First time hearing Alice In Chains “Check My Brain” Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@membysteph64]

Glad you guys are appreciative of some great rock music. William Duval has filled in tremendously. Alice In Chains are a spectacular they never have gone away from there roots. They stay true to what they are. Always loved them.

[@brianmcmaster5112]

This is from 2009 9 years after Layne passed away . Jerry Cantrell and Their newer lead singer , William DuVall sang this. The entire album is dedicated to Layne Staley and the song Black Gives Way To Blue was Jerry's tribute to Layne and you should react to that.

[@mbochum83]

He died in 2002

[@dixitomkar]

7 years*

[@DB-ys3op]

People need to accept that Layne is long gone and appreciate this album for the Masterpiece it is.

[@kylechafin7461]

Black Gives Way To Blue is flat out awesome you are correct

[@johndrama5053]

This album is great. I accepted Duvall after listening through this album the first time. 🤟

[@BrianKennedy-r4k]

They can accept it but don’t have to like it. I grew up on them from the start. It’s not aic without Layne period

[@fendervincens5376]

​@@BrianKennedy-r4konly reason you dont like it is because layne isnt on it. Super dumb

[@ghfantexas6848]

The song Black Gives Way to Blue is a tribute song for Layne. You may want to listen to that one day.

[@mountainpeakcloud8442]

This was the first AIC album made after Laynes passing. They recruited their friend William Duvall to sing with Jerry on the album, and William eventually got the gig as being a full time member of the band taking up lead vocals. You’re correct that this doesn’t sound like Layne, no one can, and the band acknowledges that Laynes passing left a void that can’t be filled, but they wanted to go on and keep making music as a band and do the legacy justice, so you will find that a lot of the new songs have less of a lead singer part, and a lot more vocal harmonies between Jerry and William, so the blend of their voices sounds very classic AIC, cause that’s always been a signature of the group. In later albums, as the band get more use to William, he takes more lead vocals. The album “Black gives way to blue”, essentially means transitioning from a dark time in their lives (the loss of Layne, the hiatus of the band etc) to a “lighter” time, seeing that continuing to make music is positive again, hence “black” giving way to “blue”, a lighter color. The song “Black gives way to blue” is a dedication to Layne. If you like the guitar work on this, from the post Layne era, I’d recommend the song “Phantom Limb”.

[@mollysain4529]

P.S. ……. You know it’s good when it makes you SMILE while you’re jammin’!!!!!

[@JB-xh5mc]

William Duvall on vocals

[@kylewoolsey6635]

Black Gives Way to Blue, judged on its own merits, is a great album. Your Decision is a good single, but the title track, though slower, sounds like a farewell to Layne.

[@glenseivers8318]

Great reaction guys. This rebirth of AIC after Layne is severely underrated. Layne is the goat no doubt but they've written some great stuff post Layne

[@brianmcmaster5112]

I thoroughly love older Alice in Chains

[@MundoDragon]

I love Jerry's vocals. A lot of the times better than Layne's. He's very underrated in the shadow of Layne's death.

[@derekfloyd8572]

All I Am from the Ranier Fog album is worth a listen . It seems like a song written about the last few years of Layne's life.

[@mollysain4529]

Good to see you guys! Love watching all of y’all’s reactions! Keep it up guys!

[@AsiaandBJ]

Appreciate it!!

[@Brando-Lee3725]

To me nobody can ever replace Layne Staley . But if any singer was gonna try to give a go at it , this dude does a great job at blending his voice with Cantrell in the same way as Layne did .I gotta give him props . Plus Cantrell has a distinctive guitar sound , vocals and songwriting style that embodies AIC .

[@jasoncinema]

You’ve said it so succinctly! Absolutely true! 😃

[@peterworth9403]

Yes. And he's not trying to replace Layne, but make his own place in the band, which I love. One big thing I noticed right away is he is a higher register than Jerry. Just the right amount for the roles to swap. He's one hell of a singer. Blends into the AiC sound VERY well. And that extra guitar is icing in the cake. I love the energy he puts into the songs he takes lead on, and Jerry also takes lead alot more now as well. Which is all great as far as I am concerned. But no. We don't need a replacement for Layne. Someone to carry on the spirit of the band, yes. Replacement, impossible.

[@peterworth9403]

....Wow. If that isn't the most ADHD wrought comment I've ever written on KZbin...damn medicine shortage lol

[@Brando-Lee3725]

@@peterworth9403 Haha !

[@danielmarshall7095]

Alice in Chains still sounds great today. Many bands tried to come back with a different lead singer and not do so well but AIC is still kicking. AIC and Soundgarden back in the early 90's lured me away from Nirvana because of the instruments and both bands lead singers to me had better quality than Nirvana but that's just me. It's also like Journey as well after Steve Perry. They still sound good but Steve was the voice.

