Black Gives Way To Blue

Alice In Chains's Dirt, released in 1992, almost singlehandedly got me interested in heavier music. Since AIC's eponymous last official album in 1995, an unbelievable 14 years ago, my musical tastes have evolved and expanded dramatically into realms well outside of hard rock, but AIC has remained as one of the most hallowed acts in my CD collection ever since that time. When I heard that AIC was reforming with new co-vocalist William Duvall succeeding the inimitable late Layne Staley, I was immediately both intrigued and frightened, lest the legendary track record of AIC be derailed by a sub-par imitation. Those fears were dispelled upon seeing AIC live, on their first tour with Duvall, last year. Duvall's voice, along with the songs I had grown so accustomed to hearing, was absolutely mindblowing. Then came the announcement by Jerry Cantrell, main AIC songwriter and vocalist, that AIC was going to release their first studio album since Alice in Chains. While I was overly excited at that notion, I couldn't help but be worried that Cantrell had a bigger set of balls than brains. A platter of anything less than AIC legacy-quality new material would undoubtedly destroy a good portion of the AIC fanbase. Upon first listen of new album Black Gives Way to Blue, however, I can tell you that my worries should never have existed; in fact, never again will I doubt the AIC crew. Put simply, Black Gives Way to Blue is the best material AIC has done in their entire careers since Dirt, and in some parts it even surpasses the 1992 opus. BGWtB encapsulates all the different sounds with which AIC experimented over their previously short lifespan, from Facelift all the way to Alice in Chains. Cantrell's songwriting quality, having decreased somewhat on his solo outings from 1998-2002, is back like it never skipped a beat. BGWtB contains all the elements that made AIC a unique band: dark, gloomy, and mysterious lyrics, dirgy and heavy chords and song structures, tons of sound layering, and most notably, vocal interplay and harmonizing. Some of BGWtB's songs could easily have been located on albums of old: opener "All Secrets Known" sounds like a heavy incarnation of Jar of Flies's "Rotten Apple," the acoustic-based "Your Decision" wouldn't have been out of place on Cantrell's solo Degradation Trip (save the dual vocals), the first single "A Looking in View" crawls at a doomy and heavy pace first shown on Facelift, and "Private Hell" is the modern-day accompaniment to Dirt's "Down in a Hole." That's not to say that AIC's sound doesn't continue to evolve, though. "When the Sun Rose Again" takes the wonderful acoustic notes illustrated on Sap and converts them to a tried-and-true AIC tune. "Acid Bubble" plays off of Alice in Chains's "Again" and flows back-and-forth between slow melody and neck-snapping, chugging heavy riffs. Album closer "Black Gives Way to Blue," featuring piano work by Elton John, is perhaps the first true depressive ballad the band have constructed since Jar of Flies's "Nutshell," consisting solely of dual vocals, emotive piano, and weeping guitar leads. What's most impressive about BGWtB, though, is how absolutely effortless it all seems to be. The sheer urgency of BGWtB's sound is easily evident, as if AIC somehow never ceased making music, certainly not for 14 years. What I thought would be the toughest part to swallow, the inclusion of William Duvall, is actually the best part of the album. Layne Staley's trademark voice certainly cannot be duplicated, but Duvall is so similar in tone, though slightly more nasal, that during certain points of BGWtB it sounds exactly like Staley never left. Duvall pulls off the co-vocalist job with casual aplomb, sounding like a breath of fresh air when he sings on his own (as in "Last of My Kind" and "Acid Bubble"), and to spine-tingling effect when his voice coalesces with Cantrell's. With Black Gives Way to Blue, Alice in Chains has constructed a musical work of wonderful, masterful quality. Undoubtedly aware of criticisms that will roll in as a result of Duvall's work (unfair criticisms at that), Alice in Chains has created an album of which the late Layne Staley would be very proud. If the meaning of "Black Gives Way to Blue" is akin to that of a healing bruise, and if this record is simply the "blue" portion of that bruise on its way to disappearance, then I cannot wait until Alice in Chains is in full recovery. Doubts be damned, Alice in Chains is back and better than ever.

