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Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue



8.3 | 514 votes |
Release date: 29 September 2009
Style: Grunge , Heavy metal

Owners:

542 have it
31 want it


01. All Secrets Known
02. Check My Brain
03. Last Of My Kind
04. Your Decision
05. A Looking In View
06. When The Sun Rose Again
07. Acid Bubble
08. Lesson Learned
09. Take Her Out
10. Private Hell
11. Black Gives Way To Blue

Guest review by
Sonic MrSumo
Rating:
8.5
14 long years since their last release, 7 years after the death of half their creative drive, Layne Staley, and with new co-frontman / co-vocalist William DuVall, Alice In Chains return with the not quite brilliant, but still very strong album, Black Gives Way To Blue.

In short, I like it... I like it a lot. Black Gives Way To Blue is very different to its predecessor, the self-titled Alice In Chains that was a far more melancholic affair receiving mixed reviews upon its release. Black Gives Way To Blue still has elements of melancholy and it definitely has that dark and gloomy Alice In Chains sound, however there are undertones of an aggressive edge to this album, and a welcome edge in my opinion as Alice In Chains seemed to over-promise and under-deliver with its lackadaisical feeling. This aggression is highlighted in tracks "A Looking In View" and "Acid Bubble".

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published 13.03.2012 | Comments (6)

06.07.2010
Unexpectedly heard Alice In Chains perform last weekend when I dropped by the Werchter Festival for a few beers outside the festival grounds... Which reminded me they have a "new" album out. Had almost forgotten how rock-solid it is... Which reminded me to remind you they have a "new" album out.

The ideal soundtrack for a summer barbecue. You bring the beer, AIC'll bring the blues.

Thryce's picks | More picks ››
Thumbs up: BitterCOld, jupitreas, Dane Train, Jeff

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Comments

Comments: 15   Visited by: 764 users
15.02.2010 - 07:47
Rating: 5
Paradox0
Unasuming Madnes
I really i have no idea why people seem to like this album so much. Its just a bunch of 40-plus year old grizzled men trying to regain their edge, and just end up creating a snooze fest. I suppose they ha e a more "mature" sound but why does mature have to be so mediocre.
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09.04.2010 - 17:47
Rating: 6
advent

I didn't like it either
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09.04.2010 - 21:07
soadbyob
Account deleted
Not a fan of any AIC without Stayley, but then again I havent actually listened to this album
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27.08.2010 - 00:47
Daydream Nation
Account deleted
^ Ignorant bitches.
Second best Alice in Chains album as a whole, behind Dirt. While the other albums certainly had great songs (some of which are better than the ones represented in the newer AIC), this album is more consistent. I'm a fan.
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11.01.2011 - 06:20
Rating: 8
Jiri

Written by Guest on 27.08.2010 at 00:47

^ Ignorant bitches.
Second best Alice in Chains album as a whole, behind Dirt. While the other albums certainly had great songs (some of which are better than the ones represented in the newer AIC), this album is more consistent. I'm a fan.


100% agreed. I actually enjoyed EVERY song from this album!
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18.05.2011 - 01:49
Rating: 9
0_byte

Very good album. But music not like old Alice in chains, it's something else. Not better, not worse....it's just something else.
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18.05.2011 - 04:47
theflyingmachine

I just heard this today for the first time. There were a few pretty good tracks, but overall, I thought it was a little bit of a step down. I think later Alice in Chains was at its best when it was a little more mellow, and they seem to be trying to keep their edge, like one of the posts said. The new vocalist sounds a LOT like Layne Staley though. I doubt that is a coincidence.
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11.09.2011 - 22:17
Rating: 7
FinnishSammich

Not that bad. "Check my Brain" and "Take Her Out" were my favorites
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13.03.2012 - 15:59
Rating: 10
Wraith000

Written by Jiri on 11.01.2011 at 06:20

Written by Guest on 27.08.2010 at 00:47

^ Ignorant bitches.
Second best Alice in Chains album as a whole, behind Dirt. While the other albums certainly had great songs (some of which are better than the ones represented in the newer AIC), this album is more consistent. I'm a fan.


100% agreed. I actually enjoyed EVERY song from this album!

ditto
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\m/ - - \m/
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03.05.2012 - 16:45
Rating: 9
musicalkaratekid

The first time I heard this album upon its release i was quite surprised. I expected to hear something that sounded like a complete rip-off of 'Dirt' or 'Facelift', but in a modernized way. Evidently this is not the case. In fact, the only similarities between alice in chains of the 90's and the alice in chains of today are the mid-paced songs and the (sometimes) depressing songwriting themes. Looking back at it now, the album could have bee released today and it wouldn't have sounded out of place. Sure,a couple of songs do tend to drag on now and then, and the vocals is surely not to everyone's taste, but the true spirit that has been kept in the AIC soul has been carried forth all the way. One of the better comebacks of the 21st century for sure.
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20.01.2013 - 03:53
Illog1cal
Account deleted
A very respectable comeback, especially without one of their main playing cards: Layne Staley. Jerry Cantrell wrote the bulk of Alice In Chains material anyway, its not like he doesn't know how to write Alice In Chains songs anymore. This album is still on par with the 90s albums even though it takes a slightly different direction, do not underestimate it.
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20.01.2013 - 14:40
Rating: 8
Unhealer
Eclecticist
Been listening to this a lot lately, I'm enjoying it more than I did when it was released.
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17.02.2013 - 20:36
Rating: 8
svartberger

Athough I dislike Duvall (like... everything about him, not including his personality obviously) it would be pretty easy to just hate this record but, I think they actually put up a pretty decent album.
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07.06.2013 - 05:07
Rating: 9
Ace Frawley
The Spaceman
Look, I know this is a big call, but I think this is the greatest comeback album in the history of rock and roll.
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The sun shines over The Fool...
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05.10.2022 - 20:27
Rating: 9
Dorian75

One of the greatest comeback albums in rock history. The absence of Layne Staley makes the outcome this album achieved even greater.
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