[@joeheffernan5268]

William does this band good!!! He was perfect to sing.

[@joeheffernan5268]

Layne would approve

[@johneppo4133]

I grew up in NY and moved to Cal.when I was 21 in 1981. Left. Left in 2004 for Fl. Still checking my brain from Cal. One big party for all those years. Fun but had to leave age catches up to you. They were good times but not forever. Check my brain. Trears still falling in my bong.✌️🤫😁

[@coreywickramasekera9968]

This was their first album in like 12 or 14 years, and 1st album after Layne passed, great song/ comeback. William and Jerry sound great together

[@sumonjamal1653]

This was from 2009... Jerry Cantrell wrote the album and singer William DuVall did the lead vocals w/ Cantrell. Layne Staley died in 2002. Alice In Chains had not toured since 1993... their last studio album was released in 1995 (self-titled) and their last show was in 1996 opening for Kiss. Alice In Chains was in a difficult position in 2000... their lead singer Layne Staley was M.I.A. and the band was on hiatus. Their last release was a boxed set in 1999 which had 2 new songs w/ Layne singing... Jerry Cantrell (guitar) started touring as a solo artist in 1998 and worked on a 2nd solo record, while Mike Inez (bass) played w/ Heart and Black Label Society... People hoped that Layne would reappear and Alice In Chains would return... but that didn't happen. Layne showed no interest in 1999 for making new music or touring... His friends in Seattle recall seeing Layne in the area looking awful - teeth missing, barely able to speak, and looking thin... In April 2002, news broke that Layne Staley was found dead from an OD in his apartment in Seattle... Jerry Cantrell was about to release his solo album 'Degradation trip' when he heard the news; he dedicated the album to Layne. He put together a new solo band that included William DuVall on vocals & guitar to perform Alice In Chains songs in concert... It worked well, and the opportunity came up in 2005 to reunite Alice In Chains for a benefit concert w/ Mike Inez (bass) and Sean Kinney (drums)... They decided to try relaunch Alice In Chains for a tour in 2006 w/ DuVall singing Layne's vocals... it was a club tour, but it sold out completely. The new Alice in Chains toured into 2007 and then began working on a studio album in 2008 w/ Layne's mom Nancy McCallum giving the band her blessing. 'Black gives way to blue' was completed by 2009 and a single 'A looking in view' was released online... it got a huge response, so the album was a success that year and sold gold (half million copies) in the US... The song 'Black gives way to blue' was a tribute to the memory of Layne, and the band got Elton John to play piano on the track 😲'Check my brain' was a single and music video... and 'Your decision' was another single from the record... 'Private hell' is 1 of my faves on the album 🔥🔥🤘🤘

[@ponchoanderson8241]

Thank you for this. I never knew the full story. I absolutely loved the bands music in the 90s and while I knew Layne had passed, I wasn't entirely sure of the circumstances behind his passing. I remember watching the MTV Unplugged session and my feelings were on my shoulder as Layne sang Nutshell. He was one of the few singers who could make me FEEL the music he was singing. He's sorely missed. That said, I'm loving the new AiC. It's an evolution that seems to be embracing what came before and bringing a whole new maturity to their sound. May the band go on for another few decades! Love them!!! ❤️

[@coolies2002]

Great album!

[@r.a.contrerasma8578]

Layne passed in 2002. The last studio album he was on was 1995's self-titled album, also affectionately known to us as the 'Tripod' album. Listen to the track 'Frogs' see what you think.

[@allenlocke1935]

I never thought my favorite Alice In Chains song wouldn't have Layne on it but I can never get enough of this tune! I play it over and over sometimes:)

[@5486rg]

Modern day AIC 🤘🏼

[@Chris.Davis.2]

This band hasn't missed a step with William Duvall on Mic.

[@robertferguson8174]

Rooster is my favorite Alice in Chains song. It's about the guitarist father in Vietnam.

[@Motownmadman17]

Hell yeah....this CD didn't leave my deck for months...Private hell is my favorite song on this album.....watch your reactions every night before i pass out...lol ...👍👍

[@AsiaandBJ]

Rock on!

[@jtough7499]

Private Hell is a MUST LISTEN!!

[@tylerhackner9731]

One of my favorites

[@seanwright1749]

Black gives way to Blue is the first Album released after Laynes death and is basically dedicated to him.

[@williamjamesayers7719]

After Layne's death,. RIP, and after hearing William Duvall's vocals, he fit in very nicely.

[@jamessomers8808]

I just want to say, back like we never left, is probably the best catchphrase ever. Thank you. So cool.

[@AsiaandBJ]

Thank you so much!

