Review Summary: A great, great, album. So great a classic in my book. Rivals the live unplugged show of Nirvana. Will always be one of my faovrite live albums, and you should definitly consider picking it up.
This is such a great album, for alot of reasons. I got this album awhile ago around september, and knew it was an amazing album but didn't spend much time on it. I've really been on an Alice In Chains listening spree for the past few weeks, with their songs dominiating plays lately on my mp3 player. I still have yet to listen to a whole lot of Alice In Chains material, but listening to this album has urged me to not only get one album by them, but go for 3 or 4. I just recently started listening to this album a whole lot, and I'm really enjoying it, aside from a fan I keep hearing go "YES, YES" during the clapping portion at the end of every song. One reason that I like this album so much is because I really enjoy live albums for a few reasons really. One is because they have the feel of a live show, or at least the good ones do. I like the feel of a live show because it's something unbridled that you can't make up in a studio. I also enjoy the feel of a live show because I have yet to be allowed to go to concerts. The last reason why live albums are so great is because it shows off the bands talent, how good they really are. Each song is done one take, and accousticly, and that is not easy to do. If each song is as good as each song is on this album, that means that Alice In Chains has a massive amount of talent.
Another reason why this album is so great is because it shows off Layne Stayleys amazing voice. Layne Stayley is a major example of what drugs can do to a person, along with alot of other musical greats. Anyway his voice is so good, and I almost enjoy it more on this album than I do the other album I own by Alice In Chains (arguably their best album) which is Dirt. The live feel that I enjoy so much amplifies the importance and greatness of Stayleys voice during the whole album. So here is a track by track description.
Nutshell- The first minute and a half or so the band members of Alice In Chains are arriving in, and the audience keeps clapping for awhile. This starts to create the live feel I was explaining before, and starts things off pretty nicely. Then immediately Stayley begins singing, and that in itself draws more applause. The song is a great beginning track, something soft, something different than most of the material that I've heard on Dirt. There's a while in the middle of the song where the accoustic guitar playing of Jerry Cantrell that really also helps set in the live acoustic feel, that continues until the end of the song.
Brother- I enjoy this song a whole lot. It packs a blend of that accoustic feel that Nutshell sets off, and has an amazing riff thats simply like crack to your ears. This is the first time on the album that you hear Cantrell's secondary vocals come into the mix. Stayley's voice is great by itself, but Cantrell has a good voice too and adds another demention to Alice In Chains greatness.
No Excuses- A decently good track, that is a bit more upbeat than "Brother" and "Nutshell". Stayley and Cantrell sing louder and somewhat faster aswell.The instruments also pick up speed a little bit, with a nice fast pace drum beat that flows well with the guitar and bass riffs. Also at the end after applause Stayley says something about playing LL cool J tracks which is pretty humorous.
Sludge Factory- This is a good song that has a heavier sound to it, and features none of Cantrell's backup vocals. Stayley wails and says "Oh yeah" alot more in this song as well. A decently good guitar riff, and a smooth steady bassline that fits well with the flow of the song.
Down in a Hole- Easily one of Alice In Chains' best songs. An amazing guitar riff that even out does "Brother". A sadder dreary song that has many ups and downs. Cantrell's back up vocals return making it vocally better. Stayley sings louder and uses more air in this sound during the more upbeat parts of the song. This is one of those must-listen songs, that wont disapoint.
Angry Chair- Another one of Alice In Chains' greats as well as "Down in a Hole". An even heavier song than "Sludge Factory", that has an amazing guitar riff, and an even better intro. Stayley and Cantrell sing almost simultaneously at some parts which sounds great. Theres a nice little guitar solo during the middle which stands out, but the steady bassline plays behind it. This along with "Down in a Hole" and some other tracks on this album are also on Dirt so hearing them again and how they are different from the studio version is interesting.
Rooster- Probably my favorite Alice In Chains song that is also on Dirt. The guitar into is one of my favorites, and Stayley's wail during the intro makes it all even better. The guitar riff is even better that flows amazing with the dull dreary mood that the song gives off. Stayley and Cantrell's vocals are also better than most songs on this album. The small guitar solo during the middle is also good and keeps you interested. The high points occour often and when they do it makes the song even better than it already is. The lyrics mirror the songs feel like most Alice In Chains songs, and I think its about Vietnam if im not mistaken. Definitly worth quite a few listens.
Got Me Wrong-This is a decent follow up to "Rooster". The pace picks up, Stayley and Cantrell's dynamics increase and the guitar riff is more upbeat. One thing this album does is express different moods, and sounds during their songs, sometimes that can sound bad, but not in this album. Cantrell sings more during this song also. I enjoy the bassline a little more than the guitar riff during this song, but not by much.
Heaven Beside You- Easily in the class of my Alice In Chains favorites, only a small bit behind "Rooster". I didn't listen to this unplugged album much, but I did listen to this song live over and over before I really got into the album. The guitar intro is easily the best ive heard in standards of the vibe it gives off. It almost makes you feel like standing up and cheering as well as the large audience does during the beginning. A pure example of the raw feeling of being at a live show, something uncontrolled that can't be duplicated in the studio. Cantrell sings alot more during this song as well as "Got me Wrong". This is the first song I ever heard by Alice In Chains and I almost thought Cantrell sang lead vocals instead of Stayley at first. This song has alot of high points, as well as some small guitar solos laced in between verses. "Heaven Beside You" might possibly be my favorite live song of all time so far, so this is at least worth plenty of listens and refuses to get old.
Would- A little different intro to this song, theres an addicting bassline that starts everything off nicely. Another example of mood shifitng during this album, from slow picking up every now and then in "Heaven Beside You" goes from upbeat in your face again in "Would". Cantrell continues to sing often but Stayley is still very active. Bassline is probably my favorite on this album, but that doesn't take anything away from the fast, choppy, upbeat guitar riff.
Frogs- The longest song on this album at 7 minutes and 30 seconds, it gives off a wierd eerie feel, which doesn't show up very often during this album. Stayley's wailing goes nicely with the strange feel of the song. The guitar intro is great as always, and lasts a bit longer than usual. Not an amazing song, it can feel a little repeative during the song. The song is good but still not great or amazing. During the end Stayley says something about someone filming his ass which is pretty funny almost like the end of "No Excuses".
Over Now- Again the mood of songs changes from eerie to upbeat. The guitar riff sounds great and Stayley and Cantrell sing simultaneously again, with vocals standing out more in this song. There's a great guitar solo during the middle of the song that is one of the best on this album. Accoustically the solo's sound different yet almost better in some cases. This song is pretty long as well similair to "Frogs" and gets somewhat repetative but is more upbeat and easier to listen to. The guitar solo shows up near the end of the song, yet played longer and more complex, with a small bassline in the backround. The solo is so good the crowd interupts twice with applause, and really ends the song in a good way. Stayley says "Hey, I think thats it" and the crowd loudly begs for one more song. Stayley retorts with a joke of a small tune that is somewhat humerous. They do end up playing one last song on this great album.
Killer is Me- A somewhat long intro has a eerie and upbeat sound to it. Stayley's voice changes from high to low a little bit during the beginning. Stayley and Cantrell sing simulataneously once more during the beginning as well. The guitar riffs are wild and strange giving off and eerier yet upbeat feel. A good different way to end the album, and ending a great show with a thunderous applause during the end. So good even Stayley says "I wish I just hug you all!".
So that's the album, I hope you enjoy it (If you go out and get it or illegally download it), and i hope you enjoyed this review, it took me two days.
