Listening Post

Hey, kids, it's new Alice in Chains.

Here's Stone.

I've been completely out of the loop lately, I know. Hoping to get back into the swing of things around here soon. Yes, I know, I've said that before, but sheer exhaustion is a hell of an impediment.

Listening Post

When Layne Staley died ten years ago I really thought there was no way Alice in Chains could carry on. And then in 2009 Black Gives Way To Blue was released, with new co-frontman William Duvall nearly seamlessly stepping in and assuming the role of the second half of Alice's frontal assault of harmonic acrobatics, and it was clear they were back with a vengeance.

The fact that Alice in Chains still sounds this good after all these years and all they've been through is a testament to the power of the band.

Here's their new single -- Hollow.

Listening Post: Out of Town Edition

I'm leaving town for the weekend. The girlfriend and I are headed to Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs for some relaxation.

It's what Andrew Breitbart would've wanted.

See you on the other side, kids.

Here's Alice in Chains' ode to California -- Check My Brain.

Listening Post

Our theme week looking back on the rise of the Seattle sound continues with a surprising facet to one of the most powerful bands of that or any other genre.

Here's Alice in Chains performing acoustically.

This is Brother.

Listening Post: The 20 Best Singles of 2009 (6 & 5)

6. Alice in Chains -- Check My Brain

Who'd have thought it possible? 14 years after their last album of new material, Alice in Chains thundered back in 2009 with a song that wasn't just a respectable post-Layne Staley effort -- it was damn well one of Alice in Chains's best singles, period. With new frontman William Duvall stepping in for the late, great Staley and Jerry Cantrell once again assuming the role of the second half of Alice's frontal assault of harmonic acrobatics, Check My Brain was a full-on powerhouse of a song. It was with a tip of the hat to irony that after a storied career sludging through the dark murk of Seattle's signature sound, Alice's new single focused on -- of all things -- California. The first line alone let you know that the band had somehow emerged into the light: "So I found myself in the sun, oh yeah/hell of a place to end a run, oh yeah/California I'm fine, somebody check my brain." But while the lyrics may have signaled a newfound respect for survival, the buzzsaw guitars and swirling harmonies let you know that some things hadn't changed -- and, man, what a beautiful thing that was. Welcome back, boys.




5. Lady GaGa -- Bad Romance

Love her or hate her, you can't deny her: 2009 belonged to Lady GaGa. Sure, Poker Face and Paparazzi were more infectious than Ebola and only slightly less dangerous when exposed to for long periods of time. But it was late in the year that GaGa unleashed her best single yet -- the song that allowed her to fulfill the promise she'd shown when she first grabbed pop culture by the balls: Bad Romance. It seems too early to call the single "classic GaGa" but in the kinetic, ADD world we now inhabit -- where a year ago seems like ancient history -- maybe it's not as impossible as you'd think. It's probably better, though, to just say that Bad Romance has the self-proclaimed product that is Lady GaGa firing on all cylinders and the result is hot, cool, sexy, and just plain bad-ass. Say what you will, it's a great fucking song.



Tomorrow: 4 & 3

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 7. Spinnerette -- Baptized by Fire; 8. Deadmau5 & Kaskade -- I Remember

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 9. The Dead Weather -- Treat Me Like Your Mother; 10. My Chemical Romance -- Desolation Row

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 11. Little Boots -- New In Town; 12. Miike Snow -- Silvia

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 13. The Sounds -- No One Sleeps When I'm Awake; 14. Blue October -- Dirt Room

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 15. Jay-Z (w/Alicia Keys) -- Empire State of Mind; 16. Company of Thieves -- Oscar Wilde

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- Heads Will Roll; 18. Doves -- Jetstream

The 20 Best Singles of 2009: 19. Mos Def -- Quiet Dog; 20. Florence + the Machine -- Kiss With a Fist

Listening Post

Usually when a band regroups after a long hiatus -- especially a group that was at the forefront of a musical genre associated with a specific cultural zeitgeist from almost 20 years ago, one that's since gone out of fashion -- their music sounds painfully stale. It's rare that an old band retains their early fire and comes back to smack you right between the eyes with it.

But Alice in Chains has done just that.

With new frontman William Duvall on board, the band that helped pummel the masses with "grunge" (always an annoying term) back in the early 90s has released their first single in 14 years, and holy hell is it a powerhouse -- honestly not just better than anyone ever would've expected, but one of the best songs the band has ever done.

Good to have you back, boys.

Here's Check My Brain.