The angst toward the new incarnation of Alice in Chains has reached a fevered pitch on this latest album.  I am not one of those people who believes a band should break up if a lead singer passes away.  AC/DC proved that you can replace a singer and still embody the spirit of the band.  That said, replacing anyone is always a high hurdle to overcome.  No matter who AIC picked there would always be someone out there who booed the choice.  But was their choice of William DuVall as new lead singer a good fit?  There’s no doubt DuVall can sing.  That’s not my issue with him.  To me, he lacks the chemistry that Staley had.  While Staley’s voice fought the drudge of the droning guitars, screaming to be out in front, DuVall’s voice seems to be content to fade into the background and get lost in the chorus. But the new version of the band isn’t just missing Staley…it’s also missing Cantrell.  What happened to him?  Listen to the guitar on the first minute of the song “Grind.”  There’s nothing even close to that on either of the two reunion albums.  It’s like he’s phoning it in, when he should be the visionary of the band.  He has always been the lead song writer in the group…so why has that element faded?  Is it that DuVall doesn’t push him?  You can’t lay it all at Staley’s passing because Cantrell’s solo albums are better than the new Alice in Chains albums.  Alice in Chains was truly one of the greatest rock bands of the 90s.  I’ll keep listening to them hoping one day they find their way back.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Alice in Chains:

1. Would? (Singles Soundtrack)
2. Down In A Hole (Dirt)
3. A Little Bitter (Last Action Hero Soundtrack)
4. Man in the Box (Facelift)
5. Right Turn (Sap)
6. Heaven Beside You (Alice In Chains)
7. Junkhead (Dirt)
8. Brother (Sap)
9. Nutshell (Jar of Flies)
10. Bleed the Freak (Facelift)
11. No Excuses (Jar Of Flies)