Metal Reviews

I've actually been meaning to pick this up for quite a while but, for some reason, never really got around to it. Is it recommended?

Do you like Degradation Trip and Alice In Chains? If so, then absolutely. It's a great CD.

I looooooove AIC. Probably my favorite non-metal band of all time. Degradation Trip I haven't really heard yet. Again, I need to pick up Jerry's solo material and am wondering what everybody thinks of it.

It doesn't have as much of the hard edge that AIC does, and of course you miss Layne's vocals a bit (even though Jerry's are pretty good), but it's still a sure thing if you're a fan. It definitely has an AIC vibe, which it should, since Jerry wrote nearly all their material.

Actually, I think Jerry's one of the most underrated vocalists ever. I love his singing/vocals. Very soft and folk-like (yet still appropriate for the harder music AIC used to play).

A lot of people don't realize that Jerry sang a lot more in AIC than he's given credit for. In fact, AIC could have reformed with just Jerry on vocals and gotten away with it. It's not like that new guy they got sounds like Layne. Of course, they had a lot of dual harmonies, so they needed another singer.

One thing, if you get Degradation Trip, get the double album version. That's easily the best reissue Roadrunner has ever released.

I've seen the double edition of DT. That's definitely the one I'll pick up. And I totally agree with you about AIC staying on with Cantrell as the vocalist.

I know Jerry Cantrell sang Brother and Got Me Wrong (on Sap). He also sang Don't Follow (from Jar Of Flies), did a duet with Layne on No Excuses (same album), sang several songs on Tripod (Grind, Heaven Beside You, Over Now), Would (on Dirt), and he also sang a few lines in We Die Young (on Facelift). Anything I'm missing?

Well, since their sound was predicated on vocal harmonies, he pretty much sang in some part on almost every song, but you pretty well touched on the ones where he took the lead. The only other ones I can think of that you missed are Am I Inside (the song with Chris Cornell from Sap) and What the Hell Have I (from the Last Action Hero Soundtrack). Speaking of which, if you haven't heard the two AIC songs from that soundtrack, do that quickly. They're two of the best songs they ever did, in my opinion. In fact, A Little Bitter might be my favorite song of theirs.

Anyway, Jerry's smooth vocals were always a nice contrast to Layne's. I really miss AIC. Even though I'm sure they can continue to kick ass since Jerry was and is the heart and soul of the band, it just won't be the same without Layne.

Yeah, same. I love this band. I only have Dirt and Jar of Flies, but I am sure I will check out their other albums one of these days. They are one of the few bands from the "mainstream" in the 90's that I ever did and still listen to regularly. And, as odd as this may sound, I think that for a band that wasn't metal, they were more metal than a lot of metal bands.

-Tyrion

Yeah. Not to mention the Last Action Hero soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks ever. Tons of great songs on that one!

I think Jerry's about as good a substitute for Layne as anybody since he is a fellow AIC bandmember. And again, he's an awesome vocalist. You can't really compare him to Layne since they both have very different approaches: Jerry is softer, smoother and more optimistic while Layne is more frantic and high strung. Both attempt subtle Southern accents - but that's about as far as their similarities go.

I've actually heard What The Hell Have I and yes, it is a great song. Kind of reminds me of the heavier/trippier moments on Dirt. A Little Bitter I still need to hear, though. You sure Chris Cornell sang on Am I Inside or do you have it mixed up with Right Turn (where Chris Cornell and several Mudhoney bandmembers sang)? The only guest vocalist I remember in Am I Inside is some Country Singer-like woman. She was also in Brother. I actually think she sounds cute (long blonde-haired 20-something year old girl with a cowgirl hat?).

Doh! You're right, I always get those two mixed up because Right Turn starts out with Jerry singing "Inside, always tryin to get back inside".

Check out A Little Bitter when you can, it's a kickass song. It kind of reminds of the old hard edge AIC (Them Bones, We Die Young).

Don't worry, I also get the two mixed up sometimes for that same reason. They're both great songs (especially Am I Inside).

A Little Bitter definitely sounds like a great song. I'll see if I can listen to it on AOL My Music.

BTW, has anybody heard AIC's final two songs (recorded in late 1998 and leaked about that same time, but officially released on their "Music Bank" compilation about nine months later), Died and Get Born Again? The latter is IMO one of the best songs AIC ever did. Talk about going out in style!

For the record, Angry Again might actually be my all-time favorite Megadeth song.

Yeah, I'm a total fanboy, so I bought Music Bank as soon as it came out. I agree with you on Get Born Again, great closeout, and it's alot better than Died, which is still pretty good. For as cheap as Music Bank was when I bought it (~$40), it's definitely worth picking up if your a fan of the band. There's some good new shit, some live and demo songs, and some weird stuff, such as the Tatoo of Pain remix for Again.

Actually, on the topic of Jerry Cantrell's singing, I forgot all about the unreleased song that was performed on AIC's Unplugged album (Killer Is Me). That's actually a great song. And it really should've been on an official album.