Alice In Chains has released a new album this week. The first new studio album since the Death of Layne Staley. I had the pleasure of seeing the band with the new singer, William Duval, a few years ago at Bayfest. I was blown away. I was really skeptical about the band with a new frontman, but Duval fit the bill. Not only does he sing the old Staley parts well, but he has good stage presence. Let’s also not forget that Jerry Cantrell was a large part of the guitar and vocals of AIC, and he hasn’t gone anywhere.
HEY. Guess what? Pearl Jam is also releasing a new album. Now this situation is entirely different from Alice In Chains, because Pearl Jam has continued to put out albums over the past decade. However, most of them weren’t worth buying. I didn’t think so, anyway. Having heard a clip from one song on the new one, I think this one might be ‘sponge-worthy’. Brendan O’Brien produced it, and he has done some fine albums, including VS and Vitology from Pearl Jam, and The Battle of Los Angeles from Rage Against the Machine. The clip I heard sounded like the harder, VS-era Pearl Jam. Of course, the rest of the album could be crap. I think I’m going to take a chance on this one, though.
These will be the first two albums I’ve purchased in a long time. I used to have a two album a week habit. Buying new albums from these two acts really takes me back. I feel like I’m supposed to be scoring a bag of weed and taking a road trip with some friends when I get these. I guess I can still take the road trip. I’ll post some reviews soon.
‘Sponge-worthy’, nice touch! HA!:-)