Alice in Chains’ 1990 debut album
Facelift shows that right from the start,
Alice in Chains were a force to be reckoned with. Though this album didn’t get as much recognition as some of
Alice in Chains’ later work, it contains some of the band’s heaviest and best songs. The listener knows that they are in for something special as soon as the first track “
We Die Young” starts to play. Layne’s gruff yet melodic voice goes perfectly with
Jerry Cantrell’s riffs and the drum beats of Sean Kinney, making this song as memorable as it is powerful. The next track, “
Man in the Box”, is one of
Alice in Chains’ greatest songs, and it is easy to see why. It is a bold, riveting statement about censorship in the music industry, and Layne Staley and
Jerry Cantrell’s duet during the chorus will keep this song stuck in your head long after your finished listening. “
Sea of Sorrow” is probably the most complex song on this album, and that’s not a bad thing: it’s as powerful as the first two tracks, and the same can be said for the fourth track, the catchy yet emotional “
Bleed the Freak”. In “I Can’t Remember”, Layne’s impressive vocal range takes center stage, as he transitions from deep yells to angelic falsettos with ease. Layne’s singing abilities continue to shine as
Jerry Cantrell’s riffs create a disturbingly beautiful vibe in the ominous “Love,
Hate, Love”.
That brings us to the hidden gem (in my opinion) of this album: “It Ain’t Like
That”. This song is an instant grunge classic. It is probably the heaviest song on this album, and it mainly uses two simple, yet catchy riffs. This, combined with excellent songwriting, will definitely make the listener want to come back to it
Again and
Again. But then, this album seems to slowly run out of gas. Though “
Sunshine” and the other four songs making up the last five on this album are certainly not bad songs, they seem to pale in comparison to the earlier tracks on the album, and are somewhat forgettable. "Put You
Down" and "I Know Somethin (Bout You)" reference the band’s roots as the glam metal group Alice N’ Chains, but whether that is a good thing or not is ultimately based on the listener's musical taste (I personally don’t enjoy glam metal). In conclusion,
Alice in Chains’
Facelift is a strong debut album, and is a satisfying listening expirience for any metal or grunge fan.
Score: 18/20
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