Classical Composer Reacts to Alice in Chains: Man in the Box | The Daily Doug (Episode 587)

[@tommyf6576]

You know a song is killer when you get Doug air drumming along with it

[@SagerWine]

Doug would air drum to Anaconda by Nicki Minaj but yeah your point still stands

[@devinschwartz7596]

Deny your maker

[@TheDeaFiles]

I agree. I also enjoy when he can take a song like this, play chords vocally or on the keyboard, and have him just nail it in mere moments

[@michaelmichael1001]

Layne usually gets all the praise, but all four guys were really phenomenal. Please don't wait another a couple of hundred episodes to listen to their song "The rooster". I promise you'll enjoy.

[@Panagoulis1974]

Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell should always get the overt and delightful praise and approval from the fanbase. However they should not get it in a preposterous and exuberant way that is capable of diminishing the other 2 members at the same time. All the constituent members of the band were exceptional and significant, but my buddy, Mike Starr and Sean Kinney are not on the same breadth and caliber as the two particular legends.

[@3generboiler]

Agree - Rooster is just spectacular

[@jaimevasquez8939]

I agree. The sound could be way too different without Jerry Cantrell backing vocals

[@raymo6795]

Yeah, true enough, the were(are) a great band.

[@metalmark1214]

Good song, I also love the song Would?

[@Mikey_Sea]

'Would?' would be a cool one to check out, Doug. It really shows off the band's instrumental abilities, and the vocals are superb; great hooks, too.

[@bobsacamano7653]

the unplugged bass

[@kekcsi]

Or Them bones. Sick experimental harmonies, Doug would enjoy figuring those out.

[@MARIO-uf1no]

Layne Staley and Chris Cornell: 2 of my favorite singers ever. RIP both of them.

[@SteveC-Shaman]

I sometimes can't listen to either of them, just rips me up as both were big for me for a long time.

[@Spider_7_7]

👍🏻

[@leddygee1896]

They were a far superior band than any other from that time period. Layne's voice is untouchable...

[@sandenson]

I don't know, man, Metallica was at their peak at that time

[@ejRecording]

Please go listen to the dream theater album "awake" all the way through!! James Labries voice in his prime, perfect against their insane musicianship on that early one from 1994

[@AbominationalFailure]

@@sandenson I'm gonna disagree with that one. I think Metallica's prime was pre-Black Album.

[@sandenson]

@@AbominationalFailure I thought Doug said that Man in the Box is from 87'?

[@DM72513]

@@sandensonFacelift was 1990.

[@rpascon]

I love how Doug takes one read at the lyrics and spits out the perfect comment: "who are we supposed to believe? Who has the credibility?" The perfect summary

[@gypsydal]

I was lucky enough to see Alice in Chains live before Layne passed and to this day it was one of the best shows ive ever seen. His voice was spine tingling . I still feel sad about his loss when I listen to them. ❤

[@g54b95]

Me, too. I named my cat Layne.

[@angelagreen778]

Jealous!

[@AH-uw1vs]

that is awesome, where did u see them perform by chance?

[@RIGHTNOW108]

Don't Follow is my favorite song of theirs. I was a DJ at a rock station in 1997 and could play whatever i wanted overnight. I played it nearly every hour.

[@sixbladeknife44]

Layne’s voice was unreal, RIP.

[@Chrisdelusky]

Rain When I Die. Best example of both the way they harmonize and Layne’s ridiculous grasp on theory and his own voice. Great choice. Can’t wait to see more AIC

[@Kaya97899]

Alice in Chains is the best band ever… and Layne.. had the greatest, unique, amazing voice… RIP beautiful man.. you will never be forgotten ❤

[@kellymacdonald9618]

I love how you can see Doug's mind ticking over, seeing the music in his mind, conducting, playing along with his piano. He is an incredible musician- and makes me wish that I could have a greater knowledge of how music is constructed and played. And I love his take on the lyrical content too. This is a fantastic episode- AIC are one of my all-time favourite bands. Would love to see Doug take on one of AIC's live performances, 'Love, Hate, Love' Live at the Moore. And maybe some of Layne's other musical project, Mad Season. Thanks, Doug!