"There's no going back - To the place - We started from" ... Black Gives Way to Blue is more than just a comeback album; it's a journey through all the emotions the band went through since Staley took his own life in 2002. It's a tribute to Staley and a statement of the bands transition into the new era of AIC without him. Through this tragedy their energy all comes together to make in my opinion the best AIC album ever. The album definitely has the AIC sound, but has moved forward and might be called a little more mainstream rock than their alternative roots. I've been an AIC fan since the beginning, and like most I had my doubts about a comeback album, but after the first listen my mind was changed. Since then I have listened to it many times and I find the songs so good they haunt me for days after. What probably impresses me the most is the strength of the vocals on this album and the way the band stayed true to the original sound. Here is my take on the album tracks: 1) All Secrets Known - If you listen to just one track, listen to this one. It has the classic AIC riffs and strong guitars along with a strong message that they are back and ready to move on. "Hope, a New Beginning" is the opening line. It sets the tone for the rest of this album and all future AIC tracks. My favorite track. 2) Check My Brain - A great opening riff that carries through the song, this song has a mainstream rock feel to it. I think it reflects the anguish and anger the band was going through. A great song. 3) Last of My Kind - Another classic hard riff song. There is a chorus that reminds me of Rob Zombie's sound. I like it very much. Describes the bands journey out of depression. 4) Your Decision - Acoustical guitar opening and strong vocals dominate this track which reminds me of Bon Jovi. A good song but not my favorite on the album but is very strong lyrically, you can hear them playing this one to Layne. 5) A Looking in View - "It's why you tell never tell me what's on your mind". Back to strong riffs and hard sound. Parts of this track sounds like early Scott Stapp from Creed. Again you can hear the emotion in this song, as if they were singing to Layne. At over 7 minutes, it's the longest track on the album. I love this song. 6) When the Sun Rose Again - A slower acoustic piece with vocal harmony. On its own it would not be impressive, but as part of the whole, it fits perfectly. A message of hope and recovery. 7) Acid Bubble - then back to heavy bass line and classic hard sound. Awesome. "You never paid attention to all the lines I crossed" - I think the band is trying to understand and tell what Staley was going through. A very powerful song, guitars are perfect, second longest song on the album. Love it. 8) Lessons Learned - A good solid rock song with great vocals. "In your darkest hour, you strike gold" - all about moving on. I like it very much. 9) Take Her Out - Strong guitar and drum riff on this track. Hypnotic chorus that gets stuck in your head for days. Great track but I'm still trying to figure how it fits in with the other tracks on this album. 10) Private Hell - This song has a strong Staley like sound and awesome guitars. A very emotional song, not sure if it it's about Staley or their journey since he left. Again haunting sound that sticks with you. Love this track. 11) Black Gives Way to Blue - "Lay down, black gives way to blue. Lay down, I'll remember you". This title track is hard for me to listen to. Not because it is slow (which it is - strong vocal and piano dominate the track), but the lyrics are very emotional. It's an ode to Staley and moving on. Excellent end to the story or this album.

Jerry Cantrell, the real brains behind Alice in Chains, is as sharp a songwriter as ever. 1. All Secrets Known: 6/10. This is reminiscent of "Get Born Again" and other Alice in Chains songs with some slower mysticism behind them that aren't really intended to be rocking singles. This isn't bad, but it's more of an introduction. 2. Check My Brain: 10/10. This is the catchiest song on the album. I particularly love the lawnmower riff here. This is the most obvious single, and I'm glad it is a single. 3. Last of My Kind: 7/10. DuVall gets a chance to show off his skills on this one (as opposed to Jerry Cantrell having the lead on most of the other tracks). This is good, and it rocks, but I feel it has some room for improvement. 4. Your Decision: 8/10. If you liked some of the sadder fare on "Degradation Trip," and I did, this song is for you. The opening especially reminds me of "Angel Eyes," another great Cantrell song. This isn't quite as spectacular as "Angel Eyes," but it should be a successful single. 5. A Looking in View: 6/10. I cannot figure out why this song is a single. It drags on too much, and it doesn't hold together too well. That being said, there are a lot of cool ideas here, including the super heavy opening riff. 6. When the Sun Rose Again: 8/10. I really like the flavorful choices of background on this one. To me, it almost paints a picture of a desert and the sun rising on it. 7. Acid Bubble: 5/10. In my opinion, this is the weakest song on the album. Other reviewers seem to like it the best, and I can tell a lot of effort went into it, but I just don't think it holds together very well. 8. Lesson Learned: 9/10. This is probably the second catchiest song on the album, but it takes a little longer to catch. I would give it a perfect score if the lyrics were a little better. 9. Take Her Out: 8/10. A lot of reviewers think this is a weak song, and while I agree that it's not as deep or memorable as others, it's still an enjoyable song, and it's perfectly tolerable for multiple listens, which you can't say of some of the other tracks on the album. 10. Private Hell: 10+/10. This is the best song on the album, and it's the best song I've heard all year. This combines everything I liked in both Alice in Chains and Jerry Cantrell's solo work, and it has the best lyrics. It reminds me a lot of "Down in a Hole." 11. Black Gives Way to Blue: 7/10. This was the only way to end the album, but like the beginning, it's not really a standout song. Overall, this is a great album, the best new rock album I've heard all year and the most obvious choice for a Grammy. Because Jerry Cantrell does so much of the vocals and uses strategies he tested more on his solo albums, this really sounds more like a Jerry Cantrell album than an Alice in Chains album, but I loved Jerry Cantrell's solo albums, and this definitely holds its ground with any of them or any Alice in Chains album.

