Alice in Chains - A Looking In View (Trailer)</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=59204327,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=59204327,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

Visit www.aliceinchains.com to get a link to a FREE download of the first single off the new album. A Looking in View is over 7 minutes long!

[UNC_Pete]

Re: Alice in Chains (or Alice Without Layne) in the studio

Downloading the song now!

I saw them with Velvet Revolver at Montage Mtn (PA) and pretty much half the concert goers left midway through Velvet..Great show by AIC.