Into the flood again...

The first new Alice in Chains album (Black Gives Way to Blue) since the death of Layne Staley was released recently, and it's good....really good....much better than I figured it would be. I should have had higher expectations given the fact that Jerry Cantrell really is the driving force and the creative genious behind the band. But everyone knows that Layne was the face of the band and the voice of the band. That being said, he's gone, and the band shouldn't be criticized for continuing on without him. Jerry, Sean, and Mike have consistently honored his memory and haven't rushed to get a new album out the door just to make a quick buck.



Back to the album....Most of the songs are very good, but a few are excellent. "A Looking in View" has the classic AIC feel and harmonies, "Your Decision" is as good as any song from Jar of Flies, and "Private Hell" is incredible and holds up well against anything the band has ever done. It would fit in nicely on the greatest album of all-time, Dirt.

It seems that the band made a conscious decision to ease new "lead" singer William Duvall into the band slowly. Jerry Cantrell sings the lead on the majority of the songs and does a great job, as usual. As a result, many of the songs have more of a solo Jerry feel to them, like songs that could have been on the amazing Degradation Trip. I have a feeling that William will be featured more heavily on the band's next release. Until then, I'm extremely happy with the new album. It's so great to have new music from my favorite band, especially when I was beginning to think it would never happen.







"Lay down
Black gives way to blue
Lay down
I'll remember you"