As someone that went and saw Alice in Chains during the Clash of Titans tour in Fayetteville in '91, after watching their progression during the late 80's grunge scene, it was an incredible experience. They are no doubt my favorite band of all time. I don't think I am alone in saying that when I heard Jerry and company were putting out another album under the AiC moniker I hovered between ecstatic desperation and mind-numbing trepidation. The album could be a new beginning or an absolute disaster and for me at least, without Layne at the helm, I was putting money on the latter. I am very happy to say my fears were unwarranted. Does the album reach the heights of their previous work? Absolutely not. But it lays the groundwork for what I expect to be some great music in the future. I see a lot of knee-jerk reviews on Amazon about how great the album is or how it is little more than poser music. The truth is somewhere in between, and in my opinion some of the songs here could easily have landed on previous albums without a hiccup. There is no doubt that 'this' Alice in Chains was shooting for something a little less black then previous works, the fact that it still succeeds in being the AiC that I know and love without Layne is something just shy of a miracle. I have no problems shuffling these songs in with my other AiC tracks and that's really more than I ever hoped for. 3.5 out of 5 stars

I resisted. I did not want to buy Black Gives Way to Blue by 3 of the former guys from Alice in Chains plus some "replacement". And once I finally did buy it I had a preconceived notion to not like it. I mean, how could Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez and Sean Kinney possibly find someone that could fill the shoes of Layne Staley? And if they did find someone, how could I possibly get my brain around the idea? Well, all it took was one listen-through of the disk. Black Gives Way to Blue is one of the best Hard Rock recordings I've listened to in 20 years. Alice in Chains Dirt stands atop of my Amazon Listmania List of The Best Hard Rock CDs (With Clear Lyrics, Post 1990). And to make it onto my List a band has had to do something really special. I've got to give Black Gives Way to Blue a few more listens, but I sure am leaning towards putting this disk on my List. Calling William DuVall a replacement was an insult. After watching him perform a few songs today (courtesy of YouTube) I can see that he is truly a new member of a great band. I can see why Cantrell and the other guys didn't rename the band as a new project with a different singer. DuVall brings a different energy than Staley did, but he really keeps the integrity of the band solidly intact. That's a hard thing to accomplish...just look at Drowning Pool and countless other bands whose singers have either passed or left...it usually just does not work. William DuVall does indeed work. He doesn't have the cool charismatic darkness surrounding him like Staley did; he brings more of a positive light to AiC. But rest assured, when he sings the AiC classics (again, thanks YouTube), he makes you "believe". As for the sound-alike aspect...yeah, he does sound like Staley. Is he an imitation? No. Jerry Cantrell sounds like Staley...is he an imitation? Uh..no. Layne would be proud of this group and as he looks down must be honored by the songs that tributize him. To anyone who likes Hard Rock and especially to anyone who likes Alice in Chains, Black Gives Way to Blue is no Dirt, but it is an outstanding Hard Rock recording. Add it to your cart.

