Band:	Alice In Chains
Album:	The Essential Alice In Chains
Style:	Grunge, Heavy metal
Release date:	September 05, 2006
A review by:	Jeff

Disc I
01. We Die Young
02. Man in the Box
03. Sea of Sorrow
04. Love, Hate, Love
05. Am I Inside
06. Brother
07. Got Me Wrong
08. Right Turn
09. Rain When I Die
10. Them Bones
11. Angry Chair
12. Dam That River
13. Dirt
14. God Smack
15. Hate To Feel
16. Rooster

Disc II
01. No Excuses
02. I Stay Away
03. What the Hell Have I
04. A Little Bitter
05. Grind
06. Heaven Beside You
07. Again
08. Over Now [acoustic version]
09. Nutshell [acoustic version]
10. Get Born Again
11. Died
12. Would?

Every cult band on Earth deserves to have its "best of" right? And I hope by the way, that you will all agree with me if I say that Alice In Chains is a real cult band. Since that the band from Seattle is back in front of the scene last year with a big monumental "come back" tour, their record label Columbia Records, decided to release a new best of in September 2006 (it was first settled to be released in March 2004). Let's hope that it will be a good way for some people to discover the American Grunge combo.

"The Essential Alice In Chains" is a double album with 28 songs featured on the release. Of course the mega hits like "Grind", "Heaven Beside" or "Them Bones" are all featured on the track list but you'll be able also to find some songs a bit less famous and songs that come from their MTV Unplugged album. Don't expect anything really new or unreleased it's a classic basic best of, and if all their albums are already in your collection, no need to buy this release. On the other hand and for the others ones, it can be a good way to discover Alice In Chains?

It's a compilation ok, but even, sadly, if you'll not be able to find the lyrics of all the songs in the booklet you'll be able to read a really good biography written by Steffan Chirazi. It's simple on a side but really effective and the fans like the ones who will discover the band with the help of this album, will be able to understand the whole (tragic) story of the Alice In Chains.

With a cool best of and a nice tour in 2006, who know, maybe that Alice In Chains will be back soon with a new album. I don't know what are the plans of the band right now, and evidently without Layne Staley it will never be the same, but when I listen to this album I still enjoy their music, and when I read the comments about their last tour, I have the feeling that a lot of people should be extremely happy if the band chose to release a new album. Let's see if it will happen one day?
PS: Note finally that you can find a three discs version with a DVD featuring ("The Nona Tapes", the music videos for "Grind" and "Heaven Beside You"and an additional interview footage.)