I thought it would've leaked already by now...

I've given their album quite a few listens now and I love it! Great dark grooves and strong songs. It gets better every time I listen to it. DuVall doesn't try to copy Staley which is good. One of the best rock albums of the moment I think.

They lyrics have definitely taken the hardest blow in terms of what is lacking most without Layne.

That's what I would be most concerned about... the lyrical content was an important aspect Staley brought to the music... without that it might seem odd, perhaps even inferior... unless the band has some other amazing lyricists amongst it's ranks that never shpwed their face in their early days...

It's not the same band. Just isn't. And do those who say their early work is metal- meh. I'd disagree. Metal-influenced? Sure. Metal? Nah.

Jerry Cantrell?

maybe pay closer attention to the credits. there are only a handful of songs solely credited to Staley. Cantrell on the other hand is credited on just about everything the band ever put out. half of it on his own (especially early on - all the songs everyone knows from Dirt are Cantrell's)

i get the impression some people want to elevate Staley's status to match Cobain's and that's simply not the case. they were 2 junkies who fronted rock bands around the same time, that's it. Staley was really good, but not great.

I probably should have considered Cantrell's contribution before I made my comments, so, yeah oversight on my part... my bad...

sorry for being harsh last night but i had to get that Staley thing off my chest. it's not that i disliked the band nor was my comment solely directed to you either,

anyway, time to get some peanut butter on the brain hahaha

You're right though. Cantrell's influence on the band is probably bigger than Staley's but many people fail to recognize that.

[QUOTE=mr dave;753820]Jerry Cantrell?

maybe pay closer attention to the credits. there are only a handful of songs solely credited to Staley. Cantrell on the other hand is credited on just about everything the band ever put out. half of it on his own (especially early on - all the songs everyone knows from Dirt are Cantrell's)

i get the impression some people want to elevate Staley's status to match Cobain's and that's simply not the case. they were 2 junkies who fronted rock bands around the same time, that's it. Staley was really good, but not great.[/QUOTE]

I agree with everything you said except for what was highlighted of course. Any true fan of AIC knew that Cantrell was the master mind behind the band.

But Layne was a truly amazing singer in all his projects, and vocally superior to Cobain. The few songs he did write on the 1st 2 records were pretty good he had nothing on Cantrell lyrically.

I have finally gotten around to listening to the new record, and I find DuVall's voice to be eerily similar to Layne's. I'm still not sure if I like it or not. I was a huge fan of Layne and was really hurt when he died, but I may be able to accept DuVall eventually, even if I have to pretend it's Layne hahaha.