(Second paragraph will be reviewing the physical vinyl) I am a huge AiC fan, I grew up with the band featuring Layne Staley, I will always love that version of the band, a lot of childhood memories! I cannot say enough good things about the new AiC, I give them major props for continuing on in their own way. A lot of people say that the new band cannot stand up to Layne, and I agree to a point, this band is definitely not Layne, although Jerry Cantrell wrote a majority of the music in the early days, or at least collaborated with Layne on almost all of them so you still get the signature AiC sound and lyrics going on. I don't think it's fair to compare this new stuff to Layne, he is gone and has been for quite awhile now, the band has moved on and they have done a fantastic job! A lot of these songs hit radio, so I love that AiC is still getting exposure, pulling in new fans that may not have grown up in the grunge era and in turn people will be checking out, the classics like "Dirt" and "Facelift" giving those gems the credit they deserve and carrying on those albums for years to come. I am not going to review every song as several people have already done that, plus everyone has their own taste, so listen for yourself, download it before or listen on youtube to check it out but if you like it, buy it, support this band so they can continue making music! I bought the vinyl version of this album and I must say I feel like I stole it! The packaging is just amazing! It is a gatefold dual LP, matted cover, and I actually didn't know when I purchased it but both LPs are pressed on clear vinyl. I was so stoked when I saw that, I'm so happy to have this in the collection. Everything about the set is just great, feels well made, and like some thought went into this, this is my 3rd purchase of an AiC record and none of them have let me down. When a band puts effort into their products you truly know they care about their music AND their fans. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the set came with the cd version of the album and some inserts with lyrics. Not only did I get the vinyl, but I got CD and mp3 from amazon. What a great value! I actually bought this album when it for sale at $15 (fifteen dollars) but even at the current price of twenty one it is well worth it! I don't really like reviewing the sound of vinyl because I don't have audiophile ears, I purchase vinyl for the nostalgia and the engaging music experience, but sound usually doesn't bug me at all, I do feel like the sound on this album is great, I didn't hear any surface noise and the music sounds heavy, just a truly beautiful album that I would purchase over and over again!

Comebacks are rare, and returns from 15-year hiatuses are even more so. Throw in the death of a lead singer, a new record label and other personnel changes, and it stopped being fair long ago. Guns N' Roses had a hard enough time with only half those problems. Yet guitarist / singer Jerry Cantrell and '90s rock monster Alice in Chains just couldn't be bothered with the mire, doom and gloom unless they were writing about it. Black Gives Way to Blue is more than a reunion with Mike Inez and Sean Kinney to produce a return to form. It's also one of the best rock albums of 2009. To replace a vocalist as tuneful and iconic as Layne Staley has been impossible. Bands influenced by AiC, as diverse as Life of Agony, Staind, Godsmack, Days of the New and a never-ending list have all had competent vocalists that have been jeered at by critics as Staley-derivativea. The only person who could even hope to get away with comparisons was Jerry Cantrell himself, and he sang on half of AiC's original material anyway. Well, his golden touch adds a glow of authenticity to the new record. "Check My Brain" feels like it came right off of Dirt or 1995's self-titled album, and "Your Decision" and "When the Sun Rose Again" recall the band's softer EPs Sap and Jar of Flies. Then you have tunes like the jagged, angularly melodic opener "All Secrets Known," the elephantine, foot-stomping opening grove of "A Looking in View" and the piano-tinged quiet exit of a title track, "Black Gives Way to Blue." The haunting, tortured vocals of William DuVall are a spooky echo of Staley, as if the deceased front-man's spirit is being channeled through the songs themselves, but it could also just be the ghost-like nature of AiC's trademarked minor key voice harmonies. Cantrell and DuVall coexist and bring the tunes to life. Never quite an alternative grunge band like the groups they were lumped in with by radio stations over a decade ago, Alice in Chains spew their triumphant new work from speakers with crunch and doom metal fury. Just listen to the f-bombing tunnel-chewing groove of "Last of My Kind" and step out of the way as this reanimated corpse barrels through.

