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Layne staley unplugged2/2/2024 As a matter of fact, Freak of Nature is the only band who comes close to capturing the dark essence of their heavy nature, even doing unplugged sessions, so you may want to give their Outtakes release a listen. Staley also plays guitar here and his chorus must have influenced Mike Tramp during his Freak of Nature period quite a bit, given the similarity in his singing the song "World Doesn't Mind". "Angry Chair", one of the few songs solely written by Layne Staley, finds the band successfully translating this heavy rocker into an acoustic dirge. Bassist Mike Inez equally contributes to the album, best heard on "Heaven Beside You" and the intro of the band's hit "Would?". Kinney's kick drums also come out on the aforementioned "Frogs", the longest rendition on this disc. This song is also a highlight because of the performance of Sean Kinney, who doesn't miss a single beat. He delves deep into experimental music too, particularly on "No Excuses", which seems like an almost re-arranged piece, where he plays a neat solo to complement its evocative flow. From his faithful rendition of "Rooster", a song written to his father, to the apocalyptic intro of "Frogs", he amazes both with his unique tone and remarkable ear for melody. Even taken to their very core, his songs generate impossible sonic strength and his playing is out of this world. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell is arguably the greatest guitarist that emerged from the Seattle scene, and his songwriting skills remain unsurpassed. Layne sounds more depressing than ever and turns in an excellent performance - he simply takes the listener on an unmatched emotional journey. ![]() The album's most amazing moment is "Down in a Hole", one of the greatest songs written in the 90's, all genres included. The band is tighter and meaner on "Sludge Factory", with a bass-heavy context and shatteringly heavy acoustic notes. The chorus of "Brother" is infectious and truly haunting in its emotional impact, and the addition of Cantrell's vocals widens its scope. Staley's voice sounds achingly beautiful here, and the bass really drives the piece. "Nutshell", off of their Jar of Flies EP, is interpreted true to its original save for the re-written acoustic bluesy coda by Jerry Cantrell. Vocalist Layne Staley sounds incredible: the timbre in his sad delivery is so honest and true, and adds to the dark and brooding nature of the songs. Even when stripped down to the basics, the band's songs shine with heartfelt emotion and genius compositional skills. ![]() This easily ranks among the finest acoustic albums ever. This unplugged album was their first ever show in three years and, given that, it is an unbelievable effort. The must-have inclusion of Sap favorite “Got Me Wrong” later in the set and the first-ever unveiling of “Killer Is Me,” round out the proceedings.Due to the health problems of vocalist Layne Staley and other internal conflicts between the band members, Alice In Chains was unable to play any live shows after their Lollapalooza tour in 1993 which they did in support of their masterpiece Dirt. Filled with classics from throughout their career (although noticeably missing anything from their 1990 debut, Facelift), Alice In Chains masterfully put together a performance that would appeal to casual fans while satisfying the die-hards. The show begins with a nod to the acoustic EPs, opening with "Nutshell" from the multi-platinum Jar of Flies EP, then transition into the Eastern eeriness of Sap's opening track “Brother,” before jumping back to Flies for the hit single “No Excuses.” From there, the band dig in to the “reinvention” portion of the performance, leaning heavily on acoustic versions of favorites from 1992’s Dirt and their self-titled 1995 album that take staples like “Rooster,” “Down In A Hole,” “Heaven Beside You” and “Would?” to more sublime and nuanced levels than previously heard on their original versions. ![]() The final piece of the puzzle, however, was the doozy of a set list.
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