Cranked & Ranked: Alice In Chains - part 1

[@docvader82]

This is the first video I've heard from you guys, I'm a huge AIC fan. I'm only halfway through DevilDinos, but I'm loving the fact that you're doing this track by track. I know im gonna love this, regardless of your ranking. Besides im kinda of agreeing 100% with so many of your statements so far.

[@diarmuidmcnally1300]

These Cranked and Ranked episodes are becoming the highlight of my week!. Great point about how the big 4 Grunge bands represented different genres with Punk (Nirvana), Rock (Pearl Jam) and Metal (Alice in Chains and Soundgarden). One thing they do all have in common though is a very high quality output of work which still stands up to today.

[@Crump1980]

How does Eddie know so much about music when he’s only 22!!. Really enjoy these vids, only thing I can add on AIC is how they don’t front load the records so much with killers like many bands but instead the albums get better. Even Dirt ends with Angry Chair and Would.

[@EddieSparxx]

This comment actually means a lot to me. I was always that one kid in the group who respected older bands and loved the history but with that I've been playing catchup my whole life, so to see it pay off like this feels really great!

[@Crump1980]

Eddie Sparxx you guys are kiling it and interesting to get the different perspectives. Your Facelift at no 1 had me go WHAT!!!! but remembered my fave Metallica is AJFA 😄

[@generalhargrievous9928]

I'm of the firm opinion that Rainier Fog is in the top ten greatest records ever made.

[@grungemetalhd1668]

If that’s true than devil put dinosaurs here is #9

[@markabraham5956]

I bought Facelift when I was 10-11 yrs old, mainly because of Man in A Box getting played a bunch on MTV. Even though I didnt get some of the lyrics at the time, it was still great to sing along to because of the vocals were so killer. And obviously, as I got older and understood the lyrical content, it became that much better. Even though my fav genre is thrash, and just heavier music in generations, AIC is in my top 10 bands. Depending on my mood, it could even crack the top. I'm ashamed to say I've never really listened to the William DuVall albums, but hearing such thorough reviews piqued my interest. Finding out he fronted a band with Brent Hinds also made him seem that much cooler in my eyes.

[@grungemetalhd1668]

You’ll find so many hidden treasures, while exploring Duvall era Alice In Chains, trust me

[@mjnation7876]

Rainier Fog is probably my favorite so far with William Duvall. The dinosaurs album would be at the bottom for me too. Can’t wait for part 2.

[@CHROMIUMDIOXIDERADIO]

I’m completely ignorant to this band. So I’m pulling up a chair at the back of the class. I’m taking notes. But please... no questions. Here we go...

[@jimmypage9540]

Wow, I've been waiting for this for a long time. Alice in Chains is my third favourite band of all time, and I really don't think my top 3 will ever change. Now, obviously, the reason behind it is my favourite vocalist of all time, Layne Staley, but I do appreciate the modern era too. Here's my list for the top 8-5 (I'm not willing to place the MTV Unplugged record in there): 8. Black Gives Way to Blue 7. Rainier Fog 6. The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here 5. Sap I checked out Psychosis by Skorned and it's pretty damn haunting. I wasn't ready. I also want to thank both of you for doing this series, these wednesdays are always the peaks of my weeks.

[@MorbidAngel31775]

Great podcast guys! As usual.

[@fauzinoor3722]

Great!! Do you guys upload this podcast on spotify?

