Alice In Chains: Layne Staley (vocals); Jerry Cantrell (guitar); Michael Starr (bass); Sean Kinney (drums).
Recorded at London Bridge Studios, Seattle, Washington and Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, California.
Personnel: Layne Staley (vocals); Jerry Cantrell (guitar, background vocals); Sean Kinney (drums, percussion, background vocals); Kevin Shuss, Michael Starr , Mike Starr (background vocals).
Long before the phrase, "Seattle scene" spoke of an impact that a new generation of musicians was having on rock music, Alice in Chains was struggling to be recognized in the shadow of bands that were more focused on image than craft. On FACELIFT, the band's major label debut, Alice in Chains proved that its fusion of blues, hard rock, and gritty imagery was a force to be reckoned with. While college radio stations ate up fare like "It Ain't Like That" and "We Die Young," the song "Man in a Box" became a banner track that pushed the band into the forefront of heavy rotation on MTV and the playlists of mainstream rock radio stations.
Vocalist Layne Staley's moody, dynamic vocals on "Love, Hate, Love" tell a chilling tale of a homicidal psychotic lamenting and musing over what he's done to his lover. On tracks such as "Sea of Sorrow" and "I Can't Remember," guitarist Jerry Cantrell shows equally impressive skill in Sabbath-styled riffing, blues licks, and Hendrix-influenced solos. Alice in Chains made a brash musical and lyrical statement that gave the stale era of thrash and hair metal a much-needed facelift.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (9/20/90) - "..the quartet's debut album...intense, throbbing experience.."
Spin (12/90) - "..metal's answer to Joy Division--gloriously, unabashedly bummed out...striking songwriting.."
Q (10/99, p.140) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...established these four hairy young men as leaders of a new rock age..."
New York Times (Publisher) (11/18/90) - "..they knock out punchy, tightly structured arena rock.."