At one time in the early 90's it looked like Alice In Chains was going to be the biggest band of all of them to come out of the Seattle grunge scene. Although Alice were lumped in with many of the grunge era groups, the band's sound had more in common with classic rock and heavy metal than Nirvana or Pearl Jam. Actually they did not really sound like anyone else. The music was dark, brooding and heavy with Layne Staley's emotional vocals leading the charge. The band scored a monster hit with their "Dirt" album in 1994, but internal struggles and drug issues eventually drove the them apart. Bassist Mike Star (who has since turned up on television's celebrity re-hab) was sacked for drug problems and singer Layne Staley eventually died from a drug overdose. For the past 14 years the band has been on a long hiatus. 2009 found guitarist Jerry Cantrell putting the band back together with new vocalist William Duvall and the result is one of the best comeback albums of any artist I can think of. "Black Gives Way To Blue" is classic Alice In Chains, basically picking up right where the band left off back in the mid-90's. That is not to say that this is a retro album as although the band's classic sound is here the disc is a very modern release that should please both old and new fans. It is interesting to read other reviews of this album. Alice In Chains fans tend to be very passionate about their band, and to some just the thought of Cantrell using the name is a sacrilege. Personally I came a bit late to the A.I.C. camp and consequently don't have a lot of history with their earlier incarnation. Taken as a stand alone album I think "Black Gives Way To Blue" is probably one of the best straight ahead rock albums of 2009. If people can get over the fact that Staley is no longer here and give Cantrell a bit of a break I think they will find a lot to enjoy on this excellent release.

Bought this years ago and somehow lost it - glad to have this replacement copy! Good quality disc arrived in good time.

After hearing Alice In Chains had reformed with a new singer, I couldn't wait to hear what the new lineup would sound like and first up I would just like to point out, that while AIC sound subtly different with William Duvall on lead vocals, they still sound brilliant! Black Gives Way to Blue is one heck of a comeback album. All Secrets Known - is a typical AIC song and a good opener. Slow, ominous and heavy, with their classic interplay of darkness and light. 8/10. Check My Brain - immediately reminded me of Angry Chair - only more up-tempo. Has a nice catchy feel to it, with dark-sounding verses interspersed with a daft but very singable chorus. One of the stand out tracks. 9/10. Last of My Kind - is one of those more awkward songs that takes a bit more listening to, but it immediately grabs you with its truly venomous chorus. A grower. Very angry and very heavy. 8/10. Your Decision - has echoes of Nutshell to it and is my favourite track on the album. A softer acoustic number with flourishes of electric guitar and great lyrics. 10/10. A Looking In View - like Last of My Kind is another one that takes a few listens to get your head around. Another typically downbeat song but good nonetheless. 8/10. When the Sun Rose Again - is an unusual song. It sounds like it would make a good movie soundtrack. Another acoustic-electric number, but with AIC's typically edgy lyrics it still manages to sound slightly sinister, yet oddly uplifting at the same time. Hmm...its messing with my head... 8/10. Acid Bubble - now this sounds like it should have been on the Dirt album. Another dark, heavy and twisted sounding slab of grunge metal, complete with great vocal harmonies. Real dark, depressing stuff. 7/10. Lesson Learned - my other favourite track on the album. A lighter, more up-tempo rocker. Very catchy and clever lyrics. 9/10. Take Her Out - similar to Lesson Learned...not too downbeat and quite catchy, while not being exactly cheerful (come on - this is Alice In Chains!). 8/10. Private Hell - is another one that would have gone well on the Dirt Album. It seems to hark back to Layne's drug problems. Quite dark and gloomy but also surprisignly melodic. 7/10. Black Gives Way to Blue - what can I say about the title track? Well, its the band's tribute to departed former singer Layne Staley. A slow acoustic ballad that can move you to tears, if you're not careful...whether you're a fan of the band or not. An absolute gem. 10/10.

Questo disco è splendido, suona Alice in Chains in tutto e per tutto. A mio parere sono la conseguente e giusta evoluzione di una band ineguagliabile. Il disco è vario, ha al suo interno atmosfere oscure e oppressive degne degli ultimissimi AIC prima della morte di Staley. Cantrell fa un lavoro eccellente, e mi dispiace ammettere che la mancanza di Layne non è avvertita; sono diventati una band fresca, che si è rinnovata nelle sonorità, pur mantenendo le radici ben salde nel sound personale e peculiare della band. La produzione del disco è indescrivibile, perfetta direi. Se siete amanti degli AIC è un disco da avere, un disco di una band che ha ancora tanto da dire.

EL vinyl viene en una edición con las letras, un cd y color translucido, llego muy rapido, el empaque un poco maltratado pero nada grave muy recomendado

Très bon album d'Alice, l'un de mes préférés.