[@OldHead]

Yes! open.spotify.com/show/717wrgNfJh3k7uDbAaZwzl?si=Ludyg8NfQb-UFF8QIM_b3Q&nd=1

[@docvader82]

Generally speaking: I USUALLY prefer the electric versions to an acoustic. And I still feel that way, but AIC's unplugged is by far my favorite, I do reach for it, often, and it's not so much whether the tunes are better, but they are unique and extremely emotional, imo. Of course I like the Layne material more than the William material. There is a magic, vibe, tone, feel..... the ever elusive 'it' factor with Layne. That said, I thought I'd only get solo Jerry going forward, which I would have been happy with. But, if you compare Jerry's 3 solo records to the three William records, the William records sound more like AIC, so there is a difference. Is it as good as the Layne years? No. But it's better, and more, than I ever dreamed I would get. I'm not good with all time band rankings, cuz different bands fit different needs for me. But, if I'd generally say Sabbath(and the extended sabbath family), is my #1, then AIC(and family of Jerry the genius' solo work, mad season and even Williams excellent solo record) is #2. I'll give my rankings on part 2.

[@kingIgor]

Cant rank AIice in Chains albums their all to good (one my favorite bands) but i do have a favorite... Out of the 3 AIC 2.0 albums... TDPDH is my favorite... Stone is heavy as fuck... Sludge Metal to the bone (fits in naturally since Sludge emerged from the ashes of grunge's heavier side)... Your spectrum description of the Grunge scene is perfect... Gotta RATM... Agree... Jerry Cantrell is brilliant but sometimes a so called shred solo (prog riff) is best for the song & more emotional & melodic... It depends on the player's imagination... There's no hard rule stating which one is superior (it's subjective)... Personally my favorite soloist (writers) can do both... Some slow solos/simple riffs are boring & some fast solos/prog riffs have more feel... David Gilmore is one my favorites but theirs some 'shredders' that have it all (melody, feel & chops)... At the same time you don't need a lot of technique to be creative, there's guitarist i love that aren't that skilled... The problem is when some musicians attack players that have it all... Because they are jealous... lack talent/skill... So they default to stereotypes to make themselves feel better... Jealousy is a virus... And it's infested itself in every aspect of the art/craft (across the board)... Art is not a sport... Jerry Cantrell was smart for waiting as long as he did to replace Layne...

[@EddieSparxx]

I agree, people who say shred can't have feel are deaf. Dimebag and John Petrucci shred like crazy and still have incredible feel.

[@docvader82]

Hmmm, I think Don't follow is realllyyy frikkin close to the first four tunes. Well, Don't follow I'd give an A-, I Stay and No Excuses A Nutshell and Rotten Apple A+

[@stevejohnson6155]

I went and found that Skorned track that Eddie spoke about. They are way too on the money with the AIC sound. The dude sounds exactly like Layne, but it's so alike that it's a rip off instead of an homage or influence.

[@docvader82]

I never made such a huge distinction between grunge and whatever. It was the next scene/genre within the metal/hard rock community. Are there not some seriously heavy tunes from Soundgarden and AIC? Like any scene, there's greatness, and shitty bands. The 'Big4' of grunge have more differences than the Big4 of thrash. There's some really cool Nu metal bands, and a ton of crappy clones Genres/labels should be a LOOSE guide to steer you in a direction. The 'metal police' and 'metal rules' fucking suck. I love the variety in metal/hard rock. I love and respect bands that stick to a formula that works for them. AND I love bands that constantly mix shit up. There's no one formula that is right or wrong.

[@MorbidAngel31775]

I haven’t had a chance to listen yet, but for some weird reason I wanted to listen to AIC last night, as I haven’t in ages, now I see your podcast is AIC!!! very strange Stuff! 🤔 anyway look forward to listening 👍

[@carlosjantarada7212]

Won't rate Unplugged since it's not an original. Nevertheless let me simply say it's by far my favorite unplugged album ever done BY FAR. Other than that not only did AIC never released an album that I consider to be bad I'll go even further saying their least achieved record is great to say the least. AIC is IMO the best rock band from the 90's. Period. 8- The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here 7- Rainier Fog 6- Facelift 5- Jar Of Flies

[@grungemetalhd1668]

Great episode, although, Mike Inez and his first recordings with Alice were on the singles what the hell have I and a little bitter

[@sansbudget]

Aw shit, you can't professionally play that riff you wrote anymore. Funny anecdote though