[@wgnation351]

I like the call and answer between Layne and Jerry during the chorus..

[@tommyf6576]

Cantrell’s message about the song cannot be any more relevant than it is today. Wow, if history doesn’t repeat itself

[@AbominationalFailure]

AIC is very well known for their harmonies, one of their most defining features and I would argue they do it better than any other rock band of their era.

[@sportsmom165]

Facelift came out in 1990. Man In The Box was the first of the big 4 that MTV played, in heavy rotation. Everyone talks about the other three bands but Alice opened the door first.

[@Reaper-3000]

Man the 90's hit different didn't it!

[@styleyriley]

We peaked as a society in the 90s

[@Im_Old_Gregg]

Bleed the freak was probably my favorite from this album. I wish we could have got more out of this band with Layne. But i cherish what he gave us while he was here.

[@renevalle8892]

I love how easy is for you to follow the chord progression on the piano. Truly a great musician

[@brianhake5037]

Rick beato did a what makes this song great!! It’s so cool hearing the isolated tracks from everything from the vocals to all the instruments!!

[@PaulOdontknow]

Ann Wilson, Geoff Tate, Layne Staley and Chris Cornell all trained with the same vocal coach in Seattle, David P. Kyle

[@imthatguypal_]

5:42 LOL some other vocal/song reaction channels have keyboards in front of them, fiddle with a key or 2, and go “hmmm interesting” and you’re here just jamming out next to said song out of nowhere. Amazing content man

[@ellendunn559]

In which Doug discovers the magic of AIC’s vocal harmonies!

[@jessematias4273]

Love how you read the lyrics back and add to the music with your keyboard it lets me know you actually feel the music. And for THAT sir I BELL 🔔 you..! Love your channel don’t change anything ❤ can’t wait for more videos 👏🏼

[@crookedbird6589]

Saw them in a bar on this tour. They were great. Still have the autographed album cover.

[@texasnewt]

Absolute top-drawer track by Alice in Chains, Man in The Box is stunningly powerful; and, I learn so much from Doug's observations ... very insightful Mr. Helvering. Thank you and kudos!👍

[@numberonepun6969]

People like you that can immediately pick up the notes in a song amaze me. I really wish I had that talent.

[@ryant3600]

Sad that 50% of this bands lineup here are gone.. I always thought AIC was the driving force of the Seattle Grunge movement not Nirvana. And Jerry holy smokes what a talented guy amazing singer/guitarist and song writer. Doug you have to react to Rooster.. Killer song. Jerry wrote it about the viewpoint of his father during his time in Vietnam. Such a powerful song and the vocals are chilling I still get goosebumps

[@chrisbeloff6689]

According to some stuff I came across on KZbin Van Halen (with Sammy) were very generous to these guys in the early days, taking them out on tour and mentoring them. Jerry Cantrell, in a Gibson Masters interview, said he was living in his manager's basement and after opening on a leg of a Van Halen tour, woke up one day to a shit-ton of EVH equipment in the garage, sent to him by Eddie himself.

[@chrissecord4376]

You're onto it Doug. A piano version stripped down would be amazing.

[@kellyt4786]

I think we all need that in our lives! What I heard was beautiful 🖤🖤

[@JWS_1]

Sean Kinney, who plays drums for Alice In Chains, played this whole album with a broken hand.

