ALICE IN CHAINS — MTV Unplugged (review)

ALICE IN CHAINS — MTV Unplugged album cover Live album · 1996 · Non-Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Pekka
Many grunge greats of the 90s like Nirvana and Pearl Jam appeared on the MTV Unplugged series performing widely acclaimed sets of originals and cover songs, and knowing the versatility of their far heavier peer Alice in Chains' output it was no surprise to see them take the stage as well. As the band jokes during the set, this was their favourite, no, the only show they had played in three years having skipped touring for both Jar of Flies and the self titled album for various personal problems, the drug addiction of Layne Staley being the most documented. As the video recording of the concert shows the frontman was visibly weak, crouching on his chair and hiding behind his shades, his voice having lost some of its former power but fortunately none of the heart and feel.

Before taking on their more electric material the band first launches into three songs taken from their semi-acoustic EPs Sap and Jar of Flies, and while they're quite similar to the originals I much prefer the sound of these completely acoustic renditions, especially in the case of Brother from the Sap EP, the sound of which I'm not very fond of to start with. Wisely the band avoids trying to turn their most metallic numbers like Man in the Box and Them Bones into something they're not and instead concentrate on the material more fitting for acoustic treatment. Sludge Factory retains much of its original heaviness but feels very natural, as do the other heavier numbers like Angry Chair and Would?. The first mentioned is among the definite highlights of the performance among with the softer numbers like Got Me Wrong, Heaven Beside You, the new song Killer Is Me and last but definitely not least Over Now. Jerry Cantrell has always handled the few lead vocal parts he's had with good care, but here he absolutely shines.

The biggest gem of the album and probably their entire career is the unbelievably delicate and beautiful version of Down in a Hole. A sort of a power ballad with heavy bass work originally, they turn it into an absolutely stunning duet between the healthy and vigorous Jerry Cantrell and the mangled-by-drugs Layne Staley. Amazing vocal interplay between them two.

On this album they perfected the idea they had played with on Sap and Jar of Flies. Definitely essential AIC material, please do not miss it.
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