[@dajur1]

I think that he's saying that he's surprised that California isn't as bad as he used to think, but he might need somebody to confirm that he is correct.

[@sethjones6102]

LA is where the band was based during this era. But given the band’s extensive history with drugs, that ended up taking Layne. He’s saying it’s crazy we’re here because this place is the belly of the beast for drug use. They as a band were sober at this point in their careers and still are I believe. Great reaction, I love how you guys try to figure out the meaning.

[@mc2120]

Alice in chains has always been my fav "grunge" band.

[@talonsoup]

Jerry Cantrell is singing the lead vocals on this song. The lead guitarist 🎸

[@jeffreymerrimanFishman100]

The official video for this song is awesome

[@SteelSean6]

“Your Decision”, you’ll like that more I think

[@crowfeedreactions]

Since they're from Seattle (Washington state), they're making fun of the fact that Washingtonians generally don't like California. People up here naturally roll their eyes at Californians, especially the ones that have relocated and pushed up the real estate prices in our state. So Jerry is being funny, saying "Hey, I'm living in California now and, actually, California's alright" and then nodding, as a Washingtonian should, to the disdain for California that he *should be* feeling, by singing "Check my brain!"

[@deeboy4378]

Okay so I just found this and realized you had reactions to Alice in chains, . They were absolutely incredible. . . I would like to suggest that you do some reactions to a couple songs from their MTV unplugged performance.. it's phenomenal, . A good one to start with would be "Down in a hole" . . I love and hope to see more music reactions from Y'all for sure. . and also share what kind of music and which artists you usually dig or prefer.

[@scottvanhille5688]

Happy 4th Asia and BJ! I've never seen Alice in Chains, must be quite painful haha shoot.

[@jeffreymerrimanFishman100]

This whole album is great start to finish not a bad song on it "last of my kind"is a great Jam

[@TwinGunz]

You need to listen to the rooster by Alice In Chains, wow

[@petergarcia62]

Check out “Your Decision”!!! 😊

[@matthewalfred776]

I knew I was in good hands when I saw my guy with the Saints cap ⚜️🫡

[@mikeferris408]

HELL YA ASIA N BJ.... FK YA! GREAT ALBUM! 1 OF MY FAVORITE BANDS. LISTEN TO THE SONG " BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE" ITS THEIR SONG TO THEIR SINGER THAT PASSED.. PIANO N VOCALS... ITS WILL LUMP YR THROAT UP! ELTON JOHN HAD A HAND IN IT TO!

[@joaorodrigolapsky8769]

This music is insane, this guitar riff is perfect and disturbing at the same time. I feel like as a portal opening when I listen this track, so, about the portal, what kind of portal is opening? I don't know hahahaha

[@thomaslarson438]

The isn't about California it's about Alice In Chains Guitarist Jerry Cantrell Moving From Seattle to Los Angeles after Getting off Herion only to realize he moved from One Drug City to Another!! Wow Check My Brain!!!

[@junelledion7899]

Hope you are both doing well! Sending a request One Wing in the Fire - Trent Tomlinson 🙂

[@blackwolf6082]

Post Layne, carried on by Jerry. I really like this one

[@coreywickramasekera9968]

Elton John plays piano 🎹 on the title track.

[@ctguitarguy8510]

I rather like the "all secrets known" sounds very classic.

[@jenniferld672]

If you haven't checked it out yet do a movie review on, As Above So Below.

[@bretttodd6470]

A band from wet seattle relocates to California and find it OK. Somebody check their brain because they must be insane for thinking it.

[@JamesPennington-w9f]

Layne was not the singer in this song but it sounds good too

[@brianstephens2762]

❤

[@jamessomers8808]

Yeah, not Layne.

[@Barnes466]

Billy was the replacement singer after Layne. He is an awesome singer and great fit! You need to look deeper into William :) He is an African American punk rock singer....totally talented and great fit!

[@kenyattatucker1279]

Can you do What A Girl Wants by B2K

[@Hopefully_Sohyang]

♥️💚♥️

[@Roh_Echt]

I had these AIC albums: Facelift__Dirt__Alice in Chains__Jar of Flies/SAP__Unplugged. I also have Mad Season's album Above. And I love every song on all of those and play them over and over to this day. I heard this when it came out and I listened and thought; "OK, it sounds like AIC, but I don't feel anything." I've also listened to every AIC song since Layne's passing, and still....they do nothing for me. I just don't connect with them. Not saying they're bad and no one should listen...I myself just get nothing from hearing them.

[@TarheelKev]

Lets hear DAvid Phelps I Have Nothing.Hes the male Whitney.

[@jamesdavisjr6937]

I just can't listen to aic without Layne just doesn't feel right