[@rosieotis]

Love when Doug jumps on the keys! 🎹

[@matthewgoodA1206]

Excellent choice for your Metal Monday, and I feel gratified as well that you picked Alice. Still my favorite band of all time, especially with the follow-up studio LP they released in late 1992, regarded as their masterpiece. Unfortunately by the time those recording sessions began, Layne had just begun to get more seriously into his addiction. The album’s producer has said he noticed it was affecting his vocal performances. Then he got clean for the sessions of recording the EP that “Nutshell” appears on, but it was very temporary. Soon he was headed downward big-time, and their releases with him from then on were lesser works. But I think I remember Layne saying he was a bit stoned when he wrote the lyrics here. So even though chemical indulgences defined some of their material, I wish he could’ve survived that.

[@JoseSantos-eg2oz]

Big time.

[@toddkobylarz4758]

"Again". Thats the Alice in Chains song you need to hear. :)

[@transicionevolutivaascendente]

It's beautiful listening to you jamming on the keyboard to this

[@woodpen879]

Love it when Doug plays along on piano….

[@samuelblair8450]

Wow I LOVE this guy! Respect

[@stevenhymowech9931]

Doug playing piano to this is so ironic. Made me chuckle.

[@boomshakala3593]

Wow love your research great commentary!!!

[@neox79]

I know it seems easy but this is my favorite AIC song. FWIW, Nutshell is a close second. I’m excited that you reacted to this one!

[@loganpucek9003]

watch love, hate, love live at the moore!!! unbelievable performance from the entire band.

[@arpeggioblues5924]

it's in Eb minor because they tun the guitars down 1/2 step (from Em)

[@chrismcconnell4476]

best band of the 1990!! All great hitz

[@Motovader72]

Great video Doug. It's a very good song off a phenomenal debut album. Layne's voice is unequaled, the harmonies are unmistakable, these guys were superb together and their body of work will be played for decades to come. Even the music after Layne is distinctively AIC to the core. Please do explore some other gems from the AIC catalog. Really enjoy your videos.

[@jetpetty1613]

I love watching musical people reacting to quality metal.

[@ronsuper100]

Great reaction to an awesome song from my favorite band. Man in the Box message truly applies to what is and has been going on by mainstream media and politics.

[@GRUNGEKID109]

The power in Laynes voice after the solo hits on another level! Insane vocal range ❤

[@dsanchez9703]

Other Alice in Chains songs that rock arr: them Bones, Would, damn that River

[@call_me_stan5887]

Down in a hole.

[@metalmark1214]

Second Would

[@davethomas1641]

@@call_me_stan5887 Live unplugged is crazy awesome

[@call_me_stan5887]

@@davethomas1641 it is :)

[@uskissvinylreferencepage3388]

I would recommend off of this same album, Sea Of Sorrow and Bleed The Freak

[@stevegreen5552]

Their album "Dirt" is marvellous. My favourite of that genre. Great harmonies, raw tones. Man in a Box hints at what will come. Okay. That CD is my first call tomorrow.

[@kellymacdonald9618]

Listened to 'Dirt' tonight! Never gets old.

[@Angel-tz6ce]

​@@kellymacdonald9618 The best album of the 90s

[@jacobbradley1349]

Out of all the songs of theirs that you could do/haven't done yet, please do Would? next. His vocals are probably some of the best out there on that song.

[@m.ericwatson968]

I love Doug's A Capella intro, sometimes listen to it a few times, what a great voice and sense of pitch, key and vocal harmony, he is music professor after all; Layne Staley was a superb vocalist and Jerry Cantrell complimented him with perfect backup vocal harmony, a great vocalist in his own right and a killer guitarist, such a good band, we all knew Layne was somehow doomed to his own self-fulfilling prophecies. RIP Layne Staley And Mike Starr

[@greigritchie5115]

Rooster. So raw, would be a great one for the channel.

[@peterz4427]

The thing that always gets overlooked with AIC are the harmonies with Layne and Jerry. Made for some amooooth vocals. RIP Layne and Mike.

[@frankswarbrick7562]

I love bands with vocal harmonies. AiC being definitely great at it.

[@lenamarii4561]

Overlooked ? Thats what's the band signuture, bro everybody knows AiC = harmonies.

[@algatica]

We all miss Layne. Love hate love and nutshell, are AMAZING songs for the nexts episodes jejeje hugs from Argentina

[@theditto69]

Man in the box was on the first studio album, but We Die Young off of their EP 1989…. Brilliant!!!

[@mayfairsmith4697]

Doug , the working mans music commentary! Love it, Like hes in the room with you and your friends!

[@cherrypepsi2815]

Oh my god he's finally done AiC

[@suesmith7968]

No Excuses was my first AIC song. Then I got all the rest of their output. I still mourn Layne. ☮️😎

[@heatheral-hammadi3046]

Oh god I mourn him as well! Deeply.

[@isaiahbrazzell2271]

I never knew the name of this song, nor did I know the band. If a DJ ever said it, I must've ignored it. This takes me back, to being a 5-7 year old boy. I love this song!

[@MrStarchild3001]

One of the most iconic bands and songs of 90ies. True rock'n roll, yet also very grungy. Timeless.

[@ajsuli8048]

I'm part of that generation. There was an influx of great music coming in during that time

[@TheWolfCub71]

The opening and main droning riff in “Man in the Box” reminds me of the Eagles song “Those Shoes” especially at about the 3:30 mark and then 4:30 to the end of “those shoes”. Joe Walsh rocks, and it took me forever to figure out where I heard the riff when I was listening to Alice In Chains way black when.

[@christophercook4819]

Probably my favorite Alice In Chains song the only part of it I haven’t fully learned how to play is the solo. Jerry Cantrell has always been a big influence on my playing

[@layneinchains4047]

Huge AIC fan here if you can’t tell by my user name lol… great breakdown! My man does the daddiest Dad dances ever and I love it lol! I got the same moves! Great work brother! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@stvnm5282]

u have t0 d0 "love, hate, love" !!!! Greatest he ever sang

[@NaanProphet]

Interesting factoid about this song. During the entire final chorus, there's a guitar solo and it's buried in the mix, almost like they wanted to get rid of it but didn't. If you listen to the last "feed my eyes/now you've sewn them shut" it's probably the best place to spot it buried in there. Really weird. But cool.

[@skrillah6259]

Its supposed to be buried its just there for flavour it’s the same in the chorus of would if you listen to the isolated guitar tracks there is a beutiful haunting guitar part.

[@robertacolarette1594]

I loved this song ever since I first heard it back in the 90’s. This is how I love my rock, heavy and nasty with a killer vocalist. His screaming is beautiful because his voice is butter like Doug said.

[@jousepaula]

Foi a mais prazerosa reação que assisti, obrigada por compartilhar! Abraço forte aqui do Brasil! Uau! Amei ❤

[@SicSemperTyrannis74]

I was 17 when this song hit. Bk in the EmptyV days. As a musician and huge fan of the Seattle bands Alice is king in my book. I look back on those times w a huge grin and a tear of sadness. It's awesome to see new ppl discover these bands 30+ years later. Great reaction 🤘🏼💀🤘🏼

[@MyTunerLock]

Wooow what a sound! I can't imagine!

[@robertcussins2807]

Damn. Love you Doug. So cool to hear and understand how the music happens. Thanks man.

[@someguyontheinternet2714]

Oh DOug, I've waited a long time for you to get to Alice. Arguably my fav rock band of all time. Hope to see many more reactions to their stuff .

[@Koshirro]

Funny how you mention Bon Jovi because that's exactly who inspired AIC to use talk box in this song :)

[@drumsandeverythingpercussi3902]

This song is like a pentatonic generator 🎶🎶🎶 🎸 🥁

[@Tim31NJ]

Love, Hate, Love - Live at The Moore is one of the greatest vocal performances I've ever heard, and as always was backed up by awesome instrumental harmonies. Would love to get your reaction to that performance. Layne's voice is an orchestra in itself there.

[@CB-zi8lz]

I've never studied or played music, but watching you break down one of my favorite songs was phenomenal. You're pretty much speaking Chinese to me, but I somehow understand it. Great job.

[@riffmondo9733]

Entire album is killer. Dirt as well. All great songs.

[@jimigrunge]

That pedal, sub tonic, note is actually a low E-flat and the D-flat( minor7?) right before the octive played together giving that ominous chug sound.

[@kevinkanable8191]

Love, Hate, Love is a moving song.

[@refugeesus]

I love when you jam along to Alice. I grew up listening to these guys and Jerry was instrumental (lol) in my guitar learning. You open up so much for me musically. I look forward to you exploring them further. If you would consider Down in a Hole, Again, or Don't Follow I think I would lose my mind. Thank you for this and all your metal content. I appreciates you.

[@crawdadlando4053]

The Perfect storm, playing on the radio on deck while fishing swordfish.

[@jaimevasquez8939]

I strongly suggest you do Love Hate Love from Alice in chains.

[@princeofpcos9804]

And yes, Doug, almost all of AIC (and Nirvana) is tuned a half step down, which is great for grabbing an acoustic and playing along with their Unplugged albums, which are amazing. Just need one guitar in the same tuning.

[@joetaylor5113]

Album was released in 1990. It was the first Seattle “grunge” album to hit gold status

[@kkjj4508]

Killer vocalist love mtv unplugged show,

[@Frostrazor]

Rooster is my fav song by AiC. That one is a tribute to Cantrell's father who was in Viet Nam war and called "The Rooster" by his comrades.

[@julianbarilla5833]

You should listen to Sludge Factory off their unplugged album!!

[@datgod5685]

He's was able to sing that part louder and higher in live performance and the best I would say would be in Dallas live performance

[@TheCyberMantis]

The message of this song was ahead of it's time. It is exactly what was happening.

[@numberonepun6969]

As any AIC fan will recommend, check out Love, Hate Love live at the Moore theatre. Amazing performance.

[@nancymjohnson]

I had the opportunity to talk to Layne and Jerry, after one of their shows early on. I asked Layne what it meant, and he said animal abuse.

[@Yupppi]

Now you're talking! I really think though, that We Die Young is more of an intro to the Man in the Box than separate song. It's really hard not to listen them back to back. The most exciting thing about Alice in Chains to me is how heavy it sounds due to how Jerry Cantrell plays so behind the beat that you almost fall asleep before you hit the strings again, and makes it pretty hard to imitate his playing style. And Jerry Cantrell makes rather standard blues riffs sound really metal. He's a really good guitarist but he said he always likes playing rhythm section to the band the most, and the way he supports the leading vocals with chords is such a nice change to many other heavier bands. They have some very nice harmonisations between chords and lead, and chord patterns, somehow they just make it really different sounding, but so juicy and catchy. Another fun one on this album is Put You Down. Also how vocal driven the songs are that even I as a guitarist who rarely pays attention to vocals unless there's some interesting tonalities and melodies, listen to the vocals on first priority. And I was surprised how even in the later albums, like 2009 or 2018 there's killer songs like Check My Brain and Rainier Fog. And I still don't understand why Rooster is one of their most listened and liked songs, I always thought it's not even worth a mention among songs like this and Would?

[@guydelorme8641]

They made a great job in studio.

[@g54b95]

OK, Doug. 'Love, Hate, Love' live at the Moore, 1991. The performance will change you.

[@Jaskelart]

Does anyone else pick a different note to sing along with for the intro "It's the daily DOOOOOOOUG" jingle with each new video? No? Just me?

[@violetangel1183]

I just incredibly enjoy watching you experience my favorite things. The turn your life took after covid lead you here and you have found your groove here dude. 💜

[@kennethcarlin9629]

The guitars was tuned to E flat Standard

[@jamesp1441]

Judas Priest, any song from the album Stained Class but recommend Savage, Saints in Hell. A 1978 metal masterpiece.

[@donniehagy5125]

"See my eyes. Now you've